i am definitely making some of these. actually they might be a nice addition to the centerpieces for my upcoming nuptials. thank you so much jane, and grace for posting.

Cool project – I like the idea of mending with paper and sewing, not so much with the masking tape, though.

HOLY SMOKES. I really want to try this – thanks so much for the instructions! I love the idea of threading other various materials into the doily!

I don’t remember how she did it, but my grandmother used to make what I called “petrified doilies” by dipping them in something that resembled papier-mache’ glue. As a kid, watching it harden was a fascinating process. ;-D

She filled them with buds and petals from her flower garden so there were beautiful, aromatic little bowls of flowers in every room – great for combatting the stuffiness of her unairconditioned farmhouse.

Thanks for the memory! :-)

so pretty! christine, i love the idea of using these for centerpieces.

i don’t know what paverpol is, but could you just use liquid starch? I wonder if that’s what Holly’s grandmother was using?

hehe we made these in girl guides ages ago. i’d forgotten :)

These are cool! I wonder if you could make a lamp shade this way?

Angela/Holly: I’m sure it was liquid starch. My great-grandmother used it to stiffen lacy cotton crochet doilies in star shapes by the dozen – we still use them every year on the Christmas tree.

Stupid question–but why would add paper, tape etc to the doily? Is it to strenghten it somehow? Is it to make it more visually interesting? Is it to hide holes/stains etc in the doily itself?

one doesn’t have to add tape and buttons do they? I’d love to make these for my upcoming wedding, as baskets to hand out programs, put candy bags in, etc… but i like the idea of simply the doiley.

i ordered the paverpol!!

the bowl is very cool. does anyone know anything about that amazing hand?

It’s not really quite clear to me whether the tape and paper serve a functional purpose or it they’re there as decoration. anyone?

Question: Does anyone know about paverpol’s ingredient label? I was curious about whether it is foodsafe (wouldn’t a doily bowl look cute full of apples?) and generally non-toxic. I checked the site and didn’t see anything on content.

I don’t want to be a wet blanket here, but when I hear “vintage doily”, I don’t want to dip it in glue substances or put masking tape on it, any more than I’d want to set fire to it. Those doilies were likely made by women working by firelight after they had plowed the fields during the day. That makes me want to cherish and protect their work.

I have to agree with Linda on this one. I believe the vintage doilies should be treasured and not used in crafts. I have spent many hours crocheting doilies and I’ve even crocheted baskets before. But, I would be horrified if one of my Grandmother’s doilies ended up this way.

I believe my Grandmother used sugar water. It really siffens the doilies and will wash out. So nothing gets ruined…

Why? The paverpol is weather proof…pretty much everything proof. I would think if someone did this to my doily they must really like. It will last MUCH longer this way. AND it can be displayed in many more ways than just tucked under a vase, or worse yet, hidden in a chest for fear of damage. I think this is such a great idea!!! :) Thank you so much, it gives me so many more ideas for my paverpol (which I have been using for 2yrs now) :-)

Displaying a cherished item under glass, as in a frame on a wall, or under glass on a table top preserves and protects the fine stitchery and colors from further damage. The examples shown on this website obscure the intricate stitches under the stiffening agent, especially the one that uses crystallized salt. These are interesting craft techniques, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use either of them on something new, like a factory made doily from a foreign manufacturer, but not on my vintage doilies from my mother and grandmother.

I think it is a great way to preserve the doilies. It’s a mistake to think anything can be literally “preserved” forever exactly the way it was originally, IMO, and I think that probably most of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers would be happy to see that their beautiful handwork is given modern uses and modern adaptations, rather than preserved as museum pieces. To change it slightly, to re-use it in a different form, is a form of appreciation.

This doilie came from a flea market so I have no idea who made it. If I hadn’t bought, it would certainly have been thrown away.
It was also worn and full of holes – that’s why I mended it with the paper and tape – and stained.

You can order a hand like the one in the picture from this site..
http://www.kc-store-fixtures.com/deluxe_necklace_display.php

Brilliant idea, now I know what to do with those doilies I love from grandmom but don’t like using on my tables.
PS Grace would it be possible to make the DIY’s downloadable as PDF’s?

this is completely brilliant. totally girly and funky at the same time, i have never heard of the fabric hardener and i’m anxious to try it on all of my vintage fabric remnants i have from various projects… patchwork bowl anyone?

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Will the paverpol stick to the foil?

Would probably make a nice fruit bowl.

The bowl is sweet and so much more beautiful in it’s rescued manner. I personally would not do this to a fine handmade family heirloom but like others mentioned, it’s sad to see the pieces deteriorate or become bug food in a box in the attic.

thanks for sharing !

I have a lot of this stuff laying around, but this is a great project to use them in !

greetings from belgium
Inge

Just an update, as I’ve almost finished one of these. Yes the tinfoil does stick a bit but I pried it off while it was semi dry and then replaced it back on the bowl. Also the key – i’ve discovered the hard way – is not to put a lot of the paverpol on. My lace was quite holey so I have bits where the paverol is now a bit visible. I’d go in stages next time – less is more at a time.

Liz: you sure can make a lampshade the same way you make the bowl. I’m not sure about using Paverpol with it (haven’t read the label, maybe it’s flammable? or not?), but liquid starch will come a long way as well. ;)