First CQ Messenger Bag Post 4

I found myself inspired by a birdhouse in the Whispering Willow Garden motif in Joan Gordon's The Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible.  Although I changed the colors, the birdhouse was created the same.  Using brown 7mm silk ribbon, I made a vertical straight stitch.  Three more straight stitches were made using 4mm brown silk ribbon for the base and roof of the birdhouse.  I used 2 strands of DMC #310 black floss and 2 wraps for a French knot to create the entrance.

My pole is not the same as the one found in Joan Gordon's book.  Using 2 strands of brown DMC #420 floss (because it matched the brown silk ribbon I used), I ran a stem stitch from the birdhouse down to the black chain-stitched seam below.  Then, I stem-stitched my way back up to the birdhouse, to add more width to the pole.

Had I created the pole first, it would not have intercepted my short flower stem below.  (Yesterday, I added alternating short and long straight stitches about 1/4th an inch apart along the seam line using 2 strands of green DMC #989 floss.)  However, this will simply mean there will be a flower at the base of the pole.

I do have a much larger dilemma...

What dilemma?  My birdhouse is too large for my tree.  They are not to scale at all.  Had I planned this better, the tree would be about 2 inches taller, and the top would be bushier.  However, the birdhouse was not planned.  It was an impulsive addition.  I decided this morning that it would help fill the void to the left of the tree.  So, it did.

Luckily, I am making this bag for myself and I can happily pretend to be oblivious to my own blunder.

Now, I am off to the library to sign my boys (Monkey & Mutt) up for the summer reading program.  While I am there, I will be checking out books on painting with acrylics.  I still have a few fun ideas for my Winter/Christmas themed round robin coming up in July.

I do hope I find more time to work on this more later today.

Have a great day!