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A decision and an end for a UFO

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Barbara Hass

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Sep 2, 2002, 12:21:35 AM9/2/02
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Tough decision, but I'm declaring a UFO complete. I think I've
mentionned it in passing on rctn before. It's a seashore scene,
bordered by detailed seashells in a blue background border. I started
it 10 years ago, worked on it fairly steadily for a while, then finished
the scene, decided to "do something else for a while just for a change
of pace" and just never got around to doing the seashell border. I've
though of picking it up now and again, but there were things I probably
could've done better, now having 8-10 years' additional experience and
an arsenal of 2 years of rctn knowledge behind me, so I think that's
part of why I'm hesitant to start. It was also my first foray into the
world of linen. Not to start the fabric discussion all over again, but
it was a Charles Craft piece (no LNS where I was then), and I now know
there are much better linens out there, and the piece could look much
better. I also know that I stitched it way too tight in some areas and
too loose in others, having been used to aida (or maybe it was just the
fabric makes it look that way...).

All of this said, I have decided not to do the border and to just frame
the seascape part, as that is complete and, really, easily a piece in
and of itself (in fact, the magazine used bits of the whole picture -
shells, border, etc. - for towels and bands around boxes). I still
would like the whole piece, but will start over someday on a better
piece of fabric, when I can "do it right." (Not that what I have looks
THAT bad - actually not bad at all, I just know I can do better).

Barbara H.
(who is relieved to be "done" but still has a hard time with the guilt
of knowing the piece was never "finished" as I'd intended it to be...)

Trish Brown

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Sep 2, 2002, 12:34:18 AM9/2/02
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Barbara, I've seen pretty ribbony sorts of braids with seashell motifs
on them. And quilt shops often have seashell-flavoured prints in various
shades of blues and sands... Would you consider mounting your finished
piece on a pillow and then surrounding it with a 'border' of such a
braid or strips of printed fabric to frame it? Or, you could make a
patchwork pillow with the central patch featuring the XS.

Perhaps you could find a printed paper to tone with the piece? In that
event, you could mount some printed seashell paper in a square pattern
about an inch from the edges of the aperture in your mat board. That
would put a border there, but save you the guilt of not working the XS
one!

HTH,
--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

ter...@pacbell.net

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Sep 2, 2002, 4:13:21 AM9/2/02
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Hi Barbara,

Our tastes and desires definitely change with time, so your piece is
finished for the way you want it *now*! No need to stress over it, the XS
police are definitely not coming. Just enjoy it!

Tobie

--
In Rotation: "Millenium-Peace on Earth" by Ellen Maurer-Stroh (CCS);
Clowns (NP); Ocean Princess (CCS) by James Himsworth; Tallit Bag (NP) by
Lee; Crocheted baby afghan; Name Michael (NP); Tallit Bag (NP)
Finished in 2002: NP Shoe by Sharon G
"Trish Brown" <kawb...@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
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Joyce_in_RSA

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Sep 2, 2002, 4:37:38 AM9/2/02
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I have just had this piece framed, after it lay around for nearly ten years!
The material, cream hardanger I now realise, was the wrong count, and left
very little border. Recently, I sewed extra material around it and had it
framed. It looks beautiful, and the framer said she'd like to keep it
herself! The shells are fabulous, and really make the picture.

The seascape will look lovely, anyway, with the inner border, but do try to
do the whole thing sometime, it's worth it.

I, too, have learned so much from this group since doing it, so the fact
that it was still worth framing makes me feel good!

Joyce in RSA.

Barbara Hass <bh...@purdue.edu> wrote in message
news:3D72E74F...@purdue.edu...


