Doily collection

This post came about as my dear friend Meryl and I were talking about her upcoming issue of Romantic Homes, featuring flea markets.

We were discussing how her readers display their treasured collections, and I shared with her some of my ideas and a simple project that I had done using my vintage doily collection that is super easy and fun!

This is what you will need...

a collection of miscellaneous sized doilies 

a solid colored table cloth

thread to match the doily color

sewing needle (optional)

scissors

Instructions...

Dress your table with a freshly ironed table cloth.

Beginning in the center and working your way out to each 

end of the table, lay your doilies out so that their edges are just touching.

This is much like working on a jigsaw puzzle.

For this look, you want it to be long and narrow.

When you have them laid out to your satisfaction,

using a needle and thread tie them together with a simple 

double knot.

 

This keeps them from moving about.

Continue adding until you are satisfied with the result.

I like it, just spilling off the tables edge.

This doily runner could be laid down the center of a solid 

colored  bedspread for added interest, 

when not in use on the dining room table.

Happy Mother's Day!


And for another vintage doily tablecloth idea click here.

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Shelves and collections

Friends were having conversations

with each other about collections

which is what sparked my imagination for this post.

Where do you keep your treasured personal photos ?

and the hat box overflowing with love poems ?

possibly in a bookshelf behind beautiful glass cabinet doors,

under lock and key?

Shelves are perfect for showing off our collections

or adding an extra dimension to a wall.

This shelf was added as a structural element in the sitting room

to store a few antique leather bound beauties away from the sunlight.

Here the top shelves of the welsh cabinet

in the breakfast room are used

for displaying a few favorite antique tea cups and saucers.

And these shelves in the powder room are perfect

for showing off a collection of vintage perfume bottles.

Colored glass vases are always happy in a window !

The Italian ceramic collection is in easy reach

displayed on the top shelf of the 40's O'Keefe and Merritt Stove.

Here vintage sewing paraphernalia and baskets reside on this narrow storage shelf.

Then there is the crammed shelves in my art studio

wall to wall glass shelves

overflowing with my own ceramic creations.

Childhood mementos are stored above the loft window.

Vintage bird cages and baskets are throughout the cottage,

but these call your attention perched on top the living room bookshelf.

Another shelf is created on a pony wall by adding

crown moldings on both sides with a flat board topping them.

You probably shouldn't get me started on boxes or books...

or this post may never end.

Collecting Seashells

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Seashells are AMAZING architectural wonders.

The mollusks that inhabit these seashells live in the depths of the ocean and

create these unique protective homes for themselves against incredible odds.

They continually inspire and delight !

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( As a designer I realize I am seeing home design at its creative best ! )

Artfully arranged treasures

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a short post asked about displaying and creating

beautiful focal points with our treasured collections

if you have been collecting treasures that speak to your heart

consider grouping like items together to create a focal point

having been collecting

and gifted with seashells for many years

( the treasure trove shown above was a gift last week

from my neighbor Jessica, inspiring this creativity )

I selected a few favorites

choosing all neutral tones for my color scheme

and gathered them together

and placed them on a pedestal of the same genre

to show them off at their very best !