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Tuesday, August 12, 2025

A Summer Rain and The Hum of the Bees- A Bee Freebie

 The rain has set in, and the flowers are happy. 

Good afternoon, y'all and a lovely evening to you. Two posts in a day? Aaah why not! ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜ 

To my surprise, we did get a number of showers today. That gave me a break from watering all of the flowers which was so nice.  Between showers, I was able to go outside and take a few snapshots of what was going on in the garden. Still wild and woolly , but pretty in my eyes nonetheless. 

The hummingbird feeder needs to be filled.  Lots of weeds in this garden bed too. 

Little caterpillars dangled precariously from a limb high above. 


As a large clump of them ,cling tightly to the branches and leaves. 


And the rain continues... 

 

So what's a gal to do,  but retreat back into the house and bustle about. 

Well actually, I have been working with a new printer / scanner. My old one bit the dust! Boo Hoo!๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ญ 

Not being tech savvy, I have been having some troubles learning the new one. The terminology , the lack of instructions has got me bumfuzzled . Hmm is that a word? ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ˜€  I am not for sure, but I sure have been frustrated. ๐Ÿคช
 
 After many hours, I have muddled my way through the process,  and I have high hopes that I will be able to share a chart. Be forewarned though, I am not sure how it will come across once posted, but I am trying.  

Have I told you lately , how grateful I am for you?!  ❤๐Ÿค— Well I am! 


Some of you may have spotted my latest bee finish  in my header photo. I have been working my little fingers to the bone to have it finished before the end of summer. 





It is called "The Hum of the Bees"

"The Hum of the Bees is the voice of the garden. " This is a lovely quote from Elizabeth Lawrence, an American gardener and author. 
Click here if you would like to learn a little more about Elizabeth. 


My stitched little garden is filled with bee skeps, blooms, bees, and birds. A happy little place indeed. 


The Hum of the Bees was stitched on 14 count Aida which I dyed charcoal gray with RIT dye.  On 14 count Aida , the design size was 135 W x 106 H which brought it to about 9 5/8" x 7 5/8" . That meant I could pop it in an 8 x 10" frame. Woo Hoo! 


There are 14 floss colors in this design which includes: DMC 317, 407, 610, 730, 780, 782, 815, 831, 898, 924, 3371, 3740, 3743, Blanc


I have trouble printing and sharing large charts. The images do not interpret as well on the computer. ( Remember I am not tech savvy nor a professional designer, but I do love to share . ๐Ÿ˜Š) 

 I have provided a little note to refer back to in respect to the placement of the floss colors. I hope this helps.

PLACEMENT OF COLORS
WORDS: DMC 898
VINE: 730
BEES: 782, 3371, Blanc
RED FLOWERS: 815, 407, 730
BEE SKEPS: 898, 780, 782, 3371
BIRDS: 610, 317, 924
POSY FLOWERS: 782, 730, 610
PURPLE FLOWERS: 730, 3740,3743
GRASS PATCHES: 730, 831

๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต

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. 

๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต ๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต๐Ÿงต









Well Sweeties, I am off to play with this "blankity blank" printer! Oh please, do excuse my language...๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ LOL,  but I know many of y'all understand .  

Hmmm perhaps , I will just go sit out on the porch and enjoy the pitter patter of the raindrops. Now that sounds more relaxing doesn't it? 
Talk to you later. 

๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป

 As always,

Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"It is the rain ,not the clouds , that nourishes the gardens." 

Hugs and Stitches!!! ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿงต

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved to dance in the rain! I miss and love you so much.   ❤๐Ÿ‘ผ

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

๐ŸŒžParade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
๐ŸŒž Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
๐ŸŒžA Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
๐ŸŒžA Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
๐ŸŒžA Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025

๐ŸŒžTime to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
๐ŸŒžPin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 










A Peek Into the Foyer

It is a sun shiny day! A perfect day to skip through a field of corn or perhaps of sunflowers.  




Wheew! It is too hot for that ! Let's skip that and just head into the house  where sunflowers are in bloom and the corn is abundant! ๐Ÿ˜€  Well at least it is in in the foyer. 

Welcome, Sweeties and Happy Tuesday! 


Are you up for another Country Clutter tour ? I sure hope so for there is lots to see, and it would be a delight if you joined me. 

As you enter the house, from the patio you will be greeted with lots of sweet summer stitching displayed on my thrifted shelf. 

That includes Blessed which is a  freebie from Stitching with the Housewives and my Mini Sunflower Sampler freebie which are both nestled in a wooden bowl filled with corn cob holders and an antique doorknob. 



 This year's theme was Corn and Sunflowers



Sunflower Inn , a Little House Needleworks piece, was tacked onto the old metal plaque for the season.  I think it brightens up the area nicely. What do you think? 


Lots of pretty sunflower plates from the Dollar Tree were layered in among the shelves.  You might have already figured out that I have a thing for plates. ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ™„


Of course if I am going to decorate with corn, I had to include some chickens one of which is in a small corn bowl. 

  Sunflower Sampler   is a stitch that I shared a few years ago. Such a darling frame it is in. 


A big ole corn on the cob cookie jar is perfect to put treats in like Mr. Pinker's Cornflake Bars.  Yum Yum! 


