Perchance to Dream

I'm still in the process of making the afghan for my nephew and his soon-to-be new wife - I think I'm safe to say that because I don't believe either one of them follow this blog! - and so I thought that doing a piece on dreamcatchers would be very appropriate for everyone's mid-summer reveries. 

Black Magic Boho Dreamcatcher by CleanS18 at https://www.etsy.com/shop/CleanSl8?ref=l2-shopheader-name

 

Many dreamcatchers have feathers - why not make your own? https://poppyandbliss.com/2017/05/19/tunisianfeathers

Monochromatic design by Marion van Kooten-Stok at http:// https://www.facebook.com/handmadebymarian

Dreams of blue are on your way - http://eslamoda.com/cositas-azules-que-necesitas-anadirle-a-tu-habitacion

Erin Black's Dream a Little Dream at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dream-a-little-dream-dreamcatcher-inspired-wall-hanging-homdec009 Dream A Little Dream Dreamcatcher

Lovely and lacy Dream Weaver's design at http:// https://www.etsy.com/shop/DreamWeaverDesigns1?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Not a dreamcatcher, but wouldn't it make a fantastic one? Starflower Mandala from Zelna Olivier, free pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starflower-mandala

Dreamcatcher on steroids! By AGAAZRA at https://www.etsy.com/shop/AGAAZRA?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Even the iconic Granny Stitch gets to show off! Rainbow Granny Spiral Sun Catcher by Jaime Ramsey at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-granny-spiral-sun-catcher

Pleasant dreams everyone!

10+ Ways to Use Doilies

Some of us have been blessed to inherit vintage doilies. Some of us still adore the delicate patterns so lovingly hand crocheted. Some of us just love all things lace! No matter what category you fall in, most of us succumb to the allure of these dainty pieces at one point or another in our lives.

But what to do with them? Our grandmothers used them as decorative protection on the backs and arms of chairs and as underlayments to centerpieces, but this is so out-of-date today. Never fear - the creative powers on Pinterest have come to the rescue!

Displaying them in frames seems totally appropriate for their beauty

Group doilies to make an eclectic table runner

What an elegant place to store the remote!

Lovely way to brighten a room

A lacy work of art from http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2014/03/vintage-thingie-thursday-wall-art-using.html

Sooo cool - I want one!

A diminutive sachet or pincushion, from https://www.livemaster.ru/topic/470805-kruzhevo

Decorate a plain tablecloth – from http://ana-rosa.tumblr.com/post/31532747462

Fantastical light fixture from http://www.topinspired.com/top-10-home-decor-diy-tutorials/

Doilies make a stunning window screen framed in embroidery hoops; from Dishfunctional Designs

 While wandering Pinterest, I also spied many other examples for doily use - mobiles, stiffened for bowls, gift bags, jar or tea light covers, decoration for scrapbook covers/pages, to create a banner, decorate a tote bag or throw pillows, use as a stencil, to press into clay for plates/bowls/ornaments, crochet together to make a curtain/lightweight throw, or as an insert for a room divider. And please don't forget - doilies are usually made from cotton, which is a very dyeable material; you certainly don't have to limit your creativity to the traditional whites and ivories. Vive le doily!