Witch Hazel's Cottage- A Halloween House Freebie

Do come in, my Pretties and join me for a spell! Cackle! Cackle! 

Witch Hazel McPunkin has a brew of "something" boiling up in her large black  cauldron. I am sure she is willing to share a bit of the ghoulish gruel if we so dare. 

Welcome, Sweet Peas and Happy Happy Thursday. It seems like it has been a spell since our last visit.  Doesn't it? 

All is well in the holler. I have been busy with my own broom and duster giving the house a good "fall cleaning" . 

Meanwhile, Witch Hazel has been doing the same thing- Sweeping away.  Whisp! Whisp! Whisp! 

Witch Hazel's Cottage is stitched on  coffee/ tea dyed 14 count Aida. 

Witch Hazel McPunkin's Cottage is the newest addition to my "house collection" . A grand purple cottage- just perfect for a good witch. 

Witch Hazel has a full house with ghosts and all of her pets like an owl , bats and of course Minerva , her beloved, prowling black cat. 

Sixteen DMC floss colors were used in the making of Witch Hazel's Cottage including: DMC Blanc, 301 , 436, 610, 645, 730, 780, 832, 838, 922, 975, 3021, 3041, 3052, 3371, and 3835. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

My favorite witch of all times is Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched.

Do you have a favorite witchy poo?

Graphic from Pinterest

Witch Hazel insisted that I share my slow stitch progress on Autumn Acorn.  The embroidery work is  completed  . I shared this little doodle earlier this fall .

 I decided to applique  the acorn and then embroider the details using DMC 898. Soon Autumn Acorn will go into the hoop. 

Well my friends, I best get back to the cleaning detail. There is laundry to be folded  and dust bunnies to shoo away.  I wish I could say "Hocus Pocus" and all would be magically clean and put away. Oh well. 😏 Perhaps by this afternoon, I can spend some time with needle and thread. 

So tell me how has your week been thus far? 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for  our wits to grow sharper.  "- Eden Phillpots

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy  who made the Halloween season magical. 

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

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

 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- 2026 A parade of sunflower freebies up to September 3, 2026

🌞Autumn Parade March- 2026 Fall Parade A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 10, 2026.

🌞 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. 

🌞Ghosts, Goblins and Jacks Galore - 2026 Halloween Parade - Halloween freebies up to September 16, 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

🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. - July 9, 2026

Gingerbread and An Autumn Acorn- A Fall Doodle Freebie

 Good Sunday morning, Sunshine! 

It is a lovely day to enjoy some slow stitching so I won't keep you long.  For I am sure you are going to settle down with needle and thread of your own  and stitch the day away. 🤗

Meanwhile, here in the holler I am going to quilt on some gingerbread men on my Roll and Bake quilt.

This has been my 15 a minute a day project for the week.   A Plate of Gingers 

And....since I embroidered my Gingerbread girl for a future Christmas  ornament...

From A Very Vintage Christmas Doodles

... I will begin the little reindeer embroidery.

AND...

I am going to enjoy some needle turn applique in a little  Autumn Acorn block. 

I am appliqueing my acorn on a background piece measuring  7 1/2" x 8 1/2" ( unfinished)  ( 7" x 8 " finished) . Framed with 2 1/2" strips ( unfinished) and 2 1/2" (unfinished)  corner blocks. 

UPDATE OCTOBER 14, 2026: The applique and embroidery is completed.  I used 2 strands of DMC 898 using the back stitch and running stitch. Now it is time to put Autumn Acorn in the hoop. 

A little doodle just for you. You can use it for embroidery, coloring, needle punch, applique or whatever your sweet heart dreams up!  Enjoy

My doodles are hand drawn and are never perfect. ❤

Surely this will keep me busy.  Don't ya' think? 

So tell me what are you going to be working on today? 

May your heart be happy and your fingers nimble as your needle flies! 

Happy Sunday, Sweethearts. Love ya'! 

If you are interested in how I color tinted my Gingerbread embroideries, just check out the link below. 

🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Slow days are not wasteful.Slow days are restful, refreshing and necessary.  "- 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 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 

🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. 

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

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

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

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters

Mystery Autumn Stamp SAL - Stamp 7 - Acorns Stamp Freebie

Happy, happy Thursday, my dears.

 It is Day 7 of the Autumn Stamp  SAL, and we are dropping down to row 3 in the large stitch.  

Today's stitch is called Acorns Stamp.  

         

This is a super quick stitch and you will have it stitched up lickety split since there are few colors changes. 

My dough bowl is filling up . How exciting!!🍁🍂

If you would like to stitch Acorns, please check out the link to the jpg below. 

Click here for  the Acorns Stamp.  

The other stamps are A Basket of Apples , Crows & Sunflowers , Raking Leaves , Pumpkin Haul  ,  Squirrel &  Acorns Stamp and Scarecrow in the Corn Patch  . 