PEANUT BUTTER CORNFLAKES BARS
YIELD: 20 bars

INGREDIENTS: 
1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
6 cups of cornflakes

DIRECTIONS:
In a large sauce pan combine peanut butter, sugar and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium low heat until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove from the heat and stir in the cornflakes. Spread into a greased 13" x 9" pan. Press lightly and let stand  until set-   for about an hour. Cut into bars. Enjoy! 

Except for the plates , all of these items have been made or found at thrift stores and yard sales including the big corn casserole dish. 


 Summer Ewe looks as cute as a button as it is propped next to an antique amber bottle gifted to me from my sweet sis. My sister  loved collecting old bottles-  such a fond memory. 

Antique pitchers, stacks of plates and lots of sunflowers


Summer's End a freebie from Notforgotten Farm was a delight to stitch.  Beside it in an old vintage planter is  one of my freebies' called Mini Bee Sampler 


The 2nd  Notforgotten Farm  piece on display is June which was also a freebie on Lori's site. It is a favorite as well. 


Well Sweeties, that is my corny display in a nutshell. I am so grateful that you joined me. Thank you for dropping by. 

 As always,

Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"Positivity is the key to happiness. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!! ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿงต

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



Yesterday, I shared the quilts I have on display in the foyer. If you would like to visit that post click here.

  
More thrifty finds from the World's Longest Yard Sale including a green eyed squirrel, a cookbook, crock, dough bowl ,  vintage sifter and a candle lamp. 

๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

๐ŸŒžParade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
๐ŸŒž Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
๐ŸŒžA Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
๐ŸŒžA Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
๐ŸŒžA Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025

๐ŸŒžTime to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
๐ŸŒžPin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 

Monday, August 11, 2025

Changing Out the Quilts

 A very merry Monday to you, Sweetness. Gosh, I do believe it will be another glorious day! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ  

How about we head to my small foyer to see what quilts I put out on the thrifted shutters. 


 One of the first places  that I like to decorate as the seasons change is my small foyer/hall.   I have 3 thrifted shutters that I  enjoy draping quilts and tops over seasonally.  


Front and center is the Bee Skep quilt that I finished in 2021.


Just because a quilt top is not quilted is not going to stop me from using it.  ๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜€


 On the 2nd shutter is Hey Day , a pattern by Villa Rosa Designs

Papa's New Holland Square Baler with my Hey Day quilt top. 

 And last but not least is a little four patch called Green Apple Butter. I posted a tutorial on it in 2023. Click here to visit that post. 


 Now tell me. Do you have a favorite place that you like to decorate seasonally?  

If you have a chance, drop back by tomorrow . I will be sharing more country clutter including the cross stitch pieces that I used in the foyer for the month. 

 As always,

Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"This is your Monday reminder- that you are awesome! " 

Hugs and Stitches!!! ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿงต

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

Two more thrifty finds that I purchased on the World's Longest Yard Sale. A cake plate and deviled eggs dish- perfect for the upcoming holidays. 


I still have my favorite egg dish out  for display . It has faux eggs in it. 


 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. 

Cecilia at My Thrifted Store Addiction for Vintage Charm- Wednesday

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Rollin' In High Cotton


I am rolling in high cotton! ๐Ÿ˜€ 

Really, I am with lots of beautiful scenery and quilting to boot !  This weekend I have been admiring a glorious cotton field. 


Hello  there, Sunshine! Welcome! How are you doing on this lovely summer's day?

 Mr. Pinker and I went off on a little excursion for the weekend, and like I said my view has been one of a magnificent cotton field and farm. 

I do not know much about  cotton, but the plants had  white and purple/pink blooms. How pretty! Hmmm do the pinkish flowers turn white as they mature? I don't know, but I sure am curious. 

 

So what does one do while camping near a cotton field in Alabama you ask. Well, I pulled out my Alabama Beauty quilt for some slow summer stitching. 

 Some of you may remember that I purchased this quilt in 2023 during the World's Longest Yard Sale. 

It is hand pieced and was partially hand quilted using a pretty pink thread. So I picked up my needle and thread in 2023 and continued the quilting as the original quilter had started. 

Eeeh! About two thirds of the quilt is quilted! I am seeing the light toward a finish. ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒž

So what am I going to do when I get home? Hmmm ๐Ÿค”  Well, unpack of course, and all of those back home chores, but that's not any fun to speak of  is it?   I think I will continue working on Alabama Beauty this week and perhaps work on some fall stitching. 

Autumn's Pumpkins is in the works. 

Soooo... what do you have in store for the week?  

 Milk glass, plates and a little creamer are all new thrifty finds from the World's Longest Yard Sale this year. I have to say I was doing the Happy dance. 

  

I love jadeite, but here recently I have been collecting Delphite. Two more saucers to add to my wee collection. 

 As always,

Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"Enjoy the good things in life." 

Hugs and Stitches!!! ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿงต

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

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 

๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒป

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

๐ŸŒžParade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
๐ŸŒž Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
๐ŸŒžA Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
๐ŸŒžA Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
๐ŸŒžA Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025

๐ŸŒžTime to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
๐ŸŒžPin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim.