Here it is!!

[YarnAddict]

The other day I tried to include a picture from Photobucket with a post, and didn't know how. Well, I figured it out.

This is the counted cross stitch I did quite a while ago. A friend of mine quilted it. We went to a fabric store and, honestly, the black fabric looked the best. My son and daughter-in-law would now like to hang it in their baby-to-be's room, but my d-i-l doesn't like the black between the individual pictures, and framing the whole thing. I have offered to redo do it to her tastes, but I seriously don't know what would work out better. I'm afraid that picking up a color in the thing to do the outlines and framing would make it, well-less striking. What do my fellow crafters think? What would you do with it?
[link:|

[2banon]

1. This is really beautiful.

Are these individually cut squares stitched on solid backing?

[YarnAddict]

3. Yes.

Here is a picture of the cover. It called for this particular kind of fabric, which I was unable to find or order, for some reason. When I couldn't get it, I decided to do it on regular cross stitch fabric, and I actually think it worked out better that way. It was a very portable project, so I could do it while my dh was driving, or sitting in waiting rooms. It also ended up being quite a bit smaller than it would have been, which I liked because the stitches are denser and the colors somewhat more vivid.

At the time I didn't give much thought to how I would join the squares and finish it. When I was done I sent it to my cousin, who is a very talented seamstress. She sent t back, saying she didn't even want to attempt it. Well, when I picked the package up at our local post office, a friend of mine was there and I explained the whole dilemma to her, and she said she would give it a try. If it hadn't been for her I'd probably have all 30 pix sitting in my unfinished projects pile. As I said, the black seemed to be the best option at the time, but my d-i-l wants only "soothing" colors in the nursery.

[2banon]

8. I think yours is striking as well as beautiful.. I'd KEEP it for myself until granddaughter is

is allowed to make choices for herself. She just MIGHT think it's gorgeous and will revere your work enough to want this in her life, displayed on her bedroom wall. She might not. But in the meantime, don't make any changes to it whatsoever.

I have the same problem with my d i l.

But get this: Before my first granddaughter was born, I came across a smaller piece, not cross stitch but animal figures and foliage cut from fabric and sewn on small squares in a similar configuration, sewn on black backing. There was a particular unique sentimental element attached to the piece which corresponded with particular association with me and my daughter, so I just had to buy it for a Christmas gift. The animal figures were elephants which signified fertility and my daughter had been desperately trying to get pregnant. Well the day after Christmas, I received a phone call from her that she was pregnant, just got confirmation from her doctor. The day before Christmas we spent together and I told her that she had that "pregnant glow" in her face, but she made no mention she had gone to the doctor to test. All that to say, that I know my d i l didn't really care for the piece, I think because of the black framing, (just like your piece) but it hangs in my granddaughters bedroom to this day, none the less.

So I'd just wait this one out. Believe me, it won't be the last issue to deal with in so far as your d i l's "taste" vs yours. I'd make something else that you know would suit her sensibilities, or crochet a blanket, just to keep peace.
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[YarnAddict]

12. I hope you're right

I think I will just leave it go for awhile, and see what happens.

The m-i-l/d-i-l relationship is HARD!!! I tread very carefully, because I want to have a relationship with my son and my granddaughter.

What a great story about your daughter! I wasn't blessed with a daughter, so I hope to be able to do a lot of things with this child that I didn't get to do with my two boys. In order for that to happen, I have to keep her mom happy!!

[2banon]

14. Yes, it's a tough balancing act..

it happens that I'm really quite blessed, because I wrote off any notion that I would have grandchildren since my daughter became involved with another woman. I thought. Oh. Ok. No grandkids for me.

But that obviously changed when they sought to find a donor, which is an amazing story in itself. Upshot is that the biological father is also in a same sex marriage, and they worked out to have a woman be a surrogate mom to both father and his mate and they have two girls 6 months older than my oldest, and he also fathered my second grandchild and everyone celebrates birthdays, holidays, sleep overs and such.

So both sets of parents are in "same sex" marriages, and all 4 sisters are all close. It's going to be an interesting life. So I just try really hard to be a good "Nana" and not break too many rules. LOL!
The girls know they have me wrapped around their fingers and play me like a fiddle..

