[Chris Saper]

Carolyn,

Your work has grown so much! I love this piece as well.

I think that the reason that the ottoman and sandals create a problem is because they represent the sharpest edges and highest contrast, and threaten your center of interest.

You have really done a marvelous job on the figure and background, and I think preserving the background is essential. I'm attaching another croping alternative. Should you crop is such a fashion, I would minimize bothe pattern and the contrast in values in the ottoman.