The Old Farmhouse Gathering

Old Farmhouse Gathering 50 Club

2012-01-27T09:01:00.000-05:00

Looking for a great deal? The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is hosting an OFG 50 Club. Select items are listed at 50% the original price!!! Click on the banner above and check out some of the deals. Make sure you stop at the participants shops and click on the 50 Club section for other great deals!

Feature Friday - Bless Your Heart Country Crafts

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today's featured artist is Chrissy of Bless Your Heart Country Crafts. Growing up Chrissy heard her Grandmother, Vada, saying "Bless Your Heart". She also lived in Alabama as a child and heard this often as well. This is what inspired the name of her Etsy shop.

Chrissy has been selling her items on Etsy for a little over a year now. She sells primitive patterns and handmade originals. Chrissy has many interests so you never know what you'll find for sale in her shop.

Chrissy's mom and aunt were her inspiration to create. She taught herself to crochet at the age of 9 making ornaments and selling them to her teachers and at craft shows. As a child, she would even sit under her Mom's booth at craft shows in Alabama. Now they inspire each other with fabric finds and notions for new ideas.

At home, in school and riding in the car, Chrissy would doodle. As she got older she began to turn her drawings into dolls, fabric, quilts and other whimsical items. If you ask her what her artistic style is, she would tell you "I am truly whimsical at heart...with a primitive twist!"

Even though Chrissy is an artist at heart, she has a complete and total love for her family first and foremost. She fits her crafting and creating into her family's schedule and tends to work late at night or early in the morning.

Chrissy has some great words of advice for someone who is just starting out. "Think outside of the box to create your own unique style. Find the craft you love and go with it. Be persistent and give yourself time to grow." Great advice Chrissy - Thank you!!!

To visit Chrissy at her Bless Your Heart Country Crafts Etsy shop, click on any of the photos above or the banner below. She would love to have you stop by for a visit.

You can also find Chrissy on her Bless Your Heart Country Crafts website as well as her Bless Your Heart Country Crafts blog.

Share the Love Celebration

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy is having a Share the Love Celebration beginning today, January 16th and running through January 30th. Click on the banner above and plan to spend some time shopping. All these items are new to the shops and haven't been seen on Etsy before. Get them while they are available. The slideshow below is just a small sampling of what you will find available for sale.

Feature Friday - Angelbug Prims

2012-01-13T05:33:00.000-05:00

This week's Feature Friday is Angel of Angelbug Prims. Angel's grandparents used to call Angel by the name Angelbug when she was a little girl. They had a lot of primitives in their home and were always teaching her how to do something with her hands.

When asked for a little personal information about herself, Angel shared this: "I am 41 and finally comfortable in my own skin, the mama of two awesome young men. My hubby is my best friend! We are crafting together now and are going to try our luck at craft shows this upcoming year. He works in the garage doing his wood working crafts and I am in my sun filled craft room in the house doing my fabric crafts (the secret to a great marriage!)I have 3 dogs that I adore beyond belief and I love to create. That is when I am the happiest…at home…Surrounded by family…creating!"
When she started making prims a couple of years ago, naturally her mind would drift to memories of her grandparents quite often. So when it came to naming her shop, Angelbug Prims seemed a fitting choice.

Angel started her Etsy shop in February, 2011 and offer primitives of everyday items as well as seasonal. Even though her artistic style is mainly primitive, she can also be categorized as Folk art as well as country. If you asked Angel what her favorite item is in her shop, she would tell you that she loves her primitive black dolls.

Even though Angel has been crafting nearly all of her life, she has only been creating primitives for just the past couple of years. It all started when she stumbled upon a primitive website and from there she couldn't get enough! She started researching primitive craft making sites and has self-taught herself to make dolls, quilts, tote bags and most anything that has to do with fabric and needle and thread.

Angel crafts every day, morning, noon and night. She has been warned, however, not to run her sewing machine at 3 a.m. anymore! Angel is inspired by the girls at Prim Chat. It is there that she not only learns a lot but she also laughs a lot!!!

The advice Angel gives to anyone just starting out: "Thank goodness for the internet! There are so many wonderful sites that offer free advice, tutorials, patterns, etc. The information is out there just waiting for you!!"

You can find Angel on her Etsy shop by clicking the links or photos above. You can also find her on Ebay, Groove Press and on her Blog.

Final Day!

2012-01-09T07:43:00.002-05:00

Today is the last day to take advantage of the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team's January White Sale!!! Click on the banner above and get shopping. Some really great discounts on some fantastic items!

Feature Friday - Ninnas Attic

2012-01-06T08:50:00.001-05:00

Today's feature is Kathy of Ninnas Attic. Kathy chose Ninnas Attic for the name of her shop because that's what her grandchildren call her.

Ninnas Attic is a family owned shoppe which specializes in primitive and country wares. She opened her shop back in August, 2008 which offers items in felt, muslin and wood.

Inspired by her mother, Kathy has been crafting since she was in high school and has been crafting ever since.

Kathy is a very busy lady with 3 children, 4 grandchildren and another grandchild due in March. She loves crafting in the evening and is her way of relaxing.


Stop by and visit Kathy at Ninnas Attic by clicking on the banner above.

January White Sale!

2012-01-02T05:06:00.001-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy is having a January White Sale. Sale begins today and runs through Monday, January 9th. To visit the participating shops just click on the banner above. Lots of great items on sale at great discounts!

2011-12-31T13:46:00.000-05:00

From Our House To Yours

2011-12-24T12:30:00.000-05:00

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!!!

Everyone at the Farmhouse would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Feature Friday - Darlene Decorates

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today's feature is Darlene of Darlene Decorates. Darlene loves primitive, country, vintage, antique, victorian and anything old fashioned.

Darlene has a line of Soy candles that are highly fragrant. She's pretty sure that once you smell one of her candles, you will buy another. Not only does she make her own candles, she likes to decorate them as well.

Darlene also makes her own soaps. They are all made from Goat's Milk making them a natural skin softener. Most are made without any dyes.

She does custom orders for her candles and soaps. If there is something special you would like, just contact her. She'd love to hear from you and wants to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your purchase.

To visit Darlene Decorates, just click on the banner above.

We Have A Winner!!!

2011-12-14T05:45:00.000-05:00

From the Hearts and Hands of the OFG we'd all like to say:

Congratulations Melanie!!! You have won the giveaway! Keep your eye on your mailbox. Some amazing goodies coming your way!

Friday Feature - Primitive Nook

2011-12-09T06:12:00.000-05:00

Today's Friday Feature is Tawny of Primitive Nook.Tawny is a very talented artist and we are so fortunate to have her as part of the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team on Etsy. This week Tawny was interviewed on The Creative Chicks Cafe blog. And a wonderful interview it was! Click on the photo below to read the interview.

Click here to stop by Tawny's Primitive Nook to see all of her wonderful creations!

Today is the last day for the Old Farmhouse Gathering team's Holiday Open House!!! Click on the banner below. Still some great items and awesome sales. Finish your holiday shopping today to guarantee that you will receive your packages in time for Christmas!!!

If you haven't done so already, there is still time to sign up for the From the Hearts and Hands of the OFG giveaway. Click on the banner below and leave your comment today. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 13th!!!

Holiday Open House

2011-12-05T00:00:00.001-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team is having their 1st Annual Holiday Open House on Etsy. The open house will run from today, December 5th through Friday, December 9th.

Many of the shops are having some pretty great deals to help you with your holiday shopping so plan to stay awhile! To visit the Old Farmhouse Gathering team shops just click on the banner above.

Feature Friday - No Jumbled Ducks

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today's featured shop is Bonny, Etsy shop owner of No Jumbled Ducks. Bonny's shop has one-of-a-kind handmade primitive dolls as well as quilts. Her dolls range from sweet to the kind you would find in an attic. She also has some dolls that are whimsical. All of her dolls are made from her own designs and patterns. Her quilts are traditionally made and very primitive.

Bonny's passion is sewing and crafting which she has been enjoying for over 45 years. She has sewn everything from baby clothes, doll clothes, home decor, wedding gowns and tuxedos. But what she really loves is making all types of primitives.

Bonny loves to create and make unique items by blending fabrics bringing a new look to her items.

You can visit Bonny at No Jumbled Ducks by clicking on the banner above. Her shop is sure to delight!

From the Hearts and Hands of the OFG Giveaway

2011-11-29T20:15:00.004-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team is having their last giveaway of the year! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post in order to be entered in the giveaway. One winner will be chosen on Tuesday, December 13th. We would love it if you would you put the giveaway on your sidebar and invite your family, friends and followers to enter for a chance to win.

Please take a few minutes to visit the shops of those who have generously donated items for the giveaway:

Barb of Barb's Heartstrokes
Jacquie of Hand of Bela Peck
Kris of Maple Street Shoppe
Mary of Sugar Bush Primitives
Robyn of Motherlode Toad Factory
Vicky of Paintspots and Splinters
Natalie of Tins and Treasures
Pamela of Maplea's Rag Cloth Dolls & Animals
Marilyn of Harvest Moon Prims
Cindy of Always Primitive

You can also shop with other OFG members by clicking here.

We’re thankful for…You!

2011-11-24T00:01:00.070-05:00

As we join together with family and friends this weekend, the question will arise about what we are all thankful for. Of course, there is your health, home, family and friends, and the OFG Team on Etsy wants to share just one more token of thanks to you…our customers! Many of our members have joined together for a promotion from Thanksgiving day through Tuesday, November 29 with a special savings coupon of at least 10% towards your purchase. Use the coupon code “OFGthanksyou2011” as you shop in these participating shops:

Thank you from all of us at the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team for your support and continued patronage. We wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Feature Friday - Rock River Stitches

2011-11-18T12:18:00.000-05:00

Today's Old Farmhouse Gathering Team featured shop is Tammy of Rock River Stitches. Tammy has been crafting all of her life. You name, she's tried it. She has close to 30 years of experience in sewing. She was even a full time quilter before she started her primitive line about 7 years ago.

Tammy loves to think up her own creations and brings them to life. She has received emails from her customers letting her know how much they appreciate her talents!

With so many years of experience, especially her quilting experience, a quilt that she made for her daughter's 2003 High School Graduation was featured in the premiere issue of a nationally publicized quilt magazine called "Patchwork Quilting". What an honor that was for Tammy!

Not only does Tammy have her own handmade primitives available for sale, she also designs her own patterns!

You can find Rock River Stitches by clicking on her banner above or visiting her website by clicking here.
If you would like to order some of her downloadable patterns you can visit her at PatternMart.

And the winners are...

2011-11-13T13:48:00.000-05:00

Before we announce the winners of the Trim Your Tree with the OFG Treasury Giveaway, we'd like to say thank you to all those who donated items for the giveaway. There is so much talent with this group and each one has been so generous to donate their creations to the lucky winners.

