Let It Snow in July? A Christmas Freebie

 Ho! Ho! Ho! and Merry Monday! 

It is Christmas in July ! 

Last year , I shared a series called "Speaking of Christmas" . These were just simple little  stitches - nothing fancy mind you. But they did make some cutie patootie bowl fillers if I do say so myself which I will! 😁

Anywhooo... today I wanted to share a new one called "Let It Snow" . Like I said, nothing fancy- just a quick stitch. 

Let It Snow is stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida. 

       🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

       🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

Last year's hutch all decked out for the Christmas season! 

If you missed any of the Speaking of Christmas Series that I shared last year, just click on the links, and you will be magically transported back to the post with the charts. 

Stockings- Speaking of Christmas Series

Joy- Speaking of Christmas Series

Santa- Speaking of Christmas Series

Holly- Speaking of Christmas Series

O' Christmas Tree 

The Tree Farm

So tell me. 

Do you plan to work on Christmas in July projects? 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"If you choose not to find the joy in snow, you will have less joy but the same amount of snow.  "- Ancient proverb

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy .

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

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅

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🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 

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The oldest Annabelle hydrangea is in bloom! 

The blooms are as big as dinner plates! Eeeh! 

If you are in the neighborhood, I will be posting a Christmas Parade of stitches around 1:00 CST today. So drop by if you have the chance. 🤗

Tractors, Butterflies and New Starts

 This weekend, Mr. Pinker and I roamed where the tractors roared and the trucks rumbled. 

There were even fireworks!  Pop! Pop! Pop! 

   

KABOOM!   

By late evening , we had made our way back home. We only veered off course twice when my eagle eye spotted a couple of thrift stores, but we will talk about that on another day. 

 

I purchased a commemorative" America 250" iron skillet from Walmart. 

In celebration of America's Big 250 🎂 , I started 2 new stitches. 

America Pin Keep was my first start by Asbery's Echoes. This chart was a sweet gift from my dear Joan. She loves all things patriotic and country like I do.  Thank you , sweet friend. 😘 Soon I will be stitching the tree.

I also got a wee start on my simple stitch called "America the Beautiful!" 

Oh bummer! I fell short on my quilting goal of hand quilting 5 blocks in the Pretty in Peach Butterfly quilt for the week. 

This is my 15 a minute or more project for each day. 

 

But I will give myself a pat on the back for finishing 1 1/2 blocks. 

I will keep it short and sweet. There is unpacking to do and then a grocery list to make. Tomorrow is an errand day. 😏

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Good days take time. Fold the days gently.  "-  the Colorful Cottage

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

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 

Happy Independence Day!

 Hip Hip Hooray! It is our nation's 250th birthday!  Happy Independence Day to all of those who celebrate! 🧨🧨🧨🎇

250 Years- A Patriot's Log Cabin and Summer House 

Dear Annelies at Quilts and Siggies Blogspot posted her "250 Year - A Patrioit's Log Cabin" on her blog yesterday. I do hope you will visit  Annelies and see her beautiful stitching. She shares the most beautiful needlework, hers and antique pieces as well. Thank you, Annelies. ❤😘

And may I give a big thank you with lots of love to all of the veterans and active military  members who have served and protected our great country. One of those Veterans is my daughter . I am one Proud Mama of both my girls! ❤♡💙

The Marcher of the Flag

I plan to spend most of the day relaxing with needle and thread  in hand, though I am not sure what I will begin first. 

Beelieve in Freedom

By evening, I hope to see a grand fireworks display.  

❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤

It is a beautiful day to celebrate. 

A little patriotic quilt stack in teeny red wagon. 

Have a grand day and...

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"America is too great for small dreams.  "- Ronald Reagan

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved  the family gatherings. I imagine Amy would have prepared lots of fancy patriotic treats and sweets  on this day. 

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

❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤

The Changing of the Quilts

 Goodbye Spring Quilts ! Hello Summer Quilts!

Way back in the month of May, I meant to change out my quilt display in the little foyer- that is where I have 3 vintage thrifted shutters that I drape seasonal quilts over. 

BUT... my Spring quilts hung on like a tick on a hound dog through the month of May into June . Miss Lazy Bones aka ME just did not have the energy or the inclination  to make the change.  All the while my patriotic quilts were steaming mad that they were not out and about frolicking for the season. 

Well yesterday, I rummaged through the quilt room and made the change. "We are coming out!"  screamed the Patriotic Quilts! 

"NOPE, " I said . The Summer quilts smiled politely as I scooped them up.  While the Patriotic Quilts boohooed in tears. 

So let me show you who is on display for the summer season. 

Front and center on the thrifted shutters is my Summer Days Quilt that I finished in 2023.

For weeks I shared little Summer doodles , that were used to create this quilt. It still is a favorite. 

Links for the embroidery designs can be found in the  Summer Days  reveal in December of 2026

I had wanted to hang Grandma's Love on the 2nd shutter, but alas I had to remove it because it was too bulky.

Sooo....my 2nd favorite vintage quilt top went in its place. 

This quilt top was purchased about 20 years ago for only $6.00 and some change. It is called Otto's Quilt. 

Why do you ask? 

Well , look at this! Right in the center is embroidered the name "Otto G.  MAR 1944" . Swoon! ❤🤗  

I am not sure if Otto made the quilt or if it was made  for Otto. 

Aren't the prints yummy! I love the use of blues, lilacs and reds. How clever. 

