It's sad the tradition of wearing them to church is over. Maybe you should be a rebel and wear them again. My "crazy" Aunt decided she couldn't stand to part with all of her church hats and started wearing them again. Now, 1 year later there is a whole church full of ladies wearing them. I think everyone missed them but didn't have the nerve to wear them when no one else was wearing them. They even have some of the preschool girls wearing them. It's adorable.

There are ladies and girls who choose to wear the chapel veils and mantillas in our church.

With the smaller ones, you can drape them over bowls and spray with fabric stiffener to make lace bowls for a vanity or dresser top.

This was also my first thought. And, the picture suggestion added to it was a neat idea too.

I make mantillas for a living and while I can appreciate your wanting to do something special with them, I am cringing at the thought of them being hacked apart! *sigh*

Thanks for all the good ideas. I like the idea of wearing them again - might start a trend here, too. That would save cutting them up.

I'll post pics when I do something, probably after the first of the year.

Fredda

I have some of those as well. They are keeping my cedar chest company for now. I have pictures of me wearing them in my Easter dress.

Oh, I remember when we had to wear mantillas or hats to church. If we didn't have either with us, we put a hankie on our heads.

As one who still wears my Mantillas, I would find a Church where they are still worn and donate them to be used by women who attend Mass without knowing that head coverings are used in that Catholic Church. This is done in one of our churches here in Albuquerque. My mom used the rounds, I prefer larger laces I've made for myself. :o)

These would be beautiful used on a fan quilt, if you wouldn't mind cutting them. Cut them with the lace pattern and hand stitch them after quilting into a semi-circle, down close to the bottom edge of the fans.The round ones can be placed sort of in a "spot of honor".You could make 2 lap quilts and each sister would have one. I'm not sure I have made my ideal clear,but this would be a special way to use these beautiful pieces.