Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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I would love some feedback on a gift I am making for my boss who is blind. (self.Blind)
submitted by ItsMeMurphYSlaw
Hi r/Blind! I was hoping that you could help me out with a gift I am making for my boss. I've been working for him for the past five years, and we've become good friends. Because I've recently graduated college, and this was always meant to be a part time job, it will likely be the last year I'm working for him. He really loves to celebrate his birthday, and I wanted to do something with some extra thought in it. He has a ridiculously off color sense of humor, and always laughs when I make a joke about "behold the field in which I grow my fucks, lay thine eyes upon, it and see that it is barren!". I've gotten into cross stitch, and I found a pattern that is really old timey looking with that phrase across the top and a small farm house and a castle, with an empty field between the two on the bottom half. Its fabulous, and its huge- much bigger than any other project I've ever tackled, and will have taken me hundreds of hours to complete by the time I'm done. I'm so proud of it, and I really think he's going to love it as he is currently decorating his new office and enjoys picking out decor.
I'm not sure how much this is relevant to my question, but in case it is, he is one hundred percent blind. So my question is this: Ultimately I want to have the piece framed, but I can't decide if I should do that before or after I give it to him. My boyfriend thinks I should have it professionally framed and then give him the finished piece so it looks its best and he can just keep it. I was leaning towards giving him the cross stitch before its framed, because that way he'd be able to check it out and get an idea of what it looks like. Part of the reason I picked cross stitch as a medium is because it has good texture to it and I really think he could get an idea of the image on the cloth by feeling the stitches. I thought it might make the present more special that way. I was going to give it to him just as cloth, and then take it back to have it framed behind glass and everything so its preserved, and then give it back to him so he can hang it.
As someone with a severe visual impairment, would you have a preference? Would you rather be given a polished and completely finished present or would it be meaningful to have a chance to check it out before it got to that state? Is there anything that I'm not considering? I know this is a small potatoes problem, but considering how much I'm putting into the piece I really just want to make it the best gift/gift giving experience I can. Thanks for your insight!
I'm not sure how much this is relevant to my question, but in case it is, he is one hundred percent blind. So my question is this: Ultimately I want to have the piece framed, but I can't decide if I should do that before or after I give it to him. My boyfriend thinks I should have it professionally framed and then give him the finished piece so it looks its best and he can just keep it. I was leaning towards giving him the cross stitch before its framed, because that way he'd be able to check it out and get an idea of what it looks like. Part of the reason I picked cross stitch as a medium is because it has good texture to it and I really think he could get an idea of the image on the cloth by feeling the stitches. I thought it might make the present more special that way. I was going to give it to him just as cloth, and then take it back to have it framed behind glass and everything so its preserved, and then give it back to him so he can hang it.
As someone with a severe visual impairment, would you have a preference? Would you rather be given a polished and completely finished present or would it be meaningful to have a chance to check it out before it got to that state? Is there anything that I'm not considering? I know this is a small potatoes problem, but considering how much I'm putting into the piece I really just want to make it the best gift/gift giving experience I can. Thanks for your insight!
kissitallgoodbye 12 points 3y ago
Honestly, I would either put it in a big enough hoop and trim the excess cloth or frame it without the glass (mount it, I suppose is the better term) so he could always feel it.
gelema5 4 points 3y ago
Was thinking the same thing. You can get cross stitch framed without glass.
pterofly 3 points 3y ago
This was my first thought also.
ItsMeMurphYSlaw [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I will definitely consider this, it sounds like a lot of people agree that it would make it extra special!
kissitallgoodbye 1 points 3y ago
Reading your other comments,you're concerned about discolouration. If it's meant to be a wall piece, he won't be touching it all the time, so it won't yellow from the oils in his hands. Someone mentioned cigarette smoke, and that could still seep in around the glass - even if it doesn't discolour, the medium will stink. A sealant spray would help keep it crisp, or you could dye the medium beige or use tan linen (for a more medieval feel, with the "thine"s) and it would disguise any yellowing
blackberrybunny 4 points 3y ago
My vote, as a legally blind person my entire life, it to let him feel it and THEN have it framed professionally. You don't want all of that hard work to not be protected by glass. He'll get a much better idea of what it looks like if he can feel it first. Sounds awesome!
