Has it really been 2 1/2 years???

I cannot believe how fast time flies. I've started reading blogs again and felt the nudge to start blogging after so much time has passed.

This winter has been one of the coldest on records in Northeast PA. This weekend is the coldest yet with wind chills from 25 to 35 below zero. It's impossible to even be outdoors for more than a few minutes at a time. The pic below is not mine but it is how it looks in our neck of the woods. Can't you just feel the cold air?

(Photo courtesy of  Egor Kamelev)

Since I've been "house bound", I decided to try my hand at something entirely new. I absolutely love machine embroidery but have felt somewhat limited to specific purchases. I don't always gravitate toward some of the designs out there and while I do love others, I sometimes am unsure of what to do with them. I mean how many little pillows can someone have? I also do love applique quilts BUT truly dislike anything to do with tracing on double sided fusible, design placement and hand blanket stitching. 

I've watched loads of YouTube videos on machine embroidery especially Power Tools with Thread and AllBrands. Because of the quality of the instructions, I finally bit the bullet and purchased a Brother Scan and Cut through my local(ish) dealer, Pocono Sew and Vac (their customer service is AWESOME).

I had purchased a while ago the software Embrilliance Essentials so that I could take the digitized machine embroidery from my favorite digitizers at Kimberbell in order to do a little bit of modification and wirelessly send to my machine. THEN I bit the bullet yesterday and purchased Stitch Artist 3 from Embrilliance in order to allow me to take applique designs and convert them to machine embroidery.

I think I spent about 8 hours yesterday just playing around with a design by Nancy Halvorsen of Art to Heart. The pattern is from her Bunny Hollow booklet and it is a mini chicks quilt. I followed along with Becky from Power Tools with Thread and WOOHOO...I did it. While it is not perfect by any means, I am over the moon thrilled with how it turned out. This has opened up a whole new world for me now!!!

Below is a pic of the finished piece. Now...what to do with it...LOL!!!

I do need to remember that I have to center the design before starting. The run stitches weren't fun so I will need to learn more about how to do those with better precision. I also realized that I didn't set up the applique in such a way as to remove the stitches that aren't seen and do a bit of trimming of the pieces behind the pieces on top. Overall, I am "tinkled pink" as I've been telling my husband.

Quite a long post for my first one in 2 1/2 years but I'm so excited that I just had to share!

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

Easter Tablescapes

Below are some beautiful Easter table decor ideas for your Easter dinner this Sunday. Truly inspirational!!! Click on each of the photos and be inspired!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Fabric Easter Eggs Tutorial

Kim at Retro Mama has these adorable and easy fabric Easter eggs on her blog. You can whip these up and have them ready to decorate your Easter table by following her tutorial. Simply click on the photo above and start creating today.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Spring Wreath Tutorial

What a beautiful display for your Spring Door. Gather up all your colorful faux flowers and head over to The Frugal Homemaker. Click on the photo above for the complete instructions.

Create Colorful Easter Eggs

Create these colorful Easter eggs using Crayons! So unique and each one is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece!!!

For the full tutorial, click on the photo above to visit Jenna at Jenna Burger Design.

Spring Butterflies

Everyone loves the beautiful butterflies we see in spring. 

 Enjoy this treasury by members of the OFG team.

BUTTERFLY ON CACTUS - an original fine art photograph KrugsStudio $25.00	Spring Decor, Butterfly Decor, Yellow Butterfly, Garden Decor, Nursery Decor, Rustic Decor, Rustic Spring, Primitive Spring, Farmhouse Decor therustygoose $15.95
Lady bug - Bee - Butterfly - Dragonfly Hand Painted Decorative 5 x 7 Welcome Slate Sign Pipberrytree $22.00	Colorful Butterfly Magnets, Tole Painted Butterflies, Summer Time Butterflies, Hand Painted Magnets, Blue, Pink, Purple Butterflies barbsheartstrokes $8.00
Prim Polka Dot Spring Easter Egg with Butterfly ~ OFG scrapsofthepast $3.95	On Sale, Rustic Door Art, Patio Decoration, Birdhouse Wall Hanging, Painted Metal Butterfly, Spring Garden Art, Door Hanging, Garden, ofg kathleenmelville1 $14.99
Pink Glitter Sparkle Butterflies for Lil' Girls Room with Pink Beading LAMPSHADE Accent Shade goodtidingscreations $22.99	Yellow Butterfly & Flower Colored Pencil pumpkinpatch5 $25.00
Basket, Vintage, Handpainted, Butterflies judyswork $22.00	Spring Bunny Sheep Saltbox Butterfly Canvas Framed Home Wall Decor Primgal $19.95
Pdf Pattern, Primitive Mouse, Butterfly,soft sculpture Mouse Doll MotherlodeToad $8.50	Beauty of Nature CreativeCreations43 $15.00
Small Hand painted Sign, You are Special, OFG, FAAP, Daisy, Butterfly, Blue, Gift, Friendship, Decorative, Hanging Sign RomaLandWoodcrafts $8.00	ACEO Original Watercolor Art On A Card JYWheeler $24.95
Flip flops, summer, beach, wall decor/door decor, wood, flowers, handpainted loisling $8.00	Butterflies, cuddles and hugs... thats what my little girl is made of primitive wood sign woodsignsbypatti $27.00

