SOS Mayday Mayday

Help! Dear blog friends, I think I have screwed it up. What looked so good on paper I'm now not so sure about. What do you think? Does the gap between feathers suggest the bird breaking out of a shell, or does it just look weird? Not only that, even though I traced the ring of feathers exactly as I had drawn it, it turns out to be a little askew to the grain of the cloth. I am prepared to rip it all out and start again. (Just the feathers, the birds are fine.)
Please, feel free to give your opinion.
*Update later that evening* Although it might seem I didn't take anyone's advice, I really appreciate your comments. Ultimately, even though I like the gap, I feel that my eye keeps being drawn to it and that it plays a stronger role in the "story" of the piece than feels appropriate. I'll save the gap in the egg idea for something else, and stick to my original intent of faithfully translating Louis Nicolas's drawings into stitch, and just keeping my own borders and such a bit more underplayed.

So, yes, I picked out the feathers and carefully handwashed the graphite tracing out. I will redraw the border a tiny bit bigger so the birds fit comfortably. And get it on grain this time. And thanks DebDeannaBarb, and Val for helping me to think it through.

Comments

  1. Disclaimer: lurker, viewing on a tiny screen. To me it looks like the gap is a bit large - could you put the last feather in, but out of the pattern like it's been pushed (or blown)? Not sure if that would work with framing, but the bird interfering with the design is neat, it'd be a shame to lose it!

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  2. I think the space is perfect..a bit of wabi sabi that goes along perfectly with the quirky business of the birds appearing to stand on each others backs.

    don't' rip it out..seriously

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  3. i had the same idea as Val French. it is beautiful done.

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  4. I like the gap. I don't think it looks weird. The gap and the position of the top bird's bill give the suggestion of breaking the oval, or shell, but not in a super kitschy way. I would suggest leaving it, but you will do the right thing for yourself - I can tell by what I've seen.

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  5. You took it all out! Yikes. I'm impressed with your persistence, seriousness and dedication. You have a vision and you will see it through. Or else...

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  6. I see you have reached a decision, and although I like the gap I understand why you undid it to make it as you imagined it should be...am curious to see the result.

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  7. onesmallstitch7:57 AM

    I arrived here to late to add my opinion but I know why you took it out - I would have done the same. If your eye is drawn to it and it bothers you it will continue to be annoying - forever.

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  8. I missed the question to answer in time, but I agree with onesmallstitch, if you keep looking at it, then taking out the stitches was the right thing to do. If it were framed, I would have accepted it the way it was, but I know you will be happier with the circle completed. It's lovely.

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  9. i think the space is a bit small. i looked before reading and just thought you weren't done yet.

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