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Thursday, August 31, 2023

Gettin' Corny Hutch Tour


Well hello there , Sunshine! 

It is hard to believe that we are saying goodbye to August. This month flew by . Well , I will also be saying good bye to my August hutch display.  

I have to admit that my late summer hutch display looks a little   "Corny ". I just knew I wanted a bright sunshiny display and corn and sunflowers fit the bill. Besides  it had been ages since my ceramic corn decor had seen the light of day so I pulled it out to enjoy. Are you ready for  my Gettin' Corny hutch tour? Let's go! 
 

Hubby built this hutch almost 30 years ago. It is not a very big hutch, but it holds a lot. Well let's just say I cram it plumb full.  The bottom holds my Christmas dishes. 

Usually, the tip top of the hutch stays the same with my vintage Coca Cola crates and Campbell soup tin which is filled with plates.  But I did add some household corn related items to the mix like my cast iron corn pone pan , and Jiffy corn muffin mix from the pantry and of course with Grandma's Molasses label being yellow it had to go on display too. ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ˜€.  I keep the "Gather" sign out year round. I think it was a Thanksgiving decoration. 


Now to the top shelf.

In 2020, there was not much that we could do, but one evening Mr. Pinker , the grandsons and I went to the lake; my grandson pulled a wooden board out of the water for me to craft with and I did just that. I made the Sunflower sign.  I always think of him when I display it.  

You can barely get a glimpse of the  sunflower  and  yellow plates that I used as a backdrop on each shelf. I bought them at Dollar Tree. Almost everything has been bought at the thrift stores, Dollar Tree or was given to me by my sister. 
The covered corn dish sits on top of a Dollar Tree bowl. I found the large corn salt and pepper shakers last year at a thrift store. 

I just had to leave  Little House Needlework's Hen Party out on display - it has a large stalk of corn right beside the house. Cute as can be. Don't you think? 
 

Here and there , I tucked random sunflowers which I had taken apart from a Dollar Tree floral pick. 

More corn salt and pepper shakers are in the opposite corner. 


Let's skip down to the 2nd shelf , shall we?

I have a small strand of white Christmas lights that is strung along the shelves . They are so pretty at night. In the corner is an  Argo corn starch box  and a pretty vintage spice tin. The yellow tobacco basket was a Walmart find years ago. 
The corn bowl , sunflower candle holder,  plate as well as the darling yellow chicken are all thrifty finds. 


Also on the 2nd shelf is one of my favorite nesting chicken candy dishes.   Do any of you collect nesting hens?   They are a lot harder to find now. If you would like to see my collection sometime, let me know. 

Mom gifted me the glass corn years ago. 

Have you ever seen a corn cookie jar?  I hadn't until I saw this one at the thrift store years ago. Hmm what kind of cookies should I put into the cookie jar?  

Hanging off the side of the hutch is Heart in Hands Needleart's  Summer Whirligig. I stitched it years ago. I do believe it needs a revamp on its finish. 

Corn sprouted on the bottom shelf as well. Good thing I have the vintage Lee Corn Cutter to help me cut  the corn from the cob. 

I always enjoy the graphics of the Clabber Girl containers. I placed a small corn dish on top of it. 

And finally the grand rooster is on guard. I guess he wants all of the corn for himself.  I don't blame him. ๐Ÿ”


 On top of the scales is a bowl gifted to me from my sister. I filled it with old corn cob forks.

 Do ya'll remember using them? As a child , I always thought it was a treat when we got to use them. Now I look back upon that memory and smile- lol the simple joys of a child. 


Since I am on a roll talking about corn, I thought I would share the  most requested recipe when we have family gatherings - Creamed Cheese Corn. Such a simple side dish. Have you made it before?  If you add cream cheese to anything, I am sure to gobble it up. I love cream cheese. ๐Ÿง€๐Ÿงก

I change this recipe up quite often . Sometimes I use frozen corn, sometimes canned corn. Sometimes I make it in the crock pot ; sometimes on the stovetop. 

CREAM CHEESE CORN
INGREDIENTS

2 (15 oz.) cans of whole kernel corn, drained
2 ( 8 oz. ) package of cream cheese
1/2 cup of butter 
1/2 cup of milk
1 Tablespoon of sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
 Combine  corn, cream cheese, butter, milk , sugar,  salt and pepper into the crockpot. Cook on low for 4- 6 hours or high 2 - 4 hours.  


