An Apple-icious Country Christmas Hutch Tour and Mini Santa Sampler Freebie

 Do you remember these apple ornaments from the 1980's -early 90's?

 In the  golden olden days, we could purchase a  pack of 12 candy red apples  at the Dollar General or the five and dime for a dollar or less. Aaah the good old days... ( Hmmm, Can the 1980's be referred to as the olden days? LOL My grandsons think so- the little stinkers!)

 I still have a few of these little ornaments that used to adorn my Mom's tree. 

Dear Stacy who knows my love for apples sent me a vintage pack a couple of years ago. This year they took center stage hanging on a small tree nestled in a Watts cookie jar on my hutch .   

 🍎🍏 "An apple a day keeps the doctor away. "- Proverb 🍎🍏

Good morning, Sweeties and welcome. Well the holiday season is in full swing so today I thought I would share a country clutter tour. Now many of you know me- I am a maximalist and I  love to see my vintage treasures on full display . So if you are up to it, I sure would love for you to join me in the kitchen to see how I decorated my small wooden hutch that Mr. Pinker made for me years ago. So grab a cup of coffee and let's go. 😀🍎

My hutch is nestled in a corner in the small kitchen which is filled with vintage items and advertising pieces. In the bottom of the hutch, I store many of my Christmas dishes. 

I began by pulling out my plaid table runners and Dollar Tree plates and then strung a some white lights on the hutch for a bit of sparkle. 

Then I filled it to the brim with  all sorts of apple related goodies... like my pie plates ... and ...

Some Watts pottery... and...

Of course I had to include some family treasures like my Nanny's 1950's Coffee canister.  Did you notice that the "C" is long faded and it is splattered with white paint. 🤗

I could not have a Christmas hutch without some of my vintage 1980's Santas scattered among the shelves. 

Scattered among the clutter are a few cross stitch pieces like the darling Santa stitch finished as a small log cabin quilt . A precious gift from sweet Joan. 🤗

And my little "Always Believe" stitch that I finished in 2021. My daughter always says if you stop believing then you do not get presents. I still believe . Do you? 😀❤

This hutch is certainly  filled to the brim with apple goodness. 

Do you think I could squeeze one or two more treasures on the shelves? Hee! Hee!  Well I won't try this year. Hmmm or will I ? 🤔🤪

I am so very grateful that you joined me today on this country clutter tour. I hope I did not make your head spin with all of the clutter. 

Well , Sweeties, I better get off here . I have Christmas stitching to work on. Yep, I am still stitching Christmas . How about you?  

Have a jolly day! 

Whooa there Nelly! Before you leave, I have a small stitch to share with you-  my Mini Santa Sampler. 

I will finish it today. It is a CHOOSE YOUR OWN COLORS chart, but I will share what colors I am using. 

THE FLOSS COLORS I AM USING:

DMC   898 ( alphabet)

            815 ( Santa suit)

            Blanc ( beard and pom pom on hat)

            310    ( Santa's eye)

            407 ( Santa's skin) 

            842 ( Santa's mustache)

            3688 (Santa's rosy cheeks)

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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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

Have a beautiful day, dear friends and ....

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"The smells of Christmas is the smells of childhood. " - Richard Paul Evans

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅 

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I had a wonderful doctor's appointment yesterday. She said I was fit as a fiddle and has released me from her care. I only have to see my primary doctor every 6 months now. It has been a long year, but I am as happy as a clam! 

 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

Ooops- Correction for "Joy" Speaking of Christmas freebie

 Good evening, Sweet friends. Ooops-! I did it again!  Silly me! 🥴😳 

I made a mistake on one of my designs- the Joy Speaking of Christmas stitch. 

Thankfully, it was a small "Boo Boo" in the directions.   

OOOPS- CORRECTION:    If you copied the Direction page before December 17, 2025, I made a mistake on the Floss List. In the original directions , I listed symbol "V" DMC 407 as one of the flosses used. I DID NOT use this color in the making of this design so please cross it off the Floss List. 

Below is the corrected, DIRECTIONS PAGE.   I am sorry for the mix up. 

CORRECTED DIRECTION PAGE

May your evening be filled with joy, love and lots of stitches. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Joy does not simply happen to us . We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day . " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅 

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Laying out my Blocks

The blocks are all trimmed and squared. I better get to work! 

Good morning, Sweeties and Happy Wednesday. I woke up yesterday with the sniffles. Yuck! Double Yuck!  But that was not going to put a damper on my parade. 

By mid morning, I had finished my Nine Patch Variation blocks. I just needed 10 blocks which did not take too long as Beulah aka my sewing machine cooperated quite nicely. 

 I was ready to layout my Pretty in Peach Butterfly quilt.

This is an interesting layout of the Nine Patch Variation blocks.  Don't ya' think?

 

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

But wait! After looking at my blocks I realized my butterfly blocks were 1 " larger than my Nine Patch blocks . "What the blazes?" I asked myself. 

Time to trim and square the butterfly blocks. I need to lose an inch. 

 I went back to my blog post in January  and realized that I had thought I had cut my peach background blocks to 15 1/2" but cut them 16 1/2". No problem. 🤷 I just trimmed and squared them up. 

