18 July, 2005


This is my latest work and I'm trying to decide if the borders are necessary. I made up an A4 size one first and that has no borders. Now I can't decide if borders are ok, should perhaps be a different colour, or leave them off???? The one with borders is pinned ready to start quilting but I'm still unsure.
Any suggestions welcome.



21 comments:

Pat Dolan said...

Hi, Ros -
From QuiltArt here - I love the borders with the extra squiggles on it! It's great without borders, too, but my preference is to go with the borders!
Pat in NJ

Lisa said...

yes, keep the borders.

lizzieb said...

Absolutely, keep the borders...the extra width makes it more proportional and the extra design elements add a lot more interest to the piece...that will be 2 cents, please

Mary Ann Littlejohn said...

Ros,
I like the borders they somehow enhance the 3-D depth or whatever of the design. The twirly bits that continue out into the border add to the action emanating from the center.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with the others, Those squiggles on the border somehow add a certain something. The borderless one is great too and if I had not seen the one with borders I would have probably raved over it and said don't do anything else to it. Maybe you should just make both and hang them as a pair.

Anonymous said...

I think that you should leave the borders. The other one works well without the borders because the yellow close to the center moves your eye out and away to the orange-yellow trapezoid. In this one the squiggles in the border do that function.

Anonymous said...

Border no; Binding yes!

Rian said...

Love the border one. It has more depth, more movement. It's definitely more exciting and visually interesting.

Debra said...

Love the bordered one. It has more balance to it than the other.

Anonymous said...

If it is your intention to "contain" the design of your quilt and draw the viewer's attention back into the quilt, then the border on the large image and the binding on the small image will accomplish that intention, with the wide border "containing" the quilt's movement more effectively than the narrow one.

However, if it is your intention for the energy of your design to extend beyond the surface of the quilt, it would be best to eliminate borders all together, opting instead for a facing or binding, in the same colors as the quilt surface, that turns all the way to the back (i.e., no binding is visible from the front). My pesonal opinion is that this is the option that best serves your design.

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

Borders...yes...makes it seem to explode from the center...no borders causes it to be more self contained! Maggie in sc

Unknown said...

I'm afraid I have to disagree with the others. I think the one without the borders has an intensity that seems diluted in the larger piece. Maybe if the squiggles in the outer border were larger and fell into the center more? But, of course, do what works for YOU! :-)
Aloha, Dianna

Anonymous said...

Ros, who would have thought that borders would incite such depth of discussion, I like the border idea as it gives the squiggles something to bounce off.

Rayna said...

Leave the borders on! They add air and breathing space to the motif and really enhance it. Also, because they are the same color as the rest of the background, they are integral to the piece instead of looking like you've added them to make the piece bigger. Lovely and whimsical!

Julaine said...

Well, let's see....it's probably too late for another opinion! I do want to let you know that I love the piece! Anyway you finish it, it will be incredible!

We're neigbors on the blog thing! I'm 2 blogs before you on "Artful Quilters." Hello neighbor!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Ros,

Love the squiggles on the border :)
Beautiful work

~~Maree

Anonymous said...

Though I like both, I prefer the narrow binding, as it lets the punch of the yellow yell out, having nothing to distract from it. I have to go against the crowd here. Binding.
TatjanaA

Tommy said...

No borders, absolutely!!

Anonymous said...

Hello Rossie

Great stuff.
The borders one takes me outwards and on whereas the on without borders takes my focus to the center - both ok - personally I like the borders but you go with what you like I reckon.
This is a great way to communicate, haven't done it before.
Love
Carmel

Anonymous said...

A late comment - love the one with borders - makes it look like an illusion - 3D - the one with borders is OK not so specialwheras the bordered one is quite special, lots of zing and grabs your attention
Hugs,
Lucy in Lismore,NSW
Princess of The Golden Thread

Claudia said...

Hi Ros

I like both, prefer the one with the borders, it flows more, but it is your peice, and judging by the comments, people like both. The one without borders, is contained and boxed in, and the one with borders flows, and make me think of music, bothe beautiful and freeing!
xxx