Free-form embroidery on wool is one of the most forgiving ways to start improvising. Wool forgives uneven tension, and you can stitch without a hoop when you accept a slightly organic edge.
Begin with a square of wool felt or wool fabric fused to a stabilizer if needed. Sketch a simple house, tree, or vase with chalk or a water-soluble marker. Do not worry about perfect perspective. Folk art proportions are part of the charm.
Outline major shapes with stem stitch or fly stitch using size #8 pearl cotton. Fill areas with lazy daisy flowers, French knots, or herringbone bands. The stem stitch lesson in Thread U-Cation shows the basic motion.
Finish with a felt mat
When the embroidery skews slightly, mount it on a contrasting felt rectangle as Laura does on pieces like Home in the Country. Blanket stitch around the edge to join layers. The extra border gives you a clean rectangle for display.
For a longer walk-through, follow the Home in the Country stitch along or pick up the matching stitch kit in the store.