Blog Archive

Thursday, July 23, 2026

A Stroll and A Christmas Freebie- Silent Night

Good morning, Sweet Peas. It is a beautiful, sunny day on this fine Thursday morning. Would you like to take a stroll with me through the gardens before we look at stitchy stuff? Come on! We won't be out too awfully long. 

Little paths are here and there. 

     

 The marigolds are quite happy tucked among the lirope and roses. In fact, they are taking over. Bloom, Babies ! Bloom!

The tansy is reaching high to  the sky! It is well over 6 feet tall! 

Tansy, fox gloves and marigolds in the wild and woolly garden. 


Soon the little  yellow blooms will turn to seeds which 

 will sprinkle among the garden creating new plants next year. 

In the ivy garden , Coleus is planted in  an array of colors.  These are some of my larger plants. 


This is my 1st year planting coneflowers and two plants are blooming. Eeeh! I am tickled pink or should I say fuchsia!



The  house is up on a hill so the wild and woolly garden is great for preventing soil erosion. 


You may find some garden art scattered throughout the property like ....

The wise old owl who is crusty and rusty. 


Or the smiling sun with morning glories winding in and out of its rays. 

Even a little metal cat who usually remains hidden among the lirope under the burning bush.  And there is more rusty metal art tucked here and there . All of it made by the same artist. 

There is much more to see, but I will save that for another day. Let's sit back on the swing in the yard and enjoy the view.  It is nice and secluded here in the holler. All you will hear is the birds chirping and the leaves whistling in the breeze. 


Since we are here, how about we look at some cross stitching. Shall we? 

Here is my latest Christmas finish called Silent Night from the Speaking of Christmas Series


It looks all cozy snuggled in among all of the other stitches that I have worked on. Don't ya' think? 



Silent Night was stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida and made into a pin pillow trimmed with twisted chenille yarn.


Six  DMC floss colors were used in the making of Silent Night which include DMC 221, 310, 520, 842, 898, and Blanc.


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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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵




If you missed any of the other Speaking of Christmas stitches, just click on the colored links and you will be magically transported back to the post and chart. 



Now my question to you. 
Do you have any suggestions for a Speaking of Christmas stitch? 

Alright , Sweeties. Let me get you a glass of iced tea, and then we will sit back and enjoy this nice summer breeze.   
We deserve a nice relaxing day . Don't you think?

Have a beautiful day! 

Whoa there, Nelly! 😁😀 Let me show you one more stitch I am working on. I am stitching up some marigolds. 


JUST A REMINDER!  You are Amazing! Love ya!

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Time in the garden brings peace and happiness.  "

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved  rusty crusty treasures and spending her days outdoors. 
 I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉


 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes 2026- Early 2026 parade of home freebies.
🌞2026 Love Parade- A Parade of Previous Valentine Freebies- Valentine themed stitches up to Feb. 4, 2026.  
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Stomping Stamp Parade 2026  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to June 2, 2026

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞A Christmas in July Parade of Past Freebies- 2026 A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of July 6, 2026. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
🌞Let's Dye Some Fabric- A tutorial on my process of dyeing Aida 

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Goings On

 Hmmm ... it has been a spell since our last visit . Hasn't it ?  I certainly did not mean to be away for so long. Ok. Ok. I know it was just a few days, but it seems like ages to me. Hee! Hee!





Sooo.... Let me tell ya' what's been going on in the holler! 

First, Mr. Pinker and I had a scare of our lifetime.

 During the grandsons' weekly sleepover, the Little One got choked on a marshmallow. His brother alerted Mr. Pinker who jumped into action and did the Heimlich on the little fella. At the time, the Little One could not talk or cough. He said that each time he tried to breathe the marshmallow felt like it was being pulled back further into his throat. Bless his little heart- he would not eat the rest of the evening and when he did eat the next day, I watched him like a hawk. 
 

