A Berry Good Week

Happy Sunday, ya'll and Happy May!  I can not believe how fast this year is passing by compared to last year. How are you doing today ? Did you have a great week?  I sure hope so.  It was a berry good week here . 

I finished Emily's Strawberry, but I am calling mine Edna's strawberry after grandmother who would be 102 years old today!  This was the first time I finished an aida strawberry and found it to be pretty easy.  

It is filled with sawdust and cotton stuffing. The cap has wool, thin ribbon and a button to embellish. More berries are in my future. Emily's Strawberry was from Blackbird Designs and is in the book In Friendship's Way. 

On Tuesday, I shared my Sarah Jane's 1776 Saltbox . It is named after one of my distant great grandmother's who lived during that time. I also began pulling out more patriotic decor which I will share later. 

I went berry picking . There are lots and lots of fresh berries to eat. Of course, I ate a belly full straight out of the field. 

These will go in a pie and snacked on. 

Today, I plan to finish my Strawberry embroidered quilt. I shared these little designs a few weeks ago. Click here to visit that post and to get the Fresh Strawberry doodles. I just have one more block and 2 borders to quilt. Then on to the binding. 

Stitch Maynia began yesterday. Do you participate?  For the last 2 years, I have participated and started a new project each day- sometimes more. So I hope I will be able to do the same this year, but I fly be the seat of my pants. This week's projects are going to be Hands on Designs "Seasons of Celebrations" , a sweet gift from my friend Georgia.

 I have completed a couple of the months but want to get the whole series completed. So May 1st- I began "JULY". Since today is Santa Sunday , I will begin the December stitch tonight. 

Well I am off to do a bit of noon stitching, I hope you have a berry nice day and as always...

Happy Quilting and stitching, ya'll

Melisa

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.  

                    Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap

Beth at Love Laugh Quilt  for Monday Making

Judy at Small Quilts Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Stay Sweet!

Hugs and Stitches

 

 

Valentine Decorating and Stitching

Happy happy Friday. Are you ready for a fantastic weekend? I always am though I do not have anything planned other than visiting my parents and seeing the grandkids and nephews. Of course, I am going to squeeze in a little quilting and stitching. 

 My hutch is all decorated for the month in red,  jadeite green, and chickens with a bit of cross stitch.  I thought I would share that and my tiered tray with you, but be forewarned there is lots of country clutter. 

I ended up keeping the lace valances that I used for my winter hutch table runners. I added Dollar Tree red plates in the background as well as Goodwill plates and little green jadeite saucers. 

This little stitch is called " Love you More" from Heart in Hand. I stitched this in 2020 because it reminded me of my oldest grandson. I finished it on a little tin pocket .Since I used a magnet on the back of the stitching, I can change it out. 

On the top shelf is my big jadeite bowl. On top of it is a truck taken from a larger design from Hands on Design in collaboration with Priscilla Blain. 

I finished this on a piece of barnwood from my grandparents' barn and added a little homespun. Next to it is my Cupid Stamp that I finished on my Dollar General stand that I got last year. I finished it on fabric from my daughter's dress and added a little Dollar Tree country ribbon. 

The second shelf holds some chickens in red and one jadeite hen candy dish. It is my newest addition. The little red salt and pepper shakers were Dollar Tree finds. "Love Makes a House a Home" is by Country Cottage Needleworks and is finished on a piece of foam board with red gingham as a finishing fabric. I used my own floss colors in this piece. 

"Always" was a 2020 Heart in Hand Needleart freebie.  I do not know if it is still available or not. I finished mine on a metal butter dish that I painted white. The finishing fabric was from a pair of black and white gingham pants and the ruffle was from a pair of pjs. Love being thrifty in my finishing. Lol. The ribbon was from the Dollar Tree.

My sister found the little glass basket and salt and pepper shakers while thrifting.

The little white drawer was from Dollar General. 

A little Fresh Eggs sign from the Dollar Tree sits on a little thrifted dish on top of the scales.

My vintage juicer stays out year round. I just change out the bowl in it. It always sits on the corner of the hutch. I put a little milk glass nesting hen candy dish in an enamel pot. Behind it is " Farm Sweet Farm " one of my freebies which is mounted on a Dollar Tree chalkboard. I will change out the greenery once that winter time is over with . 

" Be My Valentine " was a freebie from Lizzie Kate that I completed last year. Finished into a little pillow it looks perfect in the little jadeite bowl. 

Lots of country clutter but it makes me so happy. 

 A look at my whole hutch. Some Christmas dishes are stored in the bottom and the top shelves hold Coca Cola crates and tins that always are displayed there. 

Now on to one of my tiered trays. I love to decorate a galvanized tray that is located by my corner kitchen sink. 

My tray is pretty simple for me. Mostly filled with thrifted chickens, Dollar Tree picks, some wooden hearts and salt and pepper shakers. 