INTERESTING CORN FACTS
1. The average ear of corn has 800 kernels in 16 rows. 
2. The world record for the tallest cornstalk is 35 feet. 
3.  Corn cobs always have an even number of rows. 
4. More than 90 million acres on earth is dedicated to planting corn. 
5. Corn can take from 60 -100 days to harvest. 

๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป

All right, ya'll. I better boot, scoot and boogie. Thank you so much for dropping by to see what 's going on in the kitchen today. This will all be coming down soon. Have a blessed day and...

As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, ya'll

Melisa 

A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine- Anne Bronte

Hugs and Stitches!!!!๐Ÿค—๐Ÿงต❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.❤❤๐Ÿ‘ผ  

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Busy Buzzin' Bee Buffet Tour

Wheew ! It is one hot Saturday.  Welcome ya'll. Mr. Pinker and I are still enjoying our camping trip though we have to duck indoors from time to time to escape the heat. Tomorrow we will be truckin' back home. 

  Are you a sucker for home tours?  I have to confess that I sure am.  I love to watch them on Youtube and I adore home decor blogs especially those of quilters and stitchers. I always want to see how they display their goodies and handmades , and you bet your bottom dollar that I swipe an idea or two to use in my own small humble home. Every weekend, I feel like I wait on pins and needles for one of my favorite Youtubers to post either a yard sale or decor video. Lol. 

Have you watched Jean E . on Youtube ? She likes to decorate her home seasonally.  Earlier this summer Jean posted a video on her Bee and Lemon Kitchen. It was so gorgeous. 

Lisa at Crepe Myrtle Row also posts some amazing home videos. Last year she shared her Chicken and Bee Dining Room which was so lovely. Lisa likes to collect vintage items and has a fabulous strawberry collection. 

Well, I guess you know what all this leading up to. ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ฒYep! It is good ole' Country Clutter time- where I share my clutter of a home. Now it is not as pretty as Jean and Lisa's , but I do enjoy displaying my seasonal stitches, quilts ,  and knick knacks.

 Now ya'll know I am no minimalist. The more the better is my motto. ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜‚ I know this is not for everyone, but it sure makes my heart sing. So grab you a big ole' glass of sweet ice tea and join me. 

My buffet was my Great Grandma Annie's who sold eggs to purchase a  dining room set which included 2 buffets.  I believe it is about 100 years old or there abouts. Above the buffet is a 1990's wooden shelf. I had Mr. Pinker add teacup hooks to it so I could store some of my teacup collection. 

On the wooden shelf above the buffet, I kept my Flag quilt which I pieced in 2020 and finished in 2021.

 

This quilt was a joy to work on during those long months of 2020. 

On the buffet sits a large scale that belonged to my Aunt Dot. It has always been on buffet for nigh close 50 years. So when I inherited the buffet the scales stayed with it . In my scales, I placed a number of Dollar Tree bee plates , some doilies and Beatrice's Bee Manor   which I shared yesterday.  Usually, I place some florals in Aunt Dot's milk glass vase, but forgot to do that this time. The old red kerosene lamp was Aunt Dot's too and sat in  my Great Grandpa's bedroom. 

 The buffet is overloaded with bee stitches and gifts from dear friends which I cherish. 

Center stage in the old frame is  A Basket of Honeysuckle  which I shared last year. It is my all time favorite bee stitch.   

All kinds of goodies are nestled on the ironstone plate, including  a small Sunflower truck stitch  which was a gift from dear , Joan. There is also the sweet Bee skep gifted to me by sweet Pat. Her sister made it for me.  The bee skep sits in a small metal tobacco basket Christmas ornament  that dear Shelly sent me. These gifts stay out year round and remind me of my sweet friends  and  how blessed I  am  . ๐Ÿค—

Mini Bee Sampler and  Bees and Blooms also make their home on the ironstone plate along with a honey dipper and ring of old keys.  

Bee Berry can be seen in the corner in the above photo. I shared it earlier this week. 

Last year, I tried my hand at making a bee skep using a milk jug, and some twine that I found at the Goodwill.  I placed it on a small compote and nestled  Aunt Bea's Summer Home below it. 











Below is a photo of the bee skep on my hutch last year. 


The big yellow rooster who struts around the house found his way onto the buffet for the month of August. 

Sometimes he is in the kitchen and earlier this summer he hung out by my seasonal tree. I placed a Dollar Tree pip berry wreath around his neck.   Next to him is Bee Skep 1869 Crock which was finished on a Dollar Tree wooden box that I found in the craft section. 


