December, 2012: I began sorting my collection of doilies for giving to my and my husband’s siblings and nieces, and to my friends who would appreciate such things. With each doily I include an information sheet with a photo and information about the doily, like patterns source, designer, materials, date and knitter, and also a sheet with care instructions.

Other things I do with my doilies: the little piecrust table is my “doily shrine” where I rotate small doilies for display. I also have an artist’s portfolio 16 inches square, which holds them flat on an acid free black background.

The table and the Chinese Lucky Cat were my husband’s grandmother’s. She always had the table next to her sitting chair, and the cat was always by her side. Pretty much the figurines and other objects on my doily shrine have some sort of meaning to me, if only a humorous meaning that I’ve made up. For example, the Santa Claus holding a duck represents unexpected gifts, and the hula pig bobble doll is “remember to have fun.”