As I started thinking about character, texture, and thread a character from about 25 years ago popped up in my thoughts. He and his wife both volunteered with local school students after school. One afternoon he demonstrated asymmetry through showing the students how his eyes, ears, arms, etc were asymmetrical. Most of this someone wouldn’t notice by simply glancing at him, one would have to really look.
Scrolling through photos for a different blog I came across the photo I took at the Bronx Botanical Gardens about 6 years ago. I’m pretty sure I changed the photo to black and white to get a feel for the texture, and tones. What struck me this morning, because I was looking, is all the great texture of the lily pad. The veining is similar and different, the texture on the left is remarkably different than the texture on the right. The lily pad is such a beauty in and of itself. The asymmetry adds to the overall visual appearance of both the photo and the lily pad.
Let’s take this to quilting. 
Here on the border of It’s Bigger than I Thought the curve of the border made the perfect spine for the feathers. Each side a little different as I stitched along. The full quilt is below.
I quilted this on my BERNINA 1080 shortly after a Ricky Tims Super Seminar. Ricky reminded us that we, as quilters could do anything we want. He showed us how to do some feather work on the machine, and when I got home, off I went, stitching feathers all over the surface of the quilt. I can guarantee the level of character in the quilt is at a high level. However the overall result is amazing.
Happy Quilting,
Teri
“Asymmetrical” seems to have a fluid feel with movement that entices the viewer into the creation and even add to the work a little of their own vision. There is a place for the ‘mirror image’ design but, generally, unless it is perfectly (computer generated?) done, any deviation/bobble can result in annoyance/distraction……..so, that’s MY reason for preferring the first approach (that and the fact I couldn’t do a “mirror image” anything if I tried!!!! LOL!!!!!). Great post!!!!!! Much ‘food’ for thought!!!!!
Love it! I am always drawn to asymmetry. It’s such an underdog!