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"  Their beauty is often overlooked. Yet the delicacy and variety of doilies make them well worth bringing to the fore in fresh new ways. Stylist and crafter Paul Lowe values vintage doilies for their soft drape and intricate lacy appearance. &amp;quot;Still, there&amp;#039;s no reason that these handmade pieces of history need to be used only beneath vases and lamps,&amp;quot; he says. &amp;quot;To really enjoy doilies, re-create their roles.&amp;quot; Most of us already have collections of this delicate handiwork tucked away, so getting started on these doily projects is simple. But even if you don&amp;#039;t, online auctions, flea markets, and tag sales are terrific places to find them, often in bulk, at prices that are hard to beat. Here, a dozen of Paul&amp;#039;s favorite projects and tips for how to create them yourself.   REFRESH &amp;amp;amp; RECONSIDER  To refresh and brighten aged doilies, hand-wash in warm, soapy water and air-dry before pressing flat. Or leave them as is. Ecru, white, cream, and yellowed doilies can be combined in projects for a soft, tonal palette, or used separately for a more uniform look. 1 To pretty up a simple wire hanger (suitable for a gift, too!), drape it first with lace cut from a doily runner. 2 Tug firmly downward to ensure the lace is taut, and then pin it in place along the hanger&amp;#039;s base. 3 Cut away any excess, leaving just enough to hand-stitch in place across the bottom. Giving shape and dimension to lace begins with providing a form. A simple wire hanger can do this, as can a lampshade, bowl, or vase. &amp;quot;Shaping doilies allows light to pass through their beautiful handiwork, emphasizing their delicacy and design,&amp;quot; says Paul. See more ideas for decorating with vintage doilies here.  Roll a doily into a rose1 Fold a round doily in half, then roll it to form a cone. Crocheted versions yield the best results. 2 With an elastic band, secure its base. 3 Fold, then roll a second round doily around the first, again securing with an elastic band. 4 Embellish the bloom with millinery leaves, slipping the stem into the elastic band.  5 Use as a corsage or a gift topper. For more projects with ready-made crochet, go to  countryliving.com/readymadecrochet.   QUICK STITCH: Handbag  Make it any size! For the lining, cut two fabric circles, about 3/4 inch smaller than the two doilies. Right sides together, sew together the lining pieces, leaving an opening at the top; turn right side out. Sandwich lining between doilies, topstitch through all layers (lining included), leaving an opening at the top. From a runner, cut a wide handle, folding it lengthwise in thirds. Machine-stitch down its length. At the lining&amp;#039;s opening, turn under the raw edges; stitch the ends of the handle inside.  CRAFTER&amp;#039;S TIP: Most of the doilies for the projects shown are cotton and linen. These fibers can be used together, along with polyester finds, for projects requiring more than one doily as long as they are similar in weight.  See more ideas for accessorizing with vintage doilies here.   Cheaper by the dozens  1 Paul buys vintage doilies on eBay, at flea markets, and at tag sales. Recently, he purchased a box of about 200 doilies for just under $80, allowing him to create pretty projects for pennies. 2 Bella Lace sells heritage-style doilies; bellalace.com. 3 You can also craft with new lace trim in wide strips made up of a series of medallions; mjtrim.com. 4 For inexpensive doilies, visit Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores; joann.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/a2220/crafting-with-doilies-0408/>