This little area here is one of my favorites on the buffet. Bee Sampler ,   and Summer House   are 2 of my previous freebies that I shared, but what I adore is the little bear that Joan gifted me. Is he not the cutest?   

The big bee in the vintage yellow pot is from Big Lots. He has to be over 20 years old.And that busy  bee salt and pepper shaker buzzed right on  into a Dollar Tree small clay pot.  

Below it is my Beatrice stitch. I stitched her a couple of years ago and have not shared her- maybe in the future. (For some reason, I am a little self conscious about my "lady" stitches Hmm. I am not sure why. I have shared a couple such as  Amy Lou the Strawberry Picker )


Well, ya'll that is one busy hutch . Isn't it ? And I didn't even hit on all of the items on it. Lol, but you did see the highlights. 

If you  would like to see my bee decor in previous posts , just click on the colored links. I use a lot of the same old things in my decor, but I sometimes move things around or add something else.

SUNFLOWERS AND BEE BUFFET TOUR 2020

BEE BUFFET TOUR 2021

Buzzin About Hutch Tour-2022


Bee Parade of Stitches June 2023 

Bee Sofa Table and Tiered Tray Tour- I Snuck One In- August 2023

Wordless Wednesday Buzzin' About the Farm - May 2023 

Thank you so much for dropping by for a visit. I am so sorry I was long winded. Sometimes I can be quite a chatterbox and can become snap happy with the photos . But I am so grateful that you take time out of your day to spend it with me. ๐Ÿค—❤ Have a very Blessed day. 
As Always...

Happy quilting and stitching, ya'll

Melisa
Hugs and Stitches!!! ๐Ÿค—❤๐Ÿงต

Love where you live with the passion of the bee. 
Dedicated to my sweet sister, Amy who was a busy bee herself .I miss you , Amo . Love ya. ❤❤❤ 

Oh, before I forget, do you have any suggestions of Youtubers or bloggers who like to share home tours ?  

Friday, August 25, 2023

Beatrice's Bee Manor- A Bee and House Freebie

We have a new house in the neighborhood, and it is a buzzing with activity!!! ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ

Welcome, ya'll and a very happy Friday to you!

 Many of ya'll know that I am plumb bee crazy especially this time of the year. For some time, I have had a hankering  to stitch another bee house. After giving it much thought, soon I was in construction mode . No hammer and nails for me- just floss and a needle.

   This home is called Beatrice's Bee Manor; it is another home for sweet Aunt Bea and yes I do have an Aunt Bea in the family๐Ÿ˜€.  ( I usually name my homes after family members.)

Beatrice's Bee Manor has quilt motifs along the windows and  the door, and of course, there are a few bees as well. 


The yard is filled with bee skeps. Aunt Bea loves to tend to her colonies. She has even placed some skeps on her roof. Those skeps hold her most delectable honey. ๐Ÿฏ

You may remember that Aunt Bea has a summer home too  which I shared a couple of years ago  . Aunt Bea's Summer Home  still seems to be one of the most popular  of the house charts. 


๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ
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.

๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ

NOTE: OOPS- I made 3 mistakes on the original instruction page. Yikes!!! Where was my head? ๐Ÿ˜ณ -  So I have recreated the instruction page, but if you have already copied it and just want to make note, these are the mistakes. 

OOPS  No. 1.  Please note that  I used 1 strand of DMC 3371 to create the bee antennas .

OOPS No. 2 & 3  -   I left off two floss colors.   
O -  422 Light Hazelnut Brown 
๐Ÿ›†- 3858  Medium Rosewood
  I am so sorry for leaving this floss color off . Thank you sweet friends for being so kind and understanding. 

This is the corrected Instruction page. ⇩




๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿ๐Ÿฏ

Now on to other happenings. Mr. Pinker and I arrived at our campsite last night. Today supposed to be a hot one, but Mr. Pinker and I are going to hit some of my favorite honey holes for some thrifty finds. I am in search for quilts or quilt tops and a small wooden box or crate to perhaps use as a riser. I have been moving some things around in the kitchen and want to raise some items plus have storage.  Fingers crossed I will find these things at dirt cheap prices; otherwise this ole' gal will come home with just fun memories of being out and about. 

If you have a chance, drop back by tomorrow. I hope to post a tour of my buffet filled with bee stitches. That is if the good Lord is willing and the creek doesn't rise. 

