Miniature Needlepoint Nest

I have been stitching away at my little needlepoint nest

hoping to get it finished for today, 

I did manage it ......

......thankfully!
 as there is not a lot of stitches out there beginning with the letter N
and my little challenge was for Tag this week

Click here to read my original post about it > Painting on needlepoint canvas in miniature 

It's ok for a first attempt I think, Stitched in single strand embroidery threads,

I would have liked to have got more detail into it, but that's difficult when restricted to canvas,
 I suppose that was the challenge!
It was nice to venture back into miniature work again too.

Painting a Miniature Needlepoint Canvas

Yesterday I began on a little piece I have planned to do for a little while,

 it's more of a challenge, to try something new- painting on needlpoint canvas

do something in miniature again - it is 'miniature' canvas

I found this little image that I liked online at the Graphics Fairy,

 I loved the colours and it suited my little project in mind.

 first i traced the image at 12% on my laptop screen

 then I went over it with my micron pen on the tracing paper

next I traced the outline onto my miniature canvas which is called coin-net

not sure of the actual square/per inch ratio but its very fine

 I did this tracing with the aid of a little makeshift litebox

using a plastic tub and my micro light

 next ....the tricky bit with paint, I read online that acrylic paint is best so I dug out what I had some system 3 basic colours and white, a couple of synthetic paintbrushes and just started, having no idea how it was going to turn out!

I put the larger image on my desktop for colour reference

and this is what I came up with

Im not aiming for an exact copy, I just liked the image and the colours in it, more using it as a starting point

  I'm quite pleased with it :)

Apart from one pincushion and a little sample I have little experience in needlepoint, so this is a real challenge , but I'm looking forward to trying it

Needlepoint is usually worked in fine wool threads but I'm going to use 6 strand embroidery floss.
I found this little card of threads from a kit I stitched a few years ago, a gift from my sister, I used it as one of the samples require for my C&G portfolio. The colours are a perfect selection for my needlepoint nest, although I will have to add a couple more to the mix.

This is the one I stitched from the kit, a letter 'Y' 

It's the one and only time I have did a cross stitch, I really don't find it an enjoyable way to stitch I dislike referring to counted thread charts, that don't make sense to me and I find the process restrictive, there are some beautiful designs out there and my sister Theresa is a beautiful cross stitcher, I do admire those who can sit and do it but I can't, I don't get on with it at all.

I wanted to share this little Easter Nest that Charlotte made at nursery,

 but she assured me it was all for her ;)

I wish you all a Happy Easter x