Thank you, to all who have followed me here at Gathering Spriggs over the past two years. It has been an honor to share this space with you. This time of year is dedicated to new beginnings and renewal and I too am discovering my new wings. I hope you will continue the journey with me at my new home:
Thanks to all who participated and to the wonderful Claudia for hosting such a special giveaway from her shop Niandra !!
I have some fabulous Easter Pics to show you soon that I worked up in a little photo shoot coming soon.
Thanks to my dear friend Iris of Irideeen who tweeted this amazing project this morning which captivated my heart. A hand drawn cross stitch from the amazing new to me blog The Odessa May Society.
This is what I wish I was doing and posting today... a pretty craft project styled to perfection by myself. But reality has set in and the honest to goodness truth is that I don't have all my ducks in a row just yet. I think there are too many irons in the fire this week. My head is buzzing with ideas, but the work on my new website (launching next week ... weee!) along with several other projects cooking has me more than a little distracted right now.
So thanks for choosing to stop by and be with me here despite my imperfections, despite my lackluster fellowship. It is an honor to call you my friends . You all give me the grace I need and hope to offer it to myself.
And if I don't post again until the new launch, I know you will be here with me in spirit. Thank you!
Happy Easter and Happy Passover with all my heart,
Heather
After a glorious day off yesterday and time to blog hunt and surf for pleasure I came across a fabulous new blog, Supercyclers via The Design Files. This girl power design duo, Plastic Fantastic created these water tight upcycled plastic bag containers for this month's Milan Exhibit The Other Hemisphere. (You'll be surprised at how simple this project is)
Then I read through my email blog subscriptions for the day and flagged this article by the ever poignant Tara Gentile. Who proposed this idea of respect towards craft and all items made by hands:
"I propose that we codify an expectation of respect throughout craft culture, microbusiness, and personal consumption. If you’re an entrepreneur, respect yourself in your prices, your product descriptions, your conversations with cooperititon [definition coming!], and your use of the marketplace. If you’re a consumer, respect others – all of them – for the value they add to your life through the products they produce – whether lovingly handcrafted or mechanically constructed."
And the light bulbs began flashing faster than a strobe on a dance floor. Yes! That's it! Crafting a Life of Respect. Respect for ourselves, for others, for the planet, for creating, for connecting, for family, for our bodies, for the things we touch daily.
What if this idea became the new business model. The new approach...
Something tells me it is heading in that direction. Of course we live in an imperfect world but what will the next generation look like if our lives are built on the foundation of Respect?
These are exciting times we live in. A place for visionaries!
What is your vision today?
images: plastic fantastic-- sarah k and liane rossler
With Easter and Earth Day upon us this week, I have had "green" on my mind. I love its many hues from its yellowy notes to its teal counterparts. But most of all I love its symbolic power as a color of healing, growth, renewal, awakening. "May all things become new again" it seems to remind us of our own hope. Our own call toward starting fresh!
And speaking of Earth Day, why not participate by shopping with me?? Both of my shops, Gathering Vintage and Gathering Spriggs are eco-conscious featuring upcycled handmades and vintage housewares as well as recycled materials for shipping.
So I leave you with this thought.. What does green do for you?
*images: tabele: my sweet savannah, love, luck, kisses, cake. lost in pixels, heather spriggs for gathering vintage, solid frog
Hello dears! Its Monday morning!! Are you awake yet? Did you take time for yourself this weekend?? Im not a morning person and I always find Mondays especially difficult to get myself going. So if you are like me I put together some images to kick start your design inspiration for the week.
I am proud to say that my town (little 'ol Music City) was selected with only a few others to house the Anthropologie Decorator's Center which officially opened its doors this past week with a special invitation event. What a privilege to be a part and learn more about Anthro's signature draperies, wallpapers, rugs and specialty hardware collection. I think its only a matter of time before they have their own paint line.. (which I was eagerly hoping to see).
But as always, I didn't leave without heaps of inspiration and dreams of utilizing this collection for myself or my clients. I also brought home some resource material... including Holly Becker's new book, Decorate (review to come) and the latest design publication from Emily Chalmers, Modern Vintage Style (seen above)
Where are you finding inspiration this week?
all images: heather spriggs thompson
Friends,
Happy Friday! How do you plan to unwind this weekend? Any special outings or Springtime soiree's?
If you are like me and need not only a day of rest but a little gift for yourself, I have just the solution. Today the lovely Claudia of Niandra is offering these two beautiful accessories from her Spring collection to one lucky GS reader.
All you have to do is visit her shop, return here and comment on what you like there, then next Friday I will announce a winner of the beautiful Light blue earrings and Love letter necklace (seen above... hand selected by me).
One more little gift to you... ALL GS readers will receive a special free gift when they make a purchase from Niandra just by entering the code "gatheringspriggs" at checkout! What a sweet deal!
Thank you Claudia for extending your heart and creativity to all of us here!
images: niandra
this is my kind of garden. since i don't have a great track record with live plants, i've been thinking more and more about creating my own personal garden that never fades.
hope these pretty fleurs delight you today.
paper artistry from lyndie dourthe
Have you been seduced by busyness?
My back screened-in porch and flagstone patio are beginning to come alive with the signs of Spring. Hosta plants unfurling, frogs leaping, birds nesting and a fair amount of bumble bees buzzing. I've noticed that the bees tend to get trapped inside the screened in area (we leave the doors open for our dog to go in and out) and end up never making it back outside. Many meeting fate with no escape. Last night I discovered a constant buzzing sound and looked up to find one such bee still beating its wings wildly as it moved up and down the screen searching for an escape route. My heart ached to see such a sight. Knowing what was in store for this little guy. So I grabbed a plastic cup and tried to gently escort it into the cup and away from the window. He however did not see my vision and ended up one very angry bee. Buzzing, flapping wildly and not letting go of the screen. For fear of being stung when I tried to scoop him up into the cup, I had to walk away.
I stood inside watching him return to the busyness of trying to find a way out.
Maybe the bee would not find his escape from a life of unfruitful wing flapping... but I knew I had been given a second chance.
You see, as I finished up my taxes yesterday with the humbling realization of my slowest year to date, I wondered what I was doing with all my free time last year. I know I was busy and stressed ... a lot of wing flapping apparently.
Then I read Tara Gentile's E-Book and realized I was seduced. Here are some of her thoughts from "Making Motion"
"Busyness isn’t just a jealous lover. She’s also a habit. You
get in the habit of having too much to do. You get attached to
feeling overwhelmed. You learn to depend on being unfocused.
You know it doesn’t feel good but you just can’t stop.
Part of the problem with being busy is that you often don’t realize
your own busyness until you stop at the end of the day, drained.
It requires an awakening of mindfulness to even realize how
deeply you’ve been seduced."
The good news is that I know I have been given a second chance. The hands of Love have guided me gently away from the screened in trap and into the glorious freedom of being truly alive. Truly connected to my own heart, my desires, my passions, and the ability to believe in my best ideas. So I can get out there and start pollinating.
Just as Martha Stewart tweeted this week:
"My best advice? Be passionate,work hard, believe in your good ideas"
Lets start flying toward freedom together, shall we?
images: bee necklace- creations by juliann, poster: evencleveland
top: l-r: pinterest, dresses: swaneegrace, the brides cafe
middle: l-r: buckwheat pillow-mireio, stones: stitch happens,
bottom: l-r: this is glamorous, a cottage in the woods, marshmallows: technicolor kitchen
small buds each to their own,
united on a stem,
gathered together
a fragrant bouquet.
of one accord,
the beauty of a collective whole.
