Summer Stitching and - A Summer Freebie

 They  are back!  The House Finches that is; plus there are 2 more.

 

"There are birds flying into your fern,  " said Mr. Pinker as he stared out of the living room window. 

"What?!" I just watered it. I went outside and took the fern down from the hook and inspected it. No birdies nor nest- all was safe. 

The next morning I went out on the porch and there they were-  Mr. and Mrs Finch. Seeing that I had moved one fern, they  cleverly went to another. Oh well. 😏

I think they have some teenagers. Well the 2 new ones look awfully young. They have been a delight to watch as I sit on the porch in the mornings and stitch away. 

Right now I am working on Sweet Melody Roundabout .

Sometimes the birdies fuss that I have the audacity to sit and watch them so close to the fern, but for the most part they accept my presence. I think I will call the 2 larger ones Frit and Frat. 

As Frit and Frat have been entertaining me this week, I began a new  stitch simply called "Summer" . I hope to have it completed by tomorrow which is officially the 1st day of Summer.  

I used the following floss colors: DMC 782, 816, 895, 898, 926, 930, 3346, 3371, and B5200

I am stitching Summer on 14 count coffee / tea dyed Aida. 

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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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Alright Sweeties, I have birds to watch and stitching to attend to. It is going to be a nice relaxing day. 

 

I added 2 new feeders to my Amy garden ( a garden in memory of my sis.) 

I will leave you with a couple of photos from the garden.

Enjoy your Saturday! 

The marigold garden has not bloomed yet. 

The ditch lilies are in bloom.

QUESTIONS FOR MY GARDENING FRIENDS: My Zinnias are starting to get these spots. Do you know why? Is it from too much rain?  Do you have any suggestions on how to treat it?

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Blessed are the ones who stop to watch the butterflies,  talk gently to stray cats and smile at birds like  Old friends.  "- unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy .

 I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

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The Log Cabin is Built- Little House on the Prairie Sew Along

Like many of you, these last few weeks, I have had my ax rotary cutter out, and I have been chopping away on little calico and country printed logs-  building the most delightful  log cabin blocks in Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along . 

 

Every 2 weeks, I would wait on pins and needles for Melva to issue the new pattern-  each  block created in  honor of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family's journey to the prairie and beyond.  

     

On June 4th , Melva shared the final steps to complete this country quilt. 

I chose the Furrows layout for the log cabin blocks. 

I knew immediately that I wanted to use the beautiful fabric that dear  Susan sent me a few weeks ago in a blessing box.  Thank you , dear Susan. 🤗❤

Beautiful fabric sent to me from Susan. I used this for the inner border. 

The light tan fabric with delicate blooms was perfect for the inner border. 

The tan calico fabric from Susan was perfect for the inner border. 

" The cozy house, the firelight, the music, the love and laughter were all there to make the darkness and the cold outside seem far away. " Laura Ingalls Wilder 

On Melva's Caroline quilt, she used 28 scrappy  rectangles for the outer border and then added additional fabric to extend the borders. I decided to do the same.   On her Laura quilt , she used fewer scrappy rectangles. 

28 rectangle wrap around two corners and along the side of the quilt. 

                                    

Red calico fabric was used to extend the borders. 

May I say that I am in love with this quilt? ! Hee! Hee! 

Because my blocks are a little larger than Melva's, I was thinking the other day, if I added a 6" border to each side, I could make the quilt large enough to put on my full size bed. I think I will keep an eye out for the perfect fabric. If I find something that suits my fancy , I may go for it and add the borders. If not, I will place this beauty in the hoop, and I will hand quilt it. 

Susan also sent me some gorgeous Donna Dewberry fabric. I think I will some of this in the backing. 

Thank you so much , Melva for sharing your talents, stories and for all the things that you do for the quilting community. You are a treasure. And thank you , my beautiful friends for visiting me and for cheering me on. It really has kept me motivated and focused.

REMEMBER: If you are interested in learning more about Melva's Little House on the Prairie quilt or any of her designs, visit Melva at Melva Loves Scraps Blogspot. Melva has such a beautiful blog where she shares her quilting and camping adventures and a link party each week. In fact don't forget to visit the Little House on the Prairie Link Party at Melva's so you can see other quilters' Little House on the Prairie quilts. They are a feast for the eyes. 

  

Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Posts:

INTRODUCTION of the Little House on the  Prairie Stitching Along - January 29, 2026

Block 1 Maple Leaf- February 5, 2026

Block 2 Native Star- February 19, 2026

Block 3 Harvest Basket- March 5, 2026

Block 4 Shoo Fly- March 19, 2026

Block 5 Rails- April 2, 2026

Block 6 Snowflake- April 16, 2026

Block 7 Kitten in the Corner- April 30, 2026

Block 8 Heart- May 7, 2026

Block 9 Prairie Rose - May 21, 2026

Assembly- June 4, 2026

                                     

                                         Graphics from Pinterest/ Artwork from Garth Williams

  I am next going to be frolicking in another set of log cabin blocks which were gifted to me from dear Penny- in Aunt Leona's Log Cabin quilt. 🤗❤

Now tell me what are you working on right now? 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies. "- Laura Ingalls Wilder

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy  and to my Granny who lived in a little log cabin deep in the woods. Granny lived a simple but wonderful life though times were hard.  I love and miss  both of you  so much.. Love you , Amo and Granny. ❤❤❤

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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.

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Little House on the Prairie Sew Along 

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

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters

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. 

🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

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🌞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.

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🌞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 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

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters