I’m getting very close to yet another finish. This time it’s on Snow Garden from Blackbird Designs. Being sick for nearly a week has clearly been very beneficial to my stitching progress. 
Here is the progress I’ve made between my most recent update (July 1) and today (July 6):
I can’t believe I’ve made so much progress! I’m doubly amazed when I take into account that I’ve finished two other small pieces during that same time frame. This is absolutely not my usual stitching speed. Go me! 
I am a bit perplexed over one aspect of this design. My colors definitely look much different than the model photo, even though I am usually the recommended fabric and fibers. I’ve gone back and double & triple-checked to ensure I used the proper colors in the proper places, and I did. The only elements that really look the same to me are the peacock and the tree on the right side of the design. Some portions of the border are almost completely lost into the linen in my piece. 
This is one of my greatest annoyances about model photos. The finished product just doesn’t always look the same. Even though I still love the design, the colors of mine just don’t pop nearly as much as in the model which is what attracted me to the design in the first place. Oh well, what’s a stitcher to do?
Until next time …
What’s a stitcher to do? DON’T use the recommended colors, especially if they are Crescent Colors. When I did Blue Ribbon Designs Postcards from Paradise, I ended up with a ghost octopus, since the recommended thread didn’t have a bit of gray in it! For the rest of the greys and browns and tans, I substituted Weeks Dye Works threads that were at least colored and not closer to white.
I find myself having to sub as well, and yeah especially with CC because there can be sooo much variation between lots with them. I haven’t had the same issue with their Belle Soie line which I love.
Sometimes I think the linen can be lighter/darker as well. I find I have a hard time starting a project if I have to mess around with the colors too much, but usually feel better (and don’t resort to frogging) if I make adjustments at the start.
As long as you are happy that is what matters. But if you don’t like it…make it the way you want IMHO!
I had the same issues, it’s a dyelot thing. I went through the threads and my LNS and picked the dyelots that were closest to the pictures and manipulated the threads a bit. It was making me crazy, LOL.
Yeah, I think this is an especially tricksy design in that way–yet I still want to buy and stitch it!