Sunday Musings , Strawberries , Tomatoes and a Freebie

 Sunny Sunday Salutations. How are you doing on this lovely warm day? 

I have been puttering around pulling my plants out of the greenhouse. Not all of my ferns made it, but a few survived the few months that we were gone. I have been clipping and cutting dead leaves, stems and fronds. And giving my surviving plants a good watering and a dash of epsom salt. 

   Over the years I have had great success rooting different plants. This year I decided to pull out my pretty Dollar Tree tea glasses and line the windowsill with little clippings in high hopes that they will take root. More cuttings in pretty glasses will soon join these.  Do you have a favorite plant that you like to root? I usually work with Spiderwort, Spider plants, Coelus,  and Sedum ( I just stick it in the dirt)  . Last year I gave myself a big pat on the back when I rooted an Annabelle Hydrangea and 2 rose bushes. 

Gardening season is fast approaching. I am sure we are in store for more cold days, but I will place my plants in the greenhouse if there is a cold snap. 

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

A few years ago when the "strawberry farm " was still in operation , Dad and sometimes us youngins' would be busy in the field cleaning chickweed from the plastic that peeked out from the plastic near the strawberry plants. The first harvest was usually around mid April . If there was a cold snap beforehand, the sprinklers were ran during the night which made for a long day for Dad. By morning time, the strawberry blooms would be covered in ice to protect them from the frigid temps. ( That is funny how that works, but it does. ) 

I have been appliqueing strawberries for my Berries and Butterflies quilt. 

 Such warm memories. I do miss those busy but simple days when the whole family was around. 

The berries are appliqued on 8 1/2" backgrounds. I need to add the berry caps this week. 

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

I can tell you "many a stories" of all of us dragging the irrigation pipes through the fields and putting them in place. Whew, you talk about back breaking work.

 But I guess I should be talking about other things shouldn't I? Like today's and this week's stitching plans. I have a lot of slow stitching that I have high hopes to work on . Can I do it? Hmmm... I am not sure , but if I can get half of it done I will be one happy stitcher.  

Now onto the plans for the week. 

Hmm.... What Should I do This Week? 

🌞1.Work on Berries and Butterflies quilt blocks. 

🌞2. FFO Blooms for You. 

🌞3. Quilt Pretty in Peach Quilt.

This has been my 15 minute a day piece this week. Kate at Life in Pieces keeps me motivated  with the 15 minute challenge. 🤗

🌞4. Work on A Sampler for Lois Ann.

I began this little sampler while camping last month. I am stitching it using a palette of pastels on gray Rit dyed Aida. 

🌞5. Work on Little House Needlework's Farm Life.

Progress as of January 30, 2026

🌞6.Work on red four patch mini quilt. 

🌞7. Work on March Roundabout embroidery. 

🌞8.  Plant marigold seeds in pots.

  

Well, I think this list should keep me busy . Don't you? Will you be making a "To Do List for the week? 

A little Sunday quilt stack. The 3 gallon churn was my Christmas present from Mr. Pinker. Swoon.

Oh my, I almost forgot. I do need to add TASK #9 to the list. Continue working on  A Basket of Pincushions. It is just a super simple basket filled with tomato pincushions.  If you are interested in stitching with me, grab the chart below, your favorite floss colors and fabric . You can then go to town on it. 😁 This is a Choose Your Own Color Chart. These are the colors that I am thinking of using-

POSSIBLE FLOSS COLORS  I MAY USE: 

 DMC 924 (border) , 610 (basket), 815 and 3011 ( tomato and strawberries) .

Of course these colors are subject to change. I will certainly update this post as I progress. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

Hmmm, I am curious . What floss colors would you use? Would you stitch the tomatoes in different shades of red? 

It is stitching time so I best get to work. Thank you so much for the sweet Sunday visit. You always make the day ever so special.  Have  a blessed day.  🤗 And enjoy your stitching time too! 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness ."- Frank Tyger

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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 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  

Signs of Spring- A House Freebie

 Welcome, Sweet friends. Do join my on the porch. We can listen to the sweet melody of the chirping birds, watch  the butterflies flutter and admire the flowers in bloom. Aaah Spring time is a a wonderful time of the year.  In celebration  of this season, I stitched a new house in soft greens, and it even has a porch . 

 As I worked on this piece, I would reminisce back to the good ole' days when I was a child and would visit my grandparents  in the evenings. 

Most often you would find my Papa and Nanny on the porch of their old farmhouse. Papa would watch the cows in the field as Nanny chatted away telling about the "goings on" of the day. 

Spring Farmhouse   which is modeled after my Nanny's home and Spring on the Farm

 Come springtime, Nanny would plant petunias in the concrete planters  which lined the long front porch and front steps. Us youngins' would jump off the porch which stood tall and  would scamper to the mountain stone sidewalk to pick daffodils which lined the sidewalk. We would soon take our bouquets to Nanny . She would lovingly place them in a  water filled mason jar and sit them on the farmhouse table. Such sweet memories. 

The  Signs of Spring  house does not have a pasture with cows nearby , but there are sweet ewes grazing in the front yard. I hope they do not get into the flower gardens. 

"Signs of Spring" was stitched  on 14 coffee/tea dyed Aida using 13  DMC floss colors which included:  356, 436, 610, 730, 829, 840, 918, 924, 926,  3013,  3021, 3363, Blanc

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

The "Sister " house to "Signs of Spring is the  The Ewe House . They are similar in color and of course there are those sheep. 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me on this lovely day as I strolled down memory lane. Perhaps fond memories of "days gone by" came back to you as well. Have a blessed day  and...

