Hand cross-stitch. This is a birthday gift for my good friend who looks after the garden when we are away. Unfortunately I didn't do enough research before I ordered the kit and I haven't enjoyed stitching it as much as I should. It relies too heavily on back stitch to make it look good. I prefer cross stitch to be just cross stitch!

It is beautiful and you did a wonderful job. Thank you for sharing

Your cross stitch burst into life, this is really stunning Sue, Hugs Jussy :)

That's absolutely beautiful, love it! Your friend will be thrilled to get it.
Hugs, Lidia

Hi Sue,
This is BEAUTIFUL! I miss your designs on Cuties. Will they be back?
Thank you for sharing your beautiful work!
-Rodney

You are too hard on your self Sue, I truly love it. I am listening to birds sing now as I type...just lovely. I think this is very pretty.

This is beautiful. Have you tried to do this on your embroidery machine. I don't do hand cross stitch anymore. And I love it. You can make this for your embroidery machine with Pattern Maker. There is several other programs that work well also. Nice job.
Louise

Sue, this is gorgeous, and I am sure your friend will love it! I have never hand cross-stitched, but always wanted to. I am anxious to do a machine embroidered cross-stitch design now, but have always been in awe of the many beautiful projects done by talented "hand cross-stitchers"!!
Great job!
Angel

Greetings,
I've been away for a while and I see no more designs by cuties. I'm so sorry about that. Do we no longer get any of your amazing designs? Can we purchase this Xstitch design?
My other question is: How can we retrieve the written instructions for all the former ITH designs?
I'd really appreciate your response. Thanks so much

1 comment

by spendlove 22 Oct 2013

I've sent you a PM.

Beautiful work!

It is beautiful! Nice work!!

Sue your x stitch is exquisite and for me very special. My mother used to hand embroider birds and I have her pictures staring down at me as I type. Your friend will be over the moon knowing how much work has gone into this delightful present. I am also not keen on back stitch either in x stitch or our machine embroidery but in this case I think it has added dimension. Sarah.

2 comments

by spendlove 21 Oct 2013

The back stitch was essential to turn the blobs into a picture!

by apple59 10 Jan 2014

Beautiful work.

Its a beautiful time consuming design even if the holly berries & ivy leaves are mixed up together.I wouldn't have noticed that , because we do not have snow & holly here. Is it on aida cloth or linen? How are you going to finish it ie. frame it ,turn it into a cushion?

1 comment

by spendlove 21 Oct 2013

It is aida cloth and will be framed.

this is just lovely, great job

Sue, you did a wonderful job, it's beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Très beau travail. bravo!

Beautiful work and lovely colours.

Oh, Sue, now this is craftsmanship in it's finest!! Beautiful work!

oh wow beautiful

Very much work. Very worth it!

wonderfull

Great Job Sue. I too hate back stitch but sometimes it looks better with the back stitch.

I love it Sue, so natural looking and beautiful! She will love it!!!

Perfect Sue, just perfect......WOW !!!!

Can I look after your garden, PLEASE ??

XX

2 comments

by spendlove 20 Oct 2013

Any time!

by mi30kaja 20 Oct 2013

I was going to make the same comment, but it would take me too long to get there.

Sue, it is a beautiful piece of work I just love birds.

Wow! how beautiful, I am sure your friend will treasure this. Well done Sue. Hugs Sally

simply gorgeous I bet your friend will ask you "when are you going away again" lol....soozie

1 comment

by spendlove 20 Oct 2013

Indeed she will!

it will certainly be enjoyed because it is a beautiful work. Thank you for sharing your work. Amitiés de France.

Well i love it and so will your friend hugs

I think you have done a lovely job with this. A lot of work and I and I am sure your friend will love it. Shirley

Stunning

Your Freind is lucky she will love it, I know how you feel about doing some thing just not right, Good Job any way she will love it

just beautiful Sue ,your friend will love it

so so gorgeous! I cant imagine the time it took to hand stitch! what a gift to remember!! maybe u could add a little french knot here and there on the berries to make them look like strawberries or another type of berry. i think its perfect the way it is - if u dont point it out, she may not notice or she may think theres a bird for every season! regardless...beautiful work!!

1 comment

by spendlove 20 Oct 2013

There are french knots to add detail here and there. What I really need is to make the ivy look like holly to go with the berries but it is too late now,

I JUST LOVE IT - IT'S ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! LOVE CHRIS

Beautiful job!
Just think -- it is the Holly and the Ivy -- literally.

She is a lucky friend...it will certainly be enjoyed!

wunderschön

It still looks great! Miss doing hand stitching myself .

I think it is gorgeous.

1 images:[1]

Wow this took some time, it turned out beautiful. Robins might just sit on a holly bush come early spring with a touch of snow. One never knows these days as weather patterns are certainly different.

1 comment

by queenofhearts 20 Oct 2013

But as Sue pointed out, it is not a holly bush. It is ivy. Too Weird.

It is lovely Sue, although the ivy with holly berries is indeed a bit odd. I love the finch and blue tit. Is the top one an apple finch with apple blossom?

1 comment

by spendlove 19 Oct 2013

That one is a goldfinch but I think it is apple blossom.

Great work have not done this in long time. LOVE IT !!!!!

Beautifl work

I think it is beautiful sue, Love the birds

Sue this is so beautiful! Your friend will love it.

Here in Southern Minnesota we have a few hardy robins that stay all winter. They are undoubtedly retarded because they could fly away if they wanted to, which is what I would do if I were a bird. The picture is very pretty though. Maybe you could change the colors and pretend the robin was some other bird instead.

4 comments

by mops 19 Oct 2013

Our robins migrate southwards and the robins we have in the winter are migrants from Scandinavia. Every other Christmas card has robins, Holly and/or snow.

by spendlove 19 Oct 2013

But not holly berries on ivy branches!
We have robins all the year round - they often nest in our garden.

by queenofhearts 20 Oct 2013

Oh my, I missed that combination. I was focusing on the robin in the snow. You are right, not holly berries on ivy. Don't they call straying from reality artistic license or something?

by spendlove 20 Oct 2013

Definitely "or something!"

I'm sure that your friend will love this Sue! Hugs & **Loralye