Can I tell you how touched I am by the response to my SAL?  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You make this gal feel very blessed and extremely grateful . 

Sometimes I have a number of needles threaded with different floss colors so that I can pick them up quickly and stitch. It certainly  makes the piece go quickly . So I thought I would tell you the floss colors that you will need for tomorrow's stitch in the PREP YOUR NEEDLES. 

PREP YOUR NEEDLES FOR TOMORROW'S   STAMP 8 FLOSS COLORS

898, 815, 919, 435, 712,  

           

Now what about tomorrow's stitch. Hmmmm! Well, I will  meet you in the kitchen tomorrow. So bring your apron, and a mixing spoon. I'll bring the bowl and the other ingredients.  

Hugs and blessings and as always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, ya'll

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister , Amy. I love and miss you.   " A sister is God's way of making sure we never walk alone". 

If you have missed any of the posts about the MYSTERY AUTUMN STAMP SAL, just click the links below. 

Aug 6th post-  INTRODUCTION 

Aug. 8th post- BORDERS / HEADERS / FLOSS/ MEASUREMENTS

Aug 12th  post- STAMP 1 - A BASKET OF APPLES

Aug. 13th post- STAMP 2 CROWS AND SUNFLOWERS

Aug. 14th post - STAMP 3 RAKING LEAVES

Aug. 15th post- STAMP 4 PUMPKIN HAUL 

Aug. 16th post- STAMP 5 SQUIRREL AND ACORNS 

Aug. 17 post- Scarecrow in the Corn Patch

1803 Autumn Home - A Fall Freebie

Good afternoon, ya'll and welcome. I have been searching the trees for my sweet squirrels this morning. But they are a no show. 

 Living smack dab in the middle of the woods means that the squirrels only visit when there is a sure meal in the bird feeders and  Oops ! They are not filled today.  There are plenty of acorns , pinecones and walnuts about  though. 

Sandy is one of my favorites . Usually I can sit on the couch and watch her and her friend circle around the tree trunk  outside my window. 

I know. I know . Some have a love hate relationship with squirrels. I just think they are just plumb cute though and have fed them for years along with the birds and many other critters.  

Ok.  Sandy recently gave  me some advice-  so here it is .

             ADVICE FROM A SQUIRREL

    * Plan ahead. 

    * Stay active. 

    * Spend time in the woods. 

    * Go out on a limb.

     * And it is ok to be a little NUTS! 

   

Aaah , Great advice , Sandy.  I think I can do that especially the last one . How about you? 

Today's stitch is called 1803 Autumn Home. A fine home sits in a colander . Lol.  When I 1st shared a sneak peek on IG , my friend Cindy said it looked like a colander and she is right. 😃.   Hey, I have been known to decorate with pumpkins in a colander so why not a house .Right? 

          

Two little squirrels sit above with their acorns for their munching pleasure - or maybe they are going to store them for the winter. 

             

I stitched this piece on 14 count aida that I coffee/ tea dyed, but I added a lot of cinnamon and the fabric came out so pretty- well at least in my eyes. 

             

There are 6 DMC colors in this design which are 301, 469, 610, 434, 898, 3371, but of course you could use whatever colors strike your fancy. 

It's design size  is  112 x 112 and on 14 count aida that is about 8 inches square. 

If you are interested in this prim autumn house, I invite you to check out my pdfs below and don't forget to look at my disclaimer. 

Many of you know , but I always like to leave this little disclaimer.  

I stitch my little designs for fun and to decorate my home. I feel very blessed by this community and love sharing my little charts, but I am not a professional designer. And I do not have professional software. Thank you for understanding that I  have to put each page on separate pdf downloads because of the devices I use. I apologize for that.  And I am always grateful for your kind encouragement , your visits, and stitching my little designs.

Click here for instruction page.

Click here for colored chart.

Click here for black and white chart. 

Since this is a large chart, I also have included enlarged versions. Now many of you know I have very little tech ability so again each page has been put on separate pdfs. I am so sorry about that. 

Click  here for page 1 of the  ENLARGED colored chart

Click here for page 2 of the ENLARGED colored chart. 

Click here for page 1 of the ENLARGED black and white chart.

Click here for page 2 of the ENLARGE black and white chart. 

So before you leave, please tell me. Are you a squirrel lover? Lol 

Thank you so much for visiting today and hope you have a smile on your face , a song in your heart and a skip in your step. Have a beautiful day, my friends and as always...

Happy stitching. 

Melisa

Oh, and don't forget to search those trees for squirrels today! 😄

Amy's special tree. Today was your special day.   

It is sharing the small things in life that make the biggest memories. 

Hugs and Stitches!!!

Dedicated to my sweet baby sister, Amy who was once nipped by a squirrel and laughed about it. .  Lol. sweet memories. RIP Amo.  I love ya. 

                                        🍃🍂🍁🌳❤❤❤  🍃🍂🍁🌳