Oriental Fan Part 6 and Dimensions Came Through AGAIN!!!

I love this border but it is taking FOREVER!!! Since last week I have completed the top portion of it and the gold flecks within it along the left side. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I really dislike stitching with metallic thread but I love the effect it provides; it's a love-hate relationship! I got a bit bored with the border and so I moved on to the spokes of the fan. I'm SO happy with how quickly they are forming!

I went to the mailbox the other day and found that Dimensions had sent me the floss I need to finish the back stitching for the leaves on the face of the fan. YIPPEE!!!I haven't done it yet but am excited to do so. I've had very positive experiences with Dimensions so far. They have sent me a replacement for the pattern that was lost and now they have sent me some more floss because I ran out. I wish I'd known how easily they send you replacements because I never would have bought extra thread from my local craft store when I've run out in the past! My only qualm with their otherwise GREAT customer service is this: when you send them an email letting them know what you need all you get is an automated email in return saying that they have received mine. Thus, I never know if they are going to send me the item until it shows up in my mailbox. I wish they could send me a quick email letting me know that they are sending it so that I would know if I need to take a trip to my local craft store or not. It's a small thing but I think it would make a big difference. Am I being too picky?

What can be my useful tip for today??? Well, I was talking a few days ago about how I kept making mistakes on the border and had to unpick it. The reason for this was because I lost my pencil. Lost my pencil? Yes, lost my pencil...you see as I stitch an area I shade in the squares I've stitched so that I know I've stitched them. I'm certain A LOT of people do this but most people tend to use a highlighter. I like using a pencil because I can erase it if I need to. Also, I use my highlighter to color the back stitching lines on the pattern that I have completed. I've found this is a useful tip. I remember the first large pattern that I stitched because that was when I started doing this. I'd lose my place on the pattern but not realize it and end up stitching the wrong colors in the wrong places. I must have unpicked at least a third of it!!! LOL!! Then I started shading in what I had done and it made ALL the difference. The only thing that you need to be careful about is getting pencil on your hands and then getting it on your thread. If you do it's not a big deal because it will wash out. I made this mistake while stitching the snow in "All is Calm"; I kept wondering why my snow looked dirty until I looked at my hands and gasped!!!

Well, it's 30 degrees outside today and about 40 with the humidex. Too hot for doing much outside so I think I shall curl up next to the air conditioner and stitch to my heart's content!