Blog Archive

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Butterflies and Candy Corn- A Halloween Sampler Freebie

 Hey there, Punkin and a very Happy Sunday to you! How are you doing on this fine Sunday morning? I hope good. 


 Hmmm ... 🤔 Where are all of those golden yellows, burnt orange and crimson red leaves? 🍂🍂🍂Sigh.  They are not here in the holler yet. 


We still have a lot of green leaves for it to be mid October.


But my burning bush is changing colors to bright red, and it is putting on berries. 


Watch out when looking up in the trees. Kerplunk! The black walnuts are falling to the ground. The husk will be good  for dyeing  fabric. 

Walnuts are beginning to fall. 

My sweet friend , Alex sent me some  beautiful vintage calico butterflies to applique. 

There are 12 pretty butterflies ready to be appliqued. 

My mind has been fluttering as to how I will set them. But I will wait to tell you my plans when I do a little more digging in my sewing room for background fabrics. I do know I want this to be my 2027 butterfly quilt for my sweet sis. So I am very excited. Thank you dear, Alex. I was brought to tears. 🤗❤

Meanwhile Berries and Butterflies is stalled .


Why ? you ask.

Well I am on a mission to finish the  Pretty in Peach Butterfly quilt.  

Pretty in Peach quilt top - December 2025


A cable design is being quilted in the borders. 

Around and around the borders , I go. Soon this quilt will  be ready to be bound. 


Candy Corn Plant Sampler is all stitched . 

Candy Corn Plant Sampler and Pumpkin Blossom Inn

A thrifted frame is perfect as a temporary finish until I find a frame that fits the sampler better.

 
To make it fit, I simply framed the sampler with bits of leftover fabric strips. 

Hmmm... What do you think? Do you think we can shoo those crows away so we can pick some candy? Hee! Hee!
 
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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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OOPS / CORRECTION-  Oopsie  Daisy- I made a mistake on the charts. Please note if you decide to stitch this piece. The crow on the top candy corn near the letter "C" is missing one stitch in the beak which  is stitched with DMC 645. 

NOTE: I made a mistake and left off one stitch in the top crow's beak. 






Well, that's the Sunday Happenings in the holler. A little bit of this and that and a whole lot of nothing. 😀
I will be sitting down and working on a new house stitch today and working on my Halloween Stamp sampler. 
Thank you for taking time to visit me today. I always enjoy when you drop by to keep me company.

 Have I told you that you make my day special? Love ya'! 😘

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"The best part of one's life is friendships.   "- Abraham Lincoln 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃


 

Patriotic plates purchased while thrifting in Arkansas. 

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- 2026 A parade of sunflower freebies up to September 3, 2026
🌞Autumn Parade March- 2026 Fall Parade A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 10, 2026.
🌞 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. 
🌞Ghosts, Goblins and Jacks Galore - 2026 Halloween Parade - Halloween freebies up to September 16, 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
🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. - July 9, 2026

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

A thrifty find while in Arkansas. -Eeeh!  A vintage plate!
 

The thrift store had a number of vintage plates probably from one person's collection. This one had a little note attached. 


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 







Friday, October 16, 2026

Kitty Korn Kinda Day

It's a Kitty Corn kinda day. No not a candy corn day, though that would be delightful. 


For the last few days , I have been in the thick of things- cleaning and organizing the quilt room. When low and behold, I spotted my Kitty Corn panel that I purchased years ago.


 This panel and fabric line is by Urban Chiks. 
Anywhooo... it has been languishing for way too long . 


Aren't the fabrics scrumptious?



Moda's Kitty Corn pattern is a freebie available on their website. I will be making my quilt in a similar fashion except I will enlarge my blocks to 6 1/2" unfinished. 


Since I only have 2 charm packs , I will be adding some fabrics from my stash that coordinate with the Kitty Corn line .

90 nine patches are needed for this quilt so I better get to work.

10 Kitty Corn Nine Patches are completed. 80 more to go! 

I don't expect to finish this by Halloween . This will be a project I work on when I have a hankering. 


Candy Corn Plant Sampler is in the works. And by the day's end, I should have it completed. If so, I hope to share this simple sampler in a few short days.  This has been a super quick stitch. 




I best get to work on all of these sweets! 

So tell me . What are you working on today? 


As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Too sweet to eat many , Too fun to ignore, My dear candy corn; It's you I do adore!  "- Rusty Fischer

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- 2026 A parade of sunflower freebies up to September 3, 2026
🌞Autumn Parade March- 2026 Fall Parade A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 10, 2026.
🌞 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. 
🌞Ghosts, Goblins and Jacks Galore - 2026 Halloween Parade - Halloween freebies up to September 16, 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
🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. - July 9, 2026

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

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

Michelle  at From Bolt to Beauty for Beauty Pageant - Friday

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday



Thursday, October 15, 2026

Witch Hazel's Cottage- A Halloween House Freebie


Do come in, my Pretties and join me for a spell! Cackle! Cackle! 

Witch Hazel McPunkin has a brew of "something" boiling up in her large black  cauldron. I am sure she is willing to share a bit of the ghoulish gruel if we so dare. 

Welcome, Sweet Peas and Happy Happy Thursday. It seems like it has been a spell since our last visit.  Doesn't it? 

All is well in the holler. I have been busy with my own broom and duster giving the house a good "fall cleaning" . 

Meanwhile, Witch Hazel has been doing the same thing- Sweeping away.  Whisp! Whisp! Whisp! 
Witch Hazel's Cottage is stitched on  coffee/ tea dyed 14 count Aida. 

Witch Hazel McPunkin's Cottage is the newest addition to my "house collection" . A grand purple cottage- just perfect for a good witch. 




Witch Hazel has a full house with ghosts and all of her pets like an owl , bats and of course Minerva , her beloved, prowling black cat. 


Sixteen DMC floss colors were used in the making of Witch Hazel's Cottage including: DMC Blanc, 301 , 436, 610, 645, 730, 780, 832, 838, 922, 975, 3021, 3041, 3052, 3371, and 3835. 



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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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵














My favorite witch of all times is Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched.
Do you have a favorite witchy poo?

Graphic from Pinterest

Witch Hazel insisted that I share my slow stitch progress on Autumn Acorn.  The embroidery work is  completed  . I shared this little doodle earlier this fall .

 I decided to applique  the acorn and then embroider the details using DMC 898. Soon Autumn Acorn will go into the hoop. 



Well my friends, I best get back to the cleaning detail. There is laundry to be folded  and dust bunnies to shoo away.  I wish I could say "Hocus Pocus" and all would be magically clean and put away. Oh well. 😏 Perhaps by this afternoon, I can spend some time with needle and thread. 

So tell me how has your week been thus far? 



As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for  our wits to grow sharper.  "- Eden Phillpots

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy  who made the Halloween season magical. 
 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- 2026 A parade of sunflower freebies up to September 3, 2026
🌞Autumn Parade March- 2026 Fall Parade A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 10, 2026.
🌞 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. 
🌞Ghosts, Goblins and Jacks Galore - 2026 Halloween Parade - Halloween freebies up to September 16, 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
🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. - July 9, 2026

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Butterflies and Candy Corn- A Halloween Sampler Freebie