A Farm Visit and A New Vintage Quilt

 The sun is shining and the birds are singing. It is going to be another beautiful day.  Would you like to go out to the pig barn with me as I go check the bees? Aaw come on. I sure would love the company plus I will bring a new quilt that we can sit on afterwards. 

Let's go! 😀

Eeeh! Look who is here to greet us. Right at the gate! "Scooch over kiddos we are coming through."

These calves are as thick as thieves and are always together. 

"Now don't give us the evil eye, little fellas and gals". Aren't they the cutest? They are as gentle as lambs. 

 

Oooh, before we head up on the hill. Let me show you #49. Her light brown eyes are amazing!

Alright we will visit with the bovines later , lets see what the buzzers are doing. 

It is pretty hot . Isn't it? The bees  think so too. Look they are bearding which  means they are gathering on the outside of the hive in order to keep the hive ventilated. 

Right now we have 9 hives - all have been captured in the wild. 

Now let me show you my newest thrifty find that Mr. Pinker bought for me while we were out camping. 

I am calling it Big Red or Feedsack 81 Patch. Swoon! 🤗❤❤❤You know me and my love affair with the color red. 

It is composed of eighteen-81 patches alternated with large  red square blocks. 

The fabrics are feedsacks and are so colorful and whimsical. Each patch  or square measures around 1 1/2" finished. 

 Some 81 patches contain a modge podge of feedsack and shirting fabrics.

And some 81 patches are simply  composed of 2 different fabrics. 

The quilt is hand pieced and hand  quilted in  1/2 inch to 1 inch rows.  

Oh so pretty! I can just imagine a grandmother sitting on the back porch quilting away on this beauty. 

And look at the backing! Just gorgeous- well at least in my eyes.  

The backing print. 

So what do you think?  A pretty good find. Right?  I think this would be a fun one to reproduce. 

Let's spread it out in the shade , relax and watch the gals graze for a minute. Shall we?

Ooops I see where a little repair work was done. 🤗

I find it endearing. ❤

There is sweet Ginger.  

Don't mind Edna today. She is not a morning gal. Hee! Hee! 

Edna did not want to socialize today. Bless her heart. 

I guess I better stop chatting. It looks like it is nap time for the babes. 

Thank you so much for keeping me company at the farm today and for taking the time to see my latest thrifty find. 

Ginger and many of the calves will be moved to another section of the farm soon. But Edna will still be in this section with a cow or two. Soon it will be time to bale hay here. 

Have a sun shiny day, Sweetness. 

Yesterday's new start is Heart in Hand Needleart's Imprints Love and Heart, in memory of my sis. This darling chart and the gorgeous needleminder was sent to me from my sweet friend, Karen. I will be working on it throughout the week.  Thank you ,  dear Karen. ❤🤗😘

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Live like someone left the gate wide open.  "- unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved  the farm  and all of the animals. 

 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 needleworkers to meet. 

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

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Michelle  at From Bolt to Beauty for Beauty Pageant - Friday

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Canning Season Summer Stamp- A Summer Freebie

 Good morning, Sunshine and welcome. 

One of my bright beautiful zinnias. 

Canning season is upon us. Soon some of us will be pulling out our mason jars, lids and spices. We will be gathering fruits and vegetables and will be spending many hours laboring away in the kitchen, savoring the summer's harvest. In fact , some of you may have already began putting up preserves , tomatoes and such.

 Our garden is a little late this year. But the blackberries are beginning to ripen. 

We are still waiting on the blueberries, but soon the vines and bushes will be filled with delectable berries . 

Do you like to can ? We usually can tomatoes, zucchini, squash, pickles, relish, jalapenos and fruits for jams and butters. Our pantry looks mighty  nice come winter time. 

The little red pot holder is my newest find from an estate sale. So precious

Blueberry and Apple Butter Recipe  From the vintage Ball Blue book published in 1932

Use tart apples. Remove stems but do not pare apples. Cook in sufficient water to cover, until soft and press through a strainer. Use equal parts of berries and apple pulp and 1/2 as much sugar as fruit. Cook the butter until it is thick and clear . Seal immediately in hot , clean Ball jars. 

 Tomato Marmalade  

From 1932 Ball Blue Book 

1 quart ripe tomatoes

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup sugar. 

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon mixed spices

To 1 quart ripe tomatoes, skinned and sliced, add 1/2 cup cider vinegar, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon mixed spices. Cook mixture slowly until it is thick , stirring to prevent burning. Pack into clean, hot Ball jars. Seal immediately. 

Canning Season  is the 9th stamp in the Summer Stamp SAL. 

Canning Season was stitched using 10 DMC floss colors including: Blanc,  782, 815,  898, 930, 926, 3052,  3345, 3346,  3799 .

If you are interested in how I dyed my 14 count Aida, I shared the process in a previous post entitled Let's Dye Some Fabric

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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. 

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If you missed any of the previous posts in respect to the Summer Stamp SAL , below is a schedule with links back to the appropriate posts.  

