Sunday, January 14, 2007

Is it just me?

Yesterday I saw this photo in an ad for a Janome Xpression needlefelting machine that was in a magazine. These kinds of machines are all the buzz on the Quiltart list these days, and lots of people got them as Christmas gifts. I have wondered what kinds of things you could do with them. If this is an example worthy of magazine ads I don't think I'm interested. To me this looks like a particularly colorful hunk of dryer lint hanging around this poor girl's neck. (Or something even less appealing, that I will exercise the good taste not to mention.)

While I love most things fiber-related, I don't love this. It falls into the category of "just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should".

Or maybe it's just me.

15 comments:

  1. I thought I'd let you know you are not alone in your thinking---I don't know anyone (all age groups included)that would wear something like that out in public.

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  2. Some blogs I read are into them but it's not something I'd spend my $$ on. THey seem popular with people who make postcards and smaller things. I would definitely not wear that thing around my neck either.

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  3. Anonymous5:49 PM

    oh I hear you! that thing around the neck is appalling. How that could boost sales I don't know!

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  4. Anonymous7:04 PM

    When I see something like that I always wonder, "What were they thinking?" I'm not really interested in punchneedle (another name for it), but I have seen some really, REALLY cute things done in my children's sewing group. However, the designs are done by hand with embroidery floss, and are recognizable as a fuzzy duckling or wooly lamb or a darling giraffe. I'm sure some of the machines could do the same thing. But that shirt looks like something the cat threw up!

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  5. Anonymous7:11 PM

    You have to know that you are not alone!! LOL at that photo. I can just see you in that shirt.

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  6. No, it's not just you - this needlefelting thing just leaves me cold. Love proper felting though.

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  7. I guess it's a matter of taste, if you follow the link on my sidebar to digital gran, margaret in uk is exploring the medium with some of her friends, i have enjoyed some of her experiments so far!

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  8. great minds think alike-I thought the same thing when I saw it-wretched

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  9. "Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should." Right!
    But, Terry, you are a good one for taking on techniques you don't like. Maybe one of these days you will post a beautiful needlefelted thing.

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  10. In this discussion, "THING" might be the defining word!

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  11. Anonymous12:48 PM

    That is hideous. But I have seen some nice things done with needlefelting. Mind you I have seen an equal number, if not more, bad things done.

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  12. Anonymous10:50 AM

    Wow! I wouldn't wear the yarn bib and I'm pretty sure my 16-year-old daughter would not think much of it either--- how funny, the photo *must* have had a positive response from someone....

    I had an old friend who used to say the secret to marketing is to figure out the worst characteristic of the product and promote it as the best feature... :)

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  13. I saw the needle punching machine on Sewing with Nancy two Saturdays ago. It was very interesting. The man demonstrating, Christopher Nejman, made interesting textured cloth but using synthetics needle punched into cotton canvas. Mostly he was using satin suede. He made funky pillows. It was much more interesting looking than the fuzzy duckling wool type of needle punch. I could see an artistic person wearing a long coat made of some funky material. But a fuzzy front on a blue work shirt, I don't think so. Nice as a practice piece, maybe, but not as an advertisement.

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  14. Is that the best they can do? Now, I've seen some great needlefelted stuff, but this is a good example of too much of a good thing. Makes me ask, "Where's the rest of her sweater?" hee hee.

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  15. You are NOT alone. It is truely aweful. I'm sure needlefelting has potential in the right hands - but so far I've not seen anything that would make me rush out and buy an a needlefelting machine.

    Each to her own I suppose :-)

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