Moovelous Monday

 Someone left the  wide gate open, and all of my barnyard friends have made  their way into  the house to celebrate the Christmas season!  

               

A very Moovelous Monday to you, Sweet Friends. Welcome! 

The other day I hinted around to Mr. Pinker that I would like to put up the Christmas tree downstairs. After running some errands, I came home to see my raggedy 6 1/2 foot  tree already downstairs waiting for me.  Aaw how sweet of Mr. Pinker. 🤗

 I could not decorate it quick enough. It was not long before chickens came to roost on the very top of the tree. Years ago I stitched this piece for my oldest grandson .It is a Kathy Barrick design which was in the 2001 Just Cross Stitch Magazine .  Anywhoo....Mr. Pinker's nickname for our grandson is Rooster so this ornament is very befitting and always goes front and center.  

        

Then I tucked Barnyard  stitches here and there and everywhere.  You may notice teeny tobacco baskets as well. In years past, my family grew burley tobacco. 

A little wooden pig ornament is in memory of our pig farming days. 

I miss our little oinkers; so does Mr. Pinker. 

Of course there are felted cows and little milk cans. 

 Because the tree no longer has its legs, its trunk is tucked in a wood stove pipe. Then...the tree is tucked in Granny's old galvanized wash tub. Yep rusty and crusty- just the way I like it. 

But look what I used for my tree skirt!  A ring of vintage and antique cow bells. 🐮🐮🐮

So here is this year's Barnyard Tree in all it's glory. I still need to change out the decor on the shelves, but I am nearing a finish. I had wanted to add the John Deere pedal tractor, but I could not squeeze it in . Maybe next year. 

I have shared most of the ornaments on  this tree over the years in my Barnyard  Christmas series. If you see any that you are interested in ,  check out this year's Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025.

Alrighty y'all that is the first of this year's trees. 

Have you got your tree up yet? Or are you waiting until it gets a little closer? 

Have a mooo-arvelous day!  And thank you for dropping by. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"It may be a simple life but it's honest , humble and honorable and it's the only life for me. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved the farm , Christmas time and all things rusty and crusty-.  I love and miss you so much.. Amo. 

The extra  cow bells were placed on the freestanding gas stove. 

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I Have A Finish! Peppermint Pinwheels

 "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Hum, Hum, Sew, Sew, Sew" sang Miss Behulah. 

After the knock out drag out , I had the other day  with Miss Behulah my Brother sewing machine  , she was ready to cooperate and sew her little heart out. 

It was not long before she and I had the borders attached to my Miss Peppermint Pinwheels top. 

I was happy as a clam to have the top finished, and Miss Behulah sighed with relief that she was not going to the ole'  scrap yard. 

Anywhooo... Here she is ! Miss Peppermint Pinwheels in all her glory.  Is she not yummy?!

 

Miss Peppermint Pinwheels is made up of 72 eight inch blocks. and measures  75" x 83" . 

A perfect size for those cold winter nights when one wants to sit on the couch and eat peppermints . Right?  

"Will I go in the hoop today? " asked Miss Peppermint Pinwheels sweetly. 

Edna is not interested in seeing the quilt. Oh bother. 

"Oh, I would love to have you in the hoop, Honey, but you will have to wait patiently until the next available hoop is free." 

I didn't have the heart to tell her that another quilt , "Miss Pretty in Peach" may jump ahead of her once that the blocks are all pieced. Oh well, Miss Peppermint Pinwheels is understanding. I will break it to her later that she will probably be my summer 2026 quilt project.

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Peppermint kisses and warm winter wishes, !!!!

Melisa 

"Stop and smell the peppermints. " 

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy .  I love and miss you so much.. Amo. 

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 I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needleworkers to meet. 

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A Bad Day with Behulah

 "Today is the day!" I shouted .

 

These blocks measure 8 1/2" squared unfinished. 

I was as excited as a kid in a candy store for I was going to finish piecing my Peppermint Pinwheels quilt which has been in the works for a few weeks. Well that is what I had in mind. But .... Behulah my Brother sewing machine had something else in mind... 

"We are going to get to work, sweet Behulah," I said as I patted her arm. 

" Grrrrr," she moaned. 

I busily worked on cutting 2 " inner border strips from my green Santa fabric which was a gift from my sweet nephew that he gave me two short years ago .

Then I cut  4 1/2" strips from the red polka dot fabric for the outer border. While I was busy cutting away, Behulah sat on the table unamused as to what was in store for her.

 

 As soon as the cutting was done, I turned to Behulah and said with a smile,  "Here we are! Are you ready to get busy? " 

 

I flipped the "ON " switch  and Behulah sighed with a big "Hmmmpph"

" What's up Buttercup?" I inquired. 

But she said nary a word.    I soon began to try to sew, but Miss Behulah was not having it. 

"Grumble Grumble, Clankity Clankity," she rattled. I knew she was not in a good mood, and I could feel the tug of the needle . I peeked underneath the fabric and saw the bobbin thread was all tangled. 

" Now Miss Behulah, I just cleaned you the other day, " I said. 

Again silence. So I changed out the bobbin, changed the thread and gave her a little pat . 

"Are you good, girl? " I asked. Again silence. So I shrugged my shoulders and tried to sew the inner border for the second time. 

"Clankity Clankity, Clank" went Behulah! 

 "EEEK! " I screached when the needle broke!  I rummaged through my cabinet and found another needle. 

"Come on , girl, " I pleaded with Behulah. 

 " Grumble , Grumble, Snap! " said Behulah as she broke the 2nd needle. 

