Hello Cuties, this is a purchased bag I embroidered for a gift, or so that was my intention. As you can see, I had trouble with the first 3 letters and had to re-stitch over them, now they look darker.
Also, look at the bag. I did center the design on the bag, if you just look at the bag, from side to side. However, looking at the two grommets, the design seems off set. It is not. Look at the last two photos. The grommets are set 4 inch from one side seam and about 4 1/2 from the other! They are only 1/8 inch off at the top edge....now you know why I like to sew my own.My husband says to go ahead and give it as a gift. What do you say?-Tote-dly Tired Toogie
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109779Most of us looking at the first pix would figure the angles, light etc caused the illusion of a difference. It is a lovely piece. Beautiful gift.
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1135Would not notice it ...If it not showed to her!!Awesome gift!!Beautiful!!!
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66017Agree with all give the lovely bag. You are right it is not how it would have been if you had made the bag, however it is a lovely bag all the same and the recipient will love it.
I just had to show your posting comment and pictures, plus read some of the others to my husband as he thinks I am to picky. When I said see I am not the only one. He did say O'no I never thought you were, presumed all sewer were like that. LOL
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by toogie
30 Sep 2017
Smart man! At least he knows its 'normal' for us to think like this.-lol-the bag will be given and I am already on to something else. Thanks!
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360641You still did a great job Toogie and I'm sure the recipient won't mind. Us sewers are such perfectionists who learnt from an early age. My teacher was always on about having everything perfectly aligned. ❤️ Chris
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by toogie
30 Sep 2017
Thank you Chris...Trevor has planned your birthday present well, traveling all over. Hope you both enjoy yourselves. Toogie
234491Yes, you should give it to her!!! The recipient will treasure this bag and appreciate all the work you put into it...and never get out her ruler to measure.
However, I know how you feel about your work. My BIL is a professional water color artist and makes a good living selling his paintings. One day, I was in his art studio and there was this gorgeous bird in his trash can. I picked it up and asked him if I could keep it as he obviously was throwing it out. He said "no" because he did not want anything less than the best of his work out there as others would judge his work by this "supposedly" poor bird. I used to feel as you do about my work, but I do understand how you feel...but now I think about that gorgeous bird in the trash and no longer hesitate to give less than perfect things. I'm not only giving a gift, but I am also giving a token of my love and friendship.
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
While I can't rank myself with an artist, I do understand completely your BIL's view. He didn't have to 'sign' it and he could have given away and no one could say for sure it was his work. I didn't sign my Toogie on this tote,for that same reason, not up to my standards.
It will be given and I like your idea that they won't be measuring. I'm sure they won't have a ruler in their suitcase!-lol
33641Toogie, when I sewed for my children they would notice when stripes were just a mere mm off. First thing my daughter bought from her dress-money was a cheched shirt, she was ever so proud and wore it till it literally fell apart. And the checks were half a repeat off!! When I said something about that she replied that I could not expect her to buy haute couture on her allowance. :)
Having said that, I love your bag, but had I made it I would have been just as annoyed as you are.
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
It's good to know others that sew, feel as proud as me, of their work. Not boasting proud, but a pride of self satisfaction, in a job well done. I know we are all human and machines are known to fail us, even when we try our best, but it is disappointing and annoying when it happens.
Your daughter sounds like my youngest, with her remarks.-lol
I think I am more disappointed in my Vir being re-stitched than the grommets being off set. I didn't have control over the grommets. I guess I will learn to stitch important things (but what's not important?!) in the light of day, when I see better, before it stitches too far.
145302I agree wholeheartedly that you should give the bag as you originally planned to.
If you are concerned about the symmetry of the bag, you might add a small hanging tag (which could contain your Toogie signature that I don't see here). If you just place your cursor directly underneath the grommet on the right side, you will see that the design will look balanced. Your work is impeccable, as always.
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
Thanks for your recommendation. I didn't add my 'Toogie' on purpose...I didn't want anyone to know. I will try to remember your tip for maybe a next time, when the stitching is good, but the grommets are off.
4315I agree with your husband. Give the gift. Only you know the small differences. To me it looked beautiful.
