Firehouse Angel Update

Gorgeous ladies!!

Gillian

Dianne Lewandowski wrote:

She's beautiful! And nearly done right? I don't see much that needs to be finished, except the hands still need to be done? I don't know what the chart looks like...

Dannielle

Just returned from Lizard Land and the Angel was waiting for me :-). She is *really* beautiful!!! I will do the hands over 1 and then add the Wisper to the underside of the wings. I will start looking at different framing options and get some quotes. I will try to get online photos of the possible frame choices and then post quoted prices. This means it's time now for those of you who wanted to help with framing costs to start thinking about your donation. In addition to the framing costs, there will be the cost of shipping the finished piece to whomever volunteers to deliver it to the FDNY HQ! I *know* there several of us who live in the NYC general area but I can't remember just who. I would dearly love to be able to go to NYC and deliver the piece in person but no one has died and left me a bazillion dollars so I need someone in the area to do this for us. I don't think we should even consider just sending the finished piece to the FDNY HQ -- that just seems so tacky to MOI!!!! Once we determine who will be the delivery person, I will contact the FDNY HQ and discuss how to go about presenting the piece -- hopefully on or about 9/11 of this year. I thought I would go to my local firehouse and talk to the guys there and explain what we have done. Hopefully, someone there will be able to ferret out the name of a person to talk to in NYC. If I can get the firemen here involved a bit, it might sort of grease the wheels a bit for us in NYC. Of course, if anyone here actually KNOWS a NYC firefighter, PLEASE chime in with any and all info, help, assistance, etc. On a related but different topic -- what was going to go on the back of the piece? I can't for the life of me remember what it was we had all talked about but I know something was discussed. Could those involved in the stitching refresh my memory? I certainly don't want to send the piece off and forget whatever it was we wanted to add to the back!! OK -- I *think* that covers most of what I had wanted to discuss. OH -- what shall I do with the chart and all of the fibers, beads, braid, etc. that is left? Who was it that put all of the floss on bobbins and put the bobbins in a nice box? That was way nice :-)! There's just way too much expensive stuff to take to the local women's place and hope someone there can use it. I wonder if Olwyn Mary knows of someone in the NOLA area who lost their stash and would like to get all of this stuff? I was trying to think of a way to sort of auction it off to RCTQ and get some $$$ for the framing that way but I don't really know how I would go about doing that! Does anyone have any thoughts on this?? So -- that's all for now. Time to go lay down and try to recover from a week with the SMDGD who is a *really* LOUD kid at times. OY she's got a temper and she's just three -- VBS! Glad she's not mine to raise -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

I suggested that we print out the pages of the website, put them in an envelope, and either slide it in between the face and the backing, or tape it to the backing. I like the idea of taping it to the backing. This tells how this was done, everyone was anonymous on the pages - that is, locations and first names only. This rather shows how she traveled and the love from so many corners.

Once you get an estimate on framing, I'll send in what I can muster. Won't be much, but it will be *some*.

Dianne

I like the idea of including the WIP photos with names and progress notes. If we want, I could Photoshop the photos and notes and arrange them all on one page, or simply do the photos and a list of first names and states/countries. This could then be enlarged to just under frame size and attached face up on the back so that the progress is visible.

She is so beautiful, isn't she? Those of who stitched early can now see that she's ever so much more breathtaking than we had imagined at the beginning.

Felice

"Tia Mary" wrote

What if we had the statement from the website engraved on a plate to attach to the front of the frame? I'm talking about this statement: "In commemoration of the honor, selflessness and devotion to their fellow man as events unfolded in New York City on September 11, 2001.

The reason I'm thinking of putting this on the front is so that people visiting the station can see the reason why there's an angel there. I don't think its presence should be *totally* without credit after all the work that's gone into her.

I just called a trophy shop and it wouldn't be very expensive. I could have it done up and send to Tia Mary when she takes is to the framers. Or maybe the framer might have some idea how to incorporate it...

My 2 cents-worth...

Joan

I *really* like that idea, Joan. That would make a lot of sense to someone who just happened across the piece in the firehouse. It would bring life, the reason and commitment to the picture.

My non-stitching 2 cents!

Gill

Wouldn`t it be wise to put it some sort of bag when you do that so the print doesn`t come through in time?

Pat P

Love it, Joan. I was trying to figure out how we could incorporate that sentiment. It could be placed on the matte. I'm looking at an award I received many years ago, framed (logo of the city), and the brass plaque is glued to the matte. That way, it wouldn't interfere with the frame type.

As an aside, I couldn't remember how to spell "mat", so I looked up "matte" and it's some kind of gooey metal. So, I looked up "mat" and the first definition didn't fit. But below that was: mat, matt, matte (a mount for pictures). I'll be darned. You can get away with all three.

Now, about the: it wouldn't cost too much. (rhetorical) That's really, really k> What if we had the statement from the website engraved on a plate to

Oh, could you really do that? Sounds good! Can you grab those images off the web? Whatever the group wants to do.

Pretty soon that web site will come down. What a long trail this has been, and what a grand accomplishment. I'm so very proud to have been a small part of it.

Dianne

Excellent idea, Joan. People who see the Angel may well be puzzled, and this would tell them "why".

Felice

I'll take the photos and rough up something as an example of what might be done. I'll let you know when I have something, and I can either post it with a tinypic link or email it to those interested.

Felice

What do you guys thing of attaching some sort of large envelope or clear plastic sleeve type thing to the back of the piece and putting any papers into that? I'm afraid that any papers taped to the back of the piece might come "unstuck" over time. I like the idea of the little "plaque" to be put on the frame or matte. Of course, I'm not sure if there will even be a matte since that would mean an additional expense for the matte AND a larger frame & glass. UMMM -- I am assuming here that you guys trust MOI to be honest and up front about the cost of the framing, etc. The type of frame, etc. we use will be determined by the amount of money that is donated! Whatever is done, I will make sure that I have receipts, etc. made available to everyone who wants a copy. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

As a former NewYawker, I feel duty bound to contribute towards the cost of finishing. Please contact me off list so I can send you some money.

I will hold off on the plaque until we get closer to the end of the process, although you should mention it to the framer since that may make a difference. I suppose we could just have a separate plaque to hang underneath it, too.

Joan

Hi Everyone, I live on Long Island, and if there's no one closer, I'll do the delivery. But since I didn't live here when it happened, if there's someone else local, I'd feel better about that. I'm more than willing to contribute to the cost of framing as well, Tia Mary, please email me at heather.eberhardt @ gmail.com and we'll work it out. I'm so glad she's finally getting so close to done and will certainly go see her after presentation so I can just marvel at it. I worked on her very early on and was thrilled with what I saw then. Heather

They could get separated, unintentionally, during a remodel (or just a painting of the wall) for example.

But whatever you guys decide, I'll be happy to contribute a few $ towards the finishing.

Why don't you see what the framer suggests about attaching the papers? Have we decided about the chart itself? I think most of us had signed and dated close to the spot that we stitched. That wouldn't need to be on the back with the progress, but perhaps sandwiched inside? I just kinda feel the chart should go with her. And I love the idea of a small plaque. I hope that's able to be worked out.

If no one else is interested in the beads and fibers that were left over and you decide against an auction, I'd be happy to purchase them. I actually have the chart in my to-do pile, so they would be put to good use.

Carolyn