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Need Uses for Old Lace

17 years ago

Am getting ready to put several yards of different types of old lace in my antique/flea market booth. I like to include ideas with some of my "stuff" to help others visualize what they can do with it. I've seen a "Sampler" type piece of art - samples of white and ecru lace on a black background and framed. Don't know where I saw it, but I need some more ideas.

Put your thinking caps on for me, wouldya!? TIA

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Comments (7)

TwoMonths
17 years ago
Lace on a sachet pillow, small enough for display for your booth. Lace on a small lampshade. Lace on a makeup case or a soft case for unmentionables for packing in suitcase.

I have seen lace wrapped around tree shaped foam and pin on buttons. Lace on a small thread box with padded top for needles. Lace made into flower on a hair clip or lapel pin. good luck....love old lace
des_arc_ya_ya
Original Author
17 years ago
Aww...thanks - those are all great ideas. Plan on putting a sign by the tray holding all of them (just to spark the imagination...)

Anybody else?
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For the lace pieces, I can think of two things to try. I need to stress that I have never done this, so I have no idea if either of these ideas will work. First, I'm guessing that the lace pieces are made of cotton thread. There's a way of "wallpapering" walls with cotton fabric and liquid starch. You soak the fabric in the starch and apply it to the walls, smoothing out any bumps or bubbles. When the starch dries, it holds the fabric to the wall. You could try this with the lace. Thoroughly soak the lace pieces in liquid starch, wring them out and put them on the wall where you want them. Use your fingers and some sort of straight edge to gently smooth them out. You may need to find some way of holding them on the wall until the starch dries. I have no idea what the wet starch will do to the paint on the wall. You may want to test it in some hidden corner. The other idea also involves liquid starch. Thoroughly wet the lace and wring it out. Then put it on a flat surface and gently smooth it out. Leave it to dry. When it's dry, it should be stiff enough to hang on the wall. Use teeny tiny finishing nails, spaced to accommodate some of the existing holes in the lace. You will need to handle the piece carefully, so that you don't crack the starch. If neither of those ideas work, I've seen frames that are two pieces of glass held together by clips on the edges. You could sandwich a piece of lace between the glass. You'd be able to see the glass, but it would still give sort of an appearance that the lace was floating on the wall.
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leveta
17 years ago
On a movie yesterday(The patroit)that in the wedding scene the girl had on wide lace tied with ribbon at the neck. I thought, hummm, take 2 pieces and sew them together and leave room in the middle to run your ribbon. Colonial style chocker.
User
17 years ago
Check out this link. There is an interesting apron and a journal and address book with lace on it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pandora's Button Box
jaybird
17 years ago
different kinds of lace pieces on denim vests and jackets. I get all sorts of compliments when I wear mine. I also added a few beads and some ribbon roses.
luckygal
17 years ago
Heavy cotton lace could be used instead of ribbon for a French memo board with buttons where they cross.

Decorate small bottles with lace at the neck instead of ribbon and fill with beads or glass chips.

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lydia1959
17 years ago
This picture shows it used on shelves. I love the ornaments hanging from there! Maybe some inspiration for you?

Here is a link that might be useful:

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