Hey Razzy... what's a doily??? Got me Sugie....
As long as I can remember, I have been completely obsessed with vintage crochet doilies. I love the designs, I love the fact that they were made by hand usually by women gathered around each other sharing stories, gossip and tea. I love old lace with all it's intricate detail. There is something just so extraordinary about these pieces and the stories they hold.
You've heard of Dumpster Diving? Well I'm a Doily Digger!!! There is nothing I like more than finding a bucket of vintage linens and doilies at a flea market, yard sale or antique shop. I literally plop my butt on the floor and commence with the digging! The whole time I look around and keep a watchful eye that nobody sees the treasures I'm finding. I laugh to myself in utter delight! What do I do with them? Well....
I make things like this. Isn't it pretty??? I didn't even get it listed on my site before it sold. I love the hand dyed blue and tan of the piece and the perfect symmetry of the design. I added glass pearl beads, a vintage mother of pearl button and sewed it all down to a piece of vintage damask table cloth. This frame actually had a clock in it. The clock didn't work and the lady didn't want it. I was so excited because I knew of a perfect piece to put in it!
So imagine my extreme and absolute happiness and joy when my Cutie Grammy had an entire stash and I mean stash of doilies!!! Can you believe nobody in my family wanted them and I got all of them!!! She was holding out on me all these years as she too was a doily diva.
This piece is my absolute favorite as my Cutie Grammy made this. It's tatted. I have always loved tatting and so did Cutie. I asked her why she never made any more of these. I will always remember her reply, "Oh sweetie... it is truly beautiful, but what a pain in the ass to make!"
Something about a cute old lady with potty mouth still makes me fall over with laughter.
I'm going to get this piece framed and hang it in Bunnyville.
As for the rest of her doily collection, I have placed them in this fabulous hat box. Here they will stay until her "smell" goes away. Somehow I want to keep that as long as I can. One day, when it is gone, I will turn them into beautiful pieces of art and some pillows for myself. Until then.... I'll just be the Doily Diva with the best stash.
shell
This week IGF the fact that nobody in my family wanted these treasures and they're mine all mine!!! hee,hee,hee.
25 comments:
Hi Shell, I love this post. I knew I loved you for a reason,,,your a doily digger too! I have tons too. My family thinks I am crazy and cant figure out why I would want them! Weirdos! LOL Your Cutie Grandma sounds like she was just a blast to be around! :) I love her collection. Enjoy your special treasures.
Happy creating and bunny hugs, Gail
Shell ~
They are absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to see what you create with them.
Lisa
Whew! I was getting bunny withdrawl!!!
Ditto what Gail said! My grandmas and momma made them too...lots of afghans and doilies. Years ago I had about 9 of the doilies framed and cherish them greatly. There IS lots of work in those buggers! I never could get the hang of it as I am left handed...the smell of them...oooooooh yes! Momma's mom always smelled like Here's My Heart perfume. I so understand the sensory thing...even down to the way they feel...Doggone it Shell, I am getting all mushy now! LOL! Boy, dontcha miss them?
One of the few things I inherited from my paternal grandmother was a hand-made doily. I don't even know who made it because I don't think she did much handwork, but just the fact that it belonged to her makes it special to me.
A few years ago, I took my Dad to Norway and we met all kinds of "cousins" we never knew we had. One sweet lady made me a beautiful set of doilies for Christmas that year. She died just a few years later, before I finished the cross stitch I made for her. I don't know what to do with it. What do y'all think? I could send it to her son. He took us all over when we were there and really took care of us...
Shell:
I've managed to inherit some doilies myself. They're so pretty, and although I haven't actually started collecting them...there's always hope. ;-)
So glad Razzy and Sugar are getting along better. I'm enjoying reading all about them. They're both so sweet-looking!
I can see why your repurposed clock piece sold so quickly...It's beautiful!
And, finally, you're right...I need a bunny pincushion. I'll be ordering one from you very soon. (We're off on another trip for 10 days, so I'll order when we get back).
Hugs and Blessings,
Donna
My paternal grandma and my mother both crocheted but as far as I know none of the doilies survived. In my grandma's house every chair had arm and back doilies. she also crocheted large table cloths and she quilted. Wonderful woman.
