Feature Friday - Marionberry Cottage

Our featured shop this week is Debbi of Marionberry Cottage. Debbi has chosen the name Marionberry Cottage because Oregon is the home where the marion blackberry was born. It is a cross of the Chehalem and Olallieberry blackberries which brings a big juicy berry perfect for pies and preservatives.

Debbi is a textile artist from Sublimity, Oregon. She has a flair for blending the old with the new. She loves to design and sew with vintage fabrics, crochet, old lace and buttons. From these wonderful pieces she creates beautiful shabby cottage style pillows, totes, guest towels and other cottage style finery.

Debbi is very busy with not only her Marionberry Cottage Etsy Shop but she also owns Carte Postale which offers vintage trappings, supplies and more; Cottage Garden Banners featuring pretty graphic rose designs and her blog All in my Cottage. She is also a member of Shabby Lane Shops and in fact was interviewed on Blog Talk Radio sharing a tutorial on how to make a cottage garden.

Please click on any of the links above to visit with Debbi. You can also listen to her tutorial on the cottage garden by clicking here.

Feature Friday - Boltz Raggedies

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team would like to introduce you to Cheryl & Chuck of Boltz Raggedies. Cheryl & Chuck opened their shop on Etsy in May, 2008. At first, they only sold their original pattern designs. From there they sold their goods to prim shops across the country in a wholesale group they started and ran on Facebook. In 2011, they decided to restructure their business and began to restock their Etsy shop in order to market their retail creations.

Not only are their staple goods raggedies and critters, but they are also planning to offer grungy goods such as cans, jars and other items. They are also working on custom created hand painted sign board that they hope to launch this Fall. Chuck loves to work with clay and they are hoping to be able to soon offer his clay creations. Everything they make is made with love and pride.

Since Cheryl could hold a pencil and paintbrush in her hand, her Mom has had her drawing and painting. They'd sit for hours and either draw or paint ceramics together. Her mom has been her inspiration. She taught Cheryl the love of art from a very young age and encouraged her to hone her skills and use her creativity. When she'd gotten older, her and her mom would hit their local craft store every weekend for ribbons, flowers and eucalyptus so they could make wreaths and swags. In 2001, Cheryl learned to sew and never looked back. Sewing is indeed her true passion. Even her Mom asks her to create items for her and Cheryl is so proud that she can do just that. Cheryl's mom is proud of all of Cheryl's creations. In fact, most of her original designs were created for her Mom's birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day.

Cheryl and Chuck are newly married and she feels so fortunate to have the love and support of Chuck, both of their families as well as their best friends, Niki and John. Everyone has helped her see the value of her work and time which has taken her from doing wholesale to retail.

If you ask Cheryl what her favorite items are, she will tell you her bears and her Uncle Sams. Also anything critter related! She loves animals and anything Patriotic and these are always her favorite to create. Cheryl doesn't feel that she has any "one" particular artistic style. She does folk, country, prim and whimsical. As she creates, each piece tells her what it wants to become. Sometimes she starts a piece thinking it might be whimsical and by the time she is finished, it comes out prim. 

Cheryl will admit that she doesn't do well with schedules. Being an artist, she creates whenever an idea hits, whether it is drawing out a new pattern or creating something. Because she is self-employed, her work time can be any time of the day or night. They live a simple and modest life in the country with their "fur" children. Home improvement, gardening and working on their yard are some of the things they love most.

The advice that Cheryl would give to someone just starting out would be to "chase your dreams and never give up! God gave us a talent that we should share with the world. With the internet, Pinterest, Etsy, Facebook and Blogger, there's SO many ways you can market yourself and get recognized. And you should be marketing yourself everyday. GREAT customer service and an amazing product should always be #1."

To visit Cheryl and Chuck of Boltz Raggedies, click on any of the photos above or the graphic below. You can also find Cheryl and Chuck on Facebook, Pinterest, their Blog, and Kaniki's.

Feature Friday - Prim Penny Stitches

Today's feature is Debbie of Prim Penny Stitches. Her shop was named by her sister who also created the graphics for her shop as well as her business cards.

