In comparison to other embroidery, it is fairly simple, but it's still rather time consuming. I do it when I'm waiting for my daughter at gymnastics or watching tv. It likely took hours, but I enjoy keeping my hands busy and am at a bit of a loss once it's finished. I'm now about to start on my fourth pair of jeans.
I too like the soft, natural hues, but I also like that you can use brights and contrasts too.