I seem to be in a bit of a garden mood lately… but this one? This one is something entirely different.

Meet Friends by Johanna Virtanen. At first glance, it’s sweet—a wide-eyed cat, a bright little bird, and a garden full of color. But look a little closer and you start to wonder… who’s really in charge here?

That’s exactly the kind of canvas I love for a mystery class.

There’s so much personality packed into this design, and it gives us the perfect playground for stitches that aren’t just pretty, but purposeful. Consider this: the clean, graphic shapes invite some beautifully structured stitching, while the playful details practically beg for a few unexpected choices. I chose this canvas because it lets us balance control and whimsy—always my favorite combination.

We’ll build this one in layers over four lessons—June 7, June 28, July 12, and August 9—each time revealing just enough to keep things interesting. You’ll start to see the story unfold, and trust me, there are moments where the stitching really makes the design come alive in ways the painted canvas only hints at.

And the color? Oh, the color is going to be happy. Bright, fresh, a little bit bold… exactly what I’m craving right now.  OK, that’s pretty much what I’m always craving.

If you’ve stitched with me before, you know I’m going to walk you through not just what to do, but why. Why this stitch here. Why that thread there. Why sometimes we lean into the design—and sometimes we nudge it just a little further.

If you haven’t joined a mystery class yet, this is a good one to start with. It’s playful, and it has just enough personality to keep you smiling the whole way through.

So… are they really friends? Or is something else going on in this garden?

You’ll have to stitch it to find out.   Here’s the link to signup for class or order a kit for future you.