Last week we had a few days where it rained cats and dogs here in the holler . I was one happy gal because it  alleviated the dreaded chore of watering the gardens. Everything is growing including the weeds.
 


It has been a blue spell since I have seen one of these. Yikes ! A hornet's nest.



Mr. Pinker spotted it on the eave of my sister's house the other day. ( This danger will be tackled later. )  




We are starting to get a few tomatoes. I see mater sandwiches in my future. 

  

The peppers are growing too! Eeeh!  Spicy! 
 


Hmmm... What else? Well Elmer has been moved to the other section of the farm in order to court Edna. 
The couple has been staying in the upper field so I haven't had the chance to get a photo of the two.  I guess they need their alone time. ❤🐴🐴Maybe they will come down the hill in a day or two. 

Edna looks awfully cute today! 



Now on to the quilting and stitching front! 


To be honest , I have been taking it slow and easy- hip hopping between stitching and quilting. 

Bent Creek's freebie Surrounded By Joy is fully finished. I simple used some cardboard covered with scraps from my stash. The jute string was from the Dollar Tree. It is all ready for the Christmas tree in a few short months. 

22 more weeks until Christmas! 



So let me show you my progress on The Gingerbread quilt which I am calling "Roll and Bake"


The blocks are framed with 2" finished squares. 


After much debate, I decided to add 2 1/2" (unfinished) squares around each of the 4 embroidered blocks. 
I decided to go for the "country look" so I used lots of reds, greens, and tans . 
             Roll and Bake  and   A Bowl of Gingerbread



Hmmm... What to do next to Roll and Bake?  Well.... since it will probably be displayed in the kitchen , I am not going to make it too big. I will add a simple border in the next few days. I may add some four patches for the cornerstone blocks ( just brainstorming here). 

 A Plate of Gingers  and   Gingerbread and Marshmallows


I have lots of other projects in the works , but like I said I have been hip hopping  like a wild wily rabbit so I will show you some of those projects another time. 

Goodness, I don't want to chat your ears off. So I  will let you get back to what you were doing. Hmmm  .... I am curious.  What are you working on today? I bet it  is something lovely!  

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Slow down and enjoy the simple beauty of each day.  "- Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉


 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes 2026- Early 2026 parade of home freebies.
🌞2026 Love Parade- A Parade of Previous Valentine Freebies- Valentine themed stitches up to Feb. 4, 2026.  
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Stomping Stamp Parade 2026  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to June 2, 2026

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞A Christmas in July Parade of Past Freebies- 2026 A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of July 6, 2026. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
🌞Let's Dye Some Fabric- A tutorial on my process of dyeing Aida 

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. 

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday
Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday 

Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter for Wednesday  Wait Loss- Wednesday

Denise at For the Love of Geese for Put Your Foot Down- Thursday

Nina at Creations, Quilts, Art , Whatever by Nina for Off the Wall Friday

Alycia's of Alycia's Quilts for Finished of Not Friday

Michelle  at From Bolt to Beauty for Beauty Pageant - Friday

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Catching up on UFO's

 Good afternoon, Sunshine!  For the last few days, we have had rain. Yesterday, I spent the whole day in my stitchy spot , watching Christmas movies , listening to the pitter patter of rain and  stitching away . But today the sun is peeking through the clouds smiling down upon the flowers. 

The bee balm is in bloom and the bees are loving it! 

Today , I will be working on my Winter Checklist which I shared last year. The embroidery is all done. I just need to give it a quick press and pop it into the hoop. I will use off white thread to quilt around some of the embroidery work , but first I must piece some leftover batting together.


Now on to the plans for the week
Well I want to ...

🧵1. Work on Joy's Floral Bauble Block #2  from Joy at Days Filled with Joy. which is a free Sew Along being offered by Joy right now. Thank you , Joy. 🤗

🧵2. Embroider my A Very  Vintage Christmas Blocks

🧵3. Finish Sunflower Haven cross stitch. This has been my 15 minute a day or more project this week. 
🧵4. And finally begin piecing the Gingerbread Quilt.