Thank you so much for the sweet visit, Sweeties. I can not tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you. You make this ole' gal feel very blessed. 
Love ya! 

As Always...

Happy quilting and stitching, ya'll

Melisa
Hugs and Stitches!!! ๐Ÿค—❤๐Ÿงต

The lovely flower embarrass me.They make me regret  I am not a bee.- Emily Dickinson


Dedicated to my sweet sister, Amy .I miss you , Amo . Love ya. ❤❤❤ Two years and 3 days. ๐Ÿ˜” Forever in my heart.

 

























Thursday, August 24, 2023

Truckin' on Down the Road.

Howdy, ya'll  and Welcome! 

Mr. Pinker and I are packing are bags and heading out on a camping trip.This will be the 1st trip since Mr. Pinker's surgery. We both are looking forward to it.  It is going to be hot,  but we will enjoy every minute of being out and about. 

Of course, I will be taking a bit of stitching to entertain me while Mr. Pinker is out on the lake. 

One project I will be  working on is  this little Halloween doodle called Boo Wagon. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but I am sure it will make its way into a small quilt. I may add some more doodles to go with it.  

๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ 

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.

๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ๐ŸŽƒ 


My little doodles are hand drawn so they are never perfect.  How fun it would be for you to turn some of your doodles into something special. 

UPDATE:  I finished the embroidery work on Boo Wagon. Now to figure out what to do with this little embroidery. ๐Ÿ˜€ - Sept. 11, 2023

I finished the Sunflower Basket  embroidery into a pillow. The Sunflower Basket is from my Summer Days quilt, but on this block I color tinted it with crayons. 


Ida Mae Crow which is next to the Sunflower Basket was stitched years ago. It is a Goode Huswife design from 2009. 

 I was looking at the little 4 patch quilt  which is folded on the bench and was thinking that I would like to create a new one in yellows. 

So yesterday , I skirted  to the  Quilt Nest, and in a jiffy I was pulling fabrics and cutting up a storm.

Isn't this turkey darling? 

Soon my 4 patches were constructed.  I was going to stop there and piece the top later  ,but this is such a quick quilt that I pressed on.

Originally, I had planned to piece  yellow 4 patches, but changed my mind at the last minute. 

 In  a few short hours the little quilt top was completed. Hmm, I think I will call this quilt "Country Fixins'" . Something about it reminds me of my Nanny  in the kitchen whippin ' up cornbread and country side dishes. 

Here are the measurements just in case you are interested in whipping up one of your own. I am not including a tutorial . This is an easy peasey quilt.  

My quilt top measured  22 1/2" x 22 1/2" unfinished

MEASUREMENTS & CUTTING

๐Ÿงต RED FABRIC -Cut 18- 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

๐Ÿงต GREEN FABRIC- Cut 18- 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

๐Ÿงต YELLOW FABRIC-  Cut  4  4 1/2 " x 4 1/2"

๐ŸงตCut 2- 7" x 7" . ( Cut each square on the diagonal creating an x) - These are the side triangles

๐ŸงตCut 2  -3 3/4" x 3 3/4"  ( Cut each square down the diagonal once) . These are the corner triangles.

๐ŸงตBORDER FABRIC- I suggest measuring your top before cutting the border fabric. Mine measured 16 1/2" squared so  I  cut 2- strips 3 1/2 " x 16 1/2"   and 2 strips measuring 3 1/2" x 22 1/2" 

๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต

Well that's all from the holler. Later in the evening after the grandbabes leave, we will be trucking down the road.  

If I have service , I may post what Mr. Pinker and I get into. Hmmm I am thinking relaxation on the lake and maybe a thrift store or two. Lol not very exciting is it? But it strikes my fancy. Hee ! Hee!  Have a super day. 

As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, ya'll

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

Beautiful things come together one stitch at a time. 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!๐Ÿค—๐Ÿงต❤

This is the 2nd quilt that was draped over the bench. Hmm. Maybe I need another 9 patch too. 

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. Love and miss you, Amo .


 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. 

Susan at Quilt Fabrication for  Midweek Makers Wednesday

Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter for Wednesday  Wait Loss- Wednesday

Denise at For the Love of Geese for Put Your Foot Down- Thursday

Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday- 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

Wendy at Wendy's Quilts for Peacock Party - Friday

Sarah at  Confessions of a Fabric Addict  for Whoop! Whoop! - Friday

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

Angela of  So Scrappy  for Scrap Happy Saturday