How might you repurpose these?

[Michelle]

My grandmother made me a couple of really beautiful crocheted southern belle barbies. They were the kind where the skirts spread out really big and you would put them on your bed on display. I don't want to put them out anywhere in my house, because I don't really like paying homage to "the good ole days" of the civil war. I don't want to just shove them in a box in the attic, either. And my grandmother put a lot of love into them and I don't have much from her, so they are sentimental keepsakes.

I was wondering if any of you have creative ideas on how to maybe repurpose her work into some other kind of crafty item that doesn't pay homage to plantation days? These are the kind of dolls I'm talking about. I saw on Pinterest somewhere (but didn't save) where people repurposed old doilies into pretty things... wondering if I can do the same and keep a lot of her work but just rework it. My fondest memories with this particular grandmother were spent curled up on the sofa learning to crochet with her.

[georgeglass]

My mother's cousin took some of her grandmother's crafts and repurposed them into angels. They're very sweet. We hang one on our tree. It would take some work, but you could maybe do that?

[MixedBerryJam]

Dec 20, 2017 16:46:47 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

My mother's cousin took some of her grandmother's crafts and repurposed them into angels. They're very sweet. We hang one on our tree. It would take some work, but you could maybe do that?

This was my thought, too. That'd be about the right size for a typical treetopper angel, I would guess. 

[Michelle]

Dec 20, 2017 17:51:18 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Dec 20, 2017 16:46:47 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

My mother's cousin took some of her grandmother's crafts and repurposed them into angels. They're very sweet. We hang one on our tree. It would take some work, but you could maybe do that?

This was my thought, too. That'd be about the right size for a typical treetopper angel, I would guess. 

If the colors were right a tree topper could be cool!

One is mauve and cream, and the other is peach...

Keep the ideas comin'!

[BicycleBride]

I don’t know how intact you want to keep them but depending on the style of the dress you might be able to take them apart and use the layers of the dress as rickrack on a pillow?

[Michelle]

Dec 20, 2017 20:16:27 GMT -5 BicycleBride said:

I don’t know how intact you want to keep them but depending on the style of the dress you might be able to take them apart and use the layers of the dress as rickrack on a pillow?

ohh depending whether there is a “seam” on the dress that might be really possible - great idea!!

ETA or a round pillow - could close up the middle of the skirting and make a sort of round flower pillow.