Blog Archive

Showing posts with label Mantle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mantle. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Sunny September and the Tiny Sunflower House- a House Freebie

"The golden rod is yellow;

The corn is turning brown;

The trees in apple orchards

With fruit are bending down...

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer's best of weather,

And autumn's best of cheer...- Helen Hunt Jackson

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And a very Sunny September to you! Happy Tuesday, y'all. 

Little bits of "Autumn" are beginning to be sprinkled throughout the house. 

In fact, I finished decorating the two tiered galvanized tray beside the corner kitchen sink. Oh boy, did I cram it full.



There are salt and pepper shakers, chickens and signs galore all crammed into each nook and cranny of the trays. 


Scarecrows, pumpkins and autumn leaves 

All summer long my mantle has been simply decorated in "whites" . The lambs ear garland from Walmart years ago is draped along the edges with a string of lights. 

After spotting these fall garlands at Hobby Lobby , I decided to decorate the mantle for fall. 

These garlands were purchased at Hobby Lobby on discount. 

I pulled out my white Autumn leaf plates that were thrifted years ago. 

Thrifted Autumn leaf plates 


And my plump white pumpkin tureens

It was not long before the mantle was overflowing with white Autumn goodness and those nifty Autumn garlands to soften the hardness of the brick mantle lines. 

Lots of sunflowers were tucked into the garland and now it is ready for the fall season. 

 I beefed up my garland by layering my pine Christmas garland with sunflowers and the rag garland purchased from Hobby Lobby. 

Speaking of Sunflowers , I fully finished the Tiny Sunflower House today, and it is already to be placed on display.

Sunflower Sampler   , Tiny Sunflower House and Sunflower Mason Jar

A tall stately house with a small addition and row of sunflowers growing in the front lawn- cute as a button! 

If you decide to stitch any of my designs , feel free to choose your own floss colors. I always use whatever floss colors I have on hand at the time and what suits my home decor. ❤

    The following DMC floss colors were used in the making of Tiny Summer House:

🌻 739- house

🌻 782- sunflower

🌻898 border, sunflower centers

🌻936- grass, stems

🌻 3021 roof, windows, doorway 

 ðŸŒ»3364- Doodads above house


Sunflower Tiny House was stitched on 14 count tea/ coffee dyed Aida.  I posted on how I dye my Aida in 2024  in my Time to Dye- post. 

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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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A finishing tutorial was shared in January 2026

Like all of my Tiny Houses, the Tiny Sunflower House is finished in the same manner into a wee pin pillow with a bit of print fabric and lace. I shared the measurements in  my January 13, 2026 post along with the 1st house in the series, Tiny Winter's Day House. ( There will be 12 houses all together.)

If you have missed any of the other houses and are interested , just click on the colored links and you will be transported back to the post and the charts.


Tomorrow I will post the September Roundabout. So I hope you will pop in for a visit. 


 

A chalk drawing from my oldest grandson

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Stand tall. Be proud. And Shine!   "- 

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 

Saturday, December 20, 2025

What Was In Your Stockings? And A Christmas Freebie

 

Do you remember these stockings sold in the department stores like Woolworth's long ago?

Photo from Pinterest. 

As kiddos come Christmas time, my sister and I would love to go to the local five and dime stores like Kuhns and Elmores. There, we would see these large, glorious,  red mesh stockings stuffed with candy, trinkets,  and cheap toys. Goodness, did we marvel at those magnificent Christmas goodies. LOL. 

Did we ever get one? Hmmm, I don't think so , but we did have  red felt stockings which were placed at the bottom of the tree for Santa to stuff.


 On Christmas morning, my sister and I would rush to the tree, and of course discover our stockings stuffed with an orange, crayons and a coloring book.  That reminds me... my aunt would gift us underwear - usually Days of the Week undies too. Remember those?  EEEK! Not a kids favorite gift but useful nonetheless. Hee! Hee!  LOL We really did appreciate our undies , but it is fun to laugh about it. 