Without further ado, the winners of the Trim Your Tree with the OFG Treasury Giveaway are:

Carol of Grams1Garden -
"Oh my gosh!!! When I first entered this giveaway I thought how exciting
it would be for the person who won to decorate their tree this year for Christmas.
I just can't believe that person is going to be me. I am truly blessed to receive these beautiful ornaments from your talented group of artists. Thank you to each and every one of them for their generous donation to this giveaway!!! You have made my day; awe heck...my year!!!"
Deb of FairlyUnique - "Greatly appreciate the awesome items on here!!!" "Thank You Again!!!"
Liz of MountainHomePottery - "WOW! I'm so excited!!"
Joyann of JoyfulArtStudio - "WOW I'm so excited!! Can't wait to see my prizes. Thank you so much."

Congratulations to each of the winners!

Feature Friday - Prim Chick Designs

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today's feature is Lisa of Prim Chick Designs. Lisa was recently interviewed at Screaming Sardine!!! To read her interview click here.

Congratulations Lisa! The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is beaming with pride!

There's Still Time!

2011-11-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

There are two treasury giveaways and four chances to win!!! But don't put it off, the winners will be chosen on November 12th. Make sure you visit both Etsy treasuries and leave a comment. You can visit Treasury #1 by clicking here and Treasury #2 by clicking here.

A Second Treasury Giveaway!!!

2011-10-29T18:17:00.000-04:00

Click on the treasury title and enter to win!!! Two lucky winners will be chosen to share the ornaments for their Christmas trees this year!

Trim Your Tree with the OFG!!!

2011-10-29T06:25:00.000-04:00

Want to win half of this Christmas Ornament Treasury by the OFG team? You will need to visit the treasury on Etsy by clicking here and leave a comment on the treasury. There will be two winners which will be randomly selected from all of the comments left on the treasury by midnight, November 12th (PST).

The total approx value of this treasury is $200!

Be sure to stop and visit the other talented artisans of the Old Farmhouse Gathering as well..simply type ofg team into your search for more primitive, whimsical and folk art treasures.

Comments left on this post will not be entered in the drawing. You must leave a comment on the treasury only by clicking here . Good luck!!!

Here's a hint!

2011-10-28T07:50:00.000-04:00

But you'll have to wait until tomorrow to enter!!!

Pssssst!

2011-10-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team has something wonderful to share! But not today ;) Keep your eyes open for our upcoming announcement.

Okay, I'll give you a hint. It won't cost you a thing!

Feature Friday - Cookie Dough Creations

2011-10-14T00:00:00.001-04:00

This week's feature is Kathy, owner of Cookie Dough Creations. Even though her ornaments are all basically a salt dough, she makes them more like a cookie dough by adding various pantry essentials like cinnamon, cloves and coffee. These elements add a variety of color, texture and scent.

Kathy has been crafting seriously for about 15 years but has only opened her shop in February, 2011. She tries to work at her craft every day. Kathy takes her business seriously and views it as any other 9-5 job. She has a shop filled with salt dough ornaments made from scratch. She rolls out the dough in her own kitchen and does all the finish work herself. Not only does she have ornaments for every holiday and season throughout the year, Kathy has expanded her line to include gift angels and hearts for family members as well as professions.

She doesn't necessarily have a favorite piece in her shop but when putting on a large gingerbread ornament on a wreath, she realized that this ornament just makes her happy!

She is inspired by her husband who is always at the ready to help with the technical side of the business. She is also inspired by nature. If you asked her to describe her work, she would tell you that her work is primitive or rustic which is also reflective in her home decor which is filled with antique wood bowls and baskets and anything rusted, beaten up and well used.

Kathy was asked what words of advise she would give others or to someone just starting out. This is what she shared, "I think I'd just say learn by reading a lot and putting yourself out there. There are so many talented and knowledgeable artists here at Etsy, there's always someone more than willing to help with any question or problem you might have. And teams are a fabulous way to promote your shop and learn as you go."

On the personal side, Kathy and her husband just celebrated their silver anniversary! They have two children, ages 20 and 17. Her picture of a perfect day would be spent with her family fossil hunting on a beach near their home.

Stop by and visit Kathy's shop by clicking on any of the photos above. If you don't see something specific, or need something personalized, feel free to convo her anytime.

Filled With Pride!

2011-10-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

When one of the Old Farmhouse Gathering team members steps out into a new venture, you can hear all the buttons popping. We are so proud of Valerie, owner of the Etsy Shop Prim Folk Art Shop, also known as The Wooden Acorn. Valerie has just opened a brand new retail shop in Waynesville, Ohio. She is a lover of all things wool and this shop is filled to the brim with wool applique patterns, hand dyed wool, valdani floss, handmade projects, notions and primitive folk art gifts. For a little taste of what her shop is all about, click on the photo above and visit her blog.

Oh, and while you're there, sign-up for her "sheepish" giveaway!!!

Only 2 Days Left!

2011-10-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

The Warm Winter Wishes Celebration is coming to a close! To see all the beautiful winter items that are still available, just click on the button above.

Great Feature on Creative Chicks Cafe

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Margo of Choose Moose is one of our Old Farmhouse Gathering Etsy team members. Boy are we proud!!! She has been featured on Creative Chicks Cafe. Margo is one very talented lady. Stop by and get to know her a little better.

Feature Friday - The Old Log House

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

We'd like to introduce you this week to Anna of The Old Log House. Anna is a school teacher who just loves to craft on the side. She believes that we should all live in a home that makes us feel warm, comfortable and cozy. Check out her shop and you'll understand what she means!

Fall is her favorite time of year. She loves the beautiful colors in the changing leaves and fall decorating is her favorite. She also raises pumpkins on farm which she sells.

Now that fall is here, she will be posting more fall decorations in the coming days, so stop by often.

Friday Feature - Patti's Primitives

2011-09-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today's feature is Patti of Patti's Primitives Tomorrow's Treasures. Patti has been painting signs for a long time and has developed quite a collection of signs and stencils.

She is a one-woman business and is from the Midwest. Patti loves making primitives and her collection of signs and stencils is always growing. Her sons like to tease her saying all she ever does is tap-tap-tap, either painting stencils or typing on the keyboard!

If you don't see something you're looking for, just ask Patti. She cuts her own custom stencils and uses a variety of fonts and sizes. You can also choose your own color combinations to match your decor!

Stop by Patti's shop and be prepared. You will be awed at the large selection of signs she has in her shop. Just click on any of the photos above! You can also check out her website by clicking here.

Warm Winter Wishes

2011-09-19T00:00:00.027-04:00

The Celebration is now in full swing!!! Click on the banner above and start your shopping down. So many wonderful items to choose from they won't last! Here's just a small sampling of what you'll find:

Celebration ends on October 9th!!!

Getting Ready for Winter!

2011-09-16T00:00:00.001-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Etsy team has been busy putting together some great winter items. Celebration begins on Monday, September 19th. Mark your calendars!!! More info to follow!

Feature Friday - Oddz N' Endz

2011-09-09T21:33:00.002-04:00

Today's shop feature is Debby of Oddz N' Endz. She has a wonderful shop full of household goodies. You never know what you will find there! Her shop is filled with all sorts of vintage finds as well as a few handmade items.

Debby loves anything that is old. worn out and well-loved. She has enjoyed many of these items herself in her own home over the years. Debby and her husband have collected so many different and unique items throughout the 40 years of their marriage. With such a large collection, they felt it was time to open their shop and share some of them with you simply because they love to put smiles on people's faces!!!

Be sure to click on the banner above and visit Debby. Take some time to browse her shop. You never know, you may even find an item that brings back a cherished memory!

Creative Chicks Cafe Meets Motherlode Toad

2011-09-05T05:42:00.000-04:00

We here at the Old Farmhouse are bubbling over with pride!!! Our own Robyn Martin has been featured on the Creative Chicks Cafe blog. What a fantastic interview of Robyn of Motherlode Toad Factory. Click on the banner above and meet Robyn. Great pics, great interview, great lady!!!

And the winner is...

2011-09-01T22:37:00.002-04:00

The Turkey Trot Treasury Giveaway had over 1900 views!!! Using random.org a winner was chosen to win the entire treasury!

And the winner is...Anne of the Old Paper Shop!!! Anne's comment left on August 14th reads:

"Contests are so much fun! This is what I will do if I win. I will make adorable Thanksgiving bags and put one item in each bag, and then each Thanksgiving Dinner guest can pick one!!!!!!! It will be the WOWEE event of the day at our Holiday family dinner.

It's very lovely and so creative! Thank you for this grand gesture!"

Stop by and visit Anne by clicking on the graphic below. While you're there, take some time to look around Anne's shop. She has some very unique items.

Are You a Procrastinator?

2011-08-27T18:16:00.003-04:00

We sure hope not!!! Because if you are anything like ~~some of us~~ me, you'll miss out on this amazing giveaway. The last day to sign up is August 31st. The winner of this Turkey Trot Treasury will be announced on September 1st and will receive all 16 items shown valued at more than $250 just in time for your Fall and Thanksgiving decorating.

As my mother used to say, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today!" Just click here! All you need to do is leave a comment, although each artisan would appreciate a visit to their shops.

Before It's Too Late

2011-08-20T05:18:00.000-04:00

Summer is almost over, schools are starting up again, fall is in the air and the Turkey Trot is in full swing. You do not want to miss this amazing Etsy giveaway that ends on August 31st! Click on the image above and check out what one lucky winner will win!

Turkey Trot Treasury Giveaway Begins!

2011-08-14T06:27:00.001-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team have really outdone themselves this time!!! They have put together an amazing collection of items one lucky winner will be able to enjoy throughout the fall and Thanksgiving season. There are 16 items in this treasury valued at over $250 for this one winner that will be announced on September 1st.

There are rules with this giveaway!!!

You MUST have an account with Etsy to enter. Opening an account is free! Just click here for details.
You MUST leave a comment on the Etsy treasury. (No comments on this blog will be entered in the drawing.)
If you would like an additional entry, you can "Favorite" the treasury.

Good luck!!!

Do Turkey's Trot?

2011-08-10T18:00:00.000-04:00

They do at the Old Farmhouse Gathering!!! Beginning August 14th, the OFG will be having an Etsy Treasury Turkey Trot Giveaway. Mark your calendars!!! More details to follow.

Congratulations!!!

2011-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Join us in congratulating Sue of Rabbit Hollow Prims! Her work will be featured in the fall editions of Art Doll Quarterly and Prims Magazine!

Sue is one very talented lady. Please stop by to congratulate her and to see some of her amazing work. Just click on the photo above.

Feature Friday - Growing Team!!!

2011-07-29T00:00:00.002-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team has been busy, busy, busy adding a whole new floor on the farmhouse!!! Click on the photo above and see what we've been up to!

Final Days!!!

2011-07-22T08:31:00.000-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team has been having tons of Fall Fun at the Farmhouse!!! We are in our final days. Click on the photo above and get your shopping done early!

Feature Friday - Prim Country Creations

2011-07-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

We'd like to introduce you to Julie, owner of Etsy shop Prim Country Creations. The name of Julie's shop says it all!!! She loves primitive and country decor and her passion is creating.

