Ok, minor setback on the cross stitch rug.  I finished the red border and began filling in the center with DMC 712, which was supposed to be cream.  I barely stitched a full corner when the color went from vanilla cream to flat tan.  Bleh!  I expected the cream and the peach/pink tones to compete a bit, but the 712 flattened out the pale green, too.

This reminded me of my kitchen renovation.  I had chosen a beautiful pale terracotta that didn't end up being the dusky desert sunset I expected but more of a garish Pepto Bismol pink.  Yikes!  I could barely contain myself long enough for it to dry before painting over it with a pale almond color...much better.  :D

I thought I would have to use white since the 712 cream color was about as light as the colors come.  From seeing the design with the white fabric background, it wouldn't look bad stitching with white floss.  When I went through my stash of floss, however, I found it -- DMC 746 -- the bright creamy tone I was looking for to begin with.

Before removing the 712 stitching, I did up the opposite corner with 746 just to make sure.  As expected, the peach faded slightly into the background, but the pale green stayed prominent.

click image to enlarge

Even though I've stitched in some of the bright cream, I am still considering ripping it out and going with white.  I think I need to step back from it a few days and make up my mind once and for all!