Way back in 2023, I shared 4 gingerbread designs  which were  Roll and Bake , Gingerbread and MarshmallowsA Plate of Gingers, and  A Bowl of Gingerbread. It is time for me to do something with them. 

I am sorting through 2 1/2" strips. 

I am cutting 2 1/2" squares to frame the blocks. 

 2 1/2" blocks are being pulled to frame the Gingerbread blocks for a country Christmas quilt. 

Alrighty Sweet Peas, I will keep it short and sweet today.  May your fingers be nimble and your needles flying! Stitch Away, Sweet Friends! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"It's okay if productivity looks different every day.  "- Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉


 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes 2026- Early 2026 parade of home freebies.
🌞2026 Love Parade- A Parade of Previous Valentine Freebies- Valentine themed stitches up to Feb. 4, 2026.  
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Stomping Stamp Parade 2026  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to June 2, 2026

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞A Christmas in July Parade of Past Freebies- 2026 A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of July 6, 2026. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
🌞Let's Dye Some Fabric- A tutorial on my process of dyeing Aida 

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

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

Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday

Kate at Life in Pieces for  Stitching Stuff ( Sunday) 

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap - Sunday 

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Sew & Tell- Sunday

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday
Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday 

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Home of Faith , Family and Freedom- A House Freebie


Good morning, lovely sweet friends and Happy Saturday. Is your weekend off to a bright and delightful start? I sure hope so.
Let me introduce to you the newest addition to the farm. 
Bowzer!

Isn't he a cutie patootie? He just appeared one day which means someone dropped him off. 

Some of you may remember Petunia the pot belly pig who  was dropped off at the bottom of the driveway a couple of years ago. 

Petunia the Pig now lives at another farm. 

Anywhooo... I was not sure about Bowzer when I first met him. But he is very gentle, and his goofy smile soon won me over.  He is a porch dog which means he likes to lounge on the porch most of the day and does not venture far .   We officially put on a collar the other day so he has a home. 🐶

Bowzer has a long tongue . He always has his mouth open smiling. 😀


Now on to stitchy stuff. 

I am making progress on Sunflower Haven which I started earlier this week. Today I will be adding the windows, foundation stones and roof. 

Sunflower Haven is being stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida. 

Home of Faith, Family and Freedom is my newest addition to my neighborhood. I have to admit- it is also a new favorite "house finish".


 This patriotic house is surrounded by a vine of red, white and blue flowers. 


Small crosses and hearts are scattered throughout. 


This home truly speaks to me. What do you think about it? I do hope you like it. 

It was stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida. 
If you are interested in how I dye my fabric check out my post called Time to Dye which I posted in 2024. 

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I use only 7 DMC floss colors which include: DMC 221, 610, 730, 732, 746, 844,  and 924.

I enjoy stitching houses so much. I feel like I am stitching my dream homes. 

 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵







QUESTION : Do you have suggestions for  "theme" related homes that you would like to see?  I always get excited when you give me  ideas. 😀❤🤗

Well, Sweeties. I  better put on my construction hat and get to roofing my Sunflower Haven house. Soon it will be time to pull out the sunflower  and bee decor. 

Have a beautiful day. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"There is nothing like staying home for real comfort.  "- Jane Austin

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠


 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes 2026- Early 2026 parade of home freebies.
🌞2026 Love Parade- A Parade of Previous Valentine Freebies- Valentine themed stitches up to Feb. 4, 2026.  
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Stomping Stamp Parade 2026  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to June 2, 2026

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞A Christmas in July Parade of Past Freebies- 2026 A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of July 6, 2026. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
🌞Let's Dye Some Fabric- A tutorial on my process of dyeing Aida 

Popular Posts

A Stroll and A Christmas Freebie- Silent Night