Julie opened her shop in January of 2010 and offers primitive items leaning more towards a grungy primitive. Her grungy black dolls are very popular as are her primitive pillows. She also likes to recycle as much as possible. Her dolls are created without patterns making each one unique, making them hard to part with sometimes! Julie is also happy to do custom pillows with your own sayings. She will even personalize a doll's name for you or for someone special.

Julie has been crafting for quite some time beginning from when she was a little girl. She credits her inspiration from God who has given her the talent to craft and create.

Click on any of the photos above and visit Julie. Stop by often! She is always adding new items to her shop!

Feature Friday - Sugar Mountain Mercantile

2011-07-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

This week's Friday Feature is Debbie, owner of Etsy Shop Sugar Mountain Mercantile. Not only is Debbie a talented lady, she is also the Etsy Team Leader of our group, Old Farmhouse Gathering. She is busy, busy, busy but always finds time to do what she loves and that's creating in her studio.

Debbie has been creating and crafting since childhood. Her mom taught her to crochet when she was around 8 years old. She was even a ceramics instructor in high school. Debbie is inspired by all the creativity that surrounds her. Being a part of the Old Farmhouse Gathering has played a large part of Debbie doing what she loves and that is creating. She loves to see a piece of fabric come to life but that's not all! She loves blackened beeswax and the scent of the natural honey from it. She also enjoys making dolls. Debbie enjoys a variety of different crafts which allows for a variety of items she carries in her shop.

Stop by and visit Debbie's shop. She always offers those things she loves herself. You will find one-of-a-kind items as well as primitive and whimsical items. You may even find some vintage and antiques items, so you need to stop by often.

You can also find Debbie all over the world-wide web. (I told you she was a busy lady! Debbie is fairly new to blogging but you would never know it! Click here and start following her today! Not only does Debbie blog but she also has a Twitter page and a Facebook page. Join both her pages so you don't miss one thing.

Fall Fun at the Farmhouse!!!

2011-06-30T18:40:00.000-04:00

It's time for some Fall Fun at the Farmhouse!!! Starting tomorrow morning, you will have the chance to see some amazing items for sale on Etsy. Click on the banner above and start shopping first thing tomorrow!

Check out the slideshow below for a small sampling of what's to come!!!

Fall Fun at the Farmhouse!!!

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars!!! The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is celebrating Fall!?! That's right! We are having Fall Fun at the Farmhouse starting next Friday, July 1st through July 23rd.

You won't want to miss this - more info to follow!

Feature Friday - WV Lucky Girl

2011-06-17T00:00:00.002-04:00

Becky of WV Lucky Girl's Primitive Store won The Old Farmhouse Gathering's Flag Day Appreciation Challenge, and for good reason! She is hugely talented and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know her a little better.

Becky has always lived in the hills of West Virginia. Some would say that if you are lucky enough to live in the mountains you are lucky enough. Becky is one lucky girl. This is why the name of her Etsy shop is WV Lucky Girl!!!

Becky opened her Etsy shop in December, 2009 and sells a little bit of everything. She is always adding new products to her shop which includes a lot of primitive decor and a little bit of shabby chic. She has pillows, stitcheries, candles, hang tags and so much more.

Becky has been crafting for as long as she can remember. Her mother is a very crafty person and always let Becky help her when she was creating something. She thinks the crafting bug really bit her when her mom showed her how to use the sewing machine.

If you ask Becky who or what inspires her, she would tell you that everything inspires her and most of her great ideas come from her customers.

Not only can you find Becky at her Etsy shop, she also sells on Ebay. You can also get to know Becky better by becoming a follower on her new blog.

We Have a Winner!!

2011-06-12T13:24:00.000-04:00

Big Congrats go to Becky of
http://www.etsy.com/people/wvluckygirl for her fabulous entry in our Flag Day Appreciation Challenge! Way to go, Becky! Her Flag Rag Quilt captured the hearts of most of our voters, and with good reason.

All of the creations were simply lovely..I'm sure it was difficult to choose just one! They were all perfect examples of the talents to be found at the Old Farmhouse Gathering on Etsy..just type OFG team in Etsy's search engine to find even more wonderfully handcrafted goods.

And.....drum roll, please.......the winning voter in the Flag day Challenge,who was selected by random.org is Laura of Rhodes Creations!! Congratulations, Laura! Your prize will be mailed to you this week. Hope you enjoy her :)

A big thank you to all who voted. Keep watch for our next Celebration coming soon!

Tomorrow is your last chance!

2011-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Only one more day left to vote for your favorite Flag Day Appreciation Challenge favorite! Remember to leave a comment as well as cast your vote. There will be one winner chosen randomly from all comments who will receive the Patriotic Bear shown above. So don't put it off any longer. Click on the photo above to vote and comment today!

Time To Vote!

2011-06-04T06:34:00.012-04:00

Let the voting begin!!! The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team is sponsoring a Flag Day Appreciation Challenge for their members. They've worked hard on their creations and have entered them in this challenge. We ask that you vote for your favorite.

Just visit each shop listed below, come back here, cast your vote and leave a comment! You have until June 11th to get your vote and comment in. On the 12th, a winner will be chosen based on the highest number of votes AND a winner will be chosen randomly among all the comments left. When leaving a comment, if you do not have a blog, please leave your email address in the comment so we can contact you if you win. Good luck everyone!!!

Please take a moment to to announce on your Facebook, Twitter and blogs. You can even grab the button on the sidebar!

Flag Day Appreciation Challenge

2011-06-01T00:00:00.013-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is having a

Flag Day Appreciation Challenge!!!

Mark your calendars! Beginning Saturday, June 4th through Saturday, June 11th, you will have an opportunity to vote on your favorite Flag Day item. The rules are simple:

No pictures will be featured on the OFG Blog, however, shop locations will be listed first thing Saturday, June 4th as well as the poll to cast your vote. (Poll will be located on the sidebar.)
You will need to go to Etsy and type in the search bar FDOFG and visit each Etsy shop to see each participants item.
Return back to the OFG Blog and cast your vote.
Post a comment, leave your name and email address (we need this to contact you and have you respond with your mailing address) ~ If you prefer not to leave your email address, make sure you email Debbie at SugarMtnMercant@aol.com

The winner of the Challenge will receive a prize AND one voter (chosen at random among the comments) will also win a prize. Winners will be chosen and notified on Sunday, June 12th.

This will be a lot of fun for everyone!!! It's not necessary, but we would love it if you would post this to your blog, facebook, twitter, websites, newsletters, etc. Feel free to grab our Flag Day Challenge button if you would like!

Happy Voting!!!

We Have A Winner!!!

2011-05-28T19:45:00.000-04:00

We had 146 entries for the 4th Annual Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway!!! Using random.org, the winner is ... drumroll please :)

Number 86!!!

Joyce Clark Frank

Congratulations Joyce! Your giveaway prizes will be mailed on Tuesday. Keep your eye on the mail, it's going to be a big one!

If you would like to stop by Joyce's blog and congratulate her, you can visit her at Joyce's Love of Life.

Last Chance!

2011-05-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the last chance to sign up for the 4th Annual Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway! Winner will be announced tomorrow. This is one you don't want to miss. Click on the photo above and sign up today!!!

One Week Left!

2011-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Don't waste another minute!!! Sign up today! Drawing for this spectacular giveaway will be held on May 28th. One winner will receive a wonderful package from some amazingly talented artisans. Please click on the photo above to sign up.

To visit the shops of the artisans who donated for the giveaway, please click here.

Meet the Artisans

2011-05-06T00:00:00.012-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team has some wonderfully talented and gifted artisans who have generously donated to our 4th Annual Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway. We invite you to take some time now to meet each one who is involved in the giveaway.

Becky - WV Lucky Girl's Primitive Store
Carrie - Scaredy Cat Primitives
Mary - Sugar Bush Primitives
Barb - Barb's Heartstrokes
Carol - Firecracker Kid Primitives
Vicky - Paintspots & Splinters
Pat - Ahl Cooped Up
Doris - Craft Cabin
Kim - Valley Primitives
Chrissy - Bless Your Heart Country Crafts
Debbie - Sugar Mountain Mercantile
Jody - Primgals Primitive Palette
Robin - Baggarags
Teresa - Teresa's Prim Treasures
Rose - Baskets by Rose
Bette - Handmade by Bette
Julie - Prim Country Creations
Lucy - The Farmer's Attic
Robyn - Motherlode Toad Factory
Marilyn - Harvest Moon Prims
Katie - Katie's Cows & Udder Things
Deena - Ewe-N-Me Printables
Dina - The Country Primitive Shoppe

Don't forget to sign up. Click here and leave a comment. We would love it if you would grab our giveaway button and put it on the sidebar of your blog. You can also post to Facebook or even Tweet about the giveaway to all your followers. We don't want anyone to miss out on this giveaway!!!

One More Word - FANTASTIC!

2011-04-29T00:00:00.002-04:00

Here's another photo showing you more of the wonderful items you could win in the 4th Annual Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway!!! Just gorgeous.

Click on the photo above and sign up today by leaving a comment. Drawing will be held on May 28th. This giveaway is sure to delight the one lucky winner! We would love it if you would add our giveaway to your sidebar. It's easy - just grab the code to put our button on your blog.

While you're here, don't forget to follow our blog. There are plenty of tutorials, celebrations, giveaways, challenges and so much more you don't want to miss out on.

One Word - WOW!

2011-04-22T00:00:00.008-04:00

The ONE lucky winner of the 4th Annual Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway will receive this amazing prize!!! The Old Farmhouse Gathering has a large variety of items included in this giveaway from some amazingly talented artisans.

There are so many possibilities on how to use them in your decorating all year round! Here's just a sampling:

Click on the photo above and enter today!!!

(One name will be drawn on May 28, 2011.)

4th Annual Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway

2011-04-17T00:00:00.010-04:00

Woo Hoo!!! It's that time again and man what a Sweet Summertime Hugs Giveaway this is!!! The Old Farmhouse Gathering team has certainly outdone themselves this year. The drawing will be held on May 28, 2011. Don't delay - sign up today! All you need to do is post a comment to have your name entered in the drawing. If you do not have a blog, please make sure you include an email address in your comment so that we can contact you if you are the lucky winner.

We would love it if you would grab our button and add it to your blog. Consider posting it on Facebook and Twitter too. Good luck!!!
We invite you to visit the OFG members shops. Click here to see some great talent! There are over 5,000 items to choose from, so grab your favorite beverage and plan to spend time shopping with us.

Shop Opening!!!

2011-04-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

Another of The Old Farmhouse Gathering team has just opened a brand new shop!!!

Rosalie of My Country Cottage is now located in The Rooster Creek Loft. Her shop is located at 42050 Main Street in Old Town Temecula, California. You can call for shop hours at 951-694-9918.

Rosalie has worked very hard to get this shop filled to the brim with a variety of areas. She has a personalized area with banners, garlands and tiles, a vintage area, garden area, wedding area, seasonal, children's, and wine areas as well as lots of signs, yard stakes and plant picks. Coming soon - a dolly area!!!

