In with the Old

As I was searching for a place to store 11 hand-me-down round tablecloths, I started to go through the linen drawer in the china cabinet.  I haven't really touched any of the crocheted linens of my grandmother's since I got them a few years back.  After opening the tissue paper wrapping, I found all of these doilies that my grandmother made!!  Some of them seem to be store-bought, but it is really obvious which ones were handmade because of the way they feel.  Most of the doilies are ivory, but some are tea stained a deeper tan and some are just plain stained. 

These are the big ones.

My favorite.

I ended up refolding and storing all of the larger ones because they are too big for my tiny table.  But I still wanted to try to doily table runner I saw on Under the Sycamore blog. Using the small doilies only, I ended up just safety pinning them in place since I do not want to stitch them--at least not until I'm 100% sure I like the arrangement.  Now for a centerpiece...

   

It's Christmastime in the City

Ah, the rush of December is upon us.  So much to finish, and never enough time.  Luckily, there is another week before the Big Day is here.  Alas, I could not find my baby tree Thanksgiving weekend, so I chose not to put one up.  Sad day.  As the last two weeks have passed, I have contemplated buying another tree (then I would have two), buying a real tree (going to die), or stick with making this the only year I will ever not decorate for Christmas.  In honor of my love of decorating with my muslin, burlap, olive velvet and toile, I am posting last year's decor.

My dining room before decorations.

After (if I were decorating): The mantle, which would be just lovely with the oil painting we had framed last year.

My [missing] baby tree that would be extra-perfect with this year's ruffled tree skirt and my new olive green toile bow.