stitching selection question

Good question.

LOL - we're pretty similar in this. Generally if I really like it, then I'll go for it. If it's something that I'm thinking of as perfect to gift, I may just grab, and likely kit it pretty well as is - with some variations of colors - of course. With stitching friends I'm likely to send a chart and great piece of fabric to them to do 'cause I'm so sure it's up their alley. If I'm going to stitch it for someone else I won't do it if I don't like it anyhow, and will try to subtly get their opinion about the piece before kitting it for them. If it doesn't get good response, then I'll do it for me...oh, well.

If it's something I just like, want to stitch, of late I've been thinking about what I'll do with something - is it going to be framed, a soft finish, a box, etc. And where would I want it in the house - as this will affect my swapping the colors around. If it's a "normal" kind of design - like a pictorial thing - might just change it slightly because of a fabric choice. If a sampler, I'll definitely pick fabric and then customize the threads to be just so - usually not a huge difference, but more making it all fit together in a complementary fashion. If a geometric, charted canvas, a monochrome, or like a Quaker piece -I will definitely think about where I might like it, or often what colors I think would look good in the design, then play with it, and as I do that consider where it will go. Sort of a back and forth - like, hmmmm, I really want to do this piece in aqua and celadon - then will it work - and I can put it in the sunroom. So, I think about it a bit, but not obsessively.

I certainly don't worry about having things in the same moldings, etc. Or the same styles. We're pretty eclectic here - things find a place. But I do think a little bit about it. Especially as I've become more selective about what I buy to do, project classes I take. Still, sometimes you just have to do it. So - in a nutshell - I don't worry about the "where will it go" until I'm in the kitting it up process - which may be right away - or not.

Ellice

I guess I fit right into this category. I often stitch things just because. For example, I did a hardanger sampler a few years ago. I don't much like the look of hardanger, had no clue what I would do with it when it was finished and did it more because it was a new process for me then any other reason. It fit perfectly in a frame I happened to have so it is up on the wall, but will come down shortly if I decide on something I like better that will fill the frame and the space. as a matter of fact, right now there's a little unframed cross stitch piece in a little picture doohickey on the top of the file cabinet waiting for a final home, a small Laura Perin piece in the front compartment of a file holder on the desk covering up the mess of assorted papers and files in there, also unframed, a very old needlework picture of a lion cub surrounded by Chinese symbols that I did I would guess back in the late 60's or early

70's still waiting to be made into a pillow and several started things that will (maybe) some day get done.

Oh yeah! I forgot the ribbon embroidery floral thing I did to learn how. It's a rather dull piece, in a plastic frame and will probably go to someone else at some point in time.

Right now there are a dozen charts calling to me, but I haven't the room and I'm trying very hard to resist so to everyone out there, STOP enabling. I mean it this time!! ;:))

What ever made you think we'd to that to you? heheheheheheheh

Never - I must keep enabling some one!

C

Some charts are just - GOT DO THIS and get stitched and never see the light of day after stitching is complete.

Some charts I stitch because it it clear who needs this piece all finished.

Cheryl

Really good question Sue. I am answering off the top of my head, and might answer differently tomorrow after some thought....

but...

I never choose charts based on my decor. Not that I have any at the moment, but I will have. Promise. I would never not stitch something that called me because it didn't match a single wall in my house.

That being said, I think colours play a large part in what I choose to stitch, so I will not be surprised when I get decor if some of the pictures (or potential pictures in my stash) don't fit well. (A word of explanation--not quite ex-H had no interest in home decor, and if he chose anything, it would likely be brown. I loathe brown. But now I have the house to myself, it looks like a bomb site, but I can start over and paint the walls any colours I like.)

I like Asian designs, retro sketchy type 50s designs, clear colours. (yup, I was one of the people who liked it when Norah Corbett used that lime green.) I like samplers, but primitive more than traditional, and a touch of humour helps. I am also drawn to the macabre, like tombstone samplers, and a great halloween sampler with a worm eaten skeleton I have in my stash somewhere. I am not much drawn to specialty threads and very complicated stitching, but do like a bit of a challenge. Jeannette Douglas or Just Nan do lovely samplers that have variety without being entirely crazy making. I seem to have a subsection in my stash of charts that have to do with songs or rhymes (Lizzie Borden took an Ax; You are my Sunshine, Zip a Dee Doo Dah....). I also like words and alphabets.