If you aren't planning a trip to visit with Rosalie personally and shop in her wonderful store, don't worry! Just click on the banner below and shop in Rosalie's Etsy Shop.

What do Country Sampler & Down the Primitive Path have in common?

2011-04-08T00:00:00.002-04:00

Two of our Old Farmhouse Gathering members are in these wonderful magazines!!!!

Country Sampler's, May, 2011, featured home on pages 34 and 35 have on display two of Becky's items. Page 34 features her Barn Star Live Simply pillow:

Hanging on the wall on page 35, you'll see her Olde Crow Game Board Co hanging on the wall amongst a wonderful display of gameboards!

Becky is the shop owner of WV Lucky Girl's Primitive Store. She is an amazingly talented woman whose shop is filled to overflowing with pillows, stitcheries, candles, grungy dolls, pictures, prim decor and much more. Click on the banner below and browse through her wonderful store.

Our next feature is Teresa of Teresa's Prim Treasures!!! Teresa is the featured artist in the new issue of Down the Primitive Path. Not only have they done a tremendous interview of Teresa, she has also included a free pattern for download.

Click on the photo below to read the article and get your free pattern:

Teresa is the owner of the Etsy shop Teresa's Prim Treasures. Her shop is filled with folk art style "treasures"! She also paints and sews the ever so popular primitive crows, sheep, pineapples, willows and her new addiction...Mice!

Stop by and visit with Teresa by clicking on the banner below. You will be truly delighted with her shop.

Feature Friday

2011-04-01T00:00:00.001-04:00

This week's feature is Vicky, Etsy shop owner of Paintspots and Splinters.

Vicky has been married to a wonderful man for 29 years. They were sealed in the Washington D.C. Temple and have 6 children. The first four are in their 20's while their twins are now 5! They love where they live and spend most of their 'family time' on the lake. Any extra time that Vicky has is spent painting. It is her 'therapy'!

Vicky has been decorative painting for years and have studied both Fine Art and Decorative Arts with many local Artisans. She's a one-woman show in sunny Florida. Most all of her work is cut out by her and her trusty trio of saws!

You can keep up with her recent works and Giveaways by visiting her Art Blog.

Tuesday Tutorial

2011-03-29T00:00:00.003-04:00

Simple Rosettes Tutorial

A very special "thank you" to Tanya at Bead & Needle for sharing this fabulous tutorial with us on making beautiful rosettes. Please click here to visit with Tanya. She has a wonderful blog so become a follower while you're there.

One of the prettiest embellishments I can add to a handmade bag, is also one of the simplest to do. I thought I'd throw together a quick tutorial on how it's done, as I've been asked so many times...these can be done with just about any ribbon (or fabric) of your choosing: good ol' standard ribbon with a finished edge; bias cut silks (the brown one is a soft, silk ribbon, while the beautiful silk plaid that was bought as ribbon, is heavier in weight and I am convinced the same could be achieved with silk fabric, cut on the bias at home) that can be frayed along the edge; or fabric strips - torn or cut to desired width.

Materials needed for this project include: RIBBON, or fabric strips (approx. 32 to 36"), of choice; HEAVY THREAD (I like the Dual Duty XP Heavy, by Coats and Clark...a little lighter than upholstery thread, but heavier than hand quilting threads) in a neutral color; SEWING NEEDLE (I love the size 13 quilt basting needles, as they are long enough to gather lots of ribbon in one shot on, and have a larger eye, making them easier to thread in my declining eyesight years); CRINOLINE (or base material of your choosing...crinoline can be found in most fabric stores that sell bridal notions); BUTTONS OR BEADS for center embellishment; and SCISSORS. For finishing off the backs, you will need PIN BACKS (available at most craft stores, in a variety of sizes); FELT (I like to use wool felt, usually felted/washed for that thick, crinkly effect, but regular felt will work just fine); and HOT GLUE.

Ahhhhhhh, bias cut silks...not always easy to find, but I have a wonderful source, and now you can, too! Carole at The Ribbon Store, is a long time friend and carries some of the most beautiful ribbons you've ever seen - new and vintage! Don't see what you want - just drop her a line. The beauty of the bias cut silks is that they can be frayed along the edges, for a feathery look. The same can be achieved with cotton fabrics that can be torn into strips. However, the rosettes look just as fabulous with straight edge ribbons. To fray the edge of a silk, bias cut, simply drag a pair of scissors gently down the edge, as if you were curling ribbon for a package.

A 2" wide ribbon, will give you a 4" diameter finished rosette. This brown silk is actually a 2-1/2" ribbon that was turned up onto itself to give me a 2" wide ribbon, and providing a ruffled center effect at the same time. NOTE: YOU WILL WANT TO MAKE YOUR STITCHES 1/4" APART (and they don't have to be perfect). This is an old habit that is hard to break for those of us used to small, neat stitches used in quilting and embroidery work. The reason for this is that looser stitches will gather more material far more compactly than tiny stitches do - take my word for it...don't believe me? Try it.

Knot a single length of thread (about 36" should do all of your gathering, forming and embellishing) and take a stitch at the upper edge of one end (the gathered edge will be your center...something to take into consideration if working with a two-toned ribbon). Take a few "anchoring" stitches over the edge to make sure your knot doesn't pull through the ribbon as you are working. You will be working in a "running", or "gathering" stitch...simply put, in and out. Working from your top edge down, towards the bottom of the ribbon, you will gently curve your stitches into a rounded edge, and continue along the length of the ribbon. On a finished edge ribbon, you can stitch within about 1/8" - on anything with a frayed edge, you will want to stay about 1/4" from the edge (the photo above has both edge types going on).

Gather along the long edge, pulling gathers as you go.

As you approach the opposite end of your ribbon, you will want to do another rounded corner, and continue up to the top edge of your ribbon. Make sure your ribbon is gathered evenly, and anchor off your stitching, without cutting your thread.

At this point, you will have gathered your ribbon to where it can be arranged something like this. Overlap so that your short ends lay one on top of the other, about 1" (or whatever is pleasing to you...you can also use a longer ribbon to do this, and curl it onto itself a few times, for a much fuller rosette). Cut yourself a piece of crinoline for backing (a square about 3" X 3" should do you - excess will be trimmed), and lay your rosette atop it. You will start taking anchoring stitches up and down, from ribbon through crinoline and back, to hold it in place. Stitches should fall in between the folds, as you work around center.

Overlapped ends...

Use as many (or as few) stitches as you feel you need to secure the rosette into place - it's not going to be pretty, but it's not going to show, either. Do not cut your thread yet...

Now's the point where you will want to add a center, and/or any other embellishment you may want. Buttons, beads, buckles, lace, more ribbon...let your imagination take over, or keep it as simple as you wish. When you've finished, you can finally knot that thread.

Trim your crinoline, making sure not to cut stitches or ribbon.

Gather your pin base and felt. Cut a circle from your felt (these were cut at 2-1/2" in diameter). I like to hand stitch my pin backs to the felt, but you are welcome to simply hot glue them in place.

Heat up your glue gun and, being careful not to burn yourself (famous last words, each and EVERY time I use that thing), apply glue around the back of the felt, and center this on the back of your rosette.

Yes, my old work horse glue gun is seriously 29 years old - I believe it was one of the first that Black and Decker manufactured for crafting. It is the original model where you have to press the glue sticks in with your thumb, which forces the melted glue out of the end. It has seen better days but is still the best one I own...and most dangerous, too.

Easy peasy - that's it, in a nutshell. Pretty on bags and sweaters, alike...or anything else you can think up (I say as I am looking at my large male dog laying here, under my feet).

Feature Friday

2011-03-25T00:00:00.003-04:00

This week we are featuring the Old Farmhouse Gathering Artisan blog. We are always expanding and adding rooms at the "farmhouse". We don't want anyone to miss out on the renovations!!! Click on the photo above and become a follower.

Marketing Tips: Blog Swapping, Contests, and Link Parties

2011-03-22T00:00:00.002-04:00

Here's the final installment, Part 7, of Taylor's tutorial. Thank you so much Taylor for sharing such a bounty of information with us. If you haven't yet become of a follower of Taylor's wonderful blog, do so today. The Prairie Patch blog is one you'll not want to miss out on. Click here to visit with Taylor.

Blog Swapping, Contests, and Link Parties

I recently ran across the concept of blog swapping throughout my various surfing around on link parties. Blog swapping is a lot like guest blogging, but it's reciprocal. (Guest blogging is where you have someone come in a do a guest post for you. This is usually done by bloggers who have a large audience and write a few posts a week).

Blog swapping is reciprocal in that you and the person you "swap" with will both write a post for each other's blog. It's a great way of being introduced to new readers since you're posting on another person's blog and they may have an entirely different readership than you. These new (to you) readers may even follow you!

These guest posts can be about whatever you want - highlights of your blog (including links), a little bit about yourself, how you know the owner of the blog, etc. If anyone would like to do some blog swapping with me, please email me.

Feature Friday

2011-03-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Spring Celebration is still going strong! But, there's only one week left. Click on the photo above and get your Spring/Easter shopping done before these great items are gone.

Getting Exposure: My New Found Love of Link Parties

2011-03-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Taylor of The Prairie Patch shares Part 6 of her remarkably informative tutorial:

This week's installment of getting traffic for your blog is going to focus more about linking with others. I've briefly written about how writing comments on other blogs will get your blog noticed, as well as writing articles for other sources. Today I'm going to write about link parties - sometimes known as blog hopping.

I recently participated in a link party for my ragged flower tutorial, having no idea what to expect. Oh my, I LOVE link parties! They're soooo much fun. Not only do you get to see some awesome creative craft projects, diy projects, and recipes, you also get your blog noticed. Many of the participants also share the "linky love" by commenting on other participants' blogs, perhaps even becoming a follower.

How a link party works is you link up one of your specific blog posts on what you've created recently. There's a linking tool on these link parties where it's simply a matter of pasting your blog post url, naming your project/link, and then choosing a picture. (The link program gives you a choice of choosing a picture from your particular post or uploading a picture from your computer). And that's it! You do have to grab the website's button and place it on your blog post so as to share the linky love and give back to the host for doing the work to set up the party.

In less than a week, I've received well over 500 page views - a large part of the hits coming from link parties. With my new blog, All Thumbs Crafts, the sole traffic (aside from ten hits from this blog) has been all from link parties. (I've had around 150 views thus far). That's pretty good considering the blog is less than a week old! Now you can see why I'm so excited about these link parties and how they can get traffic. In order to have a successful website, you need to combine both SEO and linking with others.

Feature Friday

2011-03-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

Today's Feature Friday goes out to all the amazing, talented, professional artisans who make up the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team. This team is filled with creativity, encouragement, motivation, and wonderful team spirit. They work together, laugh together, pray together, spur one another on, pick one another up and promote each other regularly.

Today begins their Annual Spring Celebration and this team and truly outdone themselves!!! Please click on the photo above to see some truly amazing work. But, before you do, shut off the phone, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and plan to spend the day shopping!!! You will not be disappointed!

