Blog Archive

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Playtime ,Thrifting, Toys, and Doodles- A Christmas Freebie

 Eeeh! I have my crayons out, and I am ready to color! 



Happy Embroidery Thursday, y'all. Welcome! Do come in and join me  as I sit down for a little playtime with my colors and colored pencils. 

But first ! How about a thrift haul?  😀

Over the July 4th weekend , Mr. Pinker and I found ourselves meandering along the aisles of 2 thrift stores looking for junk / treasures. Would you like to see  what jumped into my buggy? Aaw come on and take a gander. 😁😀

You know I cannot resist anything that is red. The big red pot will be perfect for making soups, or perhaps dying fabric. Or who knows-- it may be used for decorating, but for $3.00 I could not leave it behind. By the way, this was the most expensive treasure I bought. So not too bad. 


Two little Fiestaware mugs jumped into my buggy as well. I could not shoo them away since they were red and yellow. Can mugs be cutie patooties? They are to me. ❤💛❤💛

 

To all of those vintage collectors out there. Do you know who made this bowl?  The hand painting reminds me of Blue Ridge Pottery which I collect, but I know it is not that. 

 

Nanny had bowls similar to this . She would serve fresh fried taters in them. Yum Yum! Oh how I miss Nanny's cooking. 

Four little gravevine milkglass cups will be perfect to use anytime of the year. 

Is there more you ask? Well there sure is! 

I found this little mass produced quilted sham for a buck. Of course, this can be used on a pillow, but I will fold it and use it for a shelf or table runner. Cute! Cute! Cute! 

And now to my favorite finds which gave me a nifty thrift high! Vintage games and toys for my toy room. 🤗

There is Cooties and Bridg- It , a fully packed Tool Chest and the little bead counting toy. Swoon. Can you hear my heart go "Thumpity Thump!"  American made and made around the 50's . ❤❤❤❤

And in the Cootie box was a little chalkboard set. A little extra something- something. 

Do you remember these little horns that you could get at the Five and Dime stores decades ago? Or am I showing my age? Hee! Hee! 


"Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons." - Unknown


While we are here, let me show you the little toy quilt  I made years ago. It is  being displayed with my rough and tumble Raggedy Annie and Andy that I bought years ago. They have gone through some rough times before they came to live with me. Well, let me rephrase that- they were well loved as all dolls should be. Right?  Now they live in a retirement home where they are loved but looked at. 😄

Alrighty now! Since we are in the toyroom. Let's get to playing. 


Like I said at the beginning of my post, I have my crayons out, and today I am going to be coloring up some doodles on fabric. 

 My newest set of doodles are called A Very Vintage Christmas. 

 A little doodle just for you. ❤❤❤


            My doodles are hand drawn and are never perfect. 


I think a small Christmas quilt is in order. Don't you?

A plethora of small embroidered Christmas  quilts. 


So let me show you how I am color tinting my doodles on fabric. I am not sure if it is the right way , but it is how I tint mine. 

🧵1. First , I draw the image onto my piece of fabric. Usually , I use a light mechanical pencil. Today I used  a Frixion pen.  NOTE: If you use a Frixion pen before embroidery and you heat set the crayons, the ink will disappear. ( Speaking from experience. 😏😜😀)

🧵2. Next, I use a white crayon and using small circular motions I color the areas I want to tint. 

Color the areas in want to tint with white crayon in small circular motions. This helps the colors to look a little more vibrant and helps in adding depth.- Well at least in my opinion. 

🧵3. Then comes the fun part! Adding the other colors. I layer in colors starting with the light colors using small circular motions. Slowly, I build on those colors with different shades adding depth. 

Ad color a little at a time starting with lights and using darker colors to shade. 

🧵4. I then use my colored pencils to add a little deeper shading. I do not have an affinity for any particular  name brand of pencils. Most of my colored pencils came from the thrift store.

