Monday, May 5, 2014

I'd Appreciate Your Input

I went almost three years before I made any changes to the look of my blog (because I avoid change whenever possible); but not too long ago I livened this place up quite a bit by choosing a very PINK background, adding some new doo-dads and links to the side bar, and inserting a banner picture across the top.  For the banner picture,  I chose my husband's all-time favorite photo of his five sons with their mom (taken in 2007), because he is one person who definitely looks forward to reading String of Pearls every day and I knew how happy it would make him to see that picture every time he clicked on the site.

But now that I guess I'm no longer avoiding change like the plague (who am I these days?  I'm even on Twitter!), I'm sort of itching to update the banner picture with something that is more representative of what this blog is all about. 

I write about my sons a lot, and about the joy I get from the vocation of motherhood.  But I also talk about my best guy--yet he's nowhere to be found in that picture of my boys and me.  And I'm a Catholic blogger, so I thought the banner should reflect that as well.  Our family is devoted to the Rosary and believe it is through the intercession of Mary that we have received countless graces and blessings.  Therefore, I thought the banner photo should include an image of Our Blessed Mother (to whom I formally dedicate this blog today--which I wish I'd done back when I started out!).

One last thing: this site is called "String of Pearls."  And I know that you're bright enough, readers, to get the metaphor: my sons--and now their wives, and their children--are the Pearls, they make up the string.  But I thought maybe an actual string of pearls (or two) would make a pretty addition to the picture.

So here are my attempts at creating a new banner.  (And just for the record: if professional photographers are well paid, let me take this opportunity to say they deserve that--it's harder to set up a pretty shot that I thought it would be!)

Okay, do you like choice #1?
Or #2?

Basically the same as #1, with a larger copy of the picture on the right.

Or #3?
(I moved my little still life, because I thought the red in #'s 1 and 2 might clash with the pink.)

Or there's always choice #4: keeping it the way it is.

What do you think?  Should I just leave well enough alone, or should I change it up here?  I'd appreciate your input (on this very grave and important matter.)

Thanks!

21 comments:

  1. I prefer 2! Also, do you have an updated picture of you and your 5 boys? Jack looks so much older now. Love.

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    1. The next time we're all together, maybe we should try to set up a shot just like this one--pose everyone the same. And then I can update this. :)

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  2. I am going against the grain and saying 1! I think the lighting in that photo is the best.

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    1. Thanks for weighing in on this, Laur. I think I'm going to go ahead and change it. If I end up not liking it, I can always change it back.

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  3. I was busy making my "selection," then went back up to look at the picture you had already put up there and ta-da - it had changed WHILE I was reading the post and comments!! That has never happened to me before!

    AND - now you have the one I'd just chosen my top pick.

    Goodness. Thank you for such quick service :) !!

    (I actually like them all quite a lot)

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    1. I was going to wait and do it tomorrow...but I got impatient and started playing around. I actually changed it about four times. I'm sure I was confusing people! :)

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks! (I actually picked #2, but I'm thinking about changing it again!)

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  5. I vote for #1, because #2 is a little bit tilted. Border is running downhill in one direction and there's an optical illusion created that makes the Blessed Mother look like she's tilted in the other direction.

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    1. Ooh, good eye, Barb. I actually chose #2, but perhaps I should use #1. With your vote, it's tied at votes for #1 and 3 for #2. I ended up using #2, but now I'm re-thinking it...

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  6. Replies
    1. I actually chose #2, and as of last night was sure it was the best one; but then I read Barb's comment about how it's tilted, so I decided to use #1. I think they're pretty close, so I guess it doesn't matter too much. (Nobody picked #3, so it was easy to rule that one out!)

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    2. Well, Iris, now I'm back to using the one you chose. I think I just like it better because the picture of my boys is bigger. And you're a photographer, so I should take your advice!

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  7. I like #2, and you can edit the picture to not be crooked anymore. If you need my help, next time we're together I can help you.

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    1. I think I like that one best, too---mainly because you can see the boys' faces a little better. :)

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  8. I vote for #2. I like them all but #2 is my favorite

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    1. Thanks, "Mary." ;)

      That ended up being the one I liked best, too.

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  9. Oh goodness! I'm late! I was going to say that I liked #2 better. ;) I like the bigger photo of you and your boys.

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    1. I picked #2, for just that reason: the picture with the boys in it was bigger. Thanks for weighing in! :)

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