Blessings and Berries- Blooms of the Heart 2026 Berry Freebie

Hey, there Sunshine! How are you doing on this lovely Summer's Day?  I sure hope you are feeling as fit as a fiddle and as fine as dandy!

It has been a good week in the holler thus far. As my Nanny would say- "I've been keeping the roads hot "which means I have been out and about for the last few days.  Not doing anything special but visiting family and dipping in and out of thrift stores. So you know I am one happy gal! 😀

This bright sunshiny yellow afghan is my latest thrifty find for only $1.99. 😲 Eeeh what a steal! I have already draped it onto my stitching chair . It will be nice to throw over my legs during the chilly evenings. 

 I will show you some of my other  finds in the next coming days. 

Sweet Gail, sent me a Blessing Box with a couple of advertising tins to add to my collection. 💛💙

But wait. What makes them extra special is they were from her collection . AND...

They are musical tins. 😀 Just turn the little key and sweet melodies delight the ears. 

The Morton's Salt tin plays "Singin' in the Rain." If you would like to enjoy a little "ear worm" just click the colored link to listen to Gene Kelly singing "Singin' in the Rain" on Youtube. Such a delight. 

Right now I have the sweet musical tins sitting on my "mitten table" ( The table where I store the boy's winter mittens and tobaggans). But I am already dreaming of moving the Morton's Salt to the blue hutch and the Old Dutch Cleaner will be incorporated into my fall display with my brown crocks. 

Oh, what fun I will have weaving them in and out of displays throughout the year. Thank you so much, Gail for blessing me with your treasures and kindness. 🤗 You brought me such joy. 

Hmmm... what  else is going on?🤔 

Well, I have a special berry stitch to share with you. It is hot off the presses. In fact, I just finished it last night.  It is called "Blooms of the Heart" and is in memory of my sweet sis, Amy. ❤

Of course, if you decided to stitch this simple stitch, you do not have to finish it as a berry. You could finish it any way your sweet heart desires.  I just have an affection for berries. 

Blooms of the Heart was stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida. 

Have you ever made a berry? A couple of  years ago, I posted a Berry Making Tutorial. My advice when making a berry is to cut your fabrics large. You can trim down as you go if you decide the berry or cap needs to be smaller. 

The Berry Sampler (Amy's 2026 berry sampler) which I have not shared, Blooms of the Heart Berry and Berry Bouquet- A Sampler for Amy

Usually , I stuff my berries with a combination of polyfil and  sawdust from Mr. Pinker's workshop . But this year, I decided to fill it with something different- oodles and oodles of fabric scraps that I have collected.  I will show you the project that these scraps are from later this week. I simply cut the little scraps to wee pieces and stuffed them into the berry. 

Scraps from a quilting project were used to fill "Blooms of Heart" 

I made my berry oversized and stitched wonky "X's" along the seam line . I always do this on my berries. 

 Usually, I like to add bits of lace and all kinds of things to my strawberry caps. But I really did not frou-frou the strawberry cap up much this year; I just kept it simple. 

 I cut a strawberry cap from a gray wool skirt. I tacked it down over the top of the strawberry using blanket stitches. I then cut strips of silk from a jacket . I created loops from the strips and secured them with 2 overlapping buttons on top! Wahlah! My strawberry cap was complete! Easy Peasy! 

Amy's 2023 berry which I have not shared, In My Heart She Blooms 2024 berry, and Berries for Amy the 2025 berry

FLOSS  : SYMBOL  MOTIF:

       DMC 221 ( X) Flowers

DMC  223 ( C) Flowers

DMC 730 ( G) Stem , Leaves

DMC 830 ( • )  Date and center of flowers

DMC 869 ( V) Doohickeys and small heart

DMC 924 (H) Basket

DMC  926 ( U) Basket

The basket was stitched in blues . My sweet sis had beautiful gray blue eyes. 

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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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NOTE:The drawn berry outline on the chart is NOT a stitching or cutting line,but I used it as a reference line  to visualize the berry while stitching.

