Sunday, June 7, 2009

Your opinion please....

But first, before I get your advice, let me show you a couple of pictures from yesterday. I traveled to Columbia, SC to spend the day with Darlene and we shared laughs, projects, and shopping, not to mention a delicious lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. It was kind of a belated birthday outing for me and Darlene was so sweet to take me shopping in Columbia. She also gave me the nicest gift (well actually the nicest is her friendship and the day we spent together) . The blue bird is a pin cushion, but I just don't think there is any way I am going to be able to stick a pin in that sweet little bird! Thank you Darlene, I just love it all!!
Our shopping took us to two quilt shops, a Hobby Lobby, Goodwill(got a little thrifting done in there) and to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch. I finally found the red fabric that I needed for my redwork quilt. I had no idea how hard it is to find the right red - its either too orange, too purple, to dark etc. The gold and greens were on sale and I think they will make a lovely pineapple quilt in the near future. The color pencils are to try our Helen Stubbins Faux Applique technique. All in all, a successful shopping spree.

And now for your opinion. I am sorry about the big pictures, but I still had my upload set to medium in the middle and it just takes too long to upload to take them out and do over...so please just hang in there.

I removed the wavy borders on my log cabin stars table runner and had to trim off at least 2 inches on the long borders and 1 inch on the shorter ones - and then they laid nice and flat. I must have been really tired that night I put those on. Here's a picture of it in my entry way. That's a hope chest my father made for me and its the only thing that is wide enough for this runner, other than my dining room table.

This is where I wanted to put it, but as you can see, it is much too big for the coffee table.

The reason I want it here, as I have cute Uncle Sam on my fireplace mantel for July 4 and wanted to bring the red/white/blue down to the coffee table as well.And here is a close up of the machine quilting I did. I am still learning free motion, but I saw something similar to this on someone's blog a few months ago and just loved the pattern. Theirs was done by a professional though and looked much nicer with leaves and such - but this was fun for me to do.So, if you have hung in there with me, here is my question. Do I just leave the runner in the entry way as is and call it done? OR...do I take off the binding, cut the border down to the same size as the inner red border and use it on the coffee table? I tried folding the edge under and it will fit ok on the table if I do this. My mom suggested I just make another one for the coffee table, but I want it NOW, not when I have time to make another one. Any suggestions?

14 comments:

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

If it were me I'd leave it as is. It looks pretty on the coffee table but, since it's too big, I'd leave it in you entry. I wouldn't trim it! It's done well and your machine quilting looks great!

Helen said...

Hmm, to me it doesn't look that big on your coffee table.

It looks really pretty and I don't know if I would cut it down or not. It's purely a personal decision...one you need to be happy with.

I think if it were up to me, I'd leave it on my coffee table (unless my eyes are deceiving and it's waaay too big) and enjoy it for this year.

Hugs

Anne Ida said...

Sounds like you had a good time in Columbia :o)

Now to your question... I think you will loose some of the balance of the quilt if you cut down the outer border - the centre will sort of be too big for itself. So I'm agreeing with your Mum; leave it on the hope chest and figure out an other red/white/blue project to keep Uncle Sam company in the living room :o)

Salem Stitcher said...

I'm agreeing with everyone else so far. Leave it as it is. I wouldn't cut it down because of the balance of the border width to the center just as Anne Ida said. It's very pretty wherever you decide to use it!

InfinityQuilter/Knitter said...

Very pretty! I would also leave it as is! ;0)

Thimbleanna said...

Sounds like you had a great trip -- nothing like spending time with a friend. Hmmm...the runner. I'd probably leave it. I love the ratio of the outer border to the red one. That's such a pretty runner!

Karen said...

I lived in Columbia, SC for a while. I can't remember a quilter named Darlene. The shop I used to go to in Columbia closed a good while back. I would love to visit what is there now.

Carole said...

I would leave it as is! You can always make another one! No sense cutting up a cute table runner! Glad you enjoyed your day with your friend! Happy belated birthday! Cheers!

Wendy said...

I'm with everyone, leave it as is. You might want to play with how the runner sits on the table. Put it on point or slightly off angle so that the corners hang off the edge. I hope this makes sense.
Sounds like you have a good time in Columbia, it's fun to go out with girlfriends.

Anonymous said...

Leave it! I like the idea of turning it and letting some hang over the edge of your coffee table. Or let it cover the coffe table and add a white bowl with apples.

Anonymous said...

Dear Teresa, sounds like you had some fun with Darlene....love days like that......hmmm to me I would leave the quilt as it is and place it on an angle on the coffee table ......and make/measure another for Uncle Sam....Warm Regards Lyn

Marilyn Robertson said...

I am in agreement...leave it as it. I also think it might be nice set at an angle on the coffee table so that it hangs off the edge. It is beautiful!

Candace said...

I vote for leaving it as is, turning it the other way and letting a bit hang off the front and back for this year, and making another by next year and then having 2, this one for the hope chest and the new one on the coffee table. I know you feel it is too large, but for me, I'd probably use it just as you have it now with a pretty centerpiece.

Candace said...

PS Trying to do some FMQ myself, I love your quilting.