Review on Benson Mills Blossom Pressed Placemat by George Utley

I ordered these because I have a wooden table that I want to protect from hot food and I need something pretty. They were great when I first got them but unfortunately only about 2 months old in the gold version they are already starting to wear out badly on one of them and a bit slow on the other three. I didn't do anything with them, I just used them and sometimes washed them with water. I tried to get paint to repaint it but it was difficult to get the right color and the paint didn't hold up well. Seems like other reviewers have had them longer with better experiences so maybe I'm on a bad batch. I'm thinking of re-ordering the set and treating it somehow, maybe with a finishing spray to make it more durable the way I liked it.