A Stroll and A Christmas Freebie- Silent Night

Good morning, Sweet Peas. It is a beautiful, sunny day on this fine Thursday morning. Would you like to take a stroll with me through the gardens before we look at stitchy stuff? Come on! We won't be out too awfully long. 

Little paths are here and there. 

     

 The marigolds are quite happy tucked among the lirope and roses. In fact, they are taking over. Bloom, Babies ! Bloom!

The tansy is reaching high to  the sky! It is well over 6 feet tall! 

Tansy, fox gloves and marigolds in the wild and woolly garden. 

Soon the little  yellow blooms will turn to seeds which 

 will sprinkle among the garden creating new plants next year. 

In the ivy garden , Coleus is planted in  an array of colors.  These are some of my larger plants. 

This is my 1st year planting coneflowers and two plants are blooming. Eeeh! I am tickled pink or should I say fuchsia!

The  house is up on a hill so the wild and woolly garden is great for preventing soil erosion. 

You may find some garden art scattered throughout the property like ....

The wise old owl who is crusty and rusty. 

Or the smiling sun with morning glories winding in and out of its rays. 

Even a little metal cat who usually remains hidden among the lirope under the burning bush.  And there is more rusty metal art tucked here and there . All of it made by the same artist. 

There is much more to see, but I will save that for another day. Let's sit back on the swing in the yard and enjoy the view.  It is nice and secluded here in the holler. All you will hear is the birds chirping and the leaves whistling in the breeze. 

Since we are here, how about we look at some cross stitching. Shall we? 

Here is my latest Christmas finish called Silent Night from the Speaking of Christmas Series. 

It looks all cozy snuggled in among all of the other stitches that I have worked on. Don't ya' think? 

Silent Night was stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida and made into a pin pillow trimmed with twisted chenille yarn.

Six  DMC floss colors were used in the making of Silent Night which include DMC 221, 310, 520, 842, 898, and Blanc.

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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. 

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If you missed any of the other Speaking of Christmas stitches, just click on the colored links and you will be magically transported back to the post and chart. 

Let It Snow - Speaking of Christmas Series, 

The Tree Farm,

 O' Christmas Tree ,

Santa- Speaking of Christmas Series, 

Holly- Speaking of Christmas Series,  

 Joy- Speaking of Christmas Series 

 Stockings- Speaking of Christmas Series

Now my question to you. 

Do you have any suggestions for a Speaking of Christmas stitch? 

Alright , Sweeties. Let me get you a glass of iced tea, and then we will sit back and enjoy this nice summer breeze.   

We deserve a nice relaxing day . Don't you think?

Have a beautiful day! 

Whoa there, Nelly! 😁😀 Let me show you one more stitch I am working on. I am stitching up some marigolds. 

JUST A REMINDER!  You are Amazing! Love ya!

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Time in the garden brings peace and happiness.  "

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved  rusty crusty treasures and spending her days outdoors. 

 I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

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 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes 2026- Early 2026 parade of home freebies.

🌞2026 Love Parade- A Parade of Previous Valentine Freebies- Valentine themed stitches up to Feb. 4, 2026.  

🌞 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

🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.

🌞 A Stomping Stamp Parade 2026  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to June 2, 2026

🌞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. 

🌞A Christmas in July Parade of Past Freebies- 2026 A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of July 6, 2026. 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

🌞Let's Dye Some Fabric- A tutorial on my process of dyeing Aida 

I Heart the Desert!

♭♮♭"My heart's tonight in Texas though I'm far across the sea,

The band is playing Dixie and there's where I long to be." ♮♭♮

Oh, I do love Texas, but right now my heart is a little further west.  💓💓💓 For I trucked on down the road and made it to a little secluded desert camp where lots of stitching is taking place. 

I finished "Santa With A Tree" from Prairie Schooler- A Merry Mini Surprise

A lovely sunny day to you, Sweet friends. Welcome.  How are you doing on this fine winter day?  Me? Well I am fine and dandy.

 Are you participating in Angela at So Scrappy's RSC 2025 challenge. I try to participate each year, but fall short of completing my quilts.  You know me- I get distracted by any happy handsome squirrel that comes my way.  

Anywhoo, I am trying to meet the challenge this year ; in fact, I meant to post this on Friday, but I was out galavanting around. Hee! Hee! 

The first project- "My Heart Quilt".    I only  have a few pink fabrics to work with so  I gathered a few and cut out some little hearts to applique.

"Where are you going ? " asked Mr. Pinker as I walked away from the camper. "

 I am going down there to take photos of my heart blocks." 

"How are you getting down there?", he asked . 

"Oh, I already have my path scouted out . " 

  I quickly walked down a less steep embankment to a sandy wash to spread out my heart blocks.  

These do need a good pressing , but that will have to wait. 

There is not much variety in the fabrics so far. But alas, this is what I have to work with. I will add a few different colored pinks in my next appliques.  

This is one of my camping projects that I enjoyed working on last year as well.  

