I really really loves these placemats as soon as I got them. They are so pretty and very sturdy. They look great as placemats and can also be used in other forms of decoration on side tables. It keeps hot food from reaching the kitchen table and leaving hot spots. They are absolutely stunning. My only complaint is that if you live in a damp but humid location they do tend to get a little mildew on the bottoms and they are not the easiest to clean if something is spilled on them. Other than this they are perfect.