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Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Busy Bees and Sunny Sunflower Hutch Tour

Hello there, Sunshine! Welcome. Do come in and join me.

Buzz! Buzz! 🐝🐝 A little bee told me that  it is a perfect day for a Country Clutter tour.  

My homemade hutch is filled to the brim with all things yellow which includes busy , buzzing bees and sunny sunflowers. 


So if you are up to it. Let's take a gander . 
I forewarn you. I am a maximalist . I know it is not for all, but it is just my style. 

OK Now for the tour! 

The top of the hutch is rarely ever changed, but I did tuck in a little yellow tin . 


Each shelf was layered with bowls, plates and stitching galore. 


Two large stacked Pyrex bowls were perfect to nestle some sunflowers and a stitch in.  Blessed is a 2020 freebie from Stitching With the Housewives which is as cute as a button. 

 My Mini Bee Sampler looks quite at home in the little Dollar Tree wooden box that I painted and added my Home stitch to. 


The grand rooster was a thrifty find years ago. He has been in storage for quite a spell. He was as happy as a lark to be out among the sunflowers and bees. 

Now tell me. Who can resist sunflowers captured in a mason jar? Not me!  🌻


In past posts, I have told you about my "plate addiction."😏😀 
I am sure you have already spotted bookoos of them layered behind all of the clutter. 
But I haven't told you about my Pitcher Affliction. Hee! Hee!  I have never met a water pitcher that I did not like. 

Do any of you suffer from the same affliction? 

I pulled out my mustard yellow pitcher  and plopped the The Ole' Crow Saltbox right on top of it.  Perfect for a summer display. 

 Sunflower Strut Stamp is nestled in the hanging basket of eggs. 


Let's buzz down to the 2nd shelf. Shall we? 🐝 Buzz! Buzz! 


Sunflower Sampler is gingerly propped on a stack of saucers.  The wooden bee skep was a Big Lots find over 20 years ago. I still love it. 


Front and center is The Hum of the Bees which was stitched on gray Rit dyed 14 count fabric. 

The little wooden spoon was a gift from my sweet sis and the knife sharpener was a thrifty find from New Mexico. We won't talk about my love for old "kitchen utensils".  


My one and only butter mold holds another ceramic rooster and " Dora Jane's Cabin on Sunflower Lane" . I stitched this cabin a couple of years ago, but have yet to post it. 


But we are not finished yet! The bottom shelf is overflowing with stitching and more stitching. I just could not contain myself and kept  adding more and more.  Eeeh! 

Behind all of the stitching are some of my platters. A few years ago Mom gave me a number of hers when she was cleaning out her cabinets. I enjoy having them on display as I have warm memories of the yummies that Mom used to serve on them. 

A modge podge of bee and sunflower decor with not an inch to spare. 

The little sunflower truck was a gift from my sweet friend, Joan. I believe this precious stitch is a Stitching with the Housewives design. I just adore it. Thank you , Joan. 💛

Behind it on the stacks of plates is Annie and the gang in  Bees, Bloom and Chickens . This stitch was created in honor of my Great Grandma Annie who gathered and sold eggs to buy the dining room set that I now proudly own.  


In the Apiary Stamp is one of the newest stamps that I shared earlier this year. 

Last year, sweet Vivian sent me a beautiful card  filled with treasures.  She used my Blooms of Sunshine design on the front of the card.  Isn't the card magnificent? 


Look at the precious handmade envelopes. This is a treasure. Thank you, dear Vivian. I love having this out on display year round. 💛


The precious honey pot and pitcher were moved from the counter to my hutch . This darling set was sent to me from my dear friend, PJ who spoils me rotten. Thank you again, sweet PJ. 💛

Finished on an metal tile is "Sunflower Keeper" a possible stitch that I will share in the future. 


And I must not forget my scales that are always displayed on the hutch. Stacks upon stacks, of little bowls, doilies and stitches which includes Skeps and "Zilpha's Summer Cabin" , another house that I have not shared yet. (  I need more hours in the day to do all of the things. LOL Don't you? ) 


That's all she wrote!  The Busy Bees and Sunflower Hutch Tour is complete! That was a lot to take in . Wasn't it? 


Do you think I have enough "bee themed " items? LOL.  Yeah , I think I do . Yet, I am still stitching bees and sunflowers. 😁🐝🐝🐝

I was tempted to recreate last year's display which I adore, but I went with something different. If you would like to see  2025's Bears, Bees and Sunflower Hutch Tour just buzz on over and take a look.  I think I contained myself last year and did not use as many "things". LOL


Now that the tour is complete , maybe we can sit back and stitch awhile. Maybe I can rustle up some treats in the kitchen. And I definitely have coffee and iced tea for our enjoyment. 

 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Every flower that ever bloomed had a bee that believed in it.  " - unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

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

Friday, April 17, 2026

Goodbye Easter Quilts , Hello Spring Quilts

 It is time to change out the quilts. 


I am scooping up all of the bunnies and Easter decor and changing things out.  Hippety Hop! Hippety Hop! Off to the totes the bunnies go!     
 
For early Spring, I had a few quilts hanging on vintage shutters in the small foyer. 

Front and center  was my Easter quilt . Eeeh ! This was it's first year on display.


 This is one quilt that I thought I would never finish, but by golly, last year I "quilted across the finishing line". I was happier that an Easter rabbit with a basket full of eggs! 

This quilt is made up of 2" squares. 


The Easter quilt was quilted with the Baptist Fan pattern. 
 
Another quilt that I had on display was "Garden Blooms" which is a design from Piece o' Cake. It originally was published in 2008 in the "American Patchwork & Quilting" magazine. Becky Goldsmith still has it for sale as a downloadable in her shop. 

