Natural Egg Dyeing

We try to avoid artificial dyes and flavors as much as we possibly can, but it seems to be in everything these days. Especially around the holidays, like say Easter with all of its cute dishes containing colored eggs. No problem! You can dye eggs with natural ingredients around your house or from the store. 

Dyeing eggs is one of my favorite Easter projects! Seriously I love dyeing eggs! Last year around this time our little cousins from the farm down the street came over for an egg dyeing pizza party! We had a blast! 

Things You Can Use To Dye Eggs:

Orange - Yellow Onion Skins, Cayenne Powder or Chili Powder

Brown - Tea, Expresso Powder or Coffee

Blue / Turquoise - Red Cabbage or Blueberries

Pink - Beets or Cranberries

Yellow - Tumeric Powder, Lemon, Carrots, Saffron or Orange Peels

Lavender - Grape Juice

Purple - Red Wine 

Green - Parsley, Green Tea Spinach

Red - Yellow Onion Skins + 2 Tablespoons Vinegar 

We used red cabbage, instant coffee, canned beets - we used the juice from the can as one dye then boiled the actual beets for a second one- and spinach. If you are using a solid vegetable instead of liquid like the juice of the beets or grape juice, chop the vegetables and boil until the water is colored.

Find containers that can hold the dye plus several eggs (bonus points if they have lids too!) Homemade dyes don't work as quickly as the pellets of food coloring so expect to soak them for several hours to overnight depending on the look you are wanting. We left ours for 9 hours. 

Related Article: Boiled Egg Chicks

Boil desired amount of white eggs, prepare dyes and pour into containers. Place eggs into the container of dye, make sure all of the egg is covered. Place in the refrigerator until the desired color is reached.  

Related Article: Easter Traditions

Here are some old pictures of Brianna and I dying eggs- told you I loved doing it!

Egg Wreath Bread

Need a fun recipe for Easter? We got you covered! Try this delicious and super easy braided loaf with beautiful colored eggs (tutorial coming soon!). It's perfect to go with dinner or served with coffee in the morning before you head to church.  

Ingredients:

1 Cup Spring Water Warmed
3 Tablespoons Grass Fed Butter
2 1/2 Cups Organic All-Purpose Flour
3 Tablespoons Raw Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt
1 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1 1/2 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast

Related Article: Hot Cross Buns

Directions:

Bread Machine Way:

Place wet ingredients in the bread maker, Then add flour. Put salt, sugar, seasonings in different corners then make a small well in the center and place yeast in it. Mix on dough setting, when finished remove to a lightly floured surface. Divide into the equal pieces, roll pieces into ropes. Braid ropes together linking ends. Brush with egg and sprinkle sugar over the top. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until golden. Add colored eggs to the top and serve.

Related Article: Greek Easter Cookies

The "By Hand" Way:

In your bowl add liquid ingredients (oil and water) that have been warmed (not hot) with your sugar. Sprinkle your yeast on top and cover and let set in a warm draft-free place in your kitchen until bubbly. Slowly mix in the remaining dry ingredients. With a spoon or fingers start mixing until combined fully. Let rise for 20 minutes then begin kneading. Let rise again. Pull it out of the bowl Divide into the equal pieces, roll pieces into ropes. Braid ropes together linking ends. Brush with egg and sprinkle sugar over the top. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until golden. Add colored eggs to the top and serve.

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DIY Egg Garland Tutorial

One of my favorite things to decorate for is spring! I love the colors, the flowers, the baby animals (you know me- I love baby animals), ok I admit it I love everything about it. A few years ago I made this egg garland out of a bunch of our chicken's eggs. This is super easy to make and so cute! The perfect touch of farmhouse spring! 

Supplies:

Eggs

Yarn or Twine

Step 1: 

Poke a hole at each end of the egg and use grandma's method of blowing eggs - by putting her lips on one end of the egg and blowing- or my method -sticking a straw over one of the holes and blowing-. Wash the eggs thoroughly and allow to dry.  

Related Article: DIY Egg Wreath

Step 2:
Tie a knot in one end of the string, you want it big enough that the egg won't slip over it. Gently push the string through both holes in the egg, continue adding eggs until you reach your desired length. Tie another knot in the string and you are done.

Related Article: DIY Spring Garden Wreath

Spring Decor At The Cottage

Spring at the Cottage is something to see, nature puts on a show like only it can. The daffodils are the first to poke their heads above the ground soon the plumbs and peaches follow in dazzling white and pink blossoms. The Bradford pears show up next not to be left out, then the pear trees and finally the cherry trees. It's a show to be seen, I love watching it every spring. It never ceases to surprise me as I look out the window every morning and the view has changed. 

