Where should I go with this???

I need some advice. I began this sheep mat in the fall at the N.Y. Sheep & Wool festival, and just picked it up again. I completed the swirly sheep, head and legs and liked it. I decided to do something in the background (hence the leaves) but didn't like them after doing them twice so the background will be one color. I chose the red plaids because they go well with the sheep...but now I can't see the sheep's legs. But I really like the red! And I'm getting near the border...more choices. Antique black looks nice, but gold might be nice too. As I look at the picture the golds on the right look too green.

Pigs can too fly, two

This is the next version with a few of the things changed I mentioned before. I decided on a brown border to bring it together, and might add more - I'll live with it like this for a bit first.    The only thing I didn't change yet is the tail, which needs help. Too muddy looking, even though it is a bright pink - I think outlining with the tan would work better than the darker blue.     Also still haven't decided whether or not to remove a cloud or two. I used all but one inch #6 strip of the spot-dye I used as part of the blues in the sky. Of course, it isn't pressed yet so I hope it will square up better then.

Pigs can too fly!

This is a little mat I am making for our elder son. He asked me a couple of weeks ago, if I had ever done a rug with a pig, as he wanted one to cheer up a co-worker who is very ill, and collects pigs. So, I thought, for whatever reason, of a flying pig, but changed it to a piggy hot air balloon. In the first sketch, the basket was empty but as I was hooking, that seemed silly. So I added a few animals.

I've just taken this photo and see that there are several things I'd like to change. The teddy needs a bit of outlining, I think, to make it more visible against the sky. I'm not liking the pig's eye. The last [rt hand] section/field of the hill on the left doesn't show up enough - so outlining or changing the colour there, I think. Likewise the ballast bags on the basket don't show up well.I maybe should have outlined the tail in the same tan I used for the pig and then the thin darker blue outline? Too many clouds?

Lastly, border or no border....?

I am hoping to finish this today, so this may be an academic exercise, but if anyone is online and wants to comment, please do!

thanks, maureen

[it is my own original design, hooked mainly with #6 cut, with a bit of hand cut in the 'fields'. All wool on primitive linen; 12" x 25.5"]