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109774Definitely give it. It's still awesome and will either be used and loved until it falls apart or unappreciated anyway.
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
You are probably right.
I wouldn't be so judgmental, if I was the receiver of the tote. However, I think it is a refection of my work and I don't like people to think ALL my work is like this. Oh well, I have to just 'let it go', what's the saying? No use crying over spilled milk, what's done is done.
by sewtired
30 Sep 2017
I agree, we are much harder on ourselves, probably because we know what we are capable of and disappointed when it doesn't turn out as we planned.
11506Definitely give it away. You have made it much better quality than the embroidered bags sold in tourist shops. I think it looks great and you are being too hard on yourself. I'd be happy to receive it.
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
Well, I wish you were on the trip and the one to receive it!-lol-Thanks Karen I just told my niece I will be happy for her to collect it so I won't have to look at it!..She said she loved it but she is like all of you, too kind, so I really hope the one that gets it does too.
169064I would go ahead and give it...no one would notice except you! The Conch Shell looks great!
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
You are probably right, no one that doesn't sew or embroider would notice as much as us. I guess so much planning went into making it I feel so disappointed. Oh well, it's something FREE, for the bus trip as you know, so who should complain. ......
318426Give it. It's darling and not reflective on your sewing skills at all. I monogram bib and burp cloths and they are as wonky as a dog's hind leg, but there's nothing you can do, but center it up as best as you can.
2 comments
by toogie
29 Sep 2017
TTT was tired last night AND disappointed, when I posted it. First, I was going to take it to my 'new' friend Pearlie that has the 10 needle and stitch it there. But I have smaller cones of thread and I didn't know if that would work well on her machine. I also didn't know if she would have my colors, so I decided to try and hoop myself. You talk about a tight fit! I almost didn't get the back of the bag up, from around the hoop. When I saw I could do it , it was night and I forged ahead as I will be getting Gus and Nora today. Being night, I guess I didn't notice the bad stitching until the 3rd letter, so I had to go back. ....then to see how off the grommets were...I just want to be rid of it, so I will be glad for my niece to pick it all up. Maybe they won't know I embroidered the bag, they might think she bought it there. She can give it AFTER we stay the 4 days there.-lol
158714I think you did a good job Toogie. And what one does with love will be appreciated. I did not see anything wrong with your bag. Love the font you used. Hugs, Mary
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
Thank you Mary, you are most kind. Sometimes we are surprised how people accept things, even if they are FREE. This will be giving away on the bus trip, playing games or drawing their seat number. I don't know who it's going to.
11496I think it looks great. At first glance it is not easy to see so someone else may not see it either. I have a "help yourself" box and anything i am not 100% happy with goes in there for people i know to just help themselves for gifts or to keep. Works well as i am sometimes way too picky so someone gets something good and also gives me a chance to just give some things away just because.
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
You sound exactly like me. When I worked at the sewing factory the inspectors wanted me to 'let things go' so they would meet their daily quota. I thought about how much people paid for these big name brands and I just couldn't let it go.I would make 98% of my 100 everyday, but after 7 months of that stress, I came home. They told me it would have been better if I hadn't known how to sew when I applied for the job! They said people who know how are too picky!!!
13243Toogie I can only say what I would do and if I am not happy with any thing I do I just don't give it away. Usually one of my daughter's claim what they call my mistakes but to be honest if you did not point it out I would not have noticed
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
I just text my niece the photo and then talked to her, on the phone. She loved it and said no one but me would notice. I told her I just want her to pick it up, so I won't have to look at it anymore.
21044If that lady isn't into embroidering and crafting, I would give the bag to her. I would also tell her that the bag has been purchased but you have embroidered it. You should be proud of it, well done!
Hugs, Lidia
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by toogie
29 Sep 2017
I will tell my niece IF they ask if I made it, to tell them not the bag but the embroidering, although I'm not proud of those first 3 letters.....Oh well, on to something else Monday. I will have the little ones today, we have somewhere to go tomorrow and then there is Sunday. I will have withdrawals from not being at my machines-lol-maybe it will help me get over this.-lol-oh I just thought, I have 3 quilts to embroider before church!!! I better get busy. Thanks Lidia
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