Spring Celebration Starts Tomorrow!!!

2011-03-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

Spring has sprung at the Old Farmhouse. We are having a Celebration!!!! Beginning March 11 through March 25th, this amazing group of talented, professionals have a wonderful selection of items listed on Etsy. Click on the banner above and start shopping. Items change rapidly and frequently so you want to be quick and visit regulary!!!

Here's a little peek at some of the great items you'll find during the Spring Celebration:

Pioneer Loft is Newsworthy!!!

2011-03-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Denise and Tim on the wonderful write up in their local paper!!! Click here to read the full article.

SEO Tips, Part 5: Content is King

2011-03-08T00:00:00.004-05:00

As promised, here is part five from Taylor of The Prairie Patch:

As they say in the blogging circles, content is king. Why? Because readers go to your blog to read...content! Of course, there are some blogs that mainly feature drool worthy pictures, but having a blog of mostly photos doesn’t help with search engines. Here are a few tips to help your blog get noticed by the search engines:

- Write often and regularly. A rule of thumb is to write at least two posts a day on your blog for a couple months. I know that sounds difficult, and indeed it is, but if you’re trying to jump start a new blog and get it noticed by those search engines, you have to work it. The mantra of "If I build it, they will come" is very naïve nowadays with so many selling sites and blogs. Perhaps ten years ago, you’d have more success with such a passive attitude, but it doesn’t help now when there are literally millions of sites and blogs on the web. After writing two posts a day for a couple months, you can decrease it to one post a day, thereafter decreasing it to a few times a week.

- Good writing. Make sure you proofread and correct any mistakes or typos. Having shorter paragraphs is also easier on your readers' eyes. It’s difficult reading a long entry when there’s only a couple paragraphs.

- Write about what you love or have an interest in. When I started Sunburnt Cow, I did it – and am doing it – as a labor of love. I love looking at the wares of the various artisans whom I’ve invited to take part in my SEO experiment over there. I have to say it’s difficult remembering to post twice a day, and soon I’ll be running out of content. After all, these talented ladies can only make so much product! So, I’m making an offer to my readers. I tried making this offer to a couple forums, but for some reason it was ignored. It may have had to do with the audience. You're reading this because you have an interest in getting your handmade shop noticed; therefore, I should've made this offer to those of you reading my SEO tips. :)

Thus, if you have an etsy or ebay shop and would like me to blog about your handmade items for sale on the Sunburnt Cow, please email me for more info. (My email addy is in my profile). All I would ask in return is a link back to the site on your blog. I certainly wouldn't require anything more than that. To do so would be onerous, even if I was bringing you 90% of your sales. (This offer will stand until probably April or May when I kick it up to the next level). If you make raggedies or teddies, you can be featured on Handmade Teddy Bears and Raggedies

Bottom line: writing about something you enjoy will help you get through the two posts a day guideline.

- Stand out from the crowd. Do something a little different from your peers. I hope to be adding more tutorials and some interviews on my blog. I’d also like to add some link parties, though I’m not sure how much those widget linky thingies cost.

- Write elsewhere in order to get your blog noticed. There are various sites online where you can submit articles, if you're a writer. In lieu of payment, you’ll get your blog noticed. This type of promoting will get “new blood” into your site or blog, and if you’re trying to sell something, you need a steady source of new traffic as much as possible. (I just may try to start writing for She Knows again, now that I have a mission to get my selling blogs noticed)!

- Be yourself. Don’t try to be like another blogger/writer. When you do, your readers will see right through you or, at the very least, sense something is amiss. That something is your trying to be someone you’re not. Plus, when you aren’t yourself when blogging, you’re not going to enjoy the writing experience, which will definitely show.

Most of the above tips are for SEO purposes only. SEO is important in gaining new traffic, but linking up with other bloggers who are in your niche can be just important. I'll be writing about that soon. It all boils down to work it, and you'll get results. Case in point: in the past few days, I've gotten over 500 page views alone. Work it, work it!

Look forward to part six next week!!!

Feature Friday

2011-03-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

It is with great pleasure to introduce you to Kristi, Etsy shop owner of Punkin Seed Productions!!!

Kristi is a homeschooling mom that has always loved arts and crafts. She will paint on anything but loves repurposing old items.

You have to stop by and visit with Kristi!!! She will be so excited you took the time to see her creations! If you have any questions or see something you like, please feel free to contact her. Custom orders are welcome!

If you would like to see the newest projects she's working on, please visit her blog by clicking here.

Simple Shamrock St. Patrick’s Day Pin or Magnet

2011-03-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

You will need:

One wood oval 1-¾”D x 3/16” T
Three ½ inch wood hearts
One ¼ inch wood ball

(These products can be order through craftparts.com)

Black sharpie marker
Orange Sharpie marker
pencil

Decoart paint:

Light Buttermilk
Bright Green
Burnt Umber
Metallic Glorious Gold

Also:

Star lite topcoat glitter paint
Krylon Matte 1311 spray finish
Tacky glue
Pin back or magnet

Instructions:

Paint the oval Light Buttermilk front and back. Paint the hearts Bright Green front and sides only. Paint the ball Glorious Gold.

Lightly shade around the oval with Burnt Umber.

Glue the hearts into place like a clover. Draw a stem and paint it Bright Green. With a pencil lightly write on “Pinch Proof’.

Glue ball on top of the hearts. Once dry use the Orange sharpie marker to outline the oval. Then with the black sharpie marker write in your wording and outline the hearts, the stem and the inside of the orange line work.

Erase all graphite lines apply glitter paint to the clover. Let dry completely Spray with Krylon Matte Spray and let dry. Glue either your pin or magnet to the back.

Simple and easy little pin to wear so you don’t get pinched! Or a cute little gift to give.

Enjoy!

Barb Stock

http://www.etsy.com/shop/barbsheartstrokes
http://www.artfire.com/users/Barbsheartstrokes
http://barbsheartstrokes.blogspot.com/
Heartstrokes@aol.com

Helpful Ways to Build Your Blog's Traffic

2011-03-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

Here is the fourth installment from Taylor of The Prairie Patch:

If you’re blogging, chances are you’re doing so to get readers, i.e., traffic. If you’re blogging to get business for your handmade shop, then you definitely need traffic. So how do you get followers and, by extension, potential customers?

For SEO purposes, start at the beginning. When thinking of a domain name for your blog, use a keyword or two in the title. Additionally, as I mentioned in previous parts of this series, include keywords – when possible – in the titles of all of your blog’s posts and a couple times throughout your blog entries. (Of course, the latter depends upon how long your blog post is, which I went in to previously).

Once you’ve gotten noticed, make sure you keep those readers by posting regularly and engagingly. Regular posts will entice readers to return. If you have a habit of irregular posting, they may soon stop checking your blog out and perhaps even no longer being a follower. I’ve actually found myself un-following some blogs because they rarely update. Plus, since my computer is sooooo slow and takes sometimes several minutes for a page to load, it gets very frustrating seeing the most previous post is still the same one written a month, or months, ago!

Another way to build up readership is to write posts that your readers will find useful. For instance, if you have any craft tips, share them. If you want to write up tutorials, that’s always a big draw. Since we’re a creative and crafty bunch here, we love seeing what other artisans are creating and any tips they may want to share.

If giving tutorials isn’t your style, then how about writing posts that are uplifting. We all could use a smile in our day, and if your blog is usually filled with positive instead of negative, then they’ll want to return for their “feel good” read. Once in awhile we may want to vent on our blog about some frustrations in our lives, which is fine. We are human after all, and readers like to know that. But your blog does need to be filled with more positive posts instead of negative if you want people to return.

Encourage interaction with your followers by responding to any questions they may have posted, or simply join in the conversation of their comments. Another way of encouraging a dialog with your readers is to ask them for their opinion. (Oddly enough, I’m always doing this for the clients I write for, but I’ve forgotten to do that here)!

There are so many blogs nowadays, so if you want to build your blog’s traffic, you’re going to have to stand out from the rest. Some of the above will help you do so.

Stay tuned next week for part 5!!!

Now Open!!!

2011-02-26T00:00:00.002-05:00

Pioneer Loft is now open for business!!! Denise has opened her new store at: 65 West Jackson Street in Millersburg, Ohio. Her winter hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5pm and Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm. Any other days are by chance or by appointment. (Once spring arrives, Denise will extend her hours!)

You can find some great items in her shop from antiques to vintage to primitive and much more. One guarantee you have when you purchase from Denise - it will be American handmade only!!! Absolutely worth a trip!!!

Denise has some great pics on her blog showing her start to finish. You can visit her blog by clicking here to read all about this wonderful adventure.

Feature Friday

2011-02-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

We have a great interview from Sheila, owner of Etsy shop Snowman Collector.

OFG: Sheila, what is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?

Sheila: The name of my shop is SnowmanCollector and if you have a look around you will see that the reason I chose that name is obvious - I have developed a great love for all things Snowman!

OFG: How long have you been on Etsy?

Sheila: I have been on Etsy only since April, 2009. I am fairly new but am learning more every day and loving it!

OFG: What type of items do you offer?

Sheila: I offer mostly seasonal items - stuffed snowmen, santas, ornies, etc. I also have a few wreaths and wallhangings mixed in to keep it interesting, both for those looking at my shop and for myself as a crafter.

OFG: How long have you been crafting?

Sheila: I have been crafting for close to 20 years. I started doing quilting and things just kind of evolved. I started doing local craft shows about 10 years ago. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to branch out a little but didn't know how or where (I live in a very rural area) and then I discovered Etsy!!!

OFG: Who or What inspires you?

Sheila: What inspires me? Everything! There are so many ideas floating in my head, I will never do them all. Plus there are so many new things I want to learn, like rug hooking.

OFG: What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

Sheila: I can't pick. Usually whatever I am working on at the time is my favorite item.

OFG: Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)

Sheila: At the moment I am only on Etsy. But I am trying to overcome my fear of CyberSpace and hope to at least be on Facebook shortly.

Sheila has a shop full of wonderful items sure to delight anyone. Stop by and visit with Sheila anytime!!!

The Connection Between Blog Comments and SEO Link Building

2011-02-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Part 3 from Taylor of The Prairie Patch:

The Connection Between Blog Comments

and SEO Link Building

Did you know that there's a connection between leaving blog comments and SEO link building? Indeedy there is! Usually if yours is one of the first few comments, you’re more likely to get noticed simply because people often don’t have time to read through all of the comments. Commenting just to comment – like those silly “First” comments you see on various sites – doesn’t help. In fact, it will get people annoyed at you! But even if you're not one of the first few people to comment, you're at least getting your link out there, which is certainly a good thing, as I've mentioned in my previous posts about Blogging and SEO.

Additionally, if you leave your blog url in your comment, that’s oftentimes seen as the dreaded spam. Remember, when you comment, there’s a place to put your url, so if people want to find you, they can. The exception to the no spamming your url in the comments section is if you’ve actually written a blog post about the topic at hand. Rather than writing a whole blog post in the comments section, sharing your link to your particular blog post – as opposed to your general blog – isn’t seen as spam. But only do this when it’s germane to the particular topic you’re commenting on.