NOTE: I use the  berry template as a loose guideline for constructing my berry. I add a generous seam allowance . So my berry is a lot bigger than the template. If you find your berry is too big to your liking , you can always trim the fabric. 

It brings me so much comfort to create the little samplers and berries in memory of Amo. I think she would smile from ear to ear if she saw them. 

The Berry Sampler, Amy's Strawberry Basket Sampler, Berry Bouquet- A Sampler for Amy and Amy's Berry collection. 

Gosh, I do think I have talked your ears off.😁 

I do apologize for being so long winded today. Please, do forgive me. But I am ever so grateful that you joined me.

May your day be a filled with joy and...

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Friendship is a blessing that warms the heart and soothes the soul.  "

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister  thrifting buddy, and best friend, Amy 

 I love and miss you even more with each passing day. You are my blessing.  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 🐔

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Please forgive me on being way behind on answering sweet messages and visiting. I am like a chicken with her head cut off right now. LOL. But I will get it together soon.  Do you ever feel like that? LOL  

A Basket for Lois - A Spring Freebie

 Hello, Sunshine!

 Can I interest you in a little basket of blooms? 

I have been stitching away on a little pink basket for a sweet girl that I never personally knew. Her name was Lois Ann.    

Lois Ann was a beautiful girl with long flowing brown hair, bright eyes and the sweetest smile. How do I know? Well I have seen photos of her. 

Actually, Lois Ann was my aunt, but she went to Heaven as a child way before my time. 

A Basket for Lois is a small stitch with a design size of 42 x 41. 

Little Lois Ann  was stricken with polio when she was just 3 years old and was paralyzed. Most of her time was spent in hospitals and in an iron lung.  But  from what I have been told,  she was always full of cheer. 

Little Lois Ann loved to sketch the most beautiful drawings . All one had to do was help her by putting a pencil in her mouth, and then she would create magical creations on paper. Bless her sweet heart.  

I stitched  A Basket for Lois on 14 count Aida that has been coffee/ tea dyed. 

Movie stars and singers from long ago would visit her.  She was a special little girl and still is in our family's eyes. 

I would like to think that little Lois Ann is skipping in Heaven, gathering flowers and putting them in her own little basket and drawing until her heart is content. 

The frame was from the Dollar Tree. 

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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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Did you know that most of my charts have some form of a "nod" to my family members?  Sometimes I name a chart after a family member or I create a design based on a family story. When I am slow stitching , I like to think about my family , our history and such.  It brings me peace and relaxation. Do you do the same?  

Well Sweet Friends, I will let you go. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me and for listening to the story of little Lois Ann. 

Have a beautiful day! 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Smiles are free but they are worth a lot .  " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy, Aunt Lois Ann and Great Aunt Alma. They were gone too soon. Love and miss you, Amo. 

Berries For Amy- A Special Stitch

"Hey , What are you doing?" as my sweet baby sister would ask when she would call to check in.  I can still hear her melodic voice ringing in my ears. 

"Aww not much . What are you doing?", I would reply. Then she would go about telling me all of the "goings on" for the day. I have to admit I would be grinning ear to ear . Soon she would have me rolling in laughter as her voice rose higher and higher with tales of her daily adventures. 

Sigh, What can I say? It has been 4 long years since my dear sis received her angel wings. I know I talk about her a lot, but she was near and dear to my heart, and she is always on my mind. 

 For the last couple of years,  I have been creating little berry stitches in honor of Amy who was like a wildflower reaching high to the sky! I shared my first  "berry shaped stitch" for her last year with    In My Heart She Blooms . 

Amy's 2023 berry which I have not shared, In My Heart She Blooms 2024 berry and Berries for Amy the 2025 berry

 BERRIES FOR AMY  is my 2025 Memory Berry. 

The basket is all stitched up. 

As some of you may remember, Amo loved the farm and would often wake up early in the mornings on her days off of work to pick strawberries. 

