Make a Doily Bowl

 There is something about taking a shockingly dowdy item and instilling new life into it. I think my doily bowl is really pretty, and I love the happy yellow of the lemons against the crisp white. This ugly doily went through a lot to become a swan, though. First, I dropped a glass bowl and cut my finger while trying to mold the doily. Don't you hate that? You're in the middle of a fun project and your dumb finger won't stop bleeding, Husband is at work and you have a naked child running through the room screaming "KiddyupKiddyupKiddyup, horsie!" to the pink broom that he's riding.

 Meanwhile, you're trying to make a tourniquet for your finger, knowing you really need a stitch or two but realizing that getting Junior: A. Dressed, and B. Separated from the pink broom horse, would require an open head wound with exposed brain before you were motivated to attempt A and B. Inevitably, you drip blood on the pristine white doily in the process of trying to fashion a tourniquet. Doing this on your own is no easy feat - imagine trying to get Junior to hold the end of a shoe lace and pull. Yeah, right. Stiffened with a solution of boiled water and sugar, the wet doily was prime grazing fodder for Junior, and I couldn't get him to stop sucking on it.  "Is like candy, mommy!"

"Hold the shoelace tight and don't let go," which is like asking him not to call me Turd Boy, which he apparently picked up at school last week. The using of this moniker also comes with explicit instructions from the preschool set: "When your mom says STOP CALLING ME TURD BOY you chortle and hoot as loudly as you can and respond in one way only: OK, TURD BOY. And you are not to succumb to the stupid Naughty Chair or even dumber Time Out. Hold strong, fellow three year olds, because you are not workin' for the man.

"Ok mommy!" he announces gleefully as he immediately drops the shoelace and does another round of Kiddyup through the kitchen and dining room, ending up at the doily sucking station. You can see a wee spot of blood on the left if you look carefully. I finished the doily molding but that sucker bled into the night despite an hour of direct pressure AND a Handy Manny Band-aid. Ah, the injuries we sustain for our beloved blog readers.

 

Supplies

Sugar and water

Small bowl to dip doily into

Large bowl for molding 

plastic shopping bag

Directions: Mix equal parts sugar and water and boil until dissolved fully, stirring often.

When cool enough to handle, put sugar solution in a smaller bowl.

Immerse doilies into the solution.

T-shirt to wear that says Turd Boy

A bloody finger

Place plastic bag or wax paper around bowl to be molded (I just used plastic shopping bags) then place your saturated doily over the bowl or dish and leave for a few hours until stiff. Some of them will require pleating so decide if you want an all ruffly look (on the right) or just pleated in certain places.

I used a square dish on the left. It wasn't as pretty as the round one, but I'll have more pretty bowls to show you soon, after I can get some nice photos. Jeez, I never thought I'd have bloody doilies in my house.

Junior's horse, caught resting quietly in its stable several months ago.

 

Comments

[margaret]

Delightful:)!!!

[kim@dti]

OMG is it really that easy??? My mom gave me some of her old doilies recently (I shocked her by accepting them) and I am totally going to make bowls out of them. THX!!

[Shameka]

OMG! You couldn't make up a story like this if you wanted to. I can totally see something like this happening to Nancy Botwin from "Weeds" when her kids were smaller. I feel for you. Sorry to hear about the feast-for-Damon-and-Stephen-from-Vampire-Diaries of a finger you have. Awwww...feel better soon. The bowls are beautiful. Even if there is a blood stain. Just put some pink glitter over it. ;-)

[rainysunday]

The doilies are beautiful. I picture one dyed pale pink filled with pastel easter eggs or dyed red, preferably NOT with your blood, filled with chocolate fortune cookies for Valentine's Day. I can't wait to see your dream house (when you buy it) filled with things as beautiful and creative as you are...xo

[peggy]

Hi Pink! I saw the crochet bowl in the top picture of your bathroom, and was going to ask if you made it. I scrolled down and was so excited to see you did and posted directions! It's wonderful. I may try to make one. I don't have anyone to call me Turd Boy while I do it, so it should go smoothly. Done with calling you Scurvy Dog is he? :)