help!

More sneak peekage. Thanks for the comments on yesterday's. I put the paint on that freezer paper stencil after I posted it and was really happy with how it turned out... until I realized I somehow also managed to get paint on the back of the, er, item. Aaaargh!



I know this is the worst photo ever posted in the short but prolific history of the blogosphere, but it must be posted because I'm asking for your help. It is out of the question to procure another, um, thing, re-cut that insanely intricate stencil, and do it over. Not going to happen. So, I see my options as:

1. Camouflage the mistake somehow. Stumped on this one.

2. Attempt to remome the paint from this area. Does anyone know if and how this can be done?

3. Give gift as is with apologies and hope the recipient appreciates that imperfection is part of the charm of the handmade.

I realize I'm being cagey with information in my attempt to keep my gift, defaced as it is, a secret, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on salvaging it.

While I'm at it, thanks for all your comments, all the time. I can't overstate how much I appreciate each and every one. To echo Meg, though, I have not been very good about ackowledging them, and I feel badly about that. For a while I was posting responses to comments in the comments, but then I stopped because I wondered if anyone really ever went back to check. I'm going to start doing that again, though, in hopes of getting a more conversational vibe going.

Lastly, I promised you pictures of my take from the Handmade Arcade, and here is one. No, it was not taken under an infrared lamp, but in a restaurant with walls painted the color of the inside of a blood orange. J and went there last night on a date and I wore a necklace that I bought from imogene. It's a little hard to see, but it's small square green bead strung within a rectangle of ebony wood on a thin silver wire. Love. It!