"Double EEEEK! " I screamed. Now I would be fibbing if I said I was as cool as a cucumber at this point.  But I gathered my wits all ten of them  and calmly said" Well, Behulah, you have had a good run. Maybe it is time to put you out to pasture. " 

From the corner of my eye, I could see Behulah quiver. "What are you saying? " she asked. 

 "Aaah nothing other than there may be another  place for you. "

 Behulah had heard the stories of where the other naughty sewing machines go- down to the cold and dusty garage to sit all alone forever and ever - long forgotten. 

"I don't want to go there. " she replied. 

"Hmmmpph " I replied. I looked out the window over the hill. 

Behulah then screamed,  "NO NOT THERE! NOT JUNK YARD HILL!" she pleaded.  

 I smiled and winked at her.  Two can play at this game I thought.  Junk yard hill is a place on the farm where some junk goes . Most farms around here have one for old equipment and such. 

"I will give you one more chance," I told Behulah. Quietly, I picked her up and took her downstairs and explained the situation to Mr. Pinker. Mr. Pinker then looked her over and found where a piece of metal had came loose in the bobbin case. He gave her some tender love and care and then returned her to me to test. 

Miss Behulah began to hum and buzzed right along . I gave her a pat. "No Junkyard Hill today, Behulah. " 

Wow ! What should have taken just a couple of hours took all day long. I will finish up Peppermint Pinwheels today.  That is if Behulah does not get her "bobbin panties" in a wad. 

Have you ever had to give your sewing machine a good talking to? Hee! Hee!  I hope your machine is not as ornery as  Miss Behulah. 

Have a beautiful day, Sweet friends and thank you for dropping by. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Any day spent sewing is a good day. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amys.  I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

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Time to Work on my Quilt Blocks

  Is it December already? By golly it is! How did that happen? 

December Word Play - a design by With Thy Needle & Thread finished on a Kirkland's chalkboard bought at the Goodwill. 

Good evening, y'all and Happy December. It seems like yesterday that we were celebrating Halloween and here we are in the month of  December already. My how time flies. 

Today has been quite chilly . It has been overcast for most of the day, but the rain moved in this afternoon . I expect the pitter patter of rain will continue throughout the night.  Mom said she saw a snowplow head up the valley earlier today.  Hmmm might we have snow in the forecast- I don't know. 

I finished this old Prairie Schooler piece into a pouch which I stuffed with winter greens. 

Yesterday , I pulled out my secondary blocks for my Pretty in Peach Butterfly quilt. Do you know the name of this block? I think it is so lovely.

 Anywhooo.... I need 9 more blocks.

 

With a swish and swoosh , I had the 3 1/2" squares and strips cut for all of the blocks. I was ready to get down to the nitty gritty and do some serious sewing. But alas, I ran out of thread. Oh bother! 

So Mr. Pinker and I went to Wally World today, where we picked up a few groceries and of course some thread so I could get back to the task at hand. 

At the thrift store, I found this gorgeous snowball quilted table runner for only a $1.98!😲🤗 I could not snatch it up quick enough. 

 

Each end has the most darling wool appliqued snowman scene.

The 16 snowball blocks measure at 3" finished. 

The Snowball blocks measure 3" finished. 

I think it was a great thrifty  find. What do you think?

Well Sweeties, that's what is going on in the holler. 

How was your first day of December? 

My view from the side of the house at the blueberry bushes and well house. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"The love of sewing is our common thread. "- Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅 

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It's All About Santa Sunday

Good evening , Sugar Plums! I am posting late today for I have been out and about visiting family . All of the leftovers from the grand Thanksgiving feast are now gobbled up and slowly but surely I have been pulling out the last of the Christmas decorations. I am sure I will tweak things all through the Christmas holiday season. 

Ho! Ho ! Ho! Santa shows off a jolly quilt stack. 

My kitchen tiered tray is filled to the brim with vintage old world Santas that Mom and I collected in the early 1990's from the Dollar General.

 Do you have any of these in your Santas collection? 

I have finished appliqueing 8 Christmas Fans. 

I will continue working on these throughout the week. 

Earlier this week, I worked on another Speaking of Christmas stitch. This one is simply called Santa. 

After trimming the cross stitch piece to the desired size, I added two 1 1/2"(unfinished) wide strips to the stitch. 

I added a bit of lace.

And... added large wonky stitches along the seam- just doing something a little different. 

Finally, it was time to add it to the dough bowl of primitive stitches which I have shared earlier. 

If you missed any of the Speaking of Christmas pieces, just click on the links below and you will be magically transported back to the post. 

O' Christmas Tree , The Tree Farm,  and Holly- Speaking of Christmas Series

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

If you are interested in stitching this piece,  just grab , the images. For printing tips, refer to the post Tips for Printing which has loads of tips from my sweet friends. 

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Now onto the plans for the week. 

Hmm.... What Should I do This Week? 

🌞1. Applique Christmas Fans

🌞2. Finish Block 2 in Moda's Holiday SAL

🌞3. Stitch another Speaking of Christmas piece. 

🌞4. Work on Pretty in Peach Butterflies

🌞5.  Work on a new house cross stitch

🌞6. Work on Otis Payne Bow Tie quilt

That should keep this ole gal busy . Don't ya think?  

I am off to tackle some tasks. 

 My daughter is having a Christmas movie night for the kiddos along with some snacks based on the movie. How fun is that!  I may not have any delicious snacks , but I am sure I can find a great movie to watch while stitching the evening away. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus . He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist."- Francis P. Church 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅 

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I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needle workers to meet.

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

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