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Showing posts with label Christmas cross stitch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas cross stitch. Show all posts

Thursday, July 23, 2026

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵




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. 



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. 

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉


 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 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 

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Goings On

 Hmmm ... it has been a spell since our last visit . Hasn't it ?  I certainly did not mean to be away for so long. Ok. Ok. I know it was just a few days, but it seems like ages to me. Hee! Hee!





Sooo.... Let me tell ya' what's been going on in the holler! 

First, Mr. Pinker and I had a scare of our lifetime.

 During the grandsons' weekly sleepover, the Little One got choked on a marshmallow. His brother alerted Mr. Pinker who jumped into action and did the Heimlich on the little fella. At the time, the Little One could not talk or cough. He said that each time he tried to breathe the marshmallow felt like it was being pulled back further into his throat. Bless his little heart- he would not eat the rest of the evening and when he did eat the next day, I watched him like a hawk. 
 

Last week we had a few days where it rained cats and dogs here in the holler . I was one happy gal because it  alleviated the dreaded chore of watering the gardens. Everything is growing including the weeds.
 


It has been a blue spell since I have seen one of these. Yikes ! A hornet's nest.



Mr. Pinker spotted it on the eave of my sister's house the other day. ( This danger will be tackled later. )  




We are starting to get a few tomatoes. I see mater sandwiches in my future. 

  

The peppers are growing too! Eeeh!  Spicy! 
 


Hmmm... What else? Well Elmer has been moved to the other section of the farm in order to court Edna. 
The couple has been staying in the upper field so I haven't had the chance to get a photo of the two.  I guess they need their alone time. ❤🐴🐴Maybe they will come down the hill in a day or two. 

Edna looks awfully cute today! 



Now on to the quilting and stitching front! 


To be honest , I have been taking it slow and easy- hip hopping between stitching and quilting. 

Bent Creek's freebie Surrounded By Joy is fully finished. I simple used some cardboard covered with scraps from my stash. The jute string was from the Dollar Tree. It is all ready for the Christmas tree in a few short months. 

22 more weeks until Christmas! 



So let me show you my progress on The Gingerbread quilt which I am calling "Roll and Bake". 


The blocks are framed with 2" finished squares. 


After much debate, I decided to add 2 1/2" (unfinished) squares around each of the 4 embroidered blocks. 
I decided to go for the "country look" so I used lots of reds, greens, and tans . 
             Roll and Bake  and   A Bowl of Gingerbread



Hmmm... What to do next to Roll and Bake?  Well.... since it will probably be displayed in the kitchen , I am not going to make it too big. I will add a simple border in the next few days. I may add some four patches for the cornerstone blocks ( just brainstorming here). 

 A Plate of Gingers  and   Gingerbread and Marshmallows


I have lots of other projects in the works , but like I said I have been hip hopping  like a wild wily rabbit so I will show you some of those projects another time. 

Goodness, I don't want to chat your ears off. So I  will let you get back to what you were doing. Hmmm  .... I am curious.  What are you working on today? I bet it  is something lovely!  

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Slow down and enjoy the simple beauty of each day.  "- 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 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 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
Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday 

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

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters

Monday, July 6, 2026

Let It Snow in July? A Christmas Freebie

 Ho! Ho! Ho! and Merry Monday! 

It is Christmas in July ! 

Last year , I shared a series called "Speaking of Christmas" . These were just simple little  stitches - nothing fancy mind you. But they did make some cutie patootie bowl fillers if I do say so myself which I will! 😁



Anywhooo... today I wanted to share a new one called "Let It Snow" . Like I said, nothing fancy- just a quick stitch. 
Let It Snow is stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida. 


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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. 

       🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵









Last year's hutch all decked out for the Christmas season! 




If you missed any of the Speaking of Christmas Series that I shared last year, just click on the links, and you will be magically transported back to the post with the charts. 

