Spinning with Glee with a Native Star Log Cabin Block!

 I did it! I did it!  Picture me spinning around in glee!  What did I do? Well, finished a block thank you very much. Hee! Hee! 

I know . I know . Not everyone is going to jump for joy just for finishing a block but nowadays , I am one happy gal just to get anything finished. Sigh. 😏

Since getting back from our camping trip. Hubby and I have been running like a couple of  chickens with our heads cut off- running here and there and everywhere. "Cluck, Cluck"  Actually, there is some family sickness that is keeping each of us busy, but we are doing the best we can. So if I disappear for a short time , it may be due to that. But I am going to try to stay afloat. Like Mr. Pinker says it is just a bump in the road of life. 

Anywhooo... back to my finish. Eeeeh I am spinning in glee again. 

I am in love with Melva's new Little House on the Prairie Quilt Along. If you have not joined in, there is still time. It is free through the duration of the the quilt along. So if you are  so inclined, hop over to Melva Loves Scraps , grab the patterns and join in all of the fun. And perhaps you will be spinning in glee just like me!  

 "They were cosy and comfortable in their little house made of logs..." 

Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Posts:

INTRODUCTION of the Little House on the  Prairie Stitching Along - January 29, 2026

Block 1 Maple Leaf- February 5, 2026

Block 2 Native Star- February 19, 2026

Block 3 Harvest Basket- March 5, 2026

Last week , I pulled out a selection of fabrics for the 2nd block Native Star. 

Fabrics chosen for Native Star

It did not take long to have the large cabin block whipped up. 

"Beyond them the darkness was like a mist thickening over a flat, white world. Stars twinkled far away beyond its rim. " - The Long Winter

The Maple Leaf and Native Star

Today I will work on Block 3  Harvest Basket . Gosh, I better hurry because  tomorrow Melva releases the Shoo Fly block!  (Oooh  that is one of my favorite blocks to piece! Squeal  ! 🤗. )  

I better get to movin' if I am going to catch up with Melva. Have a delightful day. 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Home is the nicest word there is. "- Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

I got to see a spot of snow on Monday which promptly melted a few hours later, but...

...it did give me a chance to finish  "Easter Peeps" by Helen Daily. It is a freebie available on her Flosstube channel #77  posted March, 2, 2021 video . Now to add some trim.  

Happy Stitching, Sweeties! 

 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. 

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Little House on the Prairie Sew Along

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

Snow , Sheep and Clover Basket -A St. Patrick's Day Freebie

 What is it  Mark Twain said?  "Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it. " 

Well with that being said-  Brrrr. It is cold out there!  Hee! Hee! 🥶

Today is supposed to be the coldest day of the month in our neck of the woods dropping down to 19.   It is a perfect day to stay home in  my jammies and stitch the day away.   Now that sounds like a plan. Don't you agree? 

LET IT SNOW

We got about 2 inches of  snow yesterday.

  It began to melt by mid day, but soon the temps dropped.   There is no school today so the little munchkins will be here shortly then katy bar the door for they are sure to find something fun to get into - knowing them  they will probably go outside. Aaah to be young again when cold weather did not bother one so  much.😏

            

 Anywhooo,  it has been a spell since I have stitched one of my own designs.   I have a wee start on my Clover Basket Pinkeep which I have high hopes to finish by the weekend.

A wee start on Clover Basket with St. Patty's Day Trifle

 I hope you do not mind if I share the chart without it being stitched . Since I am still working on it, I have not listed the floss colors  so it is a "CHOOSE YOUR OWN COLORS" chart, but I will list the colors that I use when I finish this piece.  

                                

UPDATE:  FEB. 21, 2025- I finished "Clover Basket Pinkeep". In case you are interested: I used -- DMC floss colors which includes:

Symbol      Floss Color

U                DMC 3857

X                DMC 937

O                DMC 869

W                DMC Blanc

•                DMC 3371

Y                DMC 729

Clover Basket is stitched and ready to be fully finished. 

Clover Basket finished as a pin pillow with twisted yarn trim. 

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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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

With the snow looking so inviting yesterday,  I pulled out my Frosty McChill Quilt  so it could frolic in the snow. Frosty was quite happy.

 I then marched inside and  pulled out Mr. Snow  embroidered blocks which I shared in 2023-2024. Click here to visit a post with links to all 12 of the  Mr. Snow blocks.  

It is time to do something with these blocks before I move on to another embroidery project.  

Three of the 12 Mr. Snow blocks waiting to be sashed. 

The Mr. Snow blocks  are the same size as the Frosty McChill blocks .  I will be cutting fabric today and framing a couple of the blocks. 

Well , Sweeties I am going to cozy down on the couch, sip on a cup of coffee and stitch on a little basket.  I wish you a beautiful and blessed day. 

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Embrace the cozy season and stay inside where it is warm.  " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

Winter Stamp

Hey, Have I told  you that you are the bee's knees lately?!   You sure are!  Love ya'! ❤

"Snow Tart" A Winter Freebie

Hello there ,  Winter Sunshine!!!  Mr. Pinker and I are out and about enjoying the beauty of nature and having loads of fun on our camping adventure , but before we left home,  I had the chance to finish a small winter stitch  called "Snow Tart" .

