Graced with Lace
Strictly ornamental, you say? These easy projects cast lace as the star of the show.
Lace doilies, accented tablecloths and even clothing items are regulars at flea markets, and you probably have some (vintage or not) hidden away in drawers you rarely open. In our Pretty, Cool story, stylist Stacy Sirk shared delightfully decorative ways to incorporate that vintage lace into your home. We were so smitten with the ideas that we wanted more—and Stacy delivered!
CURTAIN CALL. Dress up a lonely window with this ethereal curtain panel. Begin by hand-stitching old lace doilies onto the lower half of a length of cotton or synthetic voile, which has the transparency needed for this project. Fold the remaining half of voile behind the half with the doilies. (Doilies will be on the outside of the fabric at this point.) Sew the two long sides together. Turn inside out, encasing the doilies in the two layers. Finish the top with a hem and rod pocket; hang. "The effect is very special—translucent, diaphanous, gorgeous!" Stacy says. The boats, from a Canadian company, are made with handkerchiefs.
MIRROR IMAGE. These one-of-a-kind lace mirrors would make elegant additions to a living room, bedroom or powder room. The vintage lace rectangles are actually small table runners; Stacy simply cut out their linen centers. At a glass shop, she had one mirror and one clear, nonreflective glass cut for each project; the glass is sized 3 inches larger on all sides than the lace pieces. The lace was then sandwiched between the glass where it "floats," held secure by the pressure of the two panes. The wood frame is made from old scaffold boards.
WORDS WORTH. Draped over a tension rod, a vintage lace table runner makes a darling, no-sew curtain. If you want, dress it up. As a twist on traditional monograms, Stacy machine-embroidered a phrase in a clean, sans-serif font using mottled blue thread.
ALL WRAPPED UP. Machine-embroidered lace trim is perfect for this project. Sold with one unfinished edge, this lace is cheap, so buy it when you spot it. Then, start with any cylindrical glass vase and wrap it with lace, starting at the top so you have a pretty edge and working down. Any excess can be tucked under and taped to the bottom of the vase or puddled prettily at the base. Bonus: Because this project doesn't require cutting or sewing, the lace can be unwrapped and reused later for another project. Or, if you want something more permanent, coat the vase with spray or other adhesive before you wrap it.
HELLO DOILY. Whip-stitch together a runner of doilies and layer that beneath a sheer linen tablecloth for a lovely whisper of feminine detail. Be sure to iron the tablecloth so that it's a smooth and as transparent as possible. “The result is you get the beautiful pattern showing through,” Stacy says. “It looks amazing, so stylish.” In the yellow glass dish, a white-and-green pendant is made from lace-pressed clay.
PHOTOS Holly Jolliffe
STYLING Stacy Sirk
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