Debbie opened her shop on Etsy less than one year ago but also sells on Ebay under the name prymprettystitches. In her shop, Debbie offers candle mats, coasters, ornies, bowl fillers, and mini pillows which are all hand stitched. Some of her favorite items are the garlands she sells.

Debbie has been crafting since she was about 10 years old. She used to make her own Barbie clothes and even sold loom potholders to neighbors and friends. Even at the age of 10 she was taking custom orders. Even though her mom taught her to sew with a sewing machine, Debbie prefers hand stitching.

Not only does Debbie take some of her inspiration from cards or even wrapping paper, she has ideas that pop into her head. Debbie makes patterns from what inspires her and designs patterns of her own. She loves to work in the mornings when she has more energy and gets some of her best ideas. She does work outside the home so usually will work on her products on her days off.

She loves to work in the primitive style, especially working with wool and wool felt. Because she is a history nut, Debbie wants to bring back the lost art of the penny rug.

When asked what advice she would give to someone just starting out, she says, "Don't give up, do your own thing and keep up with the trends but in your own style. Keep your prices in a decent range so that you don't scare off customers...Seasonal items are good to start with and then add everyday items to keep customers coming back. Don't be afraid to take custom orders."

On a personal note, Debbie was born and raised in Illinois and hasn't moved far from her hometown. She's been married to the same guy for 38 years and has 2 sons, a daughter and 4 grandchildren. Artistic talent runs in the family. Her great-grandmother was a seamstress, her dad's mother did tatting and crochet, her dad is wonderful with wood, her mom used to sew for her and her 2 sisters, one sister is a graphic designer and her son is a tattoo artist.

To visit Debbie at her Etsy shop Prim Penny Stitches, just click on any of the photos. You won't be disappointed!

Feature Friday - Lollipop Express

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team is so pleased to feature Patricia of Lollipop Express. Patricia named her shop Lollipop Express when she had switched to sewing toddler clothes and selling them when her granddaughter was a baby. Her granddaughter had a very large choo choo train and she would imagine it full of Lollipops. When she decided to go back to her wood crafts, she decided to keep the name because it makes her smile.

Patricia is new to Etsy, having opened her shop this January after having had a shop established on Ebay. Even though Patricia sews she really enjoys painting all types of wood items. She likes to do seasonal items and has started working on Americana items for the 4th of July. She's is usually six months ahead of each season and holiday, so you will see her working on Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas items very soon.,

Patricia has been doing wood crafts for over 25 years and has been painting oils for 30 years. She has seen it all. In fact, she's still seeing many things selling on Etsy that she had done years ago. Back in the 90's, Patricia owned a craft store with her friend but had gotten very sick with Lupus and couldn't manage getting out every day.

When asked what advice she would give to someone who is just starting out, Patricia says, "Just do what you love. Don't overspend on your supplies." She's really trying to work on her own advice. She used to go out and buy "every" new book even though she still has lots of "old" painting books. Actually her first sale on Ebay was from a 1987 book.

Patricia and her husband have been married for almost 42 years. They've actually been together since they were 16. The have two children and six grandchildren. She is a very happy person who likes to spend time with her family. Her family is the most important thing to her besides God.


You can also find Patricia on Ebay as lollipopexpress.
Please take some time to visit with Patricia by clicking any of the photos above. She has a great shop and would love to have you spend time with her.

The OFG Has Some Awesome Talent!!!

Two of the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team members have been featured on the worldwide web!!! Take a few minutes to stop by and read all about them.

First we have Vicky of Paintspots and Splinters. Vicky has been featured on Pinkapotamus. Click here to visit the Sunday Sponsor Spotlight. Stop by and visit Vicky's shop on Etsy by clicking on the banner below.

The next OFG shop that was featured today is Mona Rae of Mona Rae Originals. Mona Rae is featured on the Mulberry Creek blog. Click here to visit Mulberry Creek and read the feature on Mona Rae. You can also stop by Mona's shop by clicking on the banner below.