> Tough decision, but I'm declaring a UFO complete. I think I've
> mentionned it in passing on rctn before. It's a seashore scene,
> bordered by detailed seashells in a blue background border. I started
> it 10 years ago, worked on it fairly steadily for a while, then finished
> the scene, decided to "do something else for a while just for a change
> of pace" and just never got around to doing the seashell border. I've
> though of picking it up now and again, but there were things I probably
> could've done better, now having 8-10 years' additional experience and
> an arsenal of 2 years of rctn knowledge behind me, so I think that's
> part of why I'm hesitant to start. It was also my first foray into the
> world of linen>

Carey1003

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Sep 2, 2002, 8:16:28 AM9/2/02
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The picture sounds beautiful! I love seascapes. How about putting a border of
seashell or ocean material around it, you could make a pillow or wall hanging
with it.

Carey

PS I would love to see the pattern!

Jacqueline Cahoon

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Sep 2, 2002, 9:43:21 AM9/2/02
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"Barbara Hass" <bh...@purdue.edu> wrote in message
news:3D72E74F...@purdue.edu...
Snipped

> All of this said, I have decided not to do the border and to just frame
> the seascape part, as that is complete and, really, easily a piece in
> and of itself (in fact, the magazine used bits of the whole picture -
> shells, border, etc. - for towels and bands around boxes). I still
> would like the whole piece, but will start over someday on a better
> piece of fabric, when I can "do it right." (Not that what I have looks
> THAT bad - actually not bad at all, I just know I can do better).
>
> Barbara H.
> (who is relieved to be "done" but still has a hard time with the guilt
> of knowing the piece was never "finished" as I'd intended it to be...)
>

Barbara, here's another idea to finish it off. I stitched 4 small seashells
as a bell pull a few years ago. They definitely needed something else, but
other matters were too pressing to spend time working a border. So I found
some very small seashells at a craft shop and attached them to the piece
with fabric glue. It came out pretty nice, if I say so myself ;-) Anyway,
you could try something like that for a border; the shells make a strong
enough statement that they may even eliminate the need for a mat.
--
Jacqueline in Carmichaels, PA
WIPS: Pear Hardanger doily
Common Green Darner
Drawn Thread Sampler
A Pennsylvania Bird
Floral Bell Pull
Pharaoh's Pet
17th Century Irish Garden
An Afghan of Birds
and a floral design on a tote bag

PaulaB

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Sep 2, 2002, 9:48:33 AM9/2/02
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Barbara, I know just what piece you are talking about. I thought
about doing it for my MIL's bathroom (she has a really pretty
seashell-themed one) but since she really doesn't appreciate the time
and effort involved, I decided not to. Even the center part is really
pretty, and I'm sure it will be a lovely addition to your home!
R.I.P. :-))) No guilt here - this is a hobby for enjoyement,
remember??!! Enjoy it, regardless! Paula B.

Barbara Hass <bh...@purdue.edu> wrote in message news:<3D72E74F...@purdue.edu>...

Barbara Hass

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Sep 2, 2002, 10:16:12 AM9/2/02
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RCTN to the rescue again! You know, it never occurred to me to make it into a pillow (I
was trying to figure out how it would work essentially having 2 of the "same" piece framed,
should I decide to work it up again - give the smaller as a gift?), or to frame it with a
seashell motif. I would've just matted it and been done, but these ideas have been so
clever that this is turning into something really fun! I don't sew, but my mom does, MIL2B
does, and my best girl friend quilts, so I could find someone to finish up a pillow for me
if I don't go the frame route. If I do go the frame route, what a cool idea to do
seashells around it, whether real or in paper. Thanks everybody! :) :) smiles all around.

I do fully intend to do up the whole thing at some point - I'm still in love with the
pattern - especially since Joyce and Paula have affirmed that this is an attractive piece
to do :)

I'll try to get a picture of what I decide to do, when I can find someone with a digital
camera that I can borrow.

Barbara H.

Di Messina

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Sep 8, 2002, 11:42:44 AM9/8/02
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Barbara,
I think if you finish it some other way than just framing it, when you
get around to doing it again as charted that it will look like a set!!
Think of it that way. You know how many things come in sets decorated
similarly.

Di

"Barbara Hass" <bh...@purdue.edu> wrote in message

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