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SUMMER STAMP SCHEDULE

April 2nd  Summer Stamp Introduction

April 7th  Stamp Stamp Border

April 14th Summer Stamp Header

April 21st  Summer Stamp 1 "And the Garden Grows" 

April 28th Summer Stamp 2 Summer Harvest

May 5th  Summer  Stamp 3 Summertime Treat

May 12th  Summer  Stamp 4 Sunflower Strut

May 19th Summer Stamp 5 Summer Quilt Stamp

May 26th Summer Stamp 6 Pink Lemonade

June 2nd Summer Stamp 7 Home Tweet Home

June 9th Summer Stamp 8 In the Apiary

June 16th Summer Stamp  9  Canning Season

June  23rd Bonus Summer Stamp 10

June 27th Final Reveal

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 It is hard to believe that the Summer Stamp SAL is nearing an end. Goodness, I have had a lot of fun. I hope those who have joined me have enjoyed it too. But wait! We still have 1 more stamp- the Bonus Stamp which I will share next week. And then I will share the final reveal of the sampler finished with all of the little pillows. 

Well Sweeties, I best get out to the garden. It is not as lush and pretty as last year- so I will spare you the photos. Hee! Hee! But hey, maybe you would like to join me as I  hoe out the weeds in the wee okra patch? !😉😀 I have plenty of hoes, plus we could whip that chore out  in 2 shakes of a lamb's tail. Hee! Hee!  Hmmm any takers? ( I think staying in and stitching sounds way more fun. How about you? ) 

 

Have a beautiful day. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,  y'all

Melisa 

"Happiness is homemade."-  

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. Happy Heavenly 44th birthday, Amo.🎂❤💗  . I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

  🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

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This is a quilt project I worked on in 2023. I think I need to pull the blocks out and make a few more. 

Rambling Along

 Mr. Pinker hooked up Big Red to the trailer toting  the rusty Ole' Truck Camper. We were back on the road if only for a few days.  It felt good to be back in the little truck camper - snug as a bug in a rug. Of course, I brought a few projects to keep my  nimble fingers . 

As Mr. Pinker puttered on down the bumpy road to our destination which was only a few short hours away, I finished the May Flowers Roundabout .

 I used 2 strands of floss and used the backstitch, lazy daisy stitch for the leaves and French knots for the delicate flowers. 

I  used the following floss colors:

 

🌺DMC 3802 ( coneflower petals),

🌺  DMC 3687( coneflower center) 

🌺 DMC 469( coneflower stem and leaves)

🌺DMC 470 ( Cup shaped flower stems and leaves)  

🌺DMC 961 (Cup flower #1) 

🌺 931 ( Cup flower # 2) 

🌺 DMC 986 ( Delicate vine)  

🌺 DMC 783 ( small flowers on vine ; stitched in French knots  and French knots at end of Cup Flower's  Stamens )

🌺 DMC 312 ( scalloped border)

The Roundabout was stitched on 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"  (unfinished) white fabric. 

It is framed with 20 -  2 1/2" squares (unfinished) 

The Roundabout Block  with Scrappy Borders Measures:  12 1/2" x 12 1/2" ( unfinished)

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We stopped only twice to get groceries and for a burger at Jack's and then onward we went. 

Once at camp ( well it really wasn't a camp site- we were at a tractor pull so it was a parking space, but anywhooo...)  Once at camp, Mr. Pinker pulled in among the rigs as I bustled about in Ole' Rusty the Truck Camper. 

Soon Mr. Pinker lifted my huge "Harbor Freight " bag filled to the brim with floss and project bags. "Now there is no way you can work on that many projects in just a few  days, " he said smiling as he shook his head. 

"Well, this ole' gal is going to give it a try.  Now heave  hove  that big old bag up here. " 

Mr. Pinker lifted the  monstrous  bag to the truck camper bed where I proceeded to pull out project bags to see what struck my fancy to work on. 

Hmmm... I thought.    "I better start with the Summer Stamp SAL , " I said aloud. Mr. Pinker paid me no attention as he was  lost in his  train of thought  as he set up the camper . He  then went out to mill around and look at the  tractors.   This meant I had plenty of down time to stitch the evening away. 

Stitch . Stitch. Stitch.

Later the tractor engines were roaring and the dirt was flying. 

I left the seclusion of my cozy camper  and joined Mr. Pinker at the track. Soon I was cheering. Rah! Rah! Rah! 

Note to myself: Invest in some ear plugs. 😁😀 Wowzers the pulls are loud!

 

But let's talk about other things. Like my newest finish.🤗

Buttermilk Basin's "Pieced Strawberry Pin Cushion".

This little pin pillow whipped up as quick as a wink. 

And I finished appliqueing another strawberry block. 

Sweet Melody Roundabout is in the works . 

Hmm.... What Should I do This Week? 

🌞1. Post new Summer Stamp

🌞2. Work on Little House Needleworks "Sheep Virtues"

🌞3. Work on Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along. 

🌞4. Share my latest thrifty finds. Yes we went to some thrift stores and I found some goodies. Eeeh!!! 

🌞5.Work on the  Strawberry Sampler

🌞6. Work in the  garden and post a garden update.

Well Sweeties, I will not keep you any longer. Today is Wally World day aka Walmart pickup then I will mosey back home to work on tomorrow's Summer Stamp SAL ( nothing like waiting till the last minute. Hee! Hee! )

I look forward to catching up with all of my friends and seeing what has been going on these last few days in my absence . 

May your Monday be a FUN DAY! Love ya! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Life is a journey to be experienced not a problem to be solved.  "- Winnie the Pooh

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 Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025- Early 2025 berry 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. 

🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. 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