Winter Hutch Tour and a Valentine freebie - "And Love Grows"

 Hello , my dear friends. Please come on in. It is another episode of Country Clutter.  😀 Let me forewarn you; there is a lot of clutter and this post is photo heavy!📷📸 

Today we are looking at my hutch. Hubby built me this hutch about 22 years ago, and I still love it to this day. For January, it was all decked out in snowmen and many thrifted and gifted treasures from my sister. ☃❄⛄ I started out putting some vintage lace and old valances down on the shelves as shelf runners. I chose transferware plates to place on the shelves as well as old ironstone platters.

  Let's start off on the top shelf. In the corner is Hands on Designs "Year in Chalk- January" . I have stitched a couple of these and always mount this on a thrifted plaque.  

On the snowman mug is a freebie by Balades et Broderies par Carmela  and was on her blog. I provided a link to her blog though I had trouble finding this little snowman. She has so much pretty eye candy and fabulous freebies available.  

The gorgeous snowflake stitch was a gift from my dear friend Nancy. 

Her stitching and finishing is always exquisite and equally as beautiful is the birdie pin keep gifted to me by sweet Patience. I treasure these both. 

The little snowballs embroidery is one of mine from years ago. 

 Bottle brush trees and snowmen are scattered throughout. 

Hoppin' on down to the 2nd shelf.  

I did not put a bowl in my vintage juicer this time, but I did prop up my Lizzie Kate Snowy String that a stitched on Rit dyed aqua marine 14 count aida. I finished it on a scrap piece of wood that I painted. I change out my LK strings on this wood.

 In the jadeite bowl is another freebie called  "Baby Snowmen Trio " By Catherine Reurs of Splendid Detail Ltd.. The chart called for just 2 colors ,but I used a number of colors on my snowmen. I then finished it in the shape of a snowman. I placed a little ripped scarf on him from fabric from Walmart . I do not think it is still available or at least I couldn't find it. 

This sweet little snowbaby is called “Christmas Greetings” from Titan Needlecrafts and came as a kit; I purchased it at the Goodwill and finished it in a simple pillow.  The Triology's "Cheer " is in the corner finished on a rough cut piece of wood that hubby shaped into a hornbook shape. I used my own floss colors for it. 

The bottom shelf sports a new snowman cookie jar that made its way all the way from Arkansas .🚙🧳 I bought it at the Goodwill last summer while traveling . This is his 1st year out. 

 The "Snowflakes" embroidery , I stitched years ago. 

Next to the cookie jar is Country Cottage Needleworks' "Snowmen Trio.  "

Winter Time" is a cross stitch that I completed in 2011 or 2014 before I tried to keep note of my stitches. It was a freebie. Do you know who the designer is? For the life of me ,I can not remember. 😕  

Next to it is my Prim Winter which I finished on a Dollar General wooden tag.  

Finally, on my vintage scale, the  little ceramic dish from my dear sis has a trio of bottle brush trees. 

Underneath is a beautifully knitted dish towel gifted to me by my friend Tracey. Of course it hasn't cleaned a dish. lol .It is so pretty - it frolics among my winter, spring and summer displays. 🤗 

Well that concludes this episode of Country Clutter.  I am not sure when the next  episode will be , but I sure will keep you posted. Lol.

I would like to leave you with a little Valentine stitch.  

It is called "And Love Grows" .I finished mine into a little dough filler pillow using fabric from my stash and vintage lace gifted to me by dear Pat. 

As I was piecing mine into a pillow, I left too much empty space....

 so I ended up going back and stitching mine and hubby's initials in it.

 

I didn't chart the initials but you could refer back to my Let It Snow Sampler for letters if you would like to do the same, just leave you some room to stitch them

Click here for Instruction page. 

Click here for colored chart. 

NOTE: For some reason the letters appear blue but they are charted and stitched in green, but blue would look so lovely.

Click here for the Black / White chart. 

I am so tickled that you stopped by for a visit today. As always...

Happy Stitching yall, 

Melisa

P.s. Have I told you how awesome you are lately?  You are the butter to my biscuit. Love ya!

There is only one happiness in this life so love and be loved. - George Sand

Hugs and Stitches!!!!

                

Dedicated to my sweet sister, Amy . I treasure all of the memories of our thrifting adventures. Love you.