Displaying Handmade Potholders

I love handmade things, but often find that I don’t know what to do with them at times. After all, some things are just too precious to use. Take these potholders, for instance.

I found these in a thrift store and fell in love with them because they are tatted. My great-grandmother used to tat, so maybe that’s why I was drawn to them.

The stitching is delicate and the potholders are really in great shape. I don’t want to use them, and I also don’t want to put them up somewhere in my kitchen where grease can get splattered on them.

So I bought a stand up shadow box, and placed them inside with two hat pins. (As you can see the potholders even have a few stains on them, which I think adds to the charm.)

I have these in my living room on display, on top of a pile of old books I can’t bear to throw away. Just looking at this display brings up memories of another time, and makes me feel at home.

Images from Cherie Burbach.