More color is being added and the tinting is getting darker( though it will lighten once pressed) 


🧵5. When it is time to set the color, I place a pressing cloth and paper towel under and over the embroidery piece . This will pick up the "extra" wax and color when pressed and protects your iron. Remember, if you use a Frixion pen to mark your embroidery lines, it will disappear when you press your piece. If that happens just retrace your lines, and then you are ready to embroider. 

Use a pressing cloth  and/ or napkins to protect iron . This also absorbs excess wax as the piece is heat set. The colors will lighten. 

While the grandsons are here today, I will be lounging at the pool working on the embroidery work of this little beauty. 

Sooo... tell me. Have you ever color tinted your embroidery work? And do have any nifty tips and tricks to share? Inquiring minds want to know. Hee! Hee! I am always excited to learn something new . Aren't you? 

Well Sweeties, I am off to play. I wish you the most delightful day. And remember - Stay young at heart! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever.  "- Mary Jo Putney

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who remained a kid a heart even into adulthood. She was always up for an adventure and never let grass grew under her feet. 
 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 8, 2026

Baubles and Four Patches

 Did you hear?! Did you hear?! 

Joy at Days Filled with Joy  is generously offering a free redwork Block of the Month,  and it has already started! 

Fabrics chosen for Floral Baubles

  It is called Floral Baubles! Isn't that cute?


 The first block came out on June the 10th and may I say it is as cute as a button. 


First Floral Bauble complete and the 2nd star is pieced. 


There will be nine blocks, and she will post them the 2nd Wednesday  of each month.

Additional leftover Half Square Triangles are gathered for a future project. 

Linda at Texas Quilt Gal Blogspot shared her progress on Joy's Floral Bauble in her June 25th post. Her block is looking awesome! 


My latest thrifty finds for only $.77. They will look cute on my wee Santa mug tree. 



Joy is also sharing a free Classic Sampler QAL. Eeeh! This is exciting!  Joy says this is  beginner friendly and gives all of the details in her introduction post for the sampler. 

First block complete in the Classic Sampler QAL.


JOY'S CLASSIC SAMPLER QAL
Sampler Introduction- July 1, 2026

 I have done Joy's QAL and SAL's before, and they are a delight!   I think Joy is going to keep me busy! How about you? 

Sunflower Haven is my newest start. I will work on the house today. 
 

That is what is going on in the holler on this fine Wednesday afternoon. The grandsons will arrive in a few short hours for their weekly sleepover. So I better get to the sewing machine before playtime. 😀 Have an awesome day! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Start now. Start where you are... Start with your hands shaking. Just start.   "- Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved 
 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 

  A lily in bloom

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

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters

Monday, July 6, 2026

A Christmas in July Parade of Past Freebies- 2026

Is it too early for a Christmas Parade? Hmmm... Maybe. But I know all of you Christmas lovers think it is never too early. Right? Hee! Hee! 

Sooo... if you are up to it. Grab a big mug of hot cocoa, scoop in some marshmallow and sit back with me as I skip down memory lane. There will be lots  of  Christmas stitches and doodles that I have shared in the past.  And perhaps it will get you in the Christmas mood. 



 🎅🤶 Fair warning, this is post has loads of photos 🎅🤶

  If you see any pieces that you are interested in , just click the colored links and you will be magically transported back to  that post. 

I hope you enjoy. 💚❤

Bucket of Winter

Mary Elizabeth Coat's Winter Saltbox

Tiny Winter's Day House


Frosty Chill Roundabout




Mini Santa Sampler

Scrappy Happy Christmas Tree Block Tutorial

Joy- Speaking of Christmas Series

Merry Christmas



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


O' Christmas Tree 

The Tree Farm


Stockings- Speaking of Christmas Series


Winter Holly Inn

Itty Bitty Bowl of Gingerbread

Baking Day

Christmas Stamp

Itty Bitty Thumbprint Cookies


Itty Bitty Gingerbread House

Santa Is On His Way

Tree Delivery

Old World Santa 

Gingerbread Trifle

Sweeping Snowman Trifle 

The Holiday Tree


Snow and Love Stamps

 

