Thank you for all your input! It was tremendously helpful and I have come to a firm decision.
I am leaving the ribbons as is. The majority opinion, and how I was leaning for a while, was that at least a solid ribbon and preferably a brighter, contrasting, color would look best. I can see this in my mind’s eye and it would look fabulous.
Then, my sis J, who is the niece in question’s mum, commented and told me in no uncertain terms that the funky slightly non-matchy combination is perfect for her. And I knew she was right, not because I wanted the easy way, but because a light bulb came on about why I had wavered so much in the first place over that ribbon choice.
I knew it wasn’t what one would traditionally match with black and white stripes and yet somehow, it seemed right for her. But I couldn’t put my finger on why. As J noted, they have a Beetlejuice/Nightmare Before Christmas vibe, two of all of our favorite movies. And I remembered that if there’s a single thing my immediate family all have in common, including my late mom, it’s a dark sense of humor. It must be genetic. Because it’s very dark. To the point of sometimes being inappropriate in mixed company. I just don’t think something like that can be completely cultural across that many people.
So having a total lack of color, only neutrals, where there could and even should be color in a more traditional combination is what makes these perfect. Also, my niece has a strong sense of her own style, which I realized is why she wanted black and white striped, chunky, fingerless gloves laced with silk ribbon in the first place. Not your usual. So now I know in my heart of hearts that this funky combo, although not at all mainstream, is just right for her.
I want to get better pictures this weekend, and write up all my mods and such then!
I’ve gotten a start on the tunisian crochet blanket and I am liking the colors – insert sigh of relief here. But I don’t have a picture yet. Darn it all.
I saw this meme going around yesterday, and while I don’t do memes often I thought this was interesting. Also, I have no pictures, and I hate to do that.
Things I’ve Done (In Bold)
Things I Want to Do (In Italics)
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (clarinet)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (in FL and CA)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (once had it hit me on a red-eye flight from LAX to South Bend – the memory still makes me wince)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (There’s lots of Amish in northern Indiana and southern Michigan)
36. Taught myself a new language (bits of Spanish, that’s all)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (roof, check; food, check; bills paid, check – I’m satisfied)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar (blech – too salty!)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (my first job – a grocery store checker)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (5 breaks – I was an accident-prone child)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (I once had to give my father CPR)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant
Yay! You stayed with my preference for the gloves.
This meme looks like fun — I might try this one of these days.
So glad you’re happy with your decision on the fingerless gloves. Now that you explain it that way – they are perfect! Good decision! And I can completely identify with the Nightmare Before Christmas edginess…
You know your niece the best and it sounds like you know what she’ll like. I do like them as is so I think it’s a great choice.
Cute Meme! #26 requires more info – LOL
Great resolution on the gloves ~ and that’s why knitting is so cool ~ you can customize to the recipient’s personality 🙂
I love your list! It’s such a great idea! It’s so much fun seeing what you’ve done (surprise!), and what you want to do! Thanks for sharing it.
Oh Jillian, you must get to the Grand Canyon!! You’re not far away from it out there. It’s definitely the most amazing natural wonder I’ve ever seen.
Based on your description, the gloves will be perfect for your niece! Thanks for sharing the meme. 🙂
hawaii ??? what is a meme and where do we do it ???