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Sometimes you do not realize how good the good old days were until they are gone.    " - Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

Spinning with Glee with a Native Star Log Cabin Block!

 I did it! I did it!  Picture me spinning around in glee!  What did I do? Well, finished a block thank you very much. Hee! Hee! 

I know . I know . Not everyone is going to jump for joy just for finishing a block but nowadays , I am one happy gal just to get anything finished. Sigh. 😏

Since getting back from our camping trip. Hubby and I have been running like a couple of  chickens with our heads cut off- running here and there and everywhere. "Cluck, Cluck"  Actually, there is some family sickness that is keeping each of us busy, but we are doing the best we can. So if I disappear for a short time , it may be due to that. But I am going to try to stay afloat. Like Mr. Pinker says it is just a bump in the road of life. 

Anywhooo... back to my finish. Eeeeh I am spinning in glee again. 

I am in love with Melva's new Little House on the Prairie Quilt Along. If you have not joined in, there is still time. It is free through the duration of the the quilt along. So if you are  so inclined, hop over to Melva Loves Scraps , grab the patterns and join in all of the fun. And perhaps you will be spinning in glee just like me!  

 "They were cosy and comfortable in their little house made of logs..." 

Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Posts:

INTRODUCTION of the Little House on the  Prairie Stitching Along - January 29, 2026

Block 1 Maple Leaf- February 5, 2026

Block 2 Native Star- February 19, 2026

Block 3 Harvest Basket- March 5, 2026

Last week , I pulled out a selection of fabrics for the 2nd block Native Star. 

Fabrics chosen for Native Star

It did not take long to have the large cabin block whipped up. 

"Beyond them the darkness was like a mist thickening over a flat, white world. Stars twinkled far away beyond its rim. " - The Long Winter

The Maple Leaf and Native Star

Today I will work on Block 3  Harvest Basket . Gosh, I better hurry because  tomorrow Melva releases the Shoo Fly block!  (Oooh  that is one of my favorite blocks to piece! Squeal  ! 🤗. )  

I better get to movin' if I am going to catch up with Melva. Have a delightful day. 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Home is the nicest word there is. "- Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

I got to see a spot of snow on Monday which promptly melted a few hours later, but...

...it did give me a chance to finish  "Easter Peeps" by Helen Daily. It is a freebie available on her Flosstube channel #77  posted March, 2, 2021 video . Now to add some trim.  

Happy Stitching, Sweeties! 

 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. 

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Little House on the Prairie Sew Along

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Do you have your green on? Pinchy, pinchy! I always made sure as a child that I had something green on when I went to school for eagle eyed peers were looking to give a pinch to anyone not sporting green.

Will you be celebrating today?

Mr. Pinker and I will be out and about on our date day- aka Walmart pickup and the Goodwill! I am sure we will grab something to eat before making our way home.

May your day be filled with blessings, joy and love. Thank you for visiting me on this happy holiday.

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"May the dreams you hold dearest be the ones that come true. "

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

Mending A Quilt Top

Last year , I shared a post about a beautiful vintage quilt top that I purchased in Texas 2024 that I named "Whitney Lake Stars" . It is a sweet reminder of our vacation in the area. 

The quilt has so many beautiful vintage fabrics. One block however has deteriorated  . 

It is time to patch this quilt up! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two star rays need to be replaced. 

So I searched through my stash and found a vintage reproduction print that I purchased about 15 years ago to repair the block. Did you notice the fabric has Little  Red Riding Hood , the wolf and Grandma's House on it-? Too cute!!! 

I chose this darling reproduction fabric for patching. 

After much thought, I decided not to take the block apart, but to applique over the damaged star points.  I began by working with a large piece of the chosen fabric .  I pinned one side in place  and slowly cut away the fabric as I needleturn appliqued. 

One side is stitched down. 

Two sides stitched . Fixing to turn the corner. 

Slowly but surely I am finishing the applique on one of the rays. 

The applique was not perfect, but I tried my best to follow the lines and points of the "rays of the star" the best I could. One  more "ray " to go. 

One ray appliqued over . Time to applique over the 2nd damaged ray. 

And here is the Four Star block complete. After working, I noticed "DNA"  ( a blood stain) on the quilt top probably made from the quiltmaker. LOL. This is a vintage quilt so there is no telling how old that stain is. I tried to get it out with Dawn, but it is set in. So there it will stay. It doesn't bother me though. 

Do you see the quiltmaker's DNA ( blood stain) in the peach border? It's there to stay. 

After patching the block , I took it outside for a photo shoot. I think the patch blends in alright. What do you think?  Oh bother, I do need to take an iron to this quilt. 

Whitney Lake Stars is now mended. It is ready for a good pressing-. 

It looks like a stained glass window with the sun shining through. 

This quilt top was hand and machine pieced. Today, I will press and then dethread the back. Lots of threads need to be snipped. 

Whitney Lake Stars was hand and machine pieced. 

Hopefully, by evening's end, I will be marking the quilt for hand quilting. That's my grand plan at least. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars. " - Les Brown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy- a sweet star in my eyes. ⭐💖. Love and miss you, Amo. 

From the Heart Needleart's- "Mini Celebration Sampler" and a peek of my Mini Bunny Sampler

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.

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