Happy Independence Day!

 Hip Hip Hooray! It is our nation's 250th birthday!  Happy Independence Day to all of those who celebrate! 🧨🧨🧨🎇

250 Years- A Patriot's Log Cabin and Summer House 

Dear Annelies at Quilts and Siggies Blogspot posted her "250 Year - A Patrioit's Log Cabin" on her blog yesterday. I do hope you will visit  Annelies and see her beautiful stitching. She shares the most beautiful needlework, hers and antique pieces as well. Thank you, Annelies. ❤😘

And may I give a big thank you with lots of love to all of the veterans and active military  members who have served and protected our great country. One of those Veterans is my daughter . I am one Proud Mama of both my girls! ❤♡💙

The Marcher of the Flag

I plan to spend most of the day relaxing with needle and thread  in hand, though I am not sure what I will begin first. 

Beelieve in Freedom

By evening, I hope to see a grand fireworks display.  

❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤

It is a beautiful day to celebrate. 

A little patriotic quilt stack in teeny red wagon. 

Have a grand day and...

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"America is too great for small dreams.  "- Ronald Reagan

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved  the family gatherings. I imagine Amy would have prepared lots of fancy patriotic treats and sweets  on this day. 

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

❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙  ❤🤍💙❤🤍💙  ❤

New Year, New Starts and Fresh Beginnings - And a Winter Doodle

Happy, Happy New Year's! 

Mmm Do you smell that?  The hog jowl and turnip greens are cooking . And is that cornbread in oven? By golly , it is! Soon we will be sitting down  to the table for our traditional New Year's meal. 

Grab ya' a plate and join me . 🤗 I would be delighted if you would. Plus  this gives me the  opportunity to share my New Year's start. 

Some of you may remember my   Tumbleweeds  quilt top which I shared in August 2024 . I picked it up for just $15.00 from a thrift store in Alabama. Oooh what a steal! 

It is time for this beauty to go into the hoop!

Mr. Pinker hip hopped out of the way as I stretched a vintage sheet and my batting out on the living room floor. It was not long before I had Tumbleweeds all smoothed out and ready to move the hoop in place. 

 

This quilt has a patriotic vibe to it. Don't you think?  - Perfect for our 250th Birthday! 

But this is not the only quilt I want to work on this year. 

4 QUILTS I WANT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THIS YEAR

🧵1. Alabama Beauty- I bought this quilt a few years ago at the 2023 Worlds' Longest Yard Sale. I have been as slow as molasses about quilting it , but it has been a joy to work on for  a few minutes each week. Hmm. Should I finish it this year? I just may try and do that! 

🧵2. Pretty in Peach Butterflies- I began this quilt in 2025  while in Arizona. It is my 3rd quilt in memory of my sweet baby sister. I want to complete it this year. 

🧵3. Peppermint Pinwheels- Now this quilt top makes my heart go thumpity thump! ❤❤❤ I am super excited and hope to have it in the hoop this year. Perhaps by July. 

🧵 4. Rainbow Sherbet-  And last but certainly not least ole' Rainbow Sherbet which has been hanging in the mix for a few years now. I sure would like to get at least 1/2 of it quilted. We shall see though. 

Now that I have my quilting resolutions over with,  let's talk about embroidery. I have a hankering to start a new project.  Soooo...  Frosty Chill is a perfect little doodle to kick start my year.  I am embroidering Frosty Chill on a 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of white fabric. 

Frosty Chill embroidery and Winter Jar- Mason Jar Series

A little doodle just for you. 💙☃❄

 My little doodles are hand drawn and are never perfect. ❤

Alrighty , Sweeties. The cornbread is piping hot. We better chow down. Thank you for joining me as we welcome in the new year. 

 " Every moment is a fresh beginning. "- T.S Elliot -

 As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,y'all

Melisa 

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.  "-Socrates 

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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Scrappy Hourglass Piecing

 I am mooving right along! 

Happy Thursday y'all. The other day while Mr. Pinker was out, I spent uninterrupted time at my sewing machine and enjoyed every minute of it.

 I finished  32 Scrappy hour glass blocks. 

These blocks will go along with the 25 patches that I made last week. 

All  fun blocks in The Ribbon QAL offered by Alycia at Quilty Girl. Alycia shared Step 3 this Wednesday. Soooo I better get to work..

Have a fabulous day!

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"The secret to making progress is to get started. " - Mark Twain.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

I have a wee start on Bird in Hand , a sweet gift from dear Sonja. Thank you Sonja. 

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

🌞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. 

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

 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

Scrapping Away

I am doing a lot of scrapping! 

