Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Riding the Rails and Four Patch Fun

"Railroads and telegraph and kerosene and coal stoves-- they're good things to have, but the trouble is , folks get to depend on em." - Pa , The Long Winter

Hello, Sweet Friends. Do come in and join me on this lovely Thursday morning. Eeeh I am so excited! Today Melva at Melva Loves Scraps is posting Block 5 in the Little House on the Prairie Sew Along. Last night, I finished Block 4 Rails just in the nick of time to start Block 5. This block was such a pleasure to piece.

I arranged my rails with a pinwheel in the center.

By the Shores of Silver Creek was the book from the Little House on the Prairie series that inspired Melva to create the "Rails" block. As I pieced this delightful block using thrifted fabrics that I have collected over the years, I thought about some of my own family "Rails" stories.

Do you have any railroad stories handed down from your family?

The rail block is framed into a log cabin block.

Most of my fabrics were thrifted.

Like there was Great Grandpa David who as a child joined the Union Army during the Civil War. He not only worked long and hard on the railroad trestle bridge under the leadership of his uncle who was the Captain of a unit, but he became a spy as well. Great Grandpa David lived a long and wonderful life not far from where he worked on the rails as a child.

The dark blue fabric is from a cotton sheet.

Then there was my Uncle Billy and Uncle Al. Their "rails" story was not a happy one. As children Billy and Al, had grand ideas of riding a train and seeing beyond the small rural town that they were growing up in . They had heard grandiose tales of the hobo life .

After much thought, one day, Uncle Billy and Uncle Al who were youngins' at the time, decided to hop on the train as it rolled through the countryside. As the train clanked and rattled by , they each reached and dove towards the train in hopes of a grand adventure. Uncle Al made the jump successfully, but alas Uncle Billy did not. He was pulled onto the tracks and was tragically killed at the tender age of 13. Such a sad story, and I am sure the fate of many who dared to ride the rails during the "hobo days." But Billy was well loved and is still remembered to this very day. ❤🤗

Now back to more quilty stuff.

As I pieced "Rails", I was able to finish 4 more Four Patch Fun blocks which is my Leader/ Ender project.

This was a block introduced by Bonnie Hunter in 2025. I will share my progress on these blocks in the coming days.

Gosh, I have chatted your ears off again. Please, do forgive me.

If you have the chance , drop over and visit Melva. There is still time to join in on the Sew Along . It is free until the end of the event. Plus Melva is hosting a Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Link Party. There you can see others who are participating . Your eyes will be delighted by the beautiful blocks shared in different color ways.

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

Block 4 Shoo Fly- March 19, 2026

Block 5 Rails- April 2, 2026

Thank you for spending time with me today. My morning will be filled with stitching time. Later this evening , Mr. Pinker and I will be heading back to the ballfields. Those grandbabies are keeping us busy! But what a joy!

As Always...

Happy Stitching and Quilting,

y'all

Melisa

"I've heard of the call of the wild, the call of the law, the call of the church. There is also the call of the railroad. " - Gary Krist

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!

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🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025- Early 2025 berry Freebies.

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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.

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🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October 4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.

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🌞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.

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I purchased these yummy fabrics at a yard sale in AZ

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

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

More Easter stitches. They will be hopping away soon.

Tomorrow I will be sharing the "changing of the quilts" .So drop by if you have the chance. I always love company.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

It's A Wrap for Blooms for You

"Eeeh!" I squealed in delight when I spotted the little wooden box at the thrift store. I quickly picked it up and twirled around in joyful celebration when I saw that it only cost $1.59. "I have plans for you! ," I exclaimed as I plopped it into my cart.

A few weeks ago I shared a little chart called Blooms for You.

It was a simple stitch with just a few flowers blooming. Well I finished stitching it while on the camping trip, but it has been waiting in the wings to be finished.

Once home I auditioned Blooms for You onto the box. Seeing that the stitch fit for what I had in mind, I was ready to get straight to work. The box was painted in a wide array of colors. I pulled out several containers of brown paint and got to work. After receiving numerous coats of paint, I let the box dry for a day or two.

Blooms for You was stitched on 14 count tea/ coffee dyed Aida. I trimmed and pressed my stitch before fully finishing it.

STEPS FOR FINISHING BLOOMS FOR YOU

1. I used a dry brush to paint the box . After drying I gently sanded the surface.

2. Trim the stitched piece to the desired size and iron fusible webbing to the back.

3. Cut mat board or cardboard to 4 1/2" x 5" .

4. Cut batting and layer on top of mat board. I tacked mine down with touch of Alene's Tacky glue.

5. Center the stitched piece to the mat board and fold excess fabric around the edges, lace in place.

6. Center the stitched piece to the wooden box. Using tacky glue , adhere the stitched piece to the box . Place a large book or weight on top until dry.

7. Using tacky glue attach trim to the edge of the stitched piece.

8. Enjoy!

Oooh now don't you think this will make a great seed box?

Have a bright and beautiful day and Happy Stitching!