Just Stitching and Quilting

In 2 shakes of a lamb's "cat's" tail ,   Prim Cat and Pumpkins Pinkeep   was all stitched up, and it didn't take long to fully finish it into a simple little pillow either ! 

Sometimes it feels good to work on something super simple. Doesn't it? 

Prim Cat and Pumpkins Pinkeep was stitched on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida. 

 Yee Haw! A new house is in the works.

Oh bummer, I am sorry to inform you that the house under construction already has an infestation problem. 🐿 Hee! Hee!  Should I shoo the squirrels away?! Hmmm... I don't think so. I will see what mischief they get into first.

The Squirrel House is nearing completion. 

On the Halloween Stitching Front...

Witch Hazel has cast a spell on  me and has me  going out of my comfort zone. She was adamant that her house must be purple, and there was no convincing her otherwise. 💜

What's a girl to do? But to STITCH! STITCH! STITCH! on a  plum purple house as ghostly spirits watch  my every move. 👻👻👻

ON THE QUILTING FRONT... Well...

Four more blocks were pieced on Melva's Irish Chain Stitch along. 

I thought I was on a roll and ready to sew my blocks into rows when..... SCREECH!  STOP! 

I laid my blocks out and realized I did not have enough. Oh Fiddlesticks! I had miscounted. I need 8 more chain blocks and 7 more yellow blocks. So I will be working the "Chain Gang"! 

As I was stacking my blocks I paused when I saw one block had a mistake. EEEEK! Do you see it ? I placed a green square in the corner when there should have been a red one. Thankfully, that will be a super quick fix. Sooo.... Mrs. Jackie Ripper will be coming out today.  And I may rework some of the other blocks with the dark blues. Sigh. 😏😊

Oopsie - daisy! I made a mistake. I need to do some ripping! 

So these are  my projects for the week. 
Have you made your plans for the week?  I  would love to hear what you are working on. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"A busy day is a good day.  "-

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy 

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

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

A fall Sunday quilt stack on my favorite sunny child's chair. 

 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- 2026 A parade of sunflower freebies up to September 3, 2026

🌞Autumn Parade March- 2026 Fall Parade A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 10, 2026.

🌞 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. 

🌞Ghosts, Goblins and Jacks Galore - 2026 Halloween Parade - Halloween freebies up to September 16, 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

🌞Color Tinting Embroidery Designs - Explanation on how I use crayons to color my designs for hand embroidery. - July 9, 2026

The little crocheted pumpkin was a thrifty find from Texas and the green glassware was picked up in Arkansas on my recent trip. 

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. 

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday

Kate at Life in Pieces for  Stitching Stuff ( Sunday) 

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap - Sunday 

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Sew & Tell- Sunday

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday 

A Squirrely Roundabout - A Fall Doodle Freebie

Hello, Sweet friends . Around and Around we go! I have been working on my Roundabout quilt. 

My newest embroidery block is called "A Squirrely Roundabout"- just a sweet squirrel gathering an acorn for its winter stash. 

Graphic from Pinterest

I used the backstitch using 2 strands of floss. For the squirrel's eye and nose, the satin stitch was used. 

 JUST IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED

The following floss colors were used : 

🐿 Squirrel: DMC 898

🐿 Jacket: DMC 926 ( outline of jacket)  and 930(button,collar, cuffs, plaid and stitches)

🐿 Branches: DMC 869 

🐿 Leaves: DMC 3346, 355, 782

🐿 Acorn:  DMC 435(cap) , 437 (acorn) 

🐿 Scalloped Border: DMC 355

My doodles are hand drawn and are never perfect. ❤

The block is framed with 20-  2 1/2" squares( unfinished).  The embroidered block measures 8 1/2( unfinished) .  

After framing the embroidered block, the  roundabout measures 12 1/2" squared unfinished. 

If you missed any of the blocks and you are interested, just click on the colored links. 

Frosty Chill Roundabout

Love Mail Roundabout

Welcoming March Roundabout Doodle 

Bunny Harvest Roundabout 

May Flowers Roundabout

Sweet Melody Roundabout 

Summer Joys Roundabout

Bees and Blooms Roundabout

I will keep it short and sweet today. I will be pulling fabrics and flosses for I have a new roundabout to begin. 

