Make Paper Lace Magic

I was in the dollar store when I spotted a package of white paper doilies—I love them! They remind me of the Valentine’s Day cards I used to make for my mother and father in grammar school. If you fold a doily in half and cut an angled edge at the bottom, it forms a heart. Or you can find heart-shaped doilies, too. Layer construction paper and ribbon, glitter, and maybe even collage. The lacy texture feels tender and lovely—it’s wonderfully nostalgic and a personal way to tell someone you care about them.

I bought two packs of paper doilies to make Valentine’s Day cards and began to wonder about the origins of this tradition. The internet told me, crafting and card-making with paper doilies emerged in the late nineteenth century when mass manufacturing took off. I recall seeing Valentine’s Day cards from the 1950s and 1960s that featured printed doily patterns, which is an interesting twist on this tradition.

With my new paper doilies I also plan to use them when hosting. They’re perfect for protecting the dining room table, and with the vintage feel, you really can’t go wrong. It’s such an easy way to add a sweet, decorative touch that also makes a fun conversation piece.

Before the paper version there was the fabric type of course. “They must be English.” I thought.  I guessed right, The term “doily” originated in 17th-century England, possibly named after a London draper named D’Oyley (or Doiley) who sold a type of ornamental fabric.

A doily was/is essentially a fancy napkin used by the upper class to protect fine clothing and furniture from spills during tea service and meals. By the 19th century, crocheted and lace doilies became especially fashionable in Victorian homes, reflecting the era’s emphasis on intricate handiwork and refined interior décor.

I have some crochet doilies that I’ve picked up from thrift stores over the years. I use them on my glass end tables in the living room for style and to hide streaks!  The patterns are so beautiful—truly a special piece of history and a lost art. They remind me of snowflakes, with endless possibilities of patterns. Doilies also serve as a reminder of simpler times, when humans had the time to create beautiful things by hand, instead of buying endless things from Jeff Bezos.

Let’s set aside some time this month to make something beautiful with our hands, for someone we love, using doilies. Send me a photo of your creation and I’ll post it on theglorifiedtomato.com and share your artwork on my Instagram account: @theglorifiedtomato. Love, Paula

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doily, hhhistory.com