The little barn salt and pepper shaker is a Pioneer Woman piece.

A tiny chalkboard from the Dollar Tree sits in the top tier . I folded up bits of wired ribbon and tucked in here and there in the tray. 

The gorgeous pink knitted dish cloth was a Christmas gift from my friend Patience. It stays by my sink ( not to use yet , it is too cute. Lol) . I wrapped some black and white ribbon around a Christmas wax warmer to cover the graphics.  A big ole' rooster rests on top of the warmer. 

 Farm stitches are starting to make their way into my little country dough bowl.  Bent Creek's "Chicken Zippies" , a thrifted "God Bless this Home" stitch and  "Everything will Be Fine" freebie from The Primitive Hare  fill the basket along with a gifted old rooster.  I changed the floss colors in Everything will Be Fine and added the hen to the design. It is a favorite. 

That is a little bit of my Valentine's decor and country clutter for now. I may post more later. I always enjoy seeing all of the lovely posts on Instagram and on different blogs; they provide me so much inspiration in decorating with my pieces. 

Have a lovely weekend and thank you so much for visiting. And as always...

Happy stitching, ya'll

Melisa

SALs , Snow Globes, and Santa

 Happy Saturday or should I say Happy Poinsettia Day ! 

A perfect day for me to start a sweet freebie from Lizzie Kate called "Snow Bird" . Are those not poinsettias ? I had planned to stitch this piece last year, but let it slip by me . My chart is  printed, fabric is dyed now to start pulling the floss.  You can find this chart on Lizzie Kate's website or on her blog. Click here for a link. 

Have you been joining in all of the festive fun this week on social media? So many amazing designers have offered free charts and have Stitch Alongs ongoing. I have been trying to keep up. 

The first SAL I have been working on is the Pine Needles  "Christmas Blocks" Stitch Along. If you have not seen it, you should  check out Pine Needles website where Sharon Workman has designed 25 teeny stitches. You can stitch them individually or all together which is what I am doing. Each block is so cute, and boy do they stitch up quick. 

The second SAL I am working on is Brenda Gervais's of With Thy Needle and Thread called "Merry and Minty". As with the Christmas Blocks" SAL I am using floss that I have in my stash. This is so much fun, and Brenda has also been posting yummy recipes each day too. The SAL ends on Sunday with a special project. Information on this SAL can be found on With Thy Needle and Thread's Facebook or Instagram. 

I have enjoyed seeing so many stitcher's working on both pieces. Other pieces that are on my agenda are Cathy Habermann's of Hands on Designs freebie called "Berries in Bloom" I hope to start it next week . Fingers crossed.  I also hope to begin Kelly's of That's So Kelly's exclusive subscriber chart called "Holly House"- another amazing design by Kelly. So much fun and so little time. 

      

 What else is on the agenda today? Well first is a basketball game. The oldest grandbaby will be playing bright and early. It is always fun to watch the little ones play. Then later today the grandkids and nephews will be making snow globes. All the supplies have come from the Dollar Tree. We did similar ones last year, and they loved it . This is a new tradition. We may even bake some cookies to munch on-chocolate chip of course.

 It would be nice to go see more Christmas lights tonight as well. We have gone out twice this week to 2 small nearby towns to see  lights. 

Does your town have special displays or are there certain communities or neighborhoods that really go all out in your area?  I enjoy the ride and seeing all of the lights whether they are simple lights in the windows or big displays with music and all. I have done this every year since my girls were born years and years ago. 

I posted my little Santa on Instagram today. He is a small stitch and is called "Santa Stamp" . I actually stitched him because I needed something to go onto this little stand which I had purchased from Dollar General earlier this year . It looked quite bare when I took the Autumn piece off so a new stitch was definitely needed.  He was a quick stitch since it measures just 35 W x 35 H. Santa is surrounded by some of his reindeer. I wonder which reindeer they are? 

If you would like to stitch this little design, just click on the links below . They may print up light. I believe that my printer is on it's last leg so I have asked Santa for a new one. Lol.

For the instruction page, click  here .

For the colored chart, click here .

For the black and white  chart, click here. 

Well I hope you join in all of the stitching fun and the Christmas festivities in your area.  I am so grateful to all of the wonderful designers who share their creativity, and to all of the stitchers who provide endless inspiration through their stitching, finishing and wonderful posts.  I always enjoy seeing  or hearing what you are up to. Have a fantastic day and go do something awesome and as always...

Happy Stitching, ya'll

Melisa

Turkey Invasion- A Little Fall Hutch Decor

Hello dear friends! I am so happy that you have dropped in for a visit. Pumpkin Cookie Bars are in the oven , and I have iced tea ( a Southern favorite) or milk.  As you step into the kitchen you can see that a flock of turkeys have invaded!