The front porch is the first thing people see, so we wanted it to be warm and inviting and perhaps hint a little of what's to be found inside. 

Around the door is the same grapevine garland base that you saw on our Christmas Tour but redecorated for spring with some pretty florals and greenery. The wreath is a basket we picked up from Hobby Lobby several years ago and filled with pink tulips and moss. 

We repurposed some garden decor to the side of the door, paring it with a bucket filled with miniature rose plants and a bunny. 

Related Article: French Script Door Number Tutorial

The bench is a yard sale find that we just couldn't live without! We added a chunky blanket and some pillows from our SHOP and Ross.

On the other side of the door is this adorable wagon turned flower cart loaded to the brim with hydrangeas, roses, and tulips. We added a some galvanized buckets and black and white crocks to the mix.

Related Article: The Best Spring Farmhouse Decor On Amazon

Pink and white miniature roses in galvanized buckets mirror each other on each side of the fireplace. Above them, we hung this adorable sign from Hobby Lobby. In the center of the mantel, we chose this gorgeous veranda shot. I love how it gives the mantel hight and stands out against the wall.

More flowers grace each side of the fireplace, along with our homemade egg garland. Check out our tutorial HERE.

Black and white crocks filled with bright pink and yellow flowers are the focus on this side of the mantel. We added a small chick sculpture and a crown of thorns to the mix as well. 

We paired garden decor with a galvanized bucket filled with hydrangeas on this side of the mantel, along with a small nest, crystal cross, and small duck sculptures.

Related Article: Spring At The Cottage

We wanted to bring some of the colors from the mantel into the rest of the room so we added milk glass bud vases to the side table with our garden globe.

Throw pillows from Ross and a small egg wreath add some color to the love seat. Want to make an egg wreath? Check out our tutorial HERE.

There is something beautiful about nests, so many shapes and colors and styles. They are works of art. We added dried roses and blown eggs from some of our birds to the nests for a splash of color.

In the kitchen, it's milk glass vases, white crocks, and hydrangeas! I love how it adds a splash of color to the white.

What is your favorite area? Tell us in the comments!

Koulourakia - Greek Easter Cookies-

These cookies are so good! There perfect to go with tea or coffee in the morning or just as a quick treat. The perfect mix of orange and vanilla and lightly sweet. 

Ingridents: 

Dough:

1/2 Cup Grass-fed Butter (Softened)
3/4 Cup Raw Sugar
2 Free Range Eggs
1/4 Cups Organic Milk (warmed to 80F)
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Orange Zested
2 Teaspoon Non Aluminum Baking Powder
2 1/2 Cups Organic All-Purpose Flour

Related Article: Organic Hot Cross Buns

Topping:
1 Free Range Egg (beaten)

1 Tablespoon Water 

Sesame Seeds

Directions:

In a large electric mixer bowl, mix butter and sugar until fluffy, add the eggs, and beat until light colored. Add the milk, vanilla, orange zest, and baking powder mixing as you add. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Pinch off one inch sections of dough and roll them between your fingers and the countertop into a 7 inch rope. Fold rope in half and twist the two strands together. Continue with the rest of the dough (should make around 30). Place the cookies on a silicone baking mat or parchment-lined baking sheet, keep them about an inch apart. In a small bowl break one egg and add 1 tablespoon water, brush each cookie with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 15-20 minutes (once they turn a light gold color they are done). Let the koulourakia cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling

The Best Spring Farmhouse Decor On Amazon

Spring is just a couple weeks away, but it's already come to the Cottage. The orchard is in full bloom, the bulbs have been up for a couple weeks, and spring temperatures have arrived. It's so beautiful, every year I forget how much I love spring. So, of course, we had to bring spring to the house! We thought we would give you guys some ideas to bring that spring farmhouse look to your homes.

Bunny Feed Pillow

Artificial Lavender

Yellow & White Check Table Cloth

Wooden Bunnies

Lavender Planters

Bunny Feed Sack Pillow

Bunny Table Topper

Boxwood Wreath

Happy Spring Banner

Tulip Wreath

Shabby Chic Birds

Easter Banner

Related Article: DIY Farmhouse Egg Wreath

Pink & White Tulip Wreath

Spring Banner

Pink Tulip Wreath

Vintage Green Mailbox

Ceramic Bunny

Ceramic Eggs

Our Nest Pillow

Grain Sack Pillows

Standing Bunny

Metal Tray

Grass Rabbit

Ceramic Cupcake Plate

Grass Nest

Cute Grass Rabbit

Bunny Figurines

Bird Figurine

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