  "Snow Tart " is a simple and quick stitch and can be whipped up in two shakes of a lamb's tail. In fact, I stitched this  in a little over 1 1/2 hours- that's not too bad , is it?  

DMC 221 is the floss color that I used, but wouldn't it look so lovely in blue?

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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. 

Remember all of my designs are for personal use only. Please do not sell my designs, rename or rechart my designs for profit. Yes that has happened. 😔

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I finished mine into a little tart tin.  I am no expert and in fact, I am a fly by the seat of my pants kinda gal, but here is how I finished my stitch into a tart.

RECIPE FOR TART FINISH

INGREDIENTS

tart tin

scissors

thread

needle

cross stitch

cardboard or mat board

glue

batting

backing fabric

DIRECTIONS:

🧵1. After stitching the design. I found that it would fit in a 3 1/2" tart tin. I used a template to  draw out 4 circles on a piece of cardboard . I used cardboard because I am thrifty and  that is what I had on hand. 😀

🧵2. I glued 3 of the cardboard circles together using Aleene's Tacky Glue and set them aside to dry.  

🧵3. I took the 4th circle , used it as a template and cut out backing fabric larger than my circle. 

🧵4. Using needle and thread, I created a running stitch about 1/4" from the edge of the fabric and then gathered it around the  4th cardboard circle and secured it.

 

🧵5. Once the other circles were dry, I cut 5 layers of batting into slightly smaller circles and layered them on top of the cardboard circle.  

🧵6. I then  followed the same process as I did in creating the backing circle by gathering the stitched piece to the batting covered cardboard circle.  I then laced my cross stitch .  

🧵7. I took the "Backing Circle" and the "Stitched Circle" placed them together and using needle and thread whip stitched the circles together. 

🧵8. I just sat my finished cross stitch on top of the tart tin. It did not fit snug down in the bottom of the tart. Mine is more like a lid where I can store trinkets in the tart.  I will use the tart tin for other finishes after winter. 

I am hoping to create some more tart finishes this year, and my mind is already in the clouds dreaming of the next one.  

Well, Sweeties, that's my stitch for the day. What do you think? Do you think it looks ok? I am pleased for my 1st "tart finish". 

Before you leave, I want to thank you for dropping by for a sweet visit. It always brightens my day when you come by. Have a beautiful day and ...

 As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

The first snow is like the first love. - Lara Biyuts

Warm Wishes and Snowman kisses! 

Hugs and Stitches!!!

Dedicated to my sweet Baby sister, Amy . I love you, Amo.  ❤

Gathering Snowflakes - A Winter Freebie

 Good morning, y'all and a very lovely day to you! Are you gathering snowflakes yet? Hee! Hee!  No snowflakes in our neighborhood, yet!  Hmm I wonder if we will get much white fluffy stuff this year? I am not sure, but I have heard from various sources like a furry tailed squirrel  named Sandy that we just might have a cold winter.  Have you heard that old wives tale?  IF A SQUIRREL HAS A BUSHY TAIL EXPECT A COLD WINTER.  What do your squirrels say?

Granny always said check the persimmons. I did that last year.  The persimmon seeds showed snow in the forecast, but alas we just got a few flurries. 

I have not checked in with the caterpillars yet. Have you?

OLD WIVES TALES FOR A SNOWY WINTER
❄1. The more black on a woolly bear caterpillar means a harsher winter. 

❄2. If you see a pig gather sticks and leaves in the fall it is going to be a bad winter. 

❄3. If the hornets or wasps build their nests higher than usual expect lots of snow. 

❄4. If a spider builds a larger web than normal ,it is trying to catch more food for a rough winter season. 

❄5.  If the mole holes are deeper than 2 1/2 feet, expect cold temperatures and snow.

Well gosh, I have not checked with any of these critters on the Winter Weather Forecast for 2024.  I guess I will just have to wait and see.  

Do you know of  any other old wives' tales on predicting weather?

Oooh I think I am getting wrapped up into the winter spirit and with that being said let me show you my newest little stitch. It is called Gathering Snowflakes.   

It is Baby Flake, and he is gathering snowflakes to place in his winter basket! What will he do with the snowflakes? Build a snowbuddy? Make snowcream? Gosh, I do not know , but he sure is a busy fella. 

So what do you think of Baby Flake? I think he is as cute as a button. 

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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. 

☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃

Remember all of my designs are for personal use only. Please do not sell my designs, rename or rechart my designs for profit. Yes that has happened. 😔

Gathering Snowflakes is finished on a thrifted clip frame. I will use it in other finishes . 

I  hope to work on a couple more snow stitches for the month of January but I will have to finish them when Mr. Pinker and I get back from our camping trip .  I will also be working on the next stitch in the "Gathering series" . 

Thank you so much for the sweet winter visit. Enjoy your day and ...

As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold. - Aristotle

Warm Wishes and Snowman kisses! 

Hugs and Stitches!!!

Dedicated to my sweet Baby sister, Amy . I love you, Amo.  ❤

Winter  Jar  and Snowman 1869 Crock