This new stitch has a little blue basket filled to the brim with strawberries growing without bounds. Why a blue basket? Well Amy had the prettiest pale blue eyes.  

As are all of my humble designs, this is a simple stitch. In fact, I only used 7 DMC floss colors including: DMC 221, 730, 782, 869, 844, 924,  and 3722.  I stitched Berries for Amy on 14 count tea/ coffee dyed Aida. 

The strawberry cap is made of wool, vintage lace from sweet Pat, homespun and a large button

Have you ever made a berry? Last year I posted a Berry Making Tutorial. My advice when making a berry is to cut your fabrics large. You can trim down as you go if you decide the berry or cap needs to be smaller. 

Berry Bouquet- A Sampler for Amy,Amy's Strawberry Basket Sampler and Berries for Amy 2025 Memory Berry

I have created several berries over the years and each time it seems it gets easier and easier.    I stuff mine with a combination of polyfill, batting scraps and lots of sawdust from Mr. Pinker's workshop. 

Bee Berry ,Mary's Basket  Strawberry Pinkeep , 2023 Berry,In My Heart She Blooms and Berries for Amy.   

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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.

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

NOTE:The drawn berry outline on the chart is NOT a stitching or cutting line,but I used it as a reference line  to visualize the berry while stitching.

Well Sweeties, I better get off here. I do believe some butterflies are calling my name. I do need to decide what I am going to do with my Pretty in Peach butterfly blocks that I am piecing for Amo. 

Pretty in Peach Butterflies appliqued while in Quartzsite.

"See ya' later! " as Amo would say. "Love ya!"

 As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

" A sister is not just a sibling ; she's a forever friend who knows your soul. " - Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

"Did you hide yourself away?   

Are you living through the ghost? 

Did you finally find a place

Above the shadows where the world will never know you?

The world will never know you like I do. 

Like I still do....- SHINEDOWN  - "Through the Ghost"

You are my Sunshine!

 Can I give you a big ole' hug? 🤗

Good morning, sweet friends and welcome. Gosh , I am  uplifted by all of the love and words of sweet encouragement to persevere. Thank you from the bottom of my pea pickin' heart for lifting me up when I was  feeling down. 🤗😘 

You are all the best! You are a ray of sunshine! And you are right. I should pick myself up, do what I love and just be me! And that is what I am going to do. Thank you, friends. 🙏🫶

You are my Blooms of Sunshine! 

 So sorry this looks crooked. 😏

Soooo... what did I do this weekend? Well a little messin' and gommin' as my Nanny would say. LOL. 😀

I was watching some videos of several textile artists who were dying fabrics for dresses , dolls and quilts using "pickings from nature". So I moseyed outside and picked a few muscadine leaves and decided to see what would happen if I dyed some 14 count Aida. 

Gathering muscadine leaves for dyeing. 

Out came the big red pot. I added the leaves, a smidge of salt - again I was just messin' and gommin'. 

Adding the muscadine leaves, water, and salt to the big pot. 

The fabric soon went into the pot as well. I brought it to a boil and then turned it down to a simmer . It brewed for quite a while. 

Oh yes, I worked with all of the kitchen stuff on my stove. I was right there with it so no danger. 😀😁

Fabric added to the pot to brew. 

The fabric turned out nice- just a soft antique look to it.  I am not sure what to I will stitch on it yet.  

 Have you ever dyed fabric with "pickins' from nature"? 

Muscadine leaf  dyed aida and  white aida

I fully finished "Tiny Blackbird from Blackbird designs. This was a gift from ,dear Barbara that I started last year. I used scraps of thrifted fabric to finish it. I look forward to using it in a fall display come autumn.  Thank you , Barbara. 🤗

And I pieced more Kitchen Sink aka Paper Chain blocks

Well, Sweeties that was my weekend in a nutshell. 

Again, I must say, you are a blessing in my life. Love ya'! 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"The best happiness in life is friendship.  "- unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

Rusty crusty  garden farm equipment. 

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.

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Merry Christmas is my Merry Monday stitch. I will be sharing it soon.