32. Doilies are a treasure to me, mostly the ones my mother and mother-in-law made. I have made a few and know the tedious work that goes into creating each little stitch. My collection began when I was in college and would go to local second-hand and antique stores searching in their boxes of linens. This beautiful one has the word BREAD stitched into it. 
I found this in one of those boxes and tried to act calm. I asked the clerk what he wanted for it...being that it was so "useless"...he said $1.00...and I just about hugged and kissed him. I quietly walked out the door after handing over my precious dollar, (because in college every cent was important) and smiled all the way back to the dorm.
As a young teen I would see my mother crocheting away with her DMC cotton string and tiny needle and my what beautiful creations she would make...
like this one.
Just look at the tiny detail...she doesn't use them any more around the house so I scooped them up. I have doilies in just about every room. They are art! plain and simple!
As I got older I began making doilies for my own home. These are glass covers. I found the idea in an old doily book and came up with my own pattern. You use them in the summer to catch the liquid that forms on the outside of the glass, so as not to use a coaster or have a water ring on your table. They work so well and I love them.
This doily I received from a missionary from Romania. The couple had dear Romanian lady friends who would make them doilies to give to their American friends...I love it! If you notice, the cotton thread is very thick.
My mother-in-law would crochet tablecloths. Not really for any reason other than the enjoyment of the task. Once when we visited I commented how beautiful and she opened a drawer that was full! I gasped! She just laughed and said, "I don't really need all of these and nobody really wants them...would you like to have them?" Would I like to have them? You don't have to ask twice! She loved the pineapple shape design. But what an artist she was. I miss her but have her lovely art to remember her by.
Another joy of mine is finding old doily patterns and pattern books. These are coaster covers that I adapted from an old pattern. They fit on the "Thirsty Stone" coasters. Sometimes the coaster design just doesn't match the season or your room decor...these are great cover ups.
Doilies are works of art, though some people think they are dated and unusable...I can always find a use for them.
"Chains do not hold a marriage together.
It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads
which sew people together through the years. "
~Simone Signoret