And look at the darling vintage cowboy fabric. Was Otto a little buckaroo?!  Ride em' cowboy!🤠

Aaw and the little critter fabric! Again- cute as a button! 

Maybe Otto's quilt should be my 2027 Focus Quilt.  Hmmm... I will think on it. 🤔

The little Basket quilt rounded out my 3rd shutter.  I call it Little Miss S. Quilt named after my daughter. The yellow floral fabric was made from a her baby dress and the yellow plaid is from a man's shirt. 

As an afterthought, I went back and added one more quilt to my shutters.  Do you see it among all of the clutter? 😀 I promise you. It is there . Hee! Hee! 

It was my little Eggs and Chicken Quilt. I shared these little doodles as a freebie way back in 2023. 🐔

I have to say , I am now happy that I have made the change. Soon  all the patriotic country clutter  on the vintage foyer shelf will march back to their bins and closets and new summer decor will take their place, but don't be surprised if some patriotic lingers in place- this is a big year!

So tell me . Do you have a favorite place that you like to decorate for the seasons? 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"You don't have to change your entire life overnight, just  do one thing a little better than you did yesterday. Then do it again.   "- unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy

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

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

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🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 

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🌞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

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Buzzing Bees and "1776" - A Patriotic Freebie

"Well that stitched up in 2 shakes of a lamb's tail," I said to Frat as I was sat on the porch.     

Frat just chirped an unhappy chirp. She was a little peeved and was in no mood to chirp sweetly. And... Yep, she had already built a nest in the 2nd fern before I could deter her.

Look at those delicate finch eggs. I was careful not to disturb them. She has already been back on her nest. 

A short while earlier , I brought my basket of stitching supplies and sat on the porch. 

The rain had gave way to sunny skies. I listened to Frit and Frat, the House Finches, and from a distance I could hear Mr. Pinker rumble and grumble. 

"What's going on I asked, Frit? " I then laid down my stitching and walked to the garage. 

As I approached, I could smell a sweet aroma drifting with the breeze.  Mr. Pinker had been to the bee yard at the farm and brought back some supers to extract the honey. Bees were buzzing all around . 

And the honey smelled delightful. 

The super with frames of honey. 

"Whatch' doing, Hon?"  I asked as Mr. Pinker picked up the hive tool to separate the frames. 

The J Hook Hive tool is used to open up the super, pry apart hive bodies and lift heavy frames. 

Mr. Pinker looked up as bees darted around his head. 

"Some of these supers are full. It is time to extract some honey , Honey,  "he replied with a smile.  

The  bees continued buzzing all about; they were none too happy on this muggy day. 🐝🐝🐝🐝

"It smells divine," I said as I touched the frame with my finger to gather a drip of honey for the tasting. "Tasty too. "

A frame of capped honey

 Mr. Pinker stood by his work table with the hooded veil covering his head  while I meandered from the frames to the extractor with not a care in the world that the bees were buzzing all about. 

"Buzz, Buzz, Buzz" went the bees. 🐝🐝🐝

Mr. Pinker soon went to work - uncapping the honey. 

 Cutting the caps off the combs to expose the honey. 

I watched curiously. " It smells so sweet! I think I could eat the whole bucket. " I said with a smile knowing good and well I could never do that. 

Glistening uncapped honey.

Mr. Pinker continued working . He was hot and the bees were still buzzing mad. "Will these bees find their way back to the barn?" I asked. 

"Yep, they will be fine." he replied.  He was doing the extracting at the house and not at the beeyard. So I was a bit worried that so many bees had rode along in the truck to the house . 

Once the a frame was uncapped , it went into the honey extractor. This is an old extractor given to us by my uncle many years ago. It is hand cranked and made in the good ole' US of A. 

Antique honey extractor

Soon Mr. Pinker had two frames in the extractor , and he began to hand crank and spin the honey out of the combs. 

Two frames are put in the extractor and then the honey is spun from the combs. 

CRANK ! CRANK! CRANK! RATTLE AND ROLL!

Once Mr. Pinker had extracted the honey from the frames, he would open up the valve and the honey would drain into the strainer and into the food grade bucket, but I did not stay to watch that process. 

The extracted honey will drain into the strainer and then into the food grade bucket until bottled. 

As Mr. Pinker cranked and cranked and cranked, the bees began to buzz by me. I turned and headed back up the hill intent on not getting stung. 

"Hey , where are you going? " asked Mr. Pinker. 

"It looks like you and the bees have  got it all under control , Hon. I have got stitching to tend to. " And with that I sprinted up the hill , up the steps, pass Frat the House Finch and into the sanctuary of a cool living room. 

It was not long before I had popped "1776" into a thrifted frame that my sweet baby sis gave me years ago. Because I gave myself little finishing room, I had to add a little bit of patriotic fabric to fill the frame. Hey at least it is a finish. Hee! Hee! 

This is a "Choose Your Own Color" chart. If you are interested , I used DMC floss colors-  Blanc, 815, 3750, and 3852. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

    🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 

Well Sweeties, that's what has been going on in the holler- Bees, birds and a little bit of stitching.  Hmmm, now what can I get into today? Hee! Hee! 

Have a bee-autiful day and thank you so much for dropping by for my Thursday tale. 

I am going to continue patriotic stitching all through the year.

 Are you ? 

My buffet is filled to the brim with patriotic goodies. In the background in the frame is Waxing Moon' Design's Patriotic Trio Houses- a favorite stitched years ago. 

As always,

Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey. " - Winnie the Pooh

Hugs and Stitches!!! 🤗

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

🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝🍯

 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