Here in Costa Rica we are blessed with rain six months of the year. Yes, it makes the land green but unfortunately it also grows another green: mold. I personally have a pet peeve about mold on my table settings which brings me to our hand-painted and varnished place mats and table covers.

Mold & Dirt

Why varnish? In addition to creating a sturdier place mat, the varnish prevents mold from attaching itself to the canvas fabric. Have you ever pulled out your cloth place mats only to find them stale smelling and moldy with spots that stain? How about those pretty bamboo mats that you just can't get clean. Our placemats have two coats of varnish on the topside and one coat on the back. Moreover,  to remove surface mold, dirt, jelly, sauce, or you name it, all you do is wipe clean.

Placement of Placemats

You can use placemats in so many different ways other than as just a place setting. For example, under a vase of flowers. (I use them under my big vases of tall flowers paced on the floor). With the different growing seasons, you might rotate various placemats of different colors to match the cut flowers from the garden for an added décor touch.

Placemats protect your furniture; try placing two or three to create a runner as a center piece under a  bowl of fruit, or candles. Or simply as a decorative piece of art to accent the table. (We also make custom single runners for longer tables).

Another use of placemats is to use them under bowls of food and water for dogs and cats. We can make larger sizes, if yours is a big dog. It may seem luxurious, but it protects the floor and makes clean-up easier for those adorable messy four-footed eaters.

I love these small pieces of art both for the creative process and their varied uses. Our placemats are so sturdy they can stand up to our monsoon six months of rain and at the same time add some decorative fun.

Until Next Month...

Laurel Anderson

http://www.laurelsoriginals.com