The 3rd quilt is a top that I will show in the near future. It is made from reproduction Depression Era fabrics. 


So what am I changing over to next? 
Eeeeh! STRAWBERRIES!


It is Strawberry Season here in my neck of the woods. Many of you know that I have a strong affection for anything "strawberry related" since my family owned a " U-Pick / We Pick Strawberry Farm" years ago.
The foyer is filled with strawberries galore. 
Of course, I started decorating by draping quilts over my 3 vintage shutters. 

First quilt- Scrapberries


I shared the Scrapberries block in May of 2024. 

My Berry Season mini quilt is the 2nd quilt on display. I shared  the Berry Season Doodles  a few years ago.  I stitched the little berry designs in DMC 498. I think it is berry cute- well at least in my eyes. 

 
Because I am decorating the foyer in reds and yellows, I pulled out my Spring Chicks Quilt  which I completed in March of 2021.  


Those little chicks always make me smile. Plus they remind me of how we used to buy the oldest grandson chickens every year. He loves  chickens.  I may have told you that Mr. Pinker nicknamed our grandson "Rooster" when he was a babe. LOL.

 


 The 1869 Spring Chick Crock was inspired by the Spring Chick quilt. Like I said I do love chickens.  🐓🐓🐓

Easter foyer shelf

In the coming days, I will share more photos of the strawberry decor and of course stitching and quilt pieces that I am putting on display.   I don't know if you are like me , but not only do I love to see quilting and stitching, but I LOVE seeing how they are used and displayed. Seeing displays give me ideas and I need all of the help I can get. Hee! Hee! 




As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,y'all   Melisa 

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy... on building the new. "- Socrates 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
The Easter Tree and foyer

 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 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

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

The Thanksgiving Jar from the Mason Jar Series- A Fall Freebie

My buttery is filled to the brim with canned goodness - stitched ones that is! 😀


Good afternoon, y'all. It is no secret that I love "canning season". Come summer time the canners are at full steam. 



Over the last few years , I have been canning the holidays in the form of stitched holiday creations. 


My newest jar in the Mason Jar series is The Thanksgiving Jar. 


Ole' Tom Turkey is ready for the Thanksgiving holiday along with a home grown pumpkin. 


 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵

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. 

🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵 🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵


NOTE: I did not chart this, but I outlined Tom's eye in 2 strands of white floss so it would stand out.  




If you are interested in any of the other mason jars, just click on the links below to magically be transported back to the post with the charts. 🪄




More jars are soon to follow . I do have other holidays that need to be captured in a jar! 
I am so very grateful that you joined me today. 
Happy Canning! 


As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Good things take time. " 

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 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. 




Tuesday, August 12, 2025

A Peek Into the Foyer

It is a sun shiny day! A perfect day to skip through a field of corn or perhaps of sunflowers.  




Wheew! It is too hot for that ! Let's skip that and just head into the house  where sunflowers are in bloom and the corn is abundant! 😀  Well at least it is in in the foyer. 

Welcome, Sweeties and Happy Tuesday! 


Are you up for another Country Clutter tour ? I sure hope so for there is lots to see, and it would be a delight if you joined me. 

As you enter the house, from the patio you will be greeted with lots of sweet summer stitching displayed on my thrifted shelf. 

That includes Blessed which is a  freebie from Stitching with the Housewives and my Mini Sunflower Sampler freebie which are both nestled in a wooden bowl filled with corn cob holders and an antique doorknob. 



 This year's theme was Corn and Sunflowers. 



Sunflower Inn , a Little House Needleworks piece, was tacked onto the old metal plaque for the season.  I think it brightens up the area nicely. What do you think? 


Lots of pretty sunflower plates from the Dollar Tree were layered in among the shelves.  You might have already figured out that I have a thing for plates. 😊🙄


Of course if I am going to decorate with corn, I had to include some chickens one of which is in a small corn bowl. 

  Sunflower Sampler   is a stitch that I shared a few years ago. Such a darling frame it is in. 


A big ole corn on the cob cookie jar is perfect to put treats in like Mr. Pinker's Cornflake Bars.  Yum Yum! 


PEANUT BUTTER CORNFLAKES BARS
YIELD: 20 bars

INGREDIENTS: 
1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
6 cups of cornflakes

DIRECTIONS:
In a large sauce pan combine peanut butter, sugar and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium low heat until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove from the heat and stir in the cornflakes. Spread into a greased 13" x 9" pan. Press lightly and let stand  until set-   for about an hour. Cut into bars. Enjoy! 

Except for the plates , all of these items have been made or found at thrift stores and yard sales including the big corn casserole dish. 


 Summer Ewe looks as cute as a button as it is propped next to an antique amber bottle gifted to me from my sweet sis. My sister  loved collecting old bottles-  such a fond memory. 

Antique pitchers, stacks of plates and lots of sunflowers


Summer's End a freebie from Notforgotten Farm was a delight to stitch.  Beside it in an old vintage planter is  one of my freebies' called Mini Bee Sampler . 


The 2nd  Notforgotten Farm  piece on display is June which was also a freebie on Lori's site. It is a favorite as well. 


Well Sweeties, that is my corny display in a nutshell. I am so grateful that you joined me. Thank you for dropping by. 

 As always,

Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

"Positivity is the key to happiness. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!! 🤗🧵

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I miss and love you so much.   ❤👼



Yesterday, I shared the quilts I have on display in the foyer. If you would like to visit that post click here.

  
More thrifty finds from the World's Longest Yard Sale including a green eyed squirrel, a cookbook, crock, dough bowl ,  vintage sifter and a candle lamp. 

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

 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 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. 

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