I went around that thrift store three times looking for something to buy! I stop in there every so often when I get the feeling something is there just waiting for me. I usually find it right away.
On that third time around there it was. A plastic bag of doilies all squished inside. I grabbed it and started going through them, knowing full well I was going to buy it no matter what was in there!
I love the whole process of it. Finding the doilies, especially a large assortment because there are so many choices and no two are alike. Then laying them all out down the center of the table to come up with just the perfect design....not too perfect and symmetrical but a nice flow for the eye.
Then there is the pinning each one to another in just the right angle and overlap. Then making sure they are pinned securely so the whole thing doesn't fall apart when you go to sit and sew!
I had all Sunday afternoon to sit with my feet up and just sew. With my son in the next chair and the basketball game on in the background, my husband off on a men's outreach, I just sewed for hours. Here is the end product!
On that third time around there it was. A plastic bag of doilies all squished inside. I grabbed it and started going through them, knowing full well I was going to buy it no matter what was in there!
I had been on the lookout for vintage doilies because I wanted to make more runners. I made some before Christmas and I have only one left.
I love the whole process of it. Finding the doilies, especially a large assortment because there are so many choices and no two are alike. Then laying them all out down the center of the table to come up with just the perfect design....not too perfect and symmetrical but a nice flow for the eye.
Then there is the pinning each one to another in just the right angle and overlap. Then making sure they are pinned securely so the whole thing doesn't fall apart when you go to sit and sew!
I had all Sunday afternoon to sit with my feet up and just sew. With my son in the next chair and the basketball game on in the background, my husband off on a men's outreach, I just sewed for hours. Here is the end product!
This runner has a 6 point star design doily at it's center and then rounds and square doilies are stitched off of that. There are 13 different doilies in ecru and ivory, beige, and white. One is embroidered, another has an open weave. There are floral designs and star designs. Each doily is completely different from the next. Each doily is a nice size measuring from 8" to 12" in diameter. They are handstitched together on both sides with thread, which does not show!
I am off to layout another one.....maybe smaller, maybe all white, maybe another round....the possibilities are endless! I will be listing them all in my Etsy shop NaNa's Things in time for Easter decorating.
My table is ready.....
AnnMarie :)
Linking up with Marvelous Mondays Link Party, the Weekend Meet & Greet Blog Hop , Adorned from Above Blog Party, Common Ground Be Inspired Blog Party
Oh this is so very pretty! What a great find, that bag of doilies! I have always loved them. My mother used to keep me quiet at the thrift store by letting me pick one which I'd use as a table cloth at home when setting my dolls up for a tea party.
ReplyDeleteGreat post...thanks for sharing!
This is a great idea! I have used old doilies in quilt making, will so it someday on my blog, when I finish it :)
ReplyDeleteI love doilies. There's just something about them...Your doily runner is amazing! =0)
ReplyDelete~Kim
As beautiful as the woman who made them...love you...your husband ;)
ReplyDeletewow all that handstitching! well done.
ReplyDeleteAww, I love the comment just before mine. And I love your idea of making table runners from assorted doilies. Doilies are also a favorite of mine. I'm sentimental about them, thinking about the era in which they were created. What were they used for? etc.
ReplyDeleteStunning, Elegant and Cozy all in one!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a neat idea!
ReplyDeleteHi, came from My Turn (for us) party...love your doilies..very neat idea even for a runner on a slimmer table! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I found your blog through the blog hop. I love the table runner you've done! What caught my attention in the blog hop, was the picture, with the table runner made with doilies! That picture brought me directly to your blog. New follower here!, I give you the link to my blog, if you like my creations I hope you will consider to follow me.
ReplyDeleteMarisa from
http://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/
I love this!!! Now I know what I am going to do with all of the doilies that were given to me by my Mother and Grandmother. That is so cleaver and a beautiful way to display them. Thank you!!! So glad that I found your blog!!! Have a Simply Heavenly weekend!!! :):)
ReplyDeleteHi NaNa! Thanks for stopping by and linking up with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party and for the follow :) I'm already of follower here!
ReplyDeleteI love your doily runner. My grandmother used to make doilies and I have a large one she made for me long ago. Memories :)
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
My grandma used to make these and I loved them. I wish I knew what happened to them.
ReplyDeleteFound you linked up at Sincerely Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Hop. :)
Those table decorations are really nice. Hope you had a great weekend and great Easter.
ReplyDelete