ItsMeMurphYSlaw [OP] 2 points 3y ago
I am kind of leaning towards this. Several people thought that I could get away with framing it without glass that way I could give it to him finished and still allow him to check it out, which is still a creative solution. However, I would be worried about the cloth getting dirty or damaged over time (it is on off white cloth), and that would make me sad. Thanks for your input!
blackberrybunny 2 points 3y ago
You are welcome. After all of the time and money you spend on this amazing large project, you definitely do NOT want it to be uncovered. Your friend just needs to feel it one time to get what it looks like. After that, have it under glass. I don't want to sound disrespectful, but a lot of people still enjoy a cigarette now and then, and if your friend, or his friends, come around and smoke around an art piece like this, it WILL take up some of the smoke and yellow over time. You certainly don't want that to happen!
We'd love to see a photo of it when its finished, if you could.... I know I am curious to see it myself. What a great gift!
We'd love to see a photo of it when its finished, if you could.... I know I am curious to see it myself. What a great gift!
laconicflow 4 points 3y ago
Your idea is better, at least in my opinion.
The point isn't that I can see what you knitted, (cross stitch is knitting, right?) the point is that I know it's there, I know its funny and I know other people will see it. I mean, being 100% blind, if I buy a lava lamp, I'm not buying it to look at it, I'm buying it to make a statement.
But letting him touch all your work will probably, almost undoubtedly make the gift more meaningful for him because he'll get more of an idea of how hard you worked without you having to say anything.
The point isn't that I can see what you knitted, (cross stitch is knitting, right?) the point is that I know it's there, I know its funny and I know other people will see it. I mean, being 100% blind, if I buy a lava lamp, I'm not buying it to look at it, I'm buying it to make a statement.
But letting him touch all your work will probably, almost undoubtedly make the gift more meaningful for him because he'll get more of an idea of how hard you worked without you having to say anything.
ItsMeMurphYSlaw [OP] 1 points 3y ago
That was my hope! Thank you for the perspective! Also, cross stitching is definitely knitting adjacent. Its basically stitching images onto cloth using a million tiny x's. Its not quite as 3D as knitting, but it has texture to it.
MostlyBlindGamer 3 points 3y ago
I would do all the prep work for framing (go to the store, pick a grand) and present the gift outside any frame, so he can enjoy the full experience.
You could even ask the framers if you can take the frame before it's fully mounted and then bring it back to finish the job.
You could even ask the framers if you can take the frame before it's fully mounted and then bring it back to finish the job.
ItsMeMurphYSlaw [OP] 2 points 3y ago
This would be really cool. The framers is actually only a few blocks from the office, I might even be able to just walk down there with him and that way he could help pick out the frame he want,s too. I was also thinking about keeping my eyes open for a vintage frame that would be more unique, which I could just put together myself, but there's not a lot of opportunity for estate sale shopping right now!
MostlyBlindGamer 2 points 3y ago
Taking him to the store sounds great.
Whatever you end up doing, it's clear you're putting a lot of thought and energy into this and I'm sure he'll be happy.
Whatever you end up doing, it's clear you're putting a lot of thought and energy into this and I'm sure he'll be happy.
AlexDalcourt 2 points 3y ago
Frame without glass! Makes it so much more special
ItsMeMurphYSlaw [OP] 1 points 3y ago
See, I'm torn, because if there were no glass then it would be easier for him to check it out whenever he wants, but I'm worried about it getting ruined over time with no protection. I wonder if there would be a way to frame it with a glass or plexiglass cover that would be less permanent so he could pop it off or remove it if he wanted to... I don't even know if such a thing exists, i'm probably making this too complicated. Lol. Thanks for your recommendation!
AlexDalcourt 1 points 3y ago
What if you found a glass that would slide off, easily removed and replaced but protected when not being used
ItsMeMurphYSlaw [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Maybe like a shallow shadow box or something, that's a really creative idea!
AlexDalcourt 1 points 3y ago
You could always frame and put up a copy of the work and he can keep the original in a safe space
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