My obsession in collecting turkeys probably started in the early 2000's. I had never seen a wild turkey in person until my hubby introduced them to me years ago. He has worked for years in the conservation of turkeys in our area so how appropriate for me to want to collect a few. Every year I try to find at least one. Some years I am successful ; some years I am not. I had pretty much expected to not find a turkey this year with all that is going on in the world and  with limited shopping experiences, but I did find a turkey at a thrift shop during the summer.  I was jumping up and down when I found this little guy for a couple of dollars.  

He is a little planter and is quite handsome if I do say so myself. 

My hutch is overfilled with turkey and all things fall including a few fall stitches. 

On the top shelf is a Primitive Hare freebie cross stitch called "Give Thanks " and can be found on the website.  The Autumn cross stitch pillow is also a freebie from The Stitcherhood and can be found on their website.  I completed both of these last year. 

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Years ago I got the little turkey pie plate from the Goodwill . I have yet to bake a pie in it , but it is fun to bring out each  November.  My sister gave me the amber colored bowl and glass cup. She knows I like to collect them . 

The second shelf has a few more turkeys. I would say  you could serve gravy in at least one of these guys. 

The yellow house stitch is one of my favorites that I completed last year  and is called "Autumn at Sunflower Ridge" by The Woolly Ewe.  I chose my own colors in this piece.

 Since this was the 400th year anniversary of the Pilgrims' arrival in America I had to have my Pilgrims on display as well. 

The third shelf includes a regal turkey planter, a pumpkin pitcher and a pumpkin pie plate sitting on a golden vintage compote stand.

The Blessed cross stitch was a freebie on my blog and you can find it here.  

I love to collect old tins and that includes these old spice tins - one of which was found in the dump on the farm. 

The Pumpkin Crock cross stitch is one of my designs that I worked on this year as well. 

I have been in the quilting mood lately and worked on this scrappy quilt made up of 1" blocks in October.

 This little quilt is perfect to drape off the edge of the  hutch. The colors are so warm and pretty, and it brings a smile to my face each time that I see it.

Below the hutch is an old Eagle Snack Mix tin which is filled with Christmas bowls waiting to escape. On top of the tin,  is a "Give Thanks" truck from Hobby Lobby my daughter gifted me. I am going to paint wheels on the other side so that I can display it out of the fall season.   My sister found that big rusty spring on a farm dump site last year and she knew  I would do something with it. She was right. On the big rusty spring is a scoop  with a wooden painted turkey. Isn't he just the cutest decked out in his Pilgrim attire?  I usually put something seasonal in the scoop. 

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Now let's pop over to what I call the "Rooster Table" . I was rummaging around the garage and found this white piece of wood that fit perfectly on top of the Rooster Table. I just wanted to lighten it up a bit. I can remove it when I want  so there is no commitment which is great for me. 

Everything is a thrift store find except for the  Thankful house and the cross stitches  which were completed in 2019. One  is a Hands on Design piece called "  A Year in Chalk November." It is one of my favorites. I finished it on thrifted wood plaque , used  some twigs and acorns from the yard added a fabric bow and called it a finish. 

 The other cross stitch is from With Thy Needle and Thread and is called  "Holiday Hoopla Thanksgiving"  . I finished it into a little tart tin to make it look like a turkey pot pie.  

The subway art hanging on the wall was a free printable years ago, but I can not remember from who.  I enjoy bringing it out each year.

I have more turkeys tucked here and there in the kitchen and foyer, but I will save them for a future post. Like I said the turkeys have invaded!

The Pumpkin Cookie Bars are just about ready and here is the recipe.They are a little time consuming but yummy just the same. 

Pumpkin Cookie Bars

Ingredients

1 cup of flour

1/2  cup of quick oats

1/4 cup of firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup of chopped nuts

1 3/4 t cinnamon

1/2 c melted butter

1 c of Libby's Solid Pack Pumpkin

3/4 cup of undiluted Carnation Evaporated Milk

1 slightly beaten egg

1/3 c of sugar

1/2 t. of allspice

1/4 t salt

1 - 8 ounce package of cream cheese

1/4 c orange marmalade 

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, nuts and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add butter and mix until crumbly. Press into bottom of 13x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven . Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Combine remaining ingredients EXCEPT the cream cheese and marmalade ( which are for the topping) Pour over the crust.  Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.  To make cream cheese topping, beat together until fluffy one 8 ounce package of softened cream cheese and 1/4 c of orange marmalade. Spread over cooled bars to frost. Garnish with crushed granola, chopped nuts or orange peel.  Cut into bars. Yield 32. 

Time for me to go do a little finishing today ,and hopefully I will have some new stitches to add to the Thanksgiving collection soon. Thank you so much for visiting me and checking out my Thanksgiving hutch.  

Have a blessed day. 

 Melisa