Stockings- Speaking of Christmas Series



Joy- Speaking of Christmas Series




O' Christmas Tree 

The Tree Farm


So tell me. 
Do you plan to work on Christmas in July projects? 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"If you choose not to find the joy in snow, you will have less joy but the same amount of snow.  "- Ancient proverb

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 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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 

The oldest Annabelle hydrangea is in bloom! 


The blooms are as big as dinner plates! Eeeh! 

If you are in the neighborhood, I will be posting a Christmas Parade of stitches around 1:00 CST today. So drop by if you have the chance. 🤗

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Home Tweet Home - Summer Stamp Freebie

 And the rains still come.  In between the showers, I put on my  rain boots, slosh out to the garden and  pull a few weeds before retiring back to the porch to stitch and stitch and stitch. ❤🧵🧵🧵

                   

Happy Tuesday, Sweet friends. For the last couple of days, I have been working on Christmas stitching.  Sitting on the porch listening to the pitter patter  as I stitch makes for a relaxing evening. 

My sweet friend , Dianet at Parchesdeamor Blogspot, shared "Ho Ho Ho"  last year as a freebie, and it is as cute as a button! I still have more  stitching to do on this sweetie , but it is moving right along.  Thank you , Dianet for sharing your fabulous talents with us. 🤗 💗

I am stitching Ho Ho Ho on 14 count tea/ coffee dyed Aida. 

I also finished stitching Bent Creek's freebie Surrounded By Joy. I will be making it into an ornament soon. 

 Floss Colors that I used for Surrounded By Joy:
DMC 895, 221, 470, 310 ( for beak), Blanc, 3371. 


Now onto the Summer Stamp SAL. 


Tweet ! Tweet!  May I introduce to you- Home Tweet Home. 


 A little birdie is quite at home in its birdhouse. The bees are buzzing along the little flower filled vine that grows up the pole.

As with all of the summer stamps, I am stitching the designs twice. Once as a pin pillow and second in a larger sampler. If you decide to stitch the little stamps as a whole, you can put the stamps in any position that you want. 



Several of my sweet blogging friends are stitching along with me on the Summer SAL like Di at Quilting is Blissful Blogspot,  
I do hope that you visit these lovely ladies. It is so much fun to see their versions of the Summer Stamps, and it is always a feast for the eyes to see what else they are working on. ❤🤗



I outlined the birdhouse on the large sampler with DMC 841. 
 
Home Tweet Home Stamp was stitched using 9 DMC floss colors including: Blanc, 310, 400, 782, 815,  898, 930, 3345, 3346 


If you are interested in how I dyed my 14 count Aida, I shared the process in a previous post entitled Let's Dye Some Fabric


🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵





If you missed any of the previous posts in respect to the Summer Stamp SAL , below is a schedule with links back to the appropriate posts.  

   🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

SUMMER STAMP SCHEDULE

April 2nd  Summer Stamp Introduction

April 7th  Stamp Stamp Border

April 14th Summer Stamp Header

April 21st  Summer Stamp 1 "And the Garden Grows" 

April 28th Summer Stamp 2 Summer Harvest

May 5th  Summer  Stamp 3 Summertime Treat

May 12th  Summer  Stamp 4 Sunflower Strut

May 19th Summer Stamp 5 Summer Quilt Stamp

May 26th Summer Stamp 6 Pink Lemonade

June 2nd Summer Stamp 7 Home Tweet Home

June 9th Summer Stamp 8

June 16th Summer Stamp  9 

June  23rd Bonus Summer Stamp 10

June 27th Final Reveal

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Alright Sweeties, I am off to see what the day allows. I wish you a day of sunshine and sprinkled with love and laughter.

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,  y'all

Melisa 

"A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch  but on its own wings."-  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 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 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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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. 
🌞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 using Rit dye. 

If you are in the neighborhood, I will be posting an updated Stamp Parade of previous "stamp themed stitches" that I have shared in the past. So drop by if you have the chance. 

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