Berries , Berries and More Berries Hutch Tour

 Rise and Shine, Sunshine!  Please do come in  and join me on this lovely Spring day. I hope you have some pep in your step  and joy in your heart today. 

Believe it or not, I have not posted a country clutter tour since December! Wowzer!  But don't worry , I have still been piling in the clutter. Hee! Hee! 😀😁  I would be delighted if joined me for this year's first "Colorful Country Clutter " tour .

 I know this is not for all, but I am a maximalist . I enjoy the  humble jumbles of knick knacks and whatnots. Now my collections didn't happen overnight , but have been in the decades of making.  So if you are up to it, let's go check out my hutch all decorated in the Strawberry theme. 

My hutch is not very large. Mr. Pinker built it for me almost 30 years ago, and it has been tucked in the corner of the small kitchen ever since we moved here. 

After removing all of my Easter decor ... ( Hmmm I failed to show you the hutch with all of the bunnies. If you would like to see that just let me know. ) ... I added my red Dollar Tree  and thrifted strawberry plates. I kept the white valances which I am using as shelf runners on the hutch.  I use a string of white Christmas lights which I tuck among the clutter to bring a little twinkle to my hutch. 

I rarely change what is on the top of the hutch. The old large Campbell's soup tin holds dishes.  I added the Toll House cookie tin which holds Christmas kitchen salt and pepper shakers . ( I am always interested in where maximalists store their stuff. Are you? ) I bought the Coca Cola crates years ago at an Estate Sale. The old coke bottles have been found in creeks and such. 

Shhh... Don't tell anyone , but I have a plate addiction. And I refuse to get help. Hee! Hee!  Little saucers are stacked in the corner on the top shelf with a Hall pitcher purchased at the World's Longest Yard sale sitting on top.  More little tins are added to the mix . Vintage children's  toy kitchen utensils are carefully placed in a juice glass.  My sweet sis gifted me the strawberry bottle opener. 

I often leave some of the same old things on the hutch from season to season such as the little glass salt and pepper shakers as well as the white ones. They were some of the last gifts from my sis. 🤗 She was like me and loved to go to yard sales and thrift stores, and boy, could she find the bargains. 

Sitting above the little wooden strawberry sign is  Strawberry Jam Jar   from my Mason Jar series. ( And yes, I still have more jars in my mind to create. ) 

Years ago I found this little crewel work at the thrift store for under a dollar. It is still one of my favorites. 

Well we made it through the 1st shelf.  Are you up to seeing more? If so, let's hop on down to the 2nd shelf.  Hippety Hop! Down we go! 

Ok, Ok. I will admit to another addiction -TEAPOTS! Gosh, I love them. 

I have 2 strawberry teapots. This little beauty came with the teacups.  And there are  more salt and pepper shakers- a third addiction. Hee! Hee!  ( When I store my strawberry items, some of the  salt and pepper shakers are stored in the teapot for safe keeping. )

Front and center is Amy Lou the Berry Picker   which was made in memory of my sweet sis. It holds a very special place in my heart. Below it are some of the strawberry stamps that I shared last year including Strawberry Quilt Stamp,   Strawberry Jam and Biscuits Stamp  and Berries For Sale Stamp

Faux berries are tucked in an old measuring cup. 

Right on top of the old vintage tea canister is  Mini Strawberry Sampler  which I shared a couple of years ago. The  Strawberry Ice Cream Stamp is placed in the vintage red tea glass. Isn't that drinking glass gorgeous? It was another World's Longest Yard Sale find. 

 

Wheww! Are your eyes crossed yet? 👀😜😅 I sure hope not because we are shimmying on down to the bottom shelf. Shimmy shimmy! 

On the bottom shelf, I place a simple red and white quilt made from 3 1/2" ( unfinished) scraps. And then I went to town layering in all kinds of berry goodness. 

In the corner is my 1 and only strawberry themed cookie jar. ( My cookie jars are usually stored in the "she shed") . In the old juicer, I placed a 1990's Dollar General jam jar.

The jam jar sits on a little postcard quilt that I made decades ago using scraps and ink stamps. 

 Strawberries and Cream Stamp

Last year, Dolly Parton had a Spring collection at the Dollar General. When I saw the measuring cup with strawberries on it, I could not snatch it up quick enough. 

 

 Strawberry , a freebie found on the Lizzie Kate website, fits perfectly in the measuring cup.   

Lastly on the vintage scale are some gifted small platters from my sis which are filled with vintage pot holders, berries and "Sweet Strawberry " which is a freebie from Caroline at Cosmic Handmade.  

Well that's my Berry themed hutch in a nutshell   I mean berry basket . Filled to the brim . Right? Hmmm or can I squeeze in one more berry piece? LOL.  Gosh, I better not try. It is bursting at the seams as it is. 

It was berry sweet of you to join me today. If you have the chance, stop back by tomorrow. I will be sharing  my BERRIES stitch which I have shown in previous posts. 