Have a happy day! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Mighty oaks  from little acorns grow.  "- Geoffrey Chaucer

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 

Monday Musings and the Harvest Basket

For the last year, I  have been trying to eat fish at least twice a week. It's good for  ya' - well that's what my doctor says.  Anywhooo... Tuesdays is "Tuna Tuesday" . I always try to give a little twist to my tuna salads . 

Last week I made the most delectable tuna salad- with the addition of a chopped apple, chopped celery, homemade relish ( yum yum) , feta cheese ,pickled  jalapenos and olive oil mayo with a blanket of fresh spinach on toasted wheat bread. It was just mouth watering. The addition of chopped apples and the spice of the jalapenos was a favorable surprise. 

 As I made my sandwich, my mind wandered to past joyful days in the garden - staking tomatoes, picking cucumbers and summer squash.  The sweet cucumber relish that we made  a couple of years ago  brought back many fond memories . Every time we pull a jar out of the pantry it is like getting a pleasant gift from the garden. This year I hope to plant more cucumbers , tomatoes and of course peppers galore. 

Have you started thinking about your garden? 

Homemade sweet cucumber relish is the bomb! 

This brings me to Block #3 in Melva's Little  House on the Prairie Sew Along. Eeeeh! It's Harvest Basket. 

"Some old fashioned things like  fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. " -Laura Ingalls Wilder

Last year Mr. Pinker and I would spend "many a hours" in the garden filling our own harvest baskets. In fact , there were times that we would take one basket load in and then go out for another.  I should be so lucky if we have a good harvest this year. 

"A farmer depends on himself, and the land and the weather." Laura Ingalls Wilder - Farmer Boy

 All of the fabrics for Harvest Basket were found in my stash. Strips of calicos, plaids  and prints. It was fun to look at the information on the selveges . Some of the fabrics were nigh 20+ years old. 

So tell me. If you are planning a garden, what do you hope to fill your harvest basket? 

I am making progress on Little House Needlework's "Farm Life". Vegetables are being harvested. 

Well Sweet friends, I best get off here and see what mischief I can get into. 

Before you leave. Do you have any suggestions on new ways to prepare canned tuna or salmon? I would be every so grateful for any new recipe suggestions. 

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

Block 4 Shoo Fly- March 19, 2026

🌻  A Sneaky Peek of what is on the finishing table today- Eeeeh ! Summer Stamps! 🌻

Have a beautiful day! 

Hugs and Stitches

Melisa 

The squirrels are running rampede here in the holler - gathering seeds and such. 

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred..." - Laura Ingalls Wilder -  A Little House Sampler  A Collection of  Early Stories and Reminiscenses 

It's a Finish- Harvest Season

 Better late than never! Well , that is what Nanny always said. 😀

Welcome, y'all  and a lovely winter's day to you.

 This post has been long overdue. In fact, you can tell by the photos that I finished my little quilt in late fall of last year. 

Why in molasses was I so slow in posting? Hmm I do not know. Time just got away from me. 😊🤔

Last year I posted a little freebie called Harvest Season... 

...which included four simple doodles. 

I embroidered the little doodles on 4" finished squares using 2 strands of DMC 898 using the backstitch. 

 

I framed the blocks using 1 1/2" strips. 

A simple leaf fabric was used for the backing and binding. They had been in my stash for at least a decade. 

I look forward to adding this week quilt to my fall collection this year. I think it will be quite  cute with my squirrel collection. 

Speaking of squirrel. I never showed you my thrifty finds that I purchased for mere pennies-  wee souvenir vintage Colorado sugar and creamer set. 

Little acorns are on the backside. Eeeh! They grab my heart! ❤

Well y'all that is my post in a nutshell. Thank you so much for stopping by. Hope your day is a fantastic one! Love and kisses!

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Life in a nutshell awaits the squirrel. " - 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. 

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

TGIFF at Melva Loves Scraps for Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday- Friday

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