gathering spriggs

Pretty Pictures for a Girl Under the Weather

Dear , dear friends. Hope you are enjoying some sunshine in your life today!  I really hate to be "Debbie Downer" but I realized yesterday after writing about writer's block, that the reason I felt like I had nothing to give was because I was actually ill. (Wiping my brow with the back of my hand in relief + Hacking cough. I think Robert and I have the onset of Whooping Cough--- ive heard its going around... have you? )So, I can give myself a break. Thank you for your love and patience with me as I try to nurse myself back to health with some homemade Vegetarian Tortilla Soup. It turned out pretty good for a sickie. So enjoy some beauty today with these images from Silke Zander. I hope to be back on Monday. In the meantime, I better go get back in bed, right after I finish painting a shelf for a client. (oops!, don't tell)

ps. Happy Halloween!!!! :)

Artist's Block

I guess you could say I have artist's block, and a dose of writer's block too. Although technically Im not working a job this week, it seems that there is so much "going on". How does that happen? My husband is home sick today so I better go check on him, but in the meantime hope you enjoy these two artists (Lisa Solomon and Rose Deniz) who don't seem to suffer with my condition today. Of course, who knows, I'm sure they get stumped too. How about you? What do you do when you feel as though you just don't have anything left to give or no new ideas??  What do you do to inspire creativity again?..... i need some new ideas.

images l.solomon and r.deniz

Everything Aqua

Just popping by to show some images of new items in my shop this week that inspired a little aqua post. My favorite color. I know its fall and I should be posting about oranges and autumnal hues (especially this week) but I can't help my love affair with all things turquoise hued. For those who need a more color coordinated seasonal post, here is a lovely- all- things -orange post I enjoyed today.

Had a little feature here. And my friend Ginny wrote an amazing "how to" on cleaning out the coffee pot. This is good stuff if you ever needed a biologist to scare you into cleaning it. 

images: top: all gathering vintage. botttom : bhg, scrapbook lady  teacup: kimberly shaw graphics, apt. therapy

The Shame Game

We all do it. Or have done it. All a little guilty of shaming ourselves. I know when I read really fabulous blogs with creative inspiration (or even magazines), I hear a little voice in my ear that says " Why didn't you think of that?" or "See this person really has their life together, why can't you seem to have yours figured out, yet?". Its so subtle. From a little dose of shame we continue into a nasty cycle of contempt (and typically with women we are easily lured into self-contempt. So how do we break the cycle? How to stop believing the lies? 

I believe its about catching yourself in the act. Instead of believing every thought that comes into our minds as truth, we can choose to question them. 
I had a counselor tell me once... " You should on yourself way too much".  Meaning that I compare myself to others and feel that I "should" be doing this or that, instead of asking myself what is good for me now. In this moment. 

So where are you today, in this moment in your life?  Its a process.. a daily process (dare I say battle). But the good news is that you are not alone. We are in this together. 

I tend to put A LOT of pressure on myself to "get it together", or "have my life figured out" but more recently I am trying to live in the present, be in the present. Take one day at a time and give myself grace in the process. 

How about you?? Where are you in the process? How do you battle the shame within??? 

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++ Also, I would love to share a fun collaborative project that I lent my paint brush to. Its a great before and after decorating transformation, with my friend Kristie: The Decorologist. See what you think!

images: aleksander kelpman and j.o.l.a

Gathering Warm Affection

Oh Kindred Spirits! You don't know how revitalized I have been this weekend reading over your comments from last week's post: Keepin' It Real. Your remarks have been the impetus for changing my entire mission statement here at Gathering Spriggs. I'll fill you in on a little secret... I am in the process of creating (with the help of a fabulous design team) a new website (gatheringspriggs.com) coming very soon. And in the midst of development, I began writing a brand new bio, mission statement and tagline that is more centered around building an intentional community with you, right here. Here's a taste:

Welcome to Gathering Spriggs: a place to gather, connect, create and discover together. Sit and stay for a spot of tea, share your heart and enjoy the beauty of friends. Creative connections, colorful creations and vintage collections.

In the meantime, I am eager to build more discussions with you this week on the things in our lives that truly matter. To get closer to your heart. In fact, I wish it was you that came to dine at my table last night. (we had a small dinner party .. nothing too fancy) but in the end it was you I was longing to be with .. breaking bread with .. sipping coffee in front of the fireplace with. 

++ In fact, on that note, I am organizing a (Southern US) Bloggers meet up in the near future and would love to know if you are interested. Just leave a comment here with your email or email me at gatheringspriggs@yahoo.com if you would like to participate in this meet up!

images: heather spriggs thompson for gathering spriggs 

Where Art Meets Need

Are you like me? Do you struggle with how to donate or give back? I truly believe that its especially challenging for artists. Our hearts are big and want to give but typically our pockets are shallow. It can sometimes be difficult to tread that fine line between making art for a cause and making art for profit. (And I know I convince myself that I could be that cause). How do you justify it? 

That's why I'm so thrilled about The Working Proof, a site dedicated to promoting art + social responsibility. Each artist (well founded and up and coming) donates 15% of the sale of their work to a charity their choice, exposing not only the art but also charitable organizations. 

So if you are beginning to think about your holiday donations, I highly recommend checking out The Working Proof. You might just find a Christmas present for yourself while there.

Maybe I can sell with them too one day! 

Have a happy weekend and if you are looking for a fabulous giveaway... Check out Cabbages and Roses. 

images: the working proof

Keepin' It Real

Hello Lovelies. So here's the thing. I've been really struggling this week and even debating what or even how to share with you here, since my life has been pretty messy the last week month.  We are having some very serious family events happening that are kind of turning my world upside down, which have been consuming my thoughts, phone calls even my dreams. And it leads me to this dilemma. How do I share enough to be real with you (but not too much that I cross boundaries). But also not put on a completely false self either leaving you only with pretty pictures while my true heart is crying on the inside? 

This is a question I have struggled with for many years even back before I started my own blog and was a reader only. I became so frustrated with the picture of perfection that it seemed like so many blogs painted. I wanted to know their real stories. I wanted to see them a mess so that I didn't feel like I was all alone and that my heros were living golden lives only filled with beauty and success. Have you ever felt that way? 

However, it seems as though the tides in blogging are changing a bit and I find that there are more people sharing their messy day to day trials. I think its especially hard when you grow up in the Southern US where the standard " How are you?" Is met with the expected "Good, How are you?" I don't know of one time that I felt safe enough to actually answer that question honestly. Have you? And are you able to share your true self on your blog?

But the great thing about a new day is that we have an opportunity to change... a choice to let our true selves shine. So I ask you... How ARE you today (really)?

images: tiny white daisies, tearrific tumblr

The Bewitching Hour: A Study In Navy

Friends! Oh, I hope your day is going well. Mine has been one of "those" days already and its only just begun! Hopefully, I will be back with more thoughts, more deeper insights, but for now, here is my color inspiration this week. I found myself thinking that I want to paint something navy in my home. Maybe my master bath cabinets. Could be intruiging!

images: cajka, collage 1: moodboard, design sponge and gap interiors, martha stewart living, bottom collage: rue magazine, and skona hem.

Blog of the Week: Two Little Dicky Birds

Have you ever run across a blog or article in a magazine where you think to yourself " Oh, I simply adore this person. Everything they touch is golden and they share in my aesthetic! I bet in real life we would be dear friends or even soul sisters! " That is exactly what I have been thinking about Abby Matthews of Two Little Dicky Birds this week. She probably thinks I am stalking her after I added her as a friend on Flickr, befriended her and "liked" her blog on Facebook, follow her pins on