My paternal grandma and my mother both crocheted but as far as I know none of the doilies survived. In my grandma's house every chair had arm and back doilies. she also crocheted large table cloths and she quilted. Wonderful woman.
Hef's dad and I are going through my grandma's house tomorrow to hunt for treasures too! If I see some doilies I'm going to grab one now! I think she has some she made.
Shell, this is a beautiful post! I will have to remember how much you love doilies, cause I have lots and no one else in the family seems to want them!!!
I am patiently waiting for you to get your parcel, I am so excited for you to see the goodies!!!!
I think they will fit in nicely!!!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B
Shell,
The doilies are just beautiful. I love crochet doilies too. They are so beautiful, and you sure make them into beautiful collectable pieces with your magic touch!
Pei Li
hugs~S
Shell, I guess I will have to "out" myself as a doily digger, too. Before we even opened our antique shop back in the early 90's, I have been collecting.
Loved seeing your pieces. Your grammy's is my favorite, too. What a blessing that you didn't have to fight for them! Yes!!!
Kim
www.roseblossomcottage.com
www.roseblossomcottage.blogspot.com
Oh Shell what a wonderful post I love it and I am sure your grammie would love it too! The dollies and the box are so beautiful
Thanks for sharing - sassy gail
Michelle,
You are surrounded by other doily lovers. My gran loved doilies too and had them on her dressers and chairs. I believe either my mom or my aunt have them.
I still miss my gran's smell- she often wore Avon' fragrances but she also had a clean soap smell-
I would know it if I smelt it even though she has been gone 6 years this year. Smell is a long reaching memory- the olfactory memory will stick with you for a long time. Perhaps its related to a child's connection with its mother- its your first developing sense, I am guessing...
Enjoy your doilies. You may want to check out Paulette's post about her stash of doilies that she bought at a garage sale You can find her blog here: http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.com/
Her post is within the past month.
Some of them were stunning- she found some real beauties,
Regards,
Anna
Hi Shell, have missed you. I love your treasures and agree something calls whenever I pass a box of lace and doilies, gathered together they look so pretty.
Your hat box is just perfect to store until they can be used to make new treasures.
beautiful...I have the same obsession
my grandmother made a lot of these and I got them all when she passed away!!
such treasures!!!
Shell.
A wonderful, enjoyable post as always. You must have been thrilled to find you Grammie's doilies. What a special treat. Your photos are beautiful. The framed piece came out so pretty. I love tatting too. I have boxes of it!! Some from my grandmother as well. Happy Labor day!!
Jennifer
Shell, the doilies are gorgeous. I have some from my grandmother too. I like to sit and crochet and hope my grandaughters find them to be treasures when it's their turn to find things that Nana left behind.
Pat
Patricia Rose-A Potpourri of Fabric, Fragrance and Findings
www.patriciarose-apotpourri.com
www.patriciarose-apotpourriof.blogspot.com
Shell, the doilies are gorgeous. I have some from my grandmother too. I like to sit and crochet and hope my grandaughters find them to be treasures when it's their turn to find things that Nana left behind.
Pat
Patricia Rose-A Potpourri of Fabric, Fragrance and Findings
www.patriciarose-apotpourri.com
www.patriciarose-apotpourriof.blogspot.com
Beautiful doilies. I love them too. There is something romantic and homey about them that I love.
Me too, me tooo ! I have three tatted by my Great Aunt May that I framed. Just too beautiful and labor intensive not to show off.
(())
I would have been beside myself with delight too! I love doilies and linens and embroidered pieces. In fact when my friend died, I said if no one wants that trunk of her linens and hankies, I do. And of course no one wanted it, so I got it!
Brenda
Just beautiful! You do such lovely things with your treasures.
Hi Shell! What a wonderful gift from your grammy! I love that you are keeping them all together in that hat box to preserve her "smell" They say that scent is one of the most powerful memory stimulants. I know she would be so pleased to see the delight on your face. Have a great week sweetie!
Karen
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I love the term 'doily digger'!
Post a Comment