I have been collecting vintage doilies for ages and generally just hoarding them. Last year however, I started to incorporate them into some of my work and I have plans for more doily projects. I find them so appealing in all their shapes and sizes and I’m not the only one, check out these doily creations – lace lamp DIY, doily wedding dress, lacy bird bowl, doily tea towel, vintage doily bunting. Some of my favourite “doily art” is the work of NeSpoon, her work is so inspiring. Doilies have even made their way to Ikea and I just couldn’t resist their doily-esque plant pot.
I like the idea of using the image and pattern of doilies, not just the doilies themselves and I had a little go at a bit of machine embroidery (photo below)Â this week with my brand new embroidery/darning foot. This is my very first attempt at machine embroidery so I’ll need a bit more practice. I would like to be able to make my own doilies and with this (fantasy) in mind I bought some doily patterns.
(click on images to enlarge)
Once I came up with the name for this post I couldn’t get the song Delicious Demon by The Sugarcubes out of my head and now this is my doily theme tune!
thank you for this darling doily post. i’ve washed and dried my ebay bargains ready for some starching this afternoon – but i’ve set a few aside for you. on paper a doily dress sounds so wrong – but how gorgeous is that dress. and i saw that lampshade in blogworld too – was seriously considering replacing my paper shades – but i’d have to tackle the mountains of dust then.
Aw thanks for thinking of me with them there doilies. Can’t wait to see your new doily bowls.
I have always over looked doilies but your post has given me a re-think nudge. One sweet, dreamy though was this… “Imagine the leisurely pace sans frantic life/ media/ internet stuff… you know… a quiet evening spent making doilies in pretty colours… what a pleasure it must have been. Sure they are utilitarian but to be so decorative as well? That can only mean there was so much pleasure and delight derived from the crafting of them!”.