A Question

Sandra asked me this question:  Do you find it easy putting in the tent stitches after the backstitch?
Well, the answer is yes.  But let me explain.  This is not my first rodeo.  I stitched this Sharon Cohen design a while back.

 I think it was the first time I used this technique of putting the backstitching in first.  It is fun to put in the backstitching and see the design emerge.  The backstitching gives me a reference point for the filling stitches.  This means that I am less likely to get lost.  I actually don't have to tent stitch every single thread.  You just have to fill in.  So when the backstitch obscures a thread or is at a certian angle, no tent stitch is needed.  I've only had a time or two where I have taken out a stitch because it went over instead of under a backstitch.  I haven't had a problem with splitting a backstitch when filling in.  I have been using this little plastic magnifier to help me see if I have covered all the stitches in an area.

I realize that this technique is backwards from how cross stitch is usually done.  In conventional cross stitch you do all the cross stitches first and then add the backstitches.  But I sure have been having fun doing the design this way.  Just picking out a small part to work on each day has been fun.  I don't want to quit and work on something else.

I got the strawberries done yesterday.  The colors of the stems and leaves are a little weird.  As in blue or teal instead of green.

So far:

I picked out my name on the Merry Cox tray.  I am going to do some more blackwork in the center of the tray instead,

I went walking in a light misty rain this morning.  I'm hoping my mailman will bring me something fun today.
A