Also, when making comments, make sure you’re respectful to the blogger and his/her readers. You are, after all, in a person’s online “house,” and they’re allowing you in. Be courteous.

As to reading the comments people have left on your blog, be courteous right back! If any of the people who have commented on your blog ask a question, by all means, answer it! Blogging is kind of like a dialog with people around the country and the world. It’s a great way of meeting people and getting to know them. Treating those who visit your blog with respect will go a long way, and they’ll more likely want to return to read what you have to say.

Feature Friday

2011-02-18T00:00:00.002-05:00

Today's feature is Marilyn, owner of Harvest Moon Prims. We'll let Marilyn tell you herself about her background and her shop:

HI, My name is Marilyn,

I am married,with two grown sons,and three beautiful grandbabies.

My love of art and creating has been a part of me since childhood..always had to craft,draw,or create something. I have done ceramics,painted with oils and acrylics,cross stitched,sewn, created pottery,candles and just about anything it is possible to create.

I have always loved Primitives and Olde time worn items,and now I am able to create for the web.

I have been creating and selling my Hand Crafted items for over 20 years. Each item is carefully hand crafted for you with love.Be sure to visit newest Etsy Shop: Fanciful Stitches and My website ...www.mtswhimsey.com if you would like to see more of my work...

Many Blessings to you,

Marilyn

SEO and Links

2011-02-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

Part 2 from Taylor of The Prairie Patch:

SEO and Links

Links to your blog naturally help in your SEO (search engine optimization) ranking. That’s because when a link to your site is on another site, it not only increases the chance of other people finding your blog (and perhaps becoming followers), but it also gets the search engines to take notice. Their little spyders will see that people are clicking on your site’s link, so they’ll “think” you must have a site of interest.

People linking to your site will come naturally if you write a blog entry that people want to refer to, if you’re having a giveaway, or if you’re just simply interesting! Your blog posts are what get people to return to your site, so make sure you have something interesting to say. Writing repeatedly that you don’t know what to write or you don’t know why anyone would want to read your blog will soon make people not want to even read your postings anymore. So post with confidence! Be interesting. People naturally want to read about other people’s slices of life. (But more on making your blog interesting in a later installment).

The thing about links, though, is if you want them to help you with your SEO ranking, they have to be one way links. It’s all well and good to have reciprocal links to your blogging friends’ blogs, and they in turn link to you, but that doesn’t help with SEO. Linking to each other doesn’t show the search engines that either one of your blogs is interesting. What makes search engines take notice is if you have one way linking; that tells them that website A thinks website B is awesome – so awesome that website A isn’t even requesting a reciprocal link from website B. In other words, the search engines see that there wasn’t any type of link trading going on; thus, your site must be interesting for others to link to you without anything in it for them. Additionally, putting your link on forums and social networks are also one way links.

Many top SEO bloggers offer what is called an a-b-c linking. Blog A links to Blog B, who then links to Blog C, who in turn links back to Blog A. Thus, there are no reciprocal links in that circle; it's all one way linking. If anyone is interested in putting together such a circle, please email me and we’ll make some circles!

Feature Friday

2011-02-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

Today's Friday Feature is an Etsy shop, Olde Country Cupboard Kitchen Treasures, Old and New, which is owned by Kat.

When you shop at Kat's place you will find that her shop includes her Handcrafted Creations, Vintage Treasures, with some selected Supplies thrown in for good measure! You'll find:

* Original Hand Painted Signs

* Handcrafted Cotton Crocheted Goods

* Handcrafted Textiles

* Original Handcrafted Paper Goods
* Vintage Finds
* Supplies
* So Much More

Kat has been collecting vintage goodies and crafting for her own home forever. She would be so honored to have one of her creations or vintage finds in your home. Vintage items are "As Is" and will naturally show that charming loved-and-used quality to varying degrees. Kat doesn't like to be tricked and won't try to trick you either. You'll get her honest description of vintage items, but she will be the first to admit that she's not an expert. She just loves vintage!

If you don't see what you want, let Kat know. She is happy to do special orders and custom creations or colors. All you need to do is convo her.

You can also visit Kat on her blogs:

Using SEO to Get Your Selling Blog Noticed

2011-02-08T05:40:00.002-05:00

For the next couple of weeks, Tracy of the Prairie Patch will be sharing some great information to help us with our blogs. There is a lot of information here, so feel free to print this post by clicking on the "Print Friendly" button below.

Using SEO (search engine optimization) to get your selling blog noticed by google isn’t rocket science, though it may seem like it at first. To put it simply, SEO is using keywords throughout your blog entries in order to get your blog noticed and indexed by google and other various search engines.

At this point, you may be wondering what a keyword is. Keywords are the words and phrases people type into a search engine in order to find more information about that particular topic. When they type in the subject they’re looking for into the search bar, they expect to get a list of websites that have mentioned that word or words.

For instance, if you want to find fabric on sale, you type into your search engine “fabric on sale.” Of course, that will bring up thousands of websites. These websites are listed in order of how many times they have written somewhere on their various pages “fabric on sale.” The age of a website or blog also helps with getting it higher up in the search engine, as well as one way links to that blog or site. (More on that later).

The first thing you need to do is to draw up a list of keywords for the items you sell on your blog. It’s always good to brainstorm with your family and friends on this list since we all think of differently and thus, may think of different words or phrases. You can also use this handy tool. Check the option “Only show ideas closely related to my search terms.” And my oh my, what a wealth of information that handy little bugger will give you!

Once you have a list of your keywords, you’ll then know what to write about on your blog. Don’t cram all the keywords into one entry, though. It’s best to concentrate on one or two keywords or keyword phrases and write specifically about them. For the clients I write for, I usually write between 150 to 200 word entries, using a couple of the keywords or keyword phrases twice throughout each entry. By the way, more is not better in this case. If you smother your blog post with that keyword several times, the search engines will consider you to be trying to unfairly get higher rankings and they’ll blacklist you. You definitely don’t want that!

Another way of getting your keywords out there – without it being counted against you by the search engines as being too much – is to take advantage of categories or labels. On the Blogspot platform, it is directly below the box you type your entry in – i.e., “Labels for this post: e.g., scooters, vacation, fall.” Type in your keywords in that box that your particular blog post revolves around.

Two other quick and handy ways of getting your keywords on your blog post, but without fear of being blacklisted, is putting your keyword or keyword phrase in the title of the blog entry and naming any photos with those keywords. When you save a picture on your computer, label it as the keyword or keyword phrases it revolves around. Then, when you upload it to your blogging platform, it will include that in the title; the spyders that crawl websites looking for keywords will index and add those use of keywords to your tally of keywords.

Seeing is believing, so right click on any picture on a blog. Go all the way down to “Properties,” and then check out the very end of the line that has “Location” on it. Sometimes this is a very long line, so simply highlight it and carry it all the way to the end of that line. Near the end of that long line – before the .jpg or .gif extension – is the name of the photo that the person who uploaded the picture named it on his/her computer. You might as well take advantage of that extra place to put your keyword in!

Thank you Tracy for sharing this wonderful, helpful information with all of us!

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Feature Friday

2011-02-04T05:25:00.001-05:00

Today's featured artisan is Mary Alice of Sugar Ridge Creations. Mary Alice loves to create everyday!

She works with all kinds of mediums. You never know what she will do next!!! You can visit Mary Alice by clicking here. Spend some time at Sugar Ridge Creations. Mary Alice is open 24 hours a day!

You can also become a follower of Mary Alice by stopping by her blog at Sugar Ridge Creations.

Feature Friday

2011-01-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

This week's feature is sure to please!!! Karen, owner of Etsy shop, Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage has a shop full of wonderful products. Take some time to visit and shop with Karen. She would love to meet you!

Karen is a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) and has two great kids. Next to God and her family, she loves to craft and sew. She loves vintage. She loves handmade. She loves to go to estate sales and antique shops where she finds some funky and beautiful old things to use in her crafts and sewing.

Karen has been designing her own crafts and sewing patterns for many years now and has even sold a few of her designs to magazines and books.

You can also follow Karen on her blog.

Feature Friday

2011-01-21T00:00:00.011-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team would like you to meet Deena of Ewe-N-Me Printables.

Actually, Deena has two shops:

Ewe-N-Me Printables - In this shop you will find a huge variety of printable graphics
Ewe-
N-Me Graphics - In this shop you will find Etsy shop and Blog banners

Deena has been working in the graphic design field for over 20 years. She started out working at her local newspaper where she worked for over 10 years and has since ventured off on her own. She's been working from home for 14 years now and has had an online business for 6 years.

She has been on Etsy since August, 2007 and offers digital and printable craft projects. All can be easily downloaded and printed on demand. Deena originally started with her printable feedsack logos which tend to be her favorite item in her shop.

Deena has been crafting all of her life. She can't even remember a time when she wasn't crafting. If you ask her what inspires her, she will tell you everything!!! Even driving around with her children can spark ideas.

You can find Deena all over the Worldwide Web by clicking on the links below:

Stop by and visit with Deena. She would love to have you stop by and say hi!!!

Copyright Basics for Artists & Craftspersons

2011-01-18T06:22:00.000-05:00

For information regarding Copyright for Artists and Craftsperson which includes 12 Myths about Copyrights, please click on the photo above.

Feature Friday

2011-01-14T04:31:00.000-05:00

Today's Friday Feature is Maria, owner of

Primitive Season.

Maria loves making primitive decorations for every season and holiday of the year.

The name is Primitive Season and I chose it because I love making primitive decorations for every season or holiday of the year. Since November, 2009 she has been offering wooden birds, felt hearts, candle holders as well as Americana items.

She has been crafting for as long as she can remember. One of the things that inspires Maria is fabric. She loves textiles and feels that she could live in a fabric store! (I think a lot of us could relate to that!) She has always looked at things and thinks, "what could I make out of this?" Even in a store, she will look at an item to see how it's made and will often try to make the item on her own instead of buying it.

The favorite item in her shop is her love bird pairs. They are in simple in design and can match any home decor. She can also make them in any color that you request. She has even sold these love birds as cake toppers for weddings!

Maria can not only be found on Etsy but also has her own blog.

Feature Friday

2011-01-07T00:00:00.001-05:00

What a wonderful way to start the New Year!!! We are featuring a Debra, owner of Etsy Shop, Huckleberry Lady.

Debra has had her items featured in The Country Sampler Magazine. Take some time to stop by and visit. She is always happy to do Custom orders!!!

Feature Friday

2010-12-17T00:00:00.003-05:00

Today's feature is The Old Farmhouse Gathering team!!! Click on the photo above to shop for those last minute gifts.

Enjoy your shopping experience!!!

Feature Friday

2010-12-10T05:31:00.000-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering would like to welcome our newest members!!! We know you would love to stop by and visit with each one. Every member comes to the Farmhouse with their unique, special and wonderful talent. We are both pleased and honored to welcome them to the Farm.

