Budda and the doiley

lace is also about what is, and what is not, to be touched, which brings to mind Grandma Beckie's Doilies. Doilies are small, hand made, crocheted lace mats. While very beautiful and intricate, they were usually made to protect the surface they covered. They also are sometimes referred to as antimacassars because they were supposed to prevent macassar, a hair oil, from transferring to, and ruining furniture upholstery. In my Grandma's apartment, all of the chairs, the sofa, and small side table were covered with doilies. The only thing in the apartment that I remember my cousins and I were allowed to come in direct contact with was the small wooden Budda my Uncle Dave have brought back from his military service in WWII. The doilies gave me an idea for a chair which would have only doilies for arms and backrest. I imagined an uncomfortable stool would sit within the wire frame.