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Post by jwugg on Jan 21, 2015 15:06:37 GMT
Help! How do you know when 'enough is enough'? I think probably I'm happy with the door picture, but am wondering whether adding more stitching would add to the old weathered wood look. & my view of my local mountains I'm not satisfied with the highlights & shadows, . Am not sure whether adding more machine stitching could help separate the mountains more, but I do want to keep a slightly abstract feel. Ideas please?
 
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Post by zed on Jan 21, 2015 17:17:27 GMT
I'm not an expert on machine stitching, but I like how they look now. More stitching on the door might possibly add to the weathered look, but it might also cover the great texture effect you have on there at the moment.
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Post by lyn on Jan 21, 2015 18:06:52 GMT
Jill - they are both lovely pictures! I particularly like the way you've detailed the door - and what a fabulous colour blend - and I like the way you've picked out just a few leaves on the bush and not all of them - very effective.
If you're not sure if you've finished, put the pieces away for a week. Then take them out and look at them with fresh eyes to decide.
If you're still unsure, place a piece of fine tracing paper over the felt picture and add 'machine lines' with a pencil to get an idea of what more machining would look like (it's easier to remove a sheet of tracing paper from your felt than it is to remove a thousand stitches!)
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Post by MTRuth on Jan 21, 2015 19:05:54 GMT
Lyn's ideas are excellent. I think the best way is to leave them alone and look back at them with fresh eyes as Lyn suggested.
I think they both look finished.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jan 21, 2015 19:37:06 GMT
Great suggestion from Lyn. This is a problem I always wrestle with, when is enough, enough! I don’t like doing machine stitching on felt because it makes me feel nervous, so I add hand-stitching if I think it’s needed. It’s difficult to decide. I like both pictures, but if I were to add hand stitching, I would probably go with the mountain scene to add definition. The door has great texture as is.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 21, 2015 21:47:10 GMT
Jill, both pics are great. You can always needlefelt thin strands around the areas you're concerned about in lighter or darker colors to accent and get some shadows. The nice part of doing that is you can always pull out the fiber if you're not happy. That said, Lyn's suggestion of putting it away for a while is a good one. The temptation is always wanting to make things better and thinking it's not finished. Sometimes you just have to say stop. :-)
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Post by Teri Berry on Jan 21, 2015 21:55:57 GMT
As others have said they both look amazing and I definitely think the door looks finished, to add more would risk making it look fussy. For the mountains, I would be tempted to use needle felting to add a little more shading as Marilyn suggested.
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Post by jwugg on Jan 22, 2015 6:19:39 GMT
Thanks everyone, great ideas. Think I'll add a few French knots in pink or red to the foliage, thinking of our colour wheel education a little bright complimentary colour would help. The mountains can go on the pile of 'possible fails' & stay there!
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Post by koffipot on Jan 22, 2015 11:14:55 GMT
Both are superb Jill! I particularly like the weathered door, it reminds me of summer holidays in France.  It is difficult to know when to stop and Lyn's tip is a good one. |
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Post by lyn on Jan 22, 2015 11:30:35 GMT
Jill - a few french knots (as per colour theory) is a clever idea - please show us the picture again after - the door is fab!
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 22, 2015 17:16:40 GMT
I like them both. the door is great and a few pink highlights sound perfect. With the mountains why not just keep going and see how it works. You never know and it may help you with the next one even if you don't like it in the end. You can toss it on the failed pile later it doesn't need to be now.
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