Sunday 28 February 2010

Not much hair left........

yes, you are very perceptive, I have been tearing my hair out in frustration. You remember a few days ago I printed that photo of my mum at 15 onto fabric to make a lavender pillow with? The one you can see here amongst all the bits and pieces I gathered to embellish the little cushion with -


I suppose you thought I would have had it finished by now. No such luck. I started, I did! I laid out the bits on the table, shuffled things around, added stuff, took away stuff, added other things...... and then it suddenly dawned on me that it was looking awfully symmetrical. Hmmm. And sigh. I had done it again. I like things in pairs, I arrange things symmetrically on the mantlepiece, on the table. But was that really what I wanted? I was trying to make a collage, inspired by so many wonderful people in blogland, definitely not symmetrical, lol, free and a bit on the wild side. Sigh. Look at this, see what I mean?


But I like it that way. Still, I thought I'd mull it over for a few days and see whether I can let go of symmetrical and go wild and free, lol.

So this morning I started again, laying it all out and making a conscious effort NOT to be symmetrical. This is how it ended up -


You gotta admit, thats pretty non symmetrical, right? But which one do I prefer? I have no idea, thats why I am tearing my hair out. Do I like the first one best? Do I prefer the second one? Is either one any good at all? HELP!!!! Please let me know what you would go for, or what you would do to change it and make it better.

I really want to get this one done, so that I can send it to her before she goes into hospital in a couple of week's time.

xxx

33 comments:

Unknown said...

Hun they are both Fantastic!! I would go for symmetry but then I am quite a symmetrical person!!! But really and truly its down to personal taste...you have to live with this pillow and see it on a regular basis....so the solution i think is to do what you find MOST pleasing to look at xx
Hope you had a great weekend
Annie x

Beki said...

Hey swap buddy, looking forward to swapping with you :)
I like things neat, tidy and matching but when it comes to creativity things often look better not being that way which can be hard sometimes.
I definately prefer the second one it looks absolutely beautiful.
Now, you really don't need all that gorgeous lace, buttons etc do you ;)
Can I ask where you picked it all up from as I can't seem to find anything on those lines.

((hugs))
Beki xxx

Unknown said...

Oh DOH just realised that its actually for your mum!! I think symettrical is better then x
Annie x

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

What a lovely idea! How wonderful to make something so sweet. Well, as much as I like stripes and reds, I do like the last one the best. The tone on tone mix is pleasing to the eye and very soothing. Love the uneven look, too. That makes it even more unique.

have fun!
beckt

Floss said...

I go with the second one, Liz.

Michela said...

They all look perfect to me!!! xxx

Rebecca Nelson said...

Be stil my heart! Your work is fabulous!!!!

Thank you for stopping by my bloggie. Glad you liked the little Tutorial on the Strawberry Sachets.

I'll be back soon to Ooooh and Aaaahhh and for inspiration!

xoRebecca

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Liz, I can emphathize with you very well. It's not so long ago that everything had to be symetrical for me too. When I fell in love with mixed media, I all of a sudden started loving non symmetrical layouts and arrangements. Your collages are both beautiful! Some years ago I would have liked your first one better, now I prefer the second one, but that's just me. If you like the first one better, you should go for it. Maybe you give yourself a couple of days to look at them to find out which one you really favor. Gorgeous laces by the way!!!
Have a nice evening!
Hugs,
Julia
PS: My word verification is repaLIZ :-)

Sew Scrumptious said...

I love the second one. Its absolutely gorgeous!

Kissed by an Angel said...

They are both lovely!! My personal choice is the first one though!!! I love all the lace you have!!!
xxxx

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Oh gosh it's not much help is it when we all have differing opinions? I love the second one because it is without the colour of the fabric. I also like the photo frame effect with the flowers. It's really quite lovely you know. Quite, quite lovely.

Those items in the top photo are too delicious for words I'm afraid. How on earth do you let yourself cut into them? I love everything about that photo. You simply must keep it out on display sometimes. Perhaps you should add it to your sidebar at the very least.

Pomona said...

They are both lovely but if I had to choose it would be the first one - probably because I love red and white stripes so much!

Pomona x

Elizabethd said...

I love the red striped one too.

Andi's English Attic said...

They are both very lovely. I think I like the second best, but my eye is drawn to the flower bottom right. Something flatter might be less distracting?
Congratulations on your fight against the symmetrical. I know it can be tough, but I think you've done it well! xx

made with love said...

Well I love them both. I think I prefer the second one slightly.
I am still drooling over your stock of lace on those gorgeous bobbins. Now where did you find those beauties?
Have a great week,
Rachael xx

Tina said...

Hi Liz,
They are both absolutely gorgeous, but my vote would go for the first one.
xx

Croap Queen said...

No help at all, but I prefer the 2nd one, although I like both :-)
Clever old stick

JJ x

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

I honestly like both very much but the one with red stripes is my favourite!

Warm wishes
Isabelle x

Kim from The Sheep's Nest said...

Hi Lizzie, They both are truly very pretty. I personally prefer the coloring on the second one. But, I would take a few of the round embellishments away, distracts a bit from the wonderful picture of your mother. I do think the layout on the first one is very nice and the symmetry is ok by me! But, in the end you have to be happy with the final product! hugs,Kim

Helsie said...

Though I like both I'm a symmetrical person too so my vote is the first one.
Cheers
Helen

LiLi M. said...

I'll vote for the first one, but maybe you should de-symmetrize ( I invented this word just now) it a little: take away one rose. Change a few buttons with the rose and the white flowers. Now you are talking business! Good luck!

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I completely sympathise with you I'm the same with having things in pairs and symmetrical although on this occasion I prefer the second "wild" one!

Victoria x

JuanitaTortilla said...

Hospital? What hospital? Why?!? I hope it's nothing serious???

My vote goes to the asymmetrical one, Liz. That's just my preference!

Dorthe said...

Hello Liz

Oh it is difficult, I love the first, with the red stripes, looks so frech with the muted tones,
annnd I love no.two for being more extraordionare, --why not make both,dear, one for you, one for your mom.....
Hugs Dorthe

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

Ta page tout tissu est superbe !
merci d'être passée sur mon blog, je me suis inscrite au tien !
bizzz

Anonymous said...

Both are beautiful ,Liz, maybe I prefer a bit the second one.
Liz, I became so envious seeing all those gorgeous laces and everything that there are in your first pictures.Oh, they are soooooooo beautiful.. :)

Kelly said...

I love a bit of symmetry! I would go for the first one but then the second one is lovely oh I'm not sure now!!!!

Twiglet said...

Both a really lovely. Your choice of materials is fab - I like the second one best.

Lace hearts said...

Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I think your work is stunning. I honestly am finding it difficult to make a preference - you're very clever to have got this far. I'd be tearing my hear out! I think I slightly like the second more, but only because I find when I try to get things symmetrical, it always goes wrong!

Bunty said...

I'm afraid that I am also a very symmetrical person and love your first layout. Asymmetrical just doesn't work in my world - there must be something in my brain that just can't deal with it.

So I vote for the first one! And I love the red stripes too!

Barbara

Terra said...

These are both pretty, and my vote is for the nonsymetrical.

Lynn said...

I like the first one, just go with what "you" like, what does your heart tell you?
I like to embellish things down one side more than anything and I get stuck on that too :)
Whatever you do, it is going to look beautiful.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Hi, Liz. Both choices are wonderful! I love every element in them. I, like you, hoard vintage fabrics, laces, trims, buttons...

and will probably never use them all. You can relate, right?

But, it sure is fun to collect and look at.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage