Sandy - I'm a sucker for the reds, too. One of my other current WIPs is Rosemarkie by Long Dog Samplers. I'm working it over 1 in Vikki Clayton's Dragon Blood premium silk (backstitching with regular silk). Here's a link to my progress on it:

Rosemarkie WIP

I'm actually doing it as a SAL with another local stitcher. I generally only stitch on it an hour or so during the once per month when we get together, so it's defintely going to be in my rotation for a while. ;)

Poppy - I wasn't sure initially about doing her on the cream, but now I'm really starting to like how it's looking. If I were doing this for me (this one is going to someone else), I probably would have gone with the recommended green as one of the decorating colors in my living room is a mossy green.