Cutting strips. 

Sewing strips

Reds, Whites and Blues all ready to be pieced.

 It is Scrappy Happy Flag time! Welcome, y'all.

 Now see I told you- I am still not done with patriotic  projects. 😀

Ten more Scrappy Happy Flags added to  my other happy blocks. 

Alycia's " The Ribbon " QOV quilt along begins today. Last week she shared the cutting instructions. Click here   to visit Alycia's introduction to the QAL.  Thank you, Alycia for offering this to us. 🤗

My fabrics are all picked. I am going all the way scrappy. 

2" strips waiting and ready. More cutting still be done. 

Hmmm what else is going on? 🤔Well...

Straight off my finishing table is  Patriotic Mini Sampler

I took some snippets  of fabric and created a little bow to attach to the corner edge. All done and ready for next year. 

Well that is what is going on in the holler on this fine summer's day. 

What are you up to? 

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"A thoughtful mind when it sees a nation's flag, sees not the flag but the nation itself. " - Henry Ward Beecher

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. I miss you more and more each day. Love and miss you, Amo. 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Do you believe in signs? The other day when I was cutting fabrics for Alycia's QAL. I came up on some scrap fabrics that I purchased at a yard sale. As I was cutting them into strips . I spotted my sister, Amy's, nickname- "Amo" . I didn't know what "Amo te" meant so I went to Google translate and typed it in. Immediately, it popped up "I love you. " I started crying. Amo often sends me signs. This one was extra special . Do look for signs from your loved ones; you will find them. 

 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. 

Cecilia at My Thrifted Store Addiction for Vintage Charm- Wednesday

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

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. 

🌞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. 

Happy Memorial Day and a Patriotic Mini Sampler Freebie

Hello, sweet friends and a very lovely day to you. It is Memorial Day here in the U.S. - a special day to remember all of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms here in our great nation.

My great uncle who died while in service in 1943 .

Can I interest you in a  new mini sampler? Just grab your favorite red, white and blue flosses if you are so inclined.  I will be starting this simple Patriotic Mini Sampler today.

 I think I will use  DMC 815, 930 and Blanc for the banner. I am still pondering on the letters , but I will let you know what I choose when I make the decision. 

UPDATE: I finished stitching the mini Sampler while camping. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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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Before I leave , I must also thank all of those currently in the military and the veterans as well as their families for their service. And I must not forget the first responders. Thank you , all . 

Have a beautiful day and may it be ever so peaceful! 

  As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Freedom makes a huge requirement from every human being. With freedom comes responsibility  " - Eleanor Roosevelt.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

I AM PLANNING EARLY

 It is another rainy day here in the holler- a perfect day to start something new. 

It's raining cats and dogs.

I pulled out a few green fabrics  to audition a quilt block for next year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Might as well plan early.😀

 With a swish and a swoosh, I soon had 2 1/2" strips cut.

2 1/2" strips cut. 

The block is all laid out. 

The block layout. 

 

With a vroom vroom of my sewing machine, a block was pieced!

 I do I think this would be a great easy block for the RSC. What do you think? This is a design by Osie Lebowitz called "Sew  a Season  Spin and Sparkle pattern " for Timeless Treasures.  I found this as a freebie on the Quilt Connection , Etc. website along with other quilting freebies. 

 

So far I have just made 2 blocks. I laid them on the table thinking they would make a cute tablerunner. Maybe make one in patriotic colors. Hmmm- an idea! 

Who knows.🤷 I may get a wild hair and chunk the idea of this being a 2026 RSC project, and it will make it into this year's rotation. We shall see. 

 I found this yummy sounding recipe on the back of package and thought I would give it a try.😋🌴

🌴 Coconut Crowned Fruit Salad 🌴

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cup of fresh cantaloupe balls or chunks

1 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple chunks

1 cup of fresh blackberries

1 cup fresh strawberries, halved

2 small kiwi fruit peeled, halved and sliced 

2 Tablespoon of fresh lime juice

1 Tablespoon of honey

3/4 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes

DIRECTIONS

Place fruit in a large bowl. In a small container , combine lime juice and honey . Drizzle over the fruit . Combine gently using a rubber spatula. Spoon fruit into individual serving dishes.  Sprinkle 2 - 3 Tablespoons of coconut flakes over each serving. 

Patriotic pieces are coming out. 

                    💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

I wish you the most delightful day and thank you for dropping in to see me. 

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"The start of something new brings the hope of something great. Anything is possible    " - Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

 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. 

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

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

Angela of  So Scrappy  for Scrap Happy Saturday

Joy at Days Filled with Joy for Home Matters