Raise your hands if you got underwear or socks for Christmas? 😀

Aaw, such warm Christmas memories...  🤗❤

This year I did not hang  my girls' stockings on the mantle. Instead I hung a few of my redwork ornies. I wonder if my girls' will notice. I doubt it. 
  

Anywhoo... this brings me to my latest Speaking of Christmas stitch called "The Stockings". 


It is all nestled in the little dough bowl with the other pin pillows from the series. I will work on another one this evening. 


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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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A NO BAKE PIE RECIPE that may be on the Christmas Eve menu. 


GERMAN SWEET CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE
INGREDIENTS:
1 package ( 8 oz. ) cream cheese softened
1 1/2 cups cold half and half  
1 package ( 4 serving size) of Jello Milk Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding/ Pie Filling
3 1/2 cups of whipped topping , thawed
1 package ( 4 oz.) Baker's German Sweet Chocolate , chopped
1 cup of honey roasted pecans or plain pecans, chopped
1 ready crust chocolate pie crust

DIRECTIONS:
1. Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with mixer until smooth. 
2. Add half and half and beat at low speed until well mixed.  Add pie filling mix, beat until well blended, 1 minute. Fold in whipped topping, chocolate and pecans. Spoon into crust. 
3. Freeze until firm - 6 hours or overnight. Remove from freezer and let stand about 20 minutes to soften before serving. Store any leftovers in the freezer. 

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Later this evening, I will fully finish my Mini Santa Sampler. Soon it will be ready to add to my Christmas display in time for ole' St. Nick. 


Well Sweeties, that is my Saturday rambles. I am curious. 
What was in your stockings as a kiddo?  Did you have any gifts that you hoped you would not get like undies? 

May your day be magical and full of joy sprinkled with candy cane kisses! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting
 y'all,

Melisa 

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. " 

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- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 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 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. 
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Saturday, March 1, 2025

Sprinkles of Yellow and Sunny Quilting

 Welcome, Sunshine!  A beautiful day it is! How are you doing on this lovely day?



And may I wish you a very Happy March? Will it roar in like a lion?  Hmmm, I am not sure yet. Right now the weather has turned to bright skies and sunny warm days.  Fingers crossed it will remain that way. 😀🤞
"March" a freebie from Rainbow Gallery website, Shamrocks Word Stitch a freebie from Helen D. on her flosstube #76, Putting on the Green and Shamrock Mini Sampler freebies of mine. 

Angela at So Scrappy blog has issued this month's challenge; we are celebrating the color yellow for the month of March.  What a perfect color to welcome in spring. 💛💛💛


 Oh, I do love the color yellow!  It is sprinkled throughout the house.

Yellow pottery on the mantle.  
Blue Transferware and McCoy pottery perched on the mantle. 

Last year's yellow Spring hutch decor.


A yellow border being quilted.

 
Yellow fabrics waiting to be cut into wee squares. 

Some of these fabrics were gifted to me from sweet Elaine. Thank you , dear. 🤗💛😘 They are so yummy. 

Five more On the  Positive Side Blocks pieced.  All pieced in yellows. 
Five yellow "On the Positive Side" blocks pieced. 

These blocks measure 10 1/2" squared. 



19 blocks are pieced. On the Positive Side is growing. I will set this project aside until next month.

Scrappy Plus blocks pieced 

UPDATE: March 1,  2025 Spring Flutter is completely stitched. I used the following DMC colors. 
SYMBOL     FLOSS COLOR
∆            924
U            433
H            504
G            3348
P            3721
L            451
O            356
•            3371
1            3821
X            754
Y            729
W            712

The stitching is complete on Spring Flutter. 
The grandsons and I have enjoyed watching the birds at the feeders. Isn't he a beauty?


I will be spending the day working on a spring cross stitch and perhaps piece a few crumb blocks.
Not a lot is going on in the holler , but it sure is sunny on this 1st day of March.
How is the month starting off for you?

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Create your own sunshine.  " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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


Spring Green Saltbox , "You are My Lucky Charm", Truckin Along in the Luck Truck   and Erin Ewe 

 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

Michelle  at From Bolt to Beauty for Beauty Pageant - Friday

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