Is it the camera, the photographer, or perhaps the lighting?? I was hoping to show a detail of my "Winter in the Square", but with the flash it has turned out a bit too shiny looking and hard to see the actual stitches. Perhaps this works better in natural lighting when a flash is not needed? Anyway, I was wondering if I am the only person to have problems using white floss? For me, darker floss just seems easier to use--my stitches seem neater. But when I am stitching with white, I tend to pull out stitches as they seem sloppier than the rest. Am I the only one who seems to have this problem? I noticed it especially around the holidays when I was stitching a snowman and started over more than once to make sure it was neat. White stitches really appear to stand out more than other colors. I usually stitch crossing all my X's as I go rather than starting a row and then coming back and crossing the "X" only when I have reached the end. But with white, I use the Danish method (is that the correct terminology?)--//// one way and then return \\\\ the other way. Sometimes I think I am overly paranoid about sloppy stitches, but no doubt I am just being more critical of my own work than others are of it.
Yesterday I mentioned two new charts, and I have decided that I will indeed kit up the Ellen Chester design first. I was finally trying to catch up on my blog reading today, and I came across Catherine ABCs online album, and you can see her finished (Ellen Chester) design--it is really gorgeous. She stitched hers in red rather than the blue shown on the chart! So now I really want to start this one...Speaking of red, have you seen Mercedes in Spain's lovely "Red Corner"? I am very envious of her gorgeous red collection (and elegant stitching room!). And Mimibouton also recently posted some beautiful photos from a stitching exposition she attended! More lovely redwork if you scroll down. You guys all give me such inspiration when I do my "blog reading rounds"!! It always makes me feel like pulling out UFOs or starting new projects in general! I will have my Ellen Chester "Petit Carnet d'Ouvrages, Livre I" to plan out anyway. Now whether to stick with the blue, or perhaps stitch it in red instead??