Christmas Blessings 



 Heart the Christmas Cow


Margie the Christmas Horse

Penelope the Christmas Pig- Barnyard Christmas 


Peace on Earth


Prim Winter Church 

Prim Winter Love , 

 

Prim Winter Home, Prim Winter Peace   Prim Winter Joy   Prim Winter Faith  

and Prim Winter Angel 

  

and Prim Winter Hope 

Prim Winter Gifts

Prim Winter Cheer

 Chicken Sled 

  Santa's Ride , 

 Special Delivery , 

Christmas Barn

Christmas Bucket,

 Christmas Tractor , 

Santa on the Farm,  

Mrs. Claus on the Farm ,

 The Stockings Were Hung 

,

   Santa's Visit  ,  

Hanging the Star .   

, Skiing on the Farm ,

  Farm Truck  ,

 Baking on the Farm ,

 and Christmas Goat .

Christmas on the Farm

A Christmas Flock- Barnyard Christmas 

Farm Truck

Christmas Stack Barnyard Christmas 

 Bringing Home the Tree  

 Christmas Stocking



Santa's Hens


Candy Cane Sprinkles

Candy Cane Cottage

Snow Cream and Snow Guys 

Chicken Mitten


Winter Tree Sampler


Winter Manor


Winter Stamp

Winter 1869 Crock


A Cup of Christmas Cheer- Santa Mug 


Santa  Stamp

Frosty Stamp

Snowflake Sledding and Chickens 

Winter Saltbox  and Prim Winter Tag 

Mooey Christmas 

Always Believe

Mr. McChill

Mr. McChill in progress. 


Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas



Christmas Eve Saltbox

Ho  Ho Ho Stamp 


Country Christmas Doodles Week 1  , Country Christmas Doodles Week 2 , and  Country Christmas Doodles Week 3



Behind my dough bowl is Plum Street Sampler's freebie  called 12 Days of Christmas which was posted on Paulette's blog in 2015. Click on the colored text to visit her post. 


Country Christmas Doodles Set 4



 

Country Christmas Redwork Ornament Tutorial


Let It Snow Sampler  

Santa Clause sampler




Pictured are Little House Needleworks " Country Christmas " and Istitch Designs 2020 Freebie Joyeux Noel which is in her Nov. 28, 2020 post. 


Winter Jar- Mason Jar Series



Winter Quilt  Winter



LET IT SNOW



WINTER



 Winter Haul 


Christmas Time Doodles 


Santa Mug Doodle



Always With Thee



Candy Canes, Holly and Evergreens




Snowman 1869 Crock and Doodle 


Snow Crock Doodle 


"A Cold Winter's Day- Dot's Saltbox" 


THE FROSTY MCCHILL QAL


Let it Snow"  and " Sled Time , The Tree March  and "Just a Sweeping!!!" , Chasing Snowflakes" , " Learning to Ski " , Mittens for Sale ,   Blown Away ,   Snowball Hunt , The March  ,   Playtime, and Winter Time





BLOCK 4 A BLUSTERY DAY

BLOCK 5 THE FAMILY PORTRAIT 

PIECED BLOCKS





















More Christmas stitches and projects are sure to make their way down the pipeline. So I do hope you will drop by from time to time.

 Thank you for spending a bit of your time with me. I am ever so grateful! 🤗

May your day be merry and bright! 


As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa
May the simple joys of Christmas, warm your heart, fill your home and last a lifetime. - unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!  And Snowman Kisses. 
Dedicated to my sweet Baby sister, Amy who embraced the joys of Christmas  . I love you, Amo.  . ❤ 




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Playtime ,Thrifting, Toys, and Doodles- A Christmas Freebie