Spring on the Farm  and Berries

May your day be as sweet as a strawberry! 🍓

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Life is like strawberries- sometimes sour sometimes sweet .  " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy , the sweetest strawberry picker. It is just not the same without you, Amo.  Love and miss you, Amo.  Also this is dedicated to my Nanny . Today is her birthday. Happy Heavenly Birthday. Nanny I love you to the moon and back! 

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 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 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

 

May Day Quilting , Stitching and Tiny Tomato House Freebie

A very Happy May Day to you , sweet friends.

Have you ever danced around the Maypole?  No,not me though I have to admit it sounds like a whole lot of fun. 

As a child, we would make small paper cone baskets and fill them with flowers to welcome in the new month and the warm Spring weather. 

Purple Majesty is in bloom. 

Today, I will be celebrating May Day in the sewing room. I  am still plugging away on  Bonnie Hunter's 2025 Leader/ Ender project called Four Patch Fun. 

I am working with 2 1/2" squares and strips. The finished block size will be 8 ". 

These blocks are being made with scraps primarily in the red, , white , blue color way.  35 blocks are completed. I still need more, more, more! 

Of course, I am sneaking in some Christmas fabric.  Christmas fabric seems to end up in all my quilts. Hee! Hee! 

Some Christmas fabric in the mix. 

Oh, I am so excited to share with you the latest Tiny House stitch- Tiny Tomato House!    I am quite smitten with it. 🤗

The little house is flanked with a small tomato vine and a spool of thread on the opposite side of the house. Below it are 3 ripe tomatoes.

 

I am finishing all of my Tiny Houses the same way as teeny pillows with a bit of crocheted lace.  I shared the measurements and how I made the Tiny House pillows in the post with Tiny Winter's Day House.

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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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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.

Tiny Winter's Day House, Tiny Love House , Tiny March House and Tiny Tulip House

 On Monday, my sweet friend, Dianet at parchesdeamorblogspot posted her adorable finish of my Tomatoes stitch on her blog.  I do hope you will visit her because she made some changes and made it ever so special. What did she do? Well, she added some applique. Talking about cute! ❤🍅❤ So I do hope you will drop by  Dianet's for a visit. She always has so many lovely projects in the works and she offers the most beautiful freebies as well.  Thank you , dear friend. 

So with that, today I am going to work on fully finishing my "Tomatoes" cross stitch as well.

Later, Mr. Pinker and I will be heading to the ball field. The grandsons are staying super busy with their ballgames having practice or games at least 6 days a week. We are enjoying every minute of watching them. 

Have a marvelous day, Sweeties! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

" A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. "- Mother Teresa

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 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. 

The berry hutch in a soft glow of lights. 

Please forgive me for being so behind on visiting. It has been another one of those weeks.🙄 I think we all have them from time to time. Right? Hopefully, things will slow down soon.  Thank you so much , for your love , understanding and support. Love ya' ! 

Stamp # 2 -Summer Harvest - Summer Stamp SAL

 Just above the old red chicken house , used to be a fenced in garden that  during the summertime beamed with tall stately cornstalks, twisty twirling bean vines , leafy mounds of zucchini  and squash plants and neatly staked rows of tomatoes galore.

Soon it will be time for hay. 

2025 garden squash

Papa tended to it quite diligently. In the evenings, he would go out and pick whatever was ripe and ready at the time. Nanny who by the end of the day had changed into her dress with a duster over it would go outside , sit on the porch and wait to see what Papa would bring in from the bountiful garden. 

Summer Pasture is based on Papa's and Nanny's farm. 

Sometimes he would tote a bushel basket filled with green beans. Do you remember those baskets?  

Nanny would sit on the porch with a large bowl in hand and would begin the process of stringing the beans and snapping them. Every now and then us  7 grandyoungin's would join in,  but usually it was just the older 3 girls.

 It would not be long before we would tire of "the stringing of beans", and   the allure of the sound of a June Bug buzzing by would steer us away .  

We promptly would jump up  in search for a string in order to tie it to one of their teeny little  legs-  that is if we were so lucky to catch one.  If we were successful in catching a June Bug, the hard part was tying the string. Oh, their little feet  would just pinch and scratch our teeny hands.  "Eeeek," we would squeal. 

 Once the string was attached  the June Bug  would buzz and buzz in circles around us. Our own little pet June Bug we would think. 

After tiring of that we would , plop on the stone walkway and with our fingers twiddle the little roly poly bugs that meandered along the cracks and crevices of the stone slabs. 

Oh what terrors , we young kids must have been to the insect world on the family farm. Please do not judge us too harshly, but we were young  farm kids, and we tried not to hurt them. In fact we admired the little crawlies.  

 As the evening sun began to set, flickers of light would flutter in the sky. "Where are the jars? "we  would frantically ask Nanny as she was busy snapping beans. 

