Since we have been snowed in more times than I want to count, I have gotten in a lot of stitching time.  I guess there’s worse things.

Needle Deeva’s Birdhouse Garden is one of the many pieces that I am currently working on.  A number of people have already signed up to stitch along with me.  You can always join in.  I’m just waiting for canvases to arrive and then I will get the first installment out.

I did a laid and tied stitch for the roof of the birdhouse.  Reverse check is a great stitch for the side of a house.  Very simple, but a nice texture.  Didn’t need a busy stitch on the house with a bold purple roof!

Colonial knots are my new favorite thing.  They add so much dimension to your stitching.

The red birdhouse started with me looking at a stitch diagram, then realizing the cross stitches were to compact for what I was looking for.  So, I laid in the cross stitches and realized it was WAY too open.  So, I went back with a Kreinik called “Chili Pepper” and laid in a design.  I think it turned out pretty cool.

I think the flower made of sequins is my favorite.  The sequins are actually purple.  Photography . . .not my best feature.

Some of the flowers were painted as semi circles and I thought I would just cut sequins in half.  Not a good idea  I wouldn’t try it if I were you.  So , I figured out another way around that.  The answer is in the stitch guide.

The bee skep, (boy the things I learn through needlepoint) isn’t exactly realistic looking.  I always research things in pieces I’m stitching with Google Images.  I have files upon files on my computer of what appear to be the most random things.  I didn’t want this to be realstic looking, like  a basket because that is just not the mood of this piece.  This  design is very whimsical, almost cartoonish.  So, you gotta work with what ya got.