Blog Archive

Monday, January 19, 2026

Boo Koos of Butterflies

I don't believe I have ever showed you the boo koos of butterflies that I have to work with on my quilts. 

Welcome y'all and a very bright and beautiful day to you!  


Over the last few years, I have been working on butterfly quilts in memory of my sister.  But where did all of those butterflies come from? 

 Well, about 10 years ago or so I bought 3 or 4 large bags of "cut out butterflies appliques" at the thrift store for $2.99 a bag . Wow ! Great deal ! Don't ya' think? 
 Right now I am trying to dwindle down one bag. So I will just show you that stack today.  


Oh my, there are so many pretty butterflies to work with in all sorts of scrappy colors.  How many are there? Gosh, I don't know! A lot.  Let's just say I will be appliqueing butterflies till the cows come home. Hee! Hee!
 
Today , I will be going through this sweet stack and choosing some for my next butterfly quilt called Butterflies and Berries or it may be called Fluttering through the Berry Patch. 🤔


I had initially thought of creating a blue butterfly quilt this year, but when I saw this gorgeous strawberry fabric at Hobby Lobby, my mind was set.  

My inspiration fabrics. 

The primary colors will be pinks and reds with dashes of green of course. I am anxious to see how this quilt develops. 
These are my thoughts which are of course subject to change. The butterflies will be appliqued to 16 1/2" background fabric.  
The butterflies will surround an appliqued Berry Patch  which will be made up of 8 1/2" blocks ( unfinished) I still have to figure out how big , sashing , borders and such... but it is a start on the brainstorming process. 

 

I would love to show you my other butterfly quilts that I have made in the past. 😀 I know. I know. 🤷  I have showed these quilts  50 billion times . LOL. I just love them so much though.  ❤

If you would like to read more about them, just click on the links below. 



"You are divinely beautiful like strawberries and butterflies. " -Unknown




Meanwhile Pretty in Peaches is still in the works as well.  It is going into the hoop this week! 

Alrighty  Sweeties, Mr. Pinker and I are off to see what we can get into. 
May your day be bright and beautiful! 


 As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Love is like a butterfly a rare and gentle thing. "- Dolly Parton 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 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
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 


Look at that funny creepy crawly on the fence post! 

The spider was on the fence post last year when we camped here but not the caption. How cute!


It reminded me of my spider stitches that I shared in the past. 🕷🕸🕷 Luckily, I haven't spotted any real spiders out here in the desert yet, but the flies are horrendous! Shoo Fly Shoo! 


Friday, January 16, 2026

Working on Farm Life

 Apples, pears and cherries all waiting to be harvested.   

"Farm Life is being stitched on 14 count tea/ coffee dyed Aida. 

Turnips and sweet peas! Oh, how delightful! 

The turnips and peas are ready to be harvested. 

Happy Happy Farm Friday, y'all.  

                              

It is a beautiful day to be working on a farmyard stitch and by golly , that is what I am going to do! 🤠

The veggies and fruits are plentiful on this stitched farm.


 However, I still have more to plant stitch like pumpkins, corn and carrots. But more pressing matters are at hand. I am  going to be driving a backhoe and digging out a crystal blue pond right there above the pears and cherries. Well at least that is my plan for today.

I will be adding the blue pond above the cherries today. 

 There are 2 wild and wacky geese or maybe they are ducks that are waiting to be stitched as well and they do need their pond. 

I am slowly but surely making progress on Little House Needlework's "Farm Life" as I sit at camp. I am using mystery flosses on this piece ( that means flosses that  have lost their labels. ) We shall see how the colors progress as time goes by. 

As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Beautiful things come together one stitch at a time. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy - a farm gal through and through. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 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
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
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Back at home, the gals are waiting anxiously for some new arrivals. It may be a couple of weeks but along with some heifers,  a new bull is coming to the farm . I hope he is as handsome as the Rodster was. 🤗

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Mr. Snow is on the Go!

 

I  have a frosty fella on my mind and his name is Mr. Snow. 

Welcome, dear friends. 
Last year I began working on the sashings  on my Mr. Snow quilt,  but at some point  I set it aside and Mr. Snow became a UFO. ❆❅☃ Bless his chilly heart. 💙💙

Well, my Mr. Snow blocks  jumped in the camper with full intentions of me working on them further as I enjoyed the  warmer weather .
 Eeeeh it was in the 80's yesterday! How nice! 

In the past,  I had been adding  sashing to 2 Mr. Snow blocks a week. That way I could slowly enjoy the project, and  it not interfere with other things going on  . 
 

Anywhooo,  Mr. Snow insisted that I work on 2 more blocks this week. 

So   Block 7 Snow Cream and Block 8 Decorating the Tree  all received scrappy red borders to Mr. Snow's delight. 