Cheryl of Boltz Raggedies creates unique doll & critter patterns, as well as finished dolls & critters to add to your country & prim decor.

Beth at Elmbrook Folk Art creates Christmas and Holiday home decor and gifts. Their items look wonderful in any type of home decor and make wonderful gifts, whether as a unique gift for yourself, or a Christmas gift for a family member or a friend, or a wonderful Hostess gift.

Kandas and Shane of Shaka Studios have been handcrafting primitive antique reproduction furniture in southeast Texas for over 20 years. Alchemy orders are always welcome!

Welcome to Rebecca of ChristmasGal! Featuring Christmas Ornaments and Decor of all types. Christmas ALL YEAR AROUND!

Visit with Cathy of Snugglebug Blessings and you will find vintage, primitive and whimsical dollies, Santa's, Snowmen, Mice as well as pattterns/e-patterns and more.

Patricia's shop, Painted Prose, has some wonderfully unique handformed and freeformed porcelain. Nice collection of earrings, pins and ornaments.

To visit each shop, please click on each shop photo.

Tuesday Tutorial

2010-12-07T01:00:00.001-05:00

We have another great tutorial from Barb at Barb's Heartstrokes!!! Thanks Barb! Please stop by and visit Barb on her Etsy shop to see some of her wonderful handpainted creations. What great gifts for this holiday season!

This cute, fun and easy craft would make great gifts for teachers, co-workers, friends and family. Feel free to click on the "Print Friendly" button at the end of the tutorial to save, print or even email the instructions for future use.

Snowman Pin or Magnet

You will need:

1 ½ x 2 inch rectangle of ¼ inch birch wood
1 inch long wood shaped cutout cone for carrot nose
One piece of 1/8th inch doweling cut at about a 2 ½ inch length
¼ inch square cutout of ¼ inch thick square doweling
2 black buttons for the eyes-different sizes
1 inch pin back or ¾ inch round magnet

Paint by Decoart:

Buttermilk, Charcoal Grey, Country Red, Burnt Orange, Bright Orange, Russet, Snow White, Black, Dazzling Metallic’s Glorious Gold, Glitter paint, and JoSonja’s Burnt Umber paint.

Other supplies:

Pencil, ruler, tack cloth, paint brushes, small circle stencil, fabric paint brush, circular hand sander or sanding block, Matte 1311 finishing spray, Tacky glue

Refer to photos and read all instructions before beginning this project.

On the rectangle piece of wood draw a pencil line from 1 inch from the top left angled on the diagonal to about ¾ inch upwards to the right side dividing the hat from the face.

Paint the top of the rectangle, the doweling and the hat buckle with Charcoal Grey. Paint the bottom portion with Buttermilk.

Dry brush the cheeks in a circular motion with Country Red on the Buttermilk. A circle stencil can be used for the cheeks. This is the snowman’s face.

Sand off as much as you like from the rectangle and the doweling with either a circular sander or sanding block. Wipe clean with a tack cloth. Mix water and a bit of JoSonja’s Burnt Umber paint for the antiquing paint. Now antique the rectangle face and hat area, the cone nose, and the doweling making it as light or dark as you like. At this point I also paint the back of the rectangle with the antiquing paint. Let everything dry.

Glue the doweling on the line that divides the hat from the face using the shorter end at the left side and the longer end to the right. Glue the hat buckle or small ¼ square into place above the hat brim doweling and Glue the eyes into place.

For the nose roughly base coat with Burnt Orange. Once dry roughly highlight the top of the nose with Bright Orange. Shade the bottom of the nose with Russet. Roughly add snow with Snow White on the center of the nose. When the paint is dry add glitter paint to the nose.

Now is the time to paint the hat buckle with Glorious Gold. If you choose not to cut this piece of wood just paint a square where the buckle would go directly onto the hat above the brim. The other option would be to add a snowflake button instead of the hat buckle.

Thin Black paint to ink consistency and line 2-3 times around nose and face with a 10/0 liner brush. Let all of it dry and spray with Matte Krylon finishing spray. Once the finish is dry glue either the pin back or the magnet on the back.

Enjoy!

Barb Stock
Heartstrokes

Feature Friday

2010-12-03T01:00:00.004-05:00

Here's a shop you want to stop by and visit. Valerie of Yorkies Primitives is one very talented lady. She has been crafting and creating for about 40 years now and has a love for primitives which is evident in her creations.

Valerie offers a variety of crafts. She loves making dolls, stitcheries, and holiday themed items. She also loves making wood candle boards, shelves and seasonal items.

Her greatest inspirations come from her Grandmother and her Mom. Her Grandmother taught her how to sew and the necessity of being thrify and her Mom always encouraged to try new things. She believed that Valerie could do anything she wanted and there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

You can also visit Valerie on the web at http://www.yorkiesprimitives.blogspot.com/. Become a follower while you're there! You'll want to keep up with all the happenings at Yorkie's Primitives.

Black Friday

2010-11-26T06:03:00.000-05:00

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team hopes that everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving relaxing with family and friends!

Today is designated as Black Friday! The stores will be filled with shoppers hustling and bustling to try to fill their carts with gifts for the upcoming Christmas season of giving.

Why not avoid the crowds, the expense of driving all over town and enjoy shopping from the comfort of your own home? We have a great group of talented Artisans who have literally thousands of great products listed in their Etsy shops. Absolutely something for everyone on your shopping list, including that hard to buy for loved one!

Grab your favorite beverage, click on the photo above, and spend the day at The Old Farmhouse!

Feature Friday

2010-11-19T01:00:00.004-05:00

Today's feature is Becky, owner of Etsy shop, WV Lucky Girl. This is quite a unique name for her shop but there's a story behind the name. It is said that if you are lucky enough to live in the mountains you are lucky enough. Since Becky has always lived in the hills of West Virginia she is a very Lucky Girl.

Becky started selling on Etsy one year ago. She does a little bit of everything, and is always adding new stuff. She has a lot of primitive decor and a little bit of shabby chic. Some of her items include primitive pillows, stitcheries, candles, hang tags, and much more. One of her favorite items is a little 5 x 7 stitchery with a willow tree that says..Simplify your life, Believe in your dreams, See with your heart, Know what love means.

Becky as been crafting as long as she can remember. Her mother was instrumental in her love for crafting, especially when she showed her how to use the sewing machine. She is inspired by anything and everything but she gives credit to some of her great ideas from her customers.

You can find Becky on Etsy as well as Ebay. Simply type in wvluckygirl in the seller's search. You can click on the photos to visit Becky's Etsy shop. You will not be disappointed.

Tuesday Tutorial

2010-11-16T01:00:00.003-05:00

We have a guest blogger today! Rhonda of Katty Whompus Primitives. Rhonda is stepping in and graciously

Shedding Light on Product Photography

By Rhonda Bruce

itsakattywhompuslife.blogspot.com

Let me begin by saying, I am by no means an expert photographer. Much of what I’ve learned, I’ve learned through trial and error. And sometimes my photos are still not as good as I’d like them to be, but they’re improving. I hope what I’ve learned along the way will help some of you.

When I first started selling on Etsy, my photos were not very good at all. Here’s an example:

My camera is a Sony Cyber-shot, 7.2 Mega pixels. This photo was taken in my dark living room, against a dark background, with a light source (table lamp) to the lower left, using the flash on my camera. There’s not much that’s right with this photo. It’s not centered. The angle is strange. It’s cluttered. It’s grainy. It’s dark. And let’s face it; it’s just not esthetically pleasing. I can hardly believe I sold anything with photos like this.

Here are a few more examples of “off” photos:

As you can see from my examples, lighting is everything. The items are adorable…but the photos are terrible. These were taken on my kitchen table, camera flash on, using 2 “work lights” with halogen bulbs. Not only are these lights hot to work under, but as you can see this kind of bulb gives an unattractive, artificial yellow cast. Do you notice the yellow tinge and blurry look these photos have? Notice the glare around the cow’s face created by my flash? These are better that the apron photo, but not by much.

There are a number of easy and low cost things that you can do to improve the overall look of your photographs. I hope these tips will help you avoid my mistakes and start you on your way to better product photography.

First let’s talk about lighting. Low light causes blurry pictures, period. There’s no way around that, and no substitute for good lighting.

Your best bet is always the natural light provided by the great outdoors. This is hands down your best choice during good weather or if you live where the climate is mild year round (lucky you!). The best exposure will be under the shade of a porch or tree on a bright sunny day. Photos taken in direct sunlight will sometimes look harsh and washed out. If I am photographing small items I prepare a tray to carry things outside on. This makes it easy to arrange small items on different backgrounds without too much trouble. I use the largest squares of scrapbooking paper I can find, and I try different colors and patterns to see what photographs best with each item. Plain colors work great, as do small or undefined patterns that are not too busy. You can also use fabric backgrounds, just be sure they are clean and wrinkle free. Heavy fabrics work best to eliminate light spots and shadows in your photos. Other choices for backgrounds might include a set of old shutters or section of solid fence. Almost anything that you find pleasing can be used as a background for your photos- just use your imagination! You’ll want to choose backgrounds that either make your item pop or coordinate with your item for a softer look. Keep in mind that light backgrounds reflect light, while dark backgrounds absorb light. So the darker your background, the more light you’ll need and vice versa.

Notice how these little houses POP against the blue background?

And in this photo the soft background paper compliments the color of the vintage lace?

If you are unable to go outdoors to photograph your product, there are several options you might consider. One is to take photos near a sunny window in your house or apartment. You will need to observe the natural light to see what time of day works best in the location you choose. I have a large kitchen window that gets southern exposure, so morning is best for taking photos in that location. Avoid shadows, glare and dappled sunlight, all of which will negatively affect the quality of your photos.

Because I live where the weather is often inclement, and because other duties typically need my attention in the mornings, I had to come up with a way to take photos at any time of the day, and in any weather.

And because I’m on a limited budget, I also needed something that wasn’t too expensive. This is what I came up with:

I used a large plastic bin, turned on its side, to create a make-shift light box. (We might also call this a “make-do” in the primitive world J) You’ll want to choose a translucent bin large enough to accommodate your product. The frosted plastic creates filtered light, allowing just enough soft light to pass through its sides. Using double sided tape, affix your background paper inside the light box. Starting at the front edge lay your paper up and over the bottom/back corner and work the paper up the back of the box. Do not crease or fold the paper, thus giving your background a seamless look. If you want a product, such as ornaments or jewelry, to hang in the box, you can simply drill a small hole in the “roof” (with is actually the side) of the box and hang the item in front of your paper background using clear thread.