"Right here, Sweeties. " And she would spring up from the old metal chair and bring us old pickle jars that she had placed holes in in the lids. Once we took the jars, she went back to the task at hand - stringing and snapping, as we scampered around the yard in hopes of catching a lightning bug or two.  

But let's get back to the garden. Shall we?

 Once the tomatoes began to ripen, Papa would bring them into the country kitchen each evening and sit them on the table. Nanny had a small bowl that she would place them in. Ever so gently she would pick up each and every one and inspect them.

 "Do you have to handle them all?" Dad would joke . 

"Yes, I do," Nanny would laugh. They were always fondly  pickin' at each other . 

It  would not be long before Nanny picked out the most perfect tomato, and it was promptly washed and sliced.  Freshly picked cucumbers which were also sliced  would soon join the tomato on the platter, and we all would indulge in the fruits of Papa's and Nanny's labor . 

Aaaw such wonderful happy times . I do miss those days immensely.  Nanny and Papa lived  a hop, skip and a jump- just down the road from us so we were at their house  every day . 

This brings me to our next Summer Stamp #2 called Summer Harvest. 

Anytime I think of summer , I think of spending time in the vegetable garden just like Nanny and Papa did. We still put out a garden to this very day on my Nanny's property though not at the original spot. 

As many of you know, I am stitching each Summer Stamp twice-  one made into a pin pillow and 2nd in a grouping of 9 stamps. 

As I stitched Summer Harvest on the large sampler, I decided to make an ADDITION- using 1 strand of DMC 301 ( or your favorite orange) I added little lines in the carrot for detail. 

I also used DMC 782 and made French knots for the berry seeds. You may want to do the same or just stitch some berry seeds in the strawberry. 

 Summer Harvest was stitched with the following DMC floss colors: 782, 815, 898, 921, 926, 930, 3052, 3345, and 3346.  

Of course, if you decided to stitch, Summer Harvest you could use whatever floss colors that make your heart sing. 🤗

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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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NOTE:  This is not listed in the directions , but you may want to make note of it. I used DMC 782 to make French knots for the berry seeds in the strawberry .  In the larger sampler, I used DMC 301, to make random straight stitches in the carrot as details

Summer Header,  And The Garden Grows  and Summer Harvest. 

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

May 5th  Summer  Stamp 3

May 12th  Summer  Stamp 4

May 19th  Summer Stamp 5

May 26th Summer Stamp 6

June 2nd Summer Stamp 7

June 9th Summer Stamp 8

June 16th Summer Stamp  9 

June  23rd Bonus Summer Stamp 10

June 27th Final Reveal

 More Spring decorating with Spring Pasture in my vintage flower vase. 

 Gosh, I have been quite a chatterbox today. I am ever so grateful that you took the time to stop by for  a visit and listen to me ramble on about my childhood days on the farm. I also so appreciate so many of you stitching the Summer Stamp SAL with me  and for cheering me on. I wish you the most delightful day. 

Before I forget. If you are in the neighborhood, I will be posting a  tutorial on how  I dye a small piece of Aida fabric with Rit dye this afternoon around 12. So drop by if you can. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,  y'all

Melisa 

"The glory of gardening :hands in the dirt , head in the sun, heart in nature. "- unknown 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved to work on the farm and loved being out in nature . 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 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

A Basket for Lois - A Spring Freebie

 Hello, Sunshine!

 Can I interest you in a little basket of blooms? 

I have been stitching away on a little pink basket for a sweet girl that I never personally knew. Her name was Lois Ann.    

Lois Ann was a beautiful girl with long flowing brown hair, bright eyes and the sweetest smile. How do I know? Well I have seen photos of her. 

Actually, Lois Ann was my aunt, but she went to Heaven as a child way before my time. 

A Basket for Lois is a small stitch with a design size of 42 x 41. 

Little Lois Ann  was stricken with polio when she was just 3 years old and was paralyzed. Most of her time was spent in hospitals and in an iron lung.  But  from what I have been told,  she was always full of cheer. 

Little Lois Ann loved to sketch the most beautiful drawings . All one had to do was help her by putting a pencil in her mouth, and then she would create magical creations on paper. Bless her sweet heart.  

I stitched  A Basket for Lois on 14 count Aida that has been coffee/ tea dyed. 

Movie stars and singers from long ago would visit her.  She was a special little girl and still is in our family's eyes. 

I would like to think that little Lois Ann is skipping in Heaven, gathering flowers and putting them in her own little basket and drawing until her heart is content. 

The frame was from the Dollar Tree. 

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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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Did you know that most of my charts have some form of a "nod" to my family members?  Sometimes I name a chart after a family member or I create a design based on a family story. When I am slow stitching , I like to think about my family , our history and such.  It brings me peace and relaxation. Do you do the same?  

Well Sweet Friends, I will let you go. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me and for listening to the story of little Lois Ann. 

Have a beautiful day! 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Smiles are free but they are worth a lot .  " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy, Aunt Lois Ann and Great Aunt Alma. They were gone too soon. Love and miss you, Amo.