They're aged 6 and 4. I'm heading over their place right now to help out whilr the moms attend a meeting. they also get real fiddles lessons from me!

Good luck!

[Lars39]

17. Soothing colors don't stimulate the senses.

Your quilt acts almost like an "Eye Spy..." quilt. Love the way it looks. I wouldn't change it.
Maybe she's worried about it keeping the child awake.

[chervilant]

2. I think I would be thrilled to have that work of art hanging on MY wall.

(And, I'm just gobsmacked that your D-I-L had the utter temerity to ask you to change your work of art!)

[YarnAddict]

4. She's an only child

and VERY used to getting what she wants!

[YarnAddict]

5. Also--

it has spent the last nine years in a trunk. They never did hang it, so I am thrilled beyond imagining that they want to hang it now!

[chervilant]

6. Well, I do have a personal bias...

As a child, I was disparaged for wanting to be an artist and a writer. I was told that "only someone REALLY GOOD at art or writing can make a living from it!!" (eg, I was 'not very good'). It has taken the better part of my 59 years on this planet to realize that I don't ever have to listen to those mind tapes EVER AGAIN! (lololol!)

In the last year, for example, I've learned to knit (making a pair of socks with four needles at present); I have joined the Blacksmiths of Arkansas, and have my own forge; I've been woodcarving with some master woodcarvers (and have two commissions for hand carved 'feather' earrings); and I've continued with my jewelry-making and mixed media art. I'm having a blast!!!

I love your work, and I hope that your D-I-L will display it proudly, without a single change.

[YarnAddict]

7. Thank you!

I hope so, too.

Sounds like you are loving life, and learning new things!! Wonderful. I'm 59, also. I knit like an obsessed person! (Which maybe I am . . .)

My counted cross stitch days are probably behind me, since my eyes aren't what they used to be.

For sock knitting and other in-the-round items, look up "Magic Loop." Multiple-needle knitting was always so frustrating, but once I learned Magic Loop, it all became a lot easier.

[catchnrelease]

9. I like the black

It looks like you're looking out a window at the jungle scene outside. If you end up deciding to change it, I'd try going with a dark green, at least darker than any of the greens in the squares. Should still give the 'window' effect but not as much contrast as with black.

Instead of going to all of the work to take it apart, could you somehow cover the interior black stripes with a ribbon of a color the d-i-l approves of? If there is some way to attach it temporarily then maybe later it could be removed if the black is deemed not so offensive.

When my first grandchild(son) was born I wanted to make curtains and crib 'bumpers' for his room. Since my s-i-l and daughter both like black, I found a cotton print that had a small floral print of gold and maroon flowers on a black background. It was really elegant looking. Not what is in most nurseries to be sure, but it looked nice.

Good luck! What you made looks really great. How people can do cross stitch at all amazes me.

[YarnAddict]

10. Ribbon is an excellent idea!

I'm afraid that taking it apart might cause the cross stitch fabric to fray too much. I will run your idea past my son and d-i-l to see what they say.

[SheilaT]

11. That's gorgeous.

I'm trying to picture another color instead of the black, and nothing seems like it would work. White would be insipid. Green, blue, or yellow would get lost. Maybe a somewhat glittery gold fabric could work.

But letting d-i-l select ribbons that can be temporarily attached is a very good solution. No matter what you think of her color choice, it won't matter because she'll be happy.

And I think too many people go for insipid pastel colors and overtly baby themes in a baby's room. This will last the kid's entire lifetime.

[YarnAddict]

13. Thanks! n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

15. I like it just as it is. The black sets it off and makes it look

like one is looking through a window.

[PennyK]

16. It's gorgeous. Shut up!

Love it and I know how much work goes into both cross-stitch and quilting.

My suggestion would be to find narrow ribbon in a color that works with the whole thing. Narrow enough that a tiny tiny bit of the black shows at the edges. That would give the effect that the original has.

I have a flower quilt I made (but never finished) that has black as a lattice around colorful flowers and everyone who's seen it loves it, too. Black sets off brilliant color like nothing else!

[pipi_k]

18. Wow, beautiful!!!

I actually like the black between each block