In addition to a bin, you will need 3 or 4 clip-on lights outfitted with daylight bulbs to give your photos great natural color. I used inexpensive, clip on, aluminum reflector lights with Bright Effects, 60Watt Daylight bulbs (The Bright Effects bulbs are available at Lowe’s for $3.98 each. Ott also makes a great twist in Daylight bulb, but they are a little pricier at about $15 each). These lights should be placed at both sides, on top, and at the front of your light box. You will need to experiment, moving them around to see what gives you the best light placement with little or no shadow. In some instances, like when an item is too large for the box or I just want a different look, I take photos right on my wood countertop. I use the lights, arranged in the same way, adjusting them to focus light on my product. Here’s how that looks:

I’m fortunate to have a place to stow everything just beneath the spot where I take photos. I keep my lights, along with a power strip, tucked in the bin (aka light box) and ready to go. During a shoot, I find it easier to plug everything into a light strip so that I can turn all four lights on/off at the same time. Keeping my supplies in one place also means it’s not a chore to set up a photo shoot. If you’re anything like me, you’ll put off a job that requires a major effort. So if you can, I suggest keeping all your photography supplies in one place.

In all instances, I use my camera without the flash. In my experience, using the flash seems to make photos look garish and unappealing. I find it very difficult to get natural color using flash photography.

A tip for getting great, clear close ups is to use your macro setting. The macro setting allows you to focus on the details of your item. Macro is used to take crisp, clear, extreme close ups. On your camera the icon for the macro setting will look like a little flower. Most digital cameras have a macro setting, even the more inexpensive models. Consult your camera’s manual to find out if your camera has a macro setting, and how to turn it on. And while you’re at it READ THE REST OF THE MANUAL. J Understanding how your camera’s settings work will benefit you greatly.

Look at the detail in these photos taken using the macro setting.

Are your hands shaky when you take photos? Even very slight movement can cause blurry photos. If you notice that your photos seem grainy or blurry, try steadying yourself on a nearby wall or piece of furniture before you press the shutter. Setting your camera on a tripod will also help more than you can imagine. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a tripod, something basic will do. You can also tri (get it?) putting your camera on a flat surface to take photos, but this method will not give you the versatility of a tripod.

The effective use of props and mannequins can be the difference between an average photo and a great photo. Clothing and jewelry always look best when displayed on a proper form, or at the very least artfully arranged. There seem to be mixed feelings about using live models to display these types of items, so you’ll have to decide for yourself how you feel about doing so. In any case live models should always look neat and clean. The chipped nail polish or blemishes that are part of everyday life should not make an appearance in product photos. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this and how unappealing it makes a product appear.

The first photo shows an effective use of props. The little bird picks I are especially pleasing when perched on pretty cupcakes. In the second photo you see how lifeless this vintage apron looks when hung on the back of a door, never mind the bad lighting.

A few more thoughts about choosing backgrounds… I think the kind of background you choose to showcase your product is a personal choice. The background sets the mood for your product and also the overall look of your shop. Some people swear by a solid white background…and no doubt about it, white makes an item pop. And white will always look clean and professional. But personally, I think white is a little…well, boring. I know that most of us who “do” primitives, like to create nifty vignettes that show off our goods in the kind of setting they will be displayed in. Our particular challenge is perhaps not to use TOO many props, which can confuse the customer about what they are purchasing, or even looking at. And avoid using photos that are so dark that they don’t show our product to its best advantage. Just make sure that whatever you choose for your background, it compliments your product without overwhelming it.

Since you’ve read all the way to the end, I’ll tell you my biggest photography secret. I sometimes take 30-50 photos of the same item, just to get 5 good shots for Etsy. Items should be photographed from every angle, back front, inside & out. In the case of vintage items, you should show any wear or damage in at least one photo. Remember to center the item you are photographing, especially for use on Etsy, which crops photos from the center. When photographing my items I intentionally change backgrounds, props, and even tweak the lighting a bit to give me several looks to choose from. I take close ups, photograph from weird angles, and sometimes just take a picture of a tiny corner of an item. It’s not a quick process, but surprisingly, one I’ve found that I enjoy a great deal.

After the shoot, I load my photos onto my computer and view them in “slide show” mode. This view fills my entire computer screen, which helps me see the details of each photo and imagine how it will look to a potential customer. Next, I weed out photos one by one using a side by side comparison. I try to choose photos that accurately represent my items in an interesting way. When I’ve done a good job photographing, my photos need very little editing. Generally, I only have to use Photoshop to crop and resize photos, which saves valuable time. If you aren’t lucky enough to have Photoshop on your computer, there are a number of great free photo editing programs online for you to choose from, such as Picasa, and Picnik. A Google search will help you find what you need.

Remember, even though a picture is worth a thousand words…your description is important too. Please include important details in your listing that tell us what we are looking at. Great photos and great descriptions should go hand in hand. And using all the tools in your toolbox just might bring you more sales. And isn’t that what we’re after?

I hope you’ve found this tutorial helpful…please feel free to email me at the address listed on my blog page with further questions. ~Rhonda~

Thank you Rhonda for sharing this very informative tutorial with us!!! Stop by and visit with Rhonda. We know she would love to hear from you and see some photos using her techniques.

And The Winner Is...

2010-11-15T18:23:00.001-05:00

We have a winner of our "Warm Winter Hugs" give-away. Using random.org, Michelle (#46) of Snowberry Farm is the lucky winner of the Old Farmhouse Gathering Giveaway. Stop by and visit Michelle by clicking on the photo above and congratulating her. FYI: Michelle just had her 40th birthday on the 13th!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY &
CONGRATULATIONS MICHELLE!!!

Hurry!!!

2010-11-14T19:26:00.000-05:00

Last chance to sign up for the Warm Winter Hugs Giveaway. Drawing is tomorrow, November 15th. Click on the photo and leave a comment.

Apology

2010-11-12T01:00:00.001-05:00

Please accept our apologies, not only to Teresa but to all who tried to download the pattern for Teresa's wonderful Winter Blessings Ornament tutorial. Please click on the photo above to return to the tutorial and download the pattern.

Tuesday Tutorial

2010-11-09T01:00:00.004-05:00

Teresa, of Teresa's Primitive Treasures has put together a wonderful Winter Blessings Ornament tutorial for the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team. Take some time to visit Teresa, thanking her for her tutorial and maybe even sending her a photo of your finished ornament. We're sure she would love to see what you've created from her original design.

Before we continue with the tutorial, this is a Copyrighted pattern. If you have any questions about altering, selling, etc., please contact Teresa.

Winter Blessings Ornament

Supplies

2 X 3 Chalkboard w/frame (Can be purchased at JoAnn’s, Michaels or local craft store)
Stain
Black Paint

Osnaburg or muslin

White or off white Wool, wool felt or Warm N Natural batting for snowmen

Dark green floss

Burnt orange floss

Heat N Bond

Transfer paper

Coffee/Vanilla Stain

Mod Podge

Cardboard

Sand Paper

Transfer the outer chalkboard line and the words “Winter Blessings” to your fabric with transfer paper. Click here for the pattern. Stitch the words “Winter Blessings” with 2 strands of dark green floss.

Cut the three snowmen heads out of your white wool, wool felt or Warm N Natural and place them onto your piece of osnaburg or muslin just below your stitched words. Using 2 strands of white or off white embroidery floss make tiny straight stitches all the way around the heads. Using 2 strands of burnt orange floss make the noses with 3 long stitches. Using 2 strands of black floss make the eyes and mouth with tiny X’s. TIP: Keep all your starting and ending knots outside of the finished area..... they tend to create bumps when ironed onto the cardboard.

Soak your finished piece in a coffee/vanilla stain. Let dry.

Now you want to iron a piece of Heat N Bond onto the back of your stitched piece.

Cut the finished piece out on the outer chalkboard line. Remove the paper backing and iron it onto a piece of cardboard.

Paint your chalkboard frame black making sure to get the inside edge and a little of the chalkboard surface just incase you cut your finished piece to small. Sand the edges slightly and stain.

Now for the tricky part..... trim your ornament to fit inside your frame! Make small cuts at a time and keep checking to see where you need to trim. It should be about 1/8" all the way around. Once you have a good fit apply Mod Podge to the entire inside of the frame and press your finished piece securely.

There you have it! A nice primitive ornament for your tree or use as a tag on a wrapped package!

Prim Blessings,

~Teresa~

Copyright Protected 2010

http://www.teresasprimitivetreasures.com/
http://www.teresasprimtreasures.etsy.com/
http://teresasprimtreasures.blogspot.com/

Feature Friday

2010-11-05T01:00:00.001-04:00

Today we'd like to introduce you all to a wonderfully creative Artisan and member of the Old Farmhouse Gathering team. Linda is the Etsy shop owner of Warmth. Not only does the name of her shop conjure up feelings of comfort, but her creations will warm your heart!!!

For this Friday Feature, we will let Linda take over and tell you a little about herself and her adorable creations.

Hi!!

I am a mousemaker living and working in New England. I started The Heartfelt Ornament Company in 1981. I was a young mother and although we needed more income I didn't want to leave my little ones.

After I designed the mice I enlisted every other SAHM to help me and as the company grew so did my list of helpers. It was a wonderful wonderful experience for me.

Although I had to leave Heartfelt in 1995 to work in the "real world" I longed for the day I could get back to mousemaking.

Along came ETSY. Hey! And so here I am...at thirty nine (hehe)...still making mice.

I love it. I love them. I especially love seeing the look on people's faces when they open a box filled with a Heartfelt Mouse.

NOW is the perfect time to start making a list of all the mice you would like on your tree this year. It is also the perfect time to make a list of which mice to give to special people.

Thanks Linda for sharing a part of your life and love of mice with us!!! To visit Linda's shop, just click on any of the photos shown. You can't help but fall in love with these little critters!!!

Before You Know It

2010-11-02T01:00:00.001-04:00

The Warm Winter Hugs Giveaway will be coming to a close before you know it. Hurry and sign up today!!! This is one awesome giveaway. Lots and lots of handmade goodies to help with your holiday home celebrations. Click on the photo below and leave a comment!

Don't forget!!! The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is still hosting it's Winter Holiday Celebration on Etsy!!! So many wonderful items have sold already. The holiday decorating and giving season will be here before you know it - you don't want to miss out on some great seasonal items! Click on the photo below to see what the OFG team has to offer.

Feature Friday

2010-10-29T05:59:00.000-04:00

Bette is one busy, busy lady. She has three Etsy shops, maintains two blogs, three top 100 sites, plus has her own website. Whew!!! Bette is not only busy, she is extremely talented. Take some time and visit with Bette. Her doors are always open!

Here's just a small taste of what Bette offers in her Etsy shops:

Tomorrows Treasures is the place to go to for the patterns she designs. You can find patterns for purses, rag quilts, dolls, crocheting and so much more!!!

Bette sells supplies and some vintage items at Thrifty Notions.

Handmade By Bette is her newest shop for handmade items. She offers some beautiful Feedsack Pillows, Fabric Baskets, Rag Quilted Stockings and more!!!

Here are the links to stop over and visit with Bette around the worldwide web:

http://top100etsyshops.gotop100.com/
http://top100handcrafterblogs.gotop100.com/
http://topprintablesandgraphicssites.gotop100.com/
http://www.bettestomorrowstreasures.blogspot.com/
http://www.handmadebybette.etsy.com/
http://www.tomorrowstreasures.etsy.com/