Mr. Snow was a QAL that I shared in 2023-2024. 
8 blocks complete. Four more to sash! 



In the February 27, 2025 post, entitled Piecing Snowmen I gave a tutorial with measurements on how I am completing each block. 


Mr. Pinker and I will be hitching our wagon and chugging on to the next campsite today.
Oh boy, is our little truck camper is a mess when we travel . I have to put my stash of fabrics, threads and sewing machine on the beds so they are not strewn about as we travel the bumpy roads.

Bye Bye sweet campsite. I may see you  again here soon. 

It took an hour to drive to the campsite that we were at . The roads were washboard so we took it slow and easy. But it was worth the drive. It is one of our favorite spots. Fingers crossed we will be able to get our next favorite spot at our new destination.

As Always...


Happy Quilting and Stitching, y'all!

Melisa 

"Snowmen aren't for everyone , but their memories are. "- unknown 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 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
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
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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. 

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

TGIFF at Melva Loves Scraps for Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday- Friday

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






Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Walking the Wash Wednesday- Wordless Wednesday

Happy Happy Wednesday, Sweet friends and welcome to a "Not So Wordless Wednesday " post ( a few nature photos and words- that's all. ) I sure would be delighted if you joined me as I walk through the desert wash . There is lots of beauty to enjoy.  Let's go! 😀🌵

Are these Joshua trees ? Someone told Mr. Pinker they were. They were way back in the wide yonder. 


Rugged terrain. 

The Octotillo Cactus was so green. 

And very prickly...




Silly little cactus! 


Thank you for taking the time to join me today. 🤗 

If you would like to see more lovely nature photos, hop over to Di's place at Quilting is Blissful. Di is going to be sharing nature photos on Wednesdays . Oh, and I must not forget her other posts. She always has so many fun and beautiful projects in the works, and she is so prolifc! 🪡🧵❤

Have a blessed and beautiful day! 

As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are through the desert. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 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
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Tiny Winter's Day House- Tiny House Freebie Series

 Well Hello there , Sweetness. It is "Tiny Tuesday " stitching day for me. I will be working on a simple but quick cross stitch. But first I want to share my latest teeny finish. 

It is called Tiny Winter's Day House. This is the first in a new series called Tiny Houses .

I have high hopes to share one each month.  They will all sport the same border and be finished into little pillows.


I am stitching mine on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida and using scraps of fabric for finishing. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 ðŸ§µðŸ§µðŸ§µðŸ§µðŸ§µðŸ§µðŸ§µðŸ§µ




TINY HOUSE FINISHING TUTORIAL

INGREDIENTS- SUPPLIES 

🧵 Stitched Tiny Winter's Day House🧵
🧵Finishing and Backing Fabric
🧵 5" strip of 1" lace
🧵 Fusible webbing
🧵thread
🧵Ruler
🧵Scissors
🧵 Stuffing

Supplies gathered for finishing

DIRECTIONS:
1. Trim the cross stitch on each side leaving a 3/4" margin. If stitched on 14 count Aida, your piece will be trimmed to about 3 1/2" x 3 3/4"

Measure and trim cross stitch. 

2. Cut finishing fabric to 3 1/2" x 3 3/4".

3. Using 1/4" seam allowance sew the finishing fabric to stitched piece.  Press.


4. Attach lace along seam line. I tack mine at the top and bottom of the piece. Press.
Fixing to add lace. 

I pin my lace in place and tack it on the sides. 

The lace is attached and ready to be trimmed. 

5. Measure your finished piece and make any necessary trims. 

Trim and square piece. 

6. Cut a backing fabric . I like to cut mine slightly larger for some leeway.

Cut 2 pieces of fusible webbing one for stitched piece and one for backing. Adhere. 

Fixing to add fusible and sew into a pillow. 

7. Place right sides together and stitch into a pillow form . I leave my opening in the seam line but many stitchers sew their pillow up and poke a little hole in the back and stuff from that area. They then place a pretty patch with fabric or wool to cover the whole. 

My pillow form is ready to stuff. 

8. Stuff your pillow and sew the hole. Wahlah! The Tin House pillow is done. 

Tiny Winter's Day House is complete! 
 
I will be finishing all of my Tiny Houses the same way. 

A new Tiny House will debut in February. 💓

🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵

Now back at camp...

"What's that ?" I asked Mr. Pinker as we rode into the desolate rocky mountains.  

Mr. Pinker stopped the side by side so I could get out and see. 


"Well isn't that nifty and a delightful surprise! " You never know what you will find in the desert.


Thank you for the sweet visit. May you discover a delightful surprise of your own. 

As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us. " Boris Pasternak

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 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
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
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Trimmings which will be used for stuffing . 

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Boo Koos of Butterflies