DIY Lace Bowls
Bringing New Life to Old Things
When I get the chance, I take 10 minutes out of my day to walk through thrift store or two. I use these little bits of time as a way to inspire me for the next magazine piece that I get to create. I know the word “inspire” isn’t exactly what one would think when walking down isles filled with worn out, outdated and dirty things. But, I like the challenge of looking at once-loved or made-with-love items and imagine how I could recreate, repurpose and make them beautiful again. What a joy it is to bring new life to old things.
I don’t know about you but in our home we don’t use lace doilies. I wish I could be more fancy but they just don’t seem to fit our life at this point. I’ve had a few of these crocheted doilies in a drawer along with some clothe napkins for years. Although the napkins get pulled out on special occasion, the lace doilies never make an appearance at the table. As I was thrifting last week I remembered my neglected doilies and thought it was time to show them some love and get them to use.
So, it turns out that there is this product called Fabric Stiffener (it’s no new thing- I’m sure I’m the last to know). I decided it would be a perfect way to see if I could reinvent my lonely lace doilies. It turned out to be a game changer and I am absolutely thrilled with how these lace doilies were transformed. I can’t wait to make more!
What you will need
Crocheted Lace Doilies (thrifted or handmade)
Fabric Stiffener (this is the brand I used)
Bowl or measuring cup
Instructions
Pour fabric stiffener into a small bowl or measuring cup. I used about 1/2 cup for two doilies. Add more if needed or, like my project, I ended up with too much and just poured the unused stiffener back into the bottle once I was done.
Place the lace doily into the fabric stiffener until it is fully saturated.
Pull out the doily and gently squeeze the excess stiffener out.
Using a bowl turned upside-down, drape the lace over the bowl and gently pull it flat. The position you leave it will be permanent once dried. Now is the time to make it look nice.
Set aside to dry for 24hrs.
Once dry, peel the doily off the bowl and Voila! A lace doily bowl.
Lace Candle Holder
I thought that I would use these particular lace bowls as a candle holders. They could also be used to hold earrings or hair clips (my daughter would love that), keys or other little things. These delicate bowls would also be adorable for a table setting by placing one at each guests plate holding an individual dessert like a painted cookie (I can’t get away from painted cookies).
Look at how the sunlight began to filter through the lace! Oh, so pretty.
I would love to see if you make lace bowls of your own. Let’s share together over on social. I can’t wait to see what you create!
-LeAnn