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Eraser Stamped Easter Bunny Shirt

The kids will have fun stamping their own shirt. Easy and too cute! Click on the photo above for complete details. This technique can be used for every season or holiday. Would make a great project for a pajama or birthday party craft. Maybe even your Girl Scout troop or a 4 H project.

Faux Tulip Bulb Planter Tutorial

Jennifer at Jennifer Rizzo posted a faux tulip planter on her blog. This is an easy tutorial you can complete in a day. Great way to bring a little spring into your home! Click on the photo above for the complete instructions.


Thanks for stopping by today!

Spring Faux Robin's Egg

These faux Robin's eggs look like the real thing. The best part - they are made from those fluorescent plastic Easter eggs that you probably have a gazillion of :-)

Click on the photo above and let Vivienne of The V Spot show you how. Great Spring decoration!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Paper Cherry Blossom Tutorial

I'm already hearing talk about the cherry blossoms which will bloom soon in our nation's capital. That is always a sure sign that spring is right around the corner. Yippee!!!

Ananda of A Piece of Rainbow was the featured blogger on U-Create Crafts and shared her tutorial on making paper Cherry Blossoms. This is such an easy project that you can bring spring right into your home in just a couple of hours! For a complete tutorial, click on the photo above.

Celebrating Spring

Colors of Spring Celebration

The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team has begun the Colors of Spring Celebration. Type COSOFG in the search bar to see all the wonderful listings!

Spring Blessings Bunny, Bunny Rabbit, Dressed Rabbit shopch2 $38.00	Sherbet Rug Crochet 31" Rag Rug Round Cotton Washable Nursery COSOFG Kitchen Porch Country Primitive Homespun Pink White Green Yellow CedarLaneFarm $60.00
Easter Bunny Hop Spring Wool Penny Rug Table Runner farmersattic $49.99	Bunny and Lady Bug, Whimsical Art, Framed in Greens or Blues in a Reclaimed Wood Frame, Tole Painted on Black Screen, Spring or Easter Decor barbsheartstrokes $12.00
Bandanas, Neck Scarf, Wearable Art, Boho, Western Wear, COSOFG PaintspotsnSplinters $16.95	Crocheted 2PC Newborn Set, Photo prop, Gift for Infant Girl in multi color MooreThanBags $24.95
Chevron Bunny for stylish babies - Trendy and unique - Handmade stuffed bunny rabbit with chevron print ears, pink baby shower gift, easter TwistedKnickersInc $25.00	Cross with Flower Decorative Pillow - Hand Embroidered Easter Decor - Religious Home Decor - Pink Tulip - Green Vines - COSOFG RyensMarketplace $20.00
Wool Felt Penny Rug Flower Pillow, Hand Dyed Wool Felt Pillow, Throw Pillow, Penny Rug, Spring Decor, OFG, FAAP, Green Pillow, COSOFG FolkHome $32.00	Three Hearts Sign, Wood Heart Sign, Sweetheart Sign, Love Hearts, Spring Easter Sign, Cottage Cabin Sign TheLaughingCabin $9.99
Rustic Oval Pincushion Yellow and Brown Primitive Pinkeep Handmade Pin Sharpening Pincushion Pantry Box Makedo Pinkeep PaxtonValleyFolkArt $20.00	A Faux Chocolate Easter Rabbit Bowl Filler Scented, Wax Eggs, Dried Cotton Plant Hulls,Potpourri, Rosehips, Other Dried Botanicals CottonPickingFolkArt $17.00
Painted Porcelain, Painted Porcelain Cruet,Floral Porcelain Decanter,Painted Perfume Decanter,Porcelain Decanter,Decorative Porcelain,COSOFG MsCraftyTouch $23.00	Prim Grungy Easter Egg with Lace ~ COSOFG scrapsofthepast $4.95
Wooden Welcome Sring Sign - Wooden Sign WyliesWhimsicals $10.50	Instant Download - Printable Cocoa/Treat Envelope - Retro Easter Girl with Bunny - Digital PDF and/or JPG File ewenmeprintables $2.50

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Colors of Spring

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is looking forward to spring! In anticipation, they are having a Colors of Spring Celebration. To see all the wonderful, NEW handmade items that are being offered, simply click on the graphic above. The slideshow below is just a small sampling of what is listed.