For me, stitching is more the process than the product, so I generally pick up anything that looks like it would be interesting and fun to stitch and not take me forever.

Just some thoughts

Dawne

Over the past few years I have purchased about a dozen charts (they are still in their packages) because I liked them (subject matter plus color) AND I knew that it was going to be very hard to find them years later. Most of the designs that I have done are framed and on the wall of my office.

Really good question, Sue.

Apparently, upon reflection, I am driven by whims. If I like it, love it, must have it, I don't ever consider what will become of the finished product.

I think this attitude started eleven years ago when I started stitching for me. I stopped stitching gifts and requests and decided I was only going to stitch what gave me pleasure. I think I have two pieces in my stash that I bought because I knew where they would go when they are finished. Have I started either of them? Nope.

The majority of my random starts (not a class, not a challenge, not learning/trying to master a technique, etc.) are based on how I feel about the piece at the time.

I'm nearly always at a lost when someone asks me what I'm going to do with something that I'm stitching on. Sadly, my answer frequently is add it to the finished works pile.

Donna in Virginia

And a good question it is.

I've got more unfinished finishes in my "finishes" box because I really liked the charts, liked doing them but then didn't know where to put them (besides lacking a framer I like) or didn't feel like tackling those pillows.

The charts that spoke a specific person or place usually end up with the person or in that place. The "that's cute" but not sure who to gift it to or where to put it usually end up in the finishes box.

I'm starting to learn "smaller" is better in some cases so I actually might find places for the finishes.

As to you enablers, someone mentioned fractals the other day so I took a look since I had some co-workers who were seriously into the mathmatics of fractals. Those are some serious charts. Maybe one of the bookmarks someday.

Nancy

I get projects because they call to me. Most of them wind up in the finished but unfinished box. I occasionally stitch for other people, but it has to be something I would want to do anyway.

But I must say that much of what I acquire continues to call to me: I am almost finished with Edwina Gorey, which has been sitting waiting for me and I finally pulled to take to Indianapolis this weekend. I have a Laura Perin I need to cpmlete and a couple more in my stash. Of course, I still two of have my BOAF ladies and one that keeps popping up: Sampler Cove's Thriller - I *have* to do that!

And of course I want to do Amethyst Dreams in another color . . .

linda

Interesting. You must have a stash of Plum Street Samplers - all those kitschy grave stone pieces. The owner of the LNS that I was at thought they were actual tombstone sayings, didn't realize the designer was making them up. But, that would be a great collection, and I think they stitch up really nicely in overdyes, and tea-stained linen or the like. The tombstones are "The Exhumeplary Collection" - you can browse to them on her web-site - for the curious:

I am not much drawn to specialty threads and very complicated stitching, but> do like a bit of a challenge. Jeannette Douglas or Just Nan do lovely> samplers that have variety without being entirely crazy making. I seem to> have a subsection in my stash of charts that have to do with songs or rhymes> (Lizzie Borden took an Ax; You are my Sunshine, Zip a Dee Doo Dah....). I> also like words and alphabets.>

It's nice learning how we all make our choices. I'm of this mind as well, which is how I've gotten more picky about what I buy to stitch. What's the current challenge for me is working designing pieces to teach, that will be interesting to stitch - but that others will like - without making them necessarily exactly what I would do (meaning maybe just for me would be more complicated or more weird - who knows).

Thanks to Sue for the good question, and to Dawne - and others - for the answers.

Ellice

These two statements pretty much describe me. I have done lots of things I don't know what to do with and they're usually the larger pieces, for some reason: Fairy Godmother, In His hands (girl angel with a bunny) and Dream Lover (irises) are some of them...

As for stitching for others, I can stitch most anything if it's something they *want* and will appreciate my efforts, like the street scene I did for my sister. Not my colors, not my style, but she really liked it and it hangs in her hallway.

Joan

I have to admit that I usually only purchase those kits/charts that I like (my decor usually dosen't come in to it because most of what I stitch is wildlife). I do stitch gifts for friends but I usually go looking for a chart/kit after I know I want to do something for someone particular. On a rare occasion I will do a piece because a 'friend' challenges me to do it - usually they are purchased something, started it and realize they really don't like it and can't stand to have a UFO hanging around!