Now I  can get down to the nitty gritty and piece them into rows.   😀🦋

Today Mr. Pinker and I have to make the hour long trek to the "big city"; we are leaving 2 hours ahead of time because ya' never know  traffic will be.   Anywhoo..... I have a doctor's appointment and Mr. Pinker is more than happy to chauffeur me around. Hee! Hee! Afterwards , we will finish up our Christmas shopping.  

Hopefully , it will not take too awful long for I have a quilt to piece. 

  Keep those needles flying and ... I wish you the most Merry day! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"A snowflake is a winter's butterfly.  "- unknown 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who looked so pretty dressed in peach. 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 needleworkers to meet. 

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Warm Winter Musings and a Peek into the Foyer

 We are just getting into winter and Mr. Pinker and I are already dreaming of warmer weather.  How about you? 

Welcome, sweet friends and Happy Tuesday.  Do come in  and join me on this quiet , chilly day.  

With Thy Needle and Thread's "Snow for Christmas" 

 The other day Mr. Pinker and I were talking about how we just cannot take the cold weather any longer. It chills us to the bone. Brrrr!   Well we do like the snow, but we do not see that too often. 

The small foyer is decorated with Christmas quilts and cookie jars. 

Here of lately the days have been in the 40's and the nights in the mid 20's which might not  be too awfully cold to some of you, but it is for this southern gal.  🥶Anywhoo... usually in December the temperatures hover around 60 with a few days in the 70's. But not  this December so far. 

In the evenings, I snuggle under a quilt that I have in a hoop and....

 ....  dream of Mr. Pinker and I trucking down the road in ole' Big Red aka our truck with the rickety rackety truck camper in tow.  

The vintage shelf is filled with Dollar Tree plates and some of my favorite cookie jars of the season. 

As my needle weaves in and out of the pretty fabrics, my mind wanders to sunny days and basking in a lounge chair in the desert with not a soul in sight except for the gambel quails cooing among the brush and the coyotes howling in the distance.  

 

Alabama Beauty is still in the works. 

 It will not be long before Mr. Pinker and I will being doing just that. Mr. Pinker has already started working on the side by side ( off road vehicle)  which we will take along with us. He is adding a horn for when we are driving down the road, and he is adding a back window to prevent the dust and sand from whirling back upon us as we explore the desert backroads and trails. We debated on whether to add more solar to the camper, but we will make that addition later. 

I added my biscuit tin to the shelf.  The cowboy reminds me of my travels westward. 

 Meanwhile, I am stocking up on canned foods to take along with us and other needful things that will be squirreled away into the cabinets of the old camper. 

A modge podge of items are on the little shelf. 

But wait we still have all of the joys of Christmas to enjoy.😀  

There are family get togethers, playing games, sleepovers, parades, grandsons' basketball games,  and of course, cooking sweets and treats.  And I must not forget that we have lots of birthday parties to attend before the year's end .  Hmmm, I think those fun filled activities  can distract me from the chill of old man winter. 

And after all of that .... well then... if all goes well , Mr. Pinker and I will be  enjoying our sunshine! 

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

Lake Havasu , AZ in Jan. 2025

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.  "- John Steinbeck 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅 

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Peace on Earth

Joy -Speaking of Christmas Freebie

 Brrr it is cold out there! What am I saying-  it is downright bone chilling! 

Welcome sweet friends and Happy Monday. We have been slammed with a cold spell. Schools were delayed 2 hours today so the kiddos would not have to brave the freezing temps so early in the morn. 

These last few days,  Mr. Pinker and I have been away  enjoying Christmas festivities with family.  The hustle and bustle of the soon- Right? 

 The countdown is on! 10 more days until the very special day.

Do you have all of your Christmas shopping completed?  Nope , not me! Mr. Pinker and I will make our final run for gifts on Wednesday when we go to the big city. 

I am still stitching Christmas and will do so till the end of the year. I had meant to post my newest "Speaking of Christmas " stitch earlier, but alas I was making merry with family and friends. 

"Joy" is my latest finish. Super simple but oh so cute- well at least in my eyes. 

Did you notice what I have "Joy" nestled in? 

Well, the other day at the thrift store, I found a metal soap dish which is as cute as a two dollar button.😀❤ I had to have it perhaps to put in my prim bathroom. But alas it has not made it there yet. Hee! Hee! I am enjoying using it for my cross stitch displays right now. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

OOOPS- CORRECTION:    If you copied the Direction page before December 17, 2025, I made a mistake on the Floss List. In the original directions , I listed symbol "V" DMC 407 as one of the flosses used. I did not use this color in the making of this design so please cross it off the Floss List. 

Below is the corrected, DIRECTIONS PAGE.   I am sorry for the mix up. 

Since it is as cold as the dickens outside, I plan to stay in and cozy up to some slow stitching time this afternoon. 

Now you stay warm and cozy yourself. Thank you for the sweet visit and...

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"The best way to find joy is to give it to others. " 

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. 

🌞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

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🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025

🌞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. 

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🌞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. 

🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅 

Holly- Speaking of Christmas Series

Santa- Speaking of Christmas Series

The Tree Farm

O' Christmas Tree