Progress in January 2024

I decided that I need around 18 hearts of each color or thereabouts. Just a few more pink heart to applique, and then I will  sit this project aside until next month.  

As I surveyed my pink blocks, Mr. Pinker came down the embankment . "Nice looking hearts.  Do you want to explore this area?" 

"Now you know I am always up for an adventure!" , I  said with a smile.  I quickly gathered my hearts and stuffed them in my bag. 

Mr. Pinker and I enjoyed walking among the desert plants and looking at all of the critter holes and dens. "Anyone in there?" Thank goodness no critters crept out.  

We saw a number of footprints in the sand. I am not sure what critter made these prints. Do you? 

 We had a critter visit the outside of our camper and get into the garbage sack the other night. Thankfully , not much was in there and Mr. Pinker was able to clean it up lickety split. We did move the camping bag up to the truck camper ladder so nothing could get in it. 

 

After walking for a bit, we made our way back to camp. I was delighted to see a darling hummingbird visiting my feeder.  

I sat down and watched the little hummer as I stitched on my individual Winter stamp borders. 

Well, Sweeties, that is what is going on here? Quilting, stitching and a whole lot of nothing! Hee! Hee! 

Have an awesome day!  

 As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"Be led by the dreams in your your heart. " - Roy T. Bennett

Hugs and Stitches!!!

Dedicated to my sweet Baby sister, Amy . I love you, Amo.  ❤

Pink strips are also being cut into 1 1/2" strips. Hmmm, I am thinking small 4 patches one of my favorite blocks.  

January 4, 2025 sunset

 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

Nina at Creations, Quilts, Art , Whatever by Nina for Off the Wall Friday

Alycia's of Alycia's Quilts for Finished of Not Friday

Angela of  So Scrappy  for Scrap Happy Saturday

I am still limited on internet access and the ability to respond right now. I hope to get back in the groove when I return.  Love ya'! 

A Late Sunday Visit

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whish! Howl !

 Oh my, it sure was a blustery day! I thought I was going to be blown away when I stepped outside.  In fact, there were wind warnings out. It made the day quite chilly.  

Welcome, Sweeties and a lovely evening to you. ❤

Off and on , I would sit outside trying to enjoy the warm rays of the sun, but alas, it was hard with the gusts up 20 mph.  Now that is downright breezy.  Well, at least for me. 🌬🌬🥶😄😄

This is the lovely view I was enjoying. 

 Every now and then I would get up for a stroll. There are lots and lots of rocks . Yes, I am a rockhound.  My eagle  eye spies a heart rock . Do you see it? 

  One of my favorite cacti is the cholla.  Be careful though  for they are prickly!!!! 

Mr. Pinker added 200 more watts of solar to our camper which was greatly needed. We are now up to 400 and we have our generator if needed.  

  

He spent the day battling the wind while working on the side by side.- just tackling a few  odds and ends so we can ride around.  Meanwhile, I gave up on sitting outside and made my way inside the little ole' truck camper. 

Soon I  began to work on the lovely Blackbird Designs sampler called "Winter Wonderland" , a gift from dear. Sonja. Thank you , Sonja. 🤗 I finished the bottom border and began working up the side.  I continued working on it throughout the day. 

I put out on my hummingbird feeder in hopes that a hummer or two would visit the camp. Will they brave the high winds? Hmmm, I am not for sure. 

Last week , I moved the Flaming Butterfly quilt out of the large oval hoop into the 18" round hoop for traveling. 

My needle  meandered around the   Whatcha MaCall It  block today. 

 It took me about 2 hours to complete the block . Soon,  I will move on to a little black butterfly. 

Whatcha Ma Call It Block Tutorial was posted on April 29, 2024. 

 

Now onto the plans for the week. 

Did I Get'r Done... Well   -  Last Week's Goals were.. 

✅🌞1. Work on Flaming Butterflies quilt

✅🌞2.Work on Winter Stamp SAL

This past week I shared the following in the Winter Stamp SAL. 

 HEADER-  January 6th ( Monday)

STAMP 1 January 8th ( Wednesday)    

STAMP 2- January  11th (Saturday)

✅🌞3. Work on Travel journal- I have been journaling each day. 

✅🌞4. Work on Bunny Hill  A Very Merry Christmas

✅🌞5. Whatever Strikes My Fancy! 

Hmm.... What Should I do This Week? 

🌞1. Work on Flaming Butterflies quilt

🌞2.Work on Winter Stamp SAL

🌞3. Work on Travel journal

🌞4. Work on Bunny Hill  A Very Merry Christmas

🌞5. Work on  "The Sewing Room" 2025 BOM by Jennifer at Elefantz Designs 

🌞6.  Whatever Strikes My Fancy! 

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I am off to put in a few stitches before the night's end. Enjoy your evening, Sweetie Pies and ...

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Sunday- when the clock ticks slower and the world feels smaller. "

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. Love and miss 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 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 

I am still limited on internet access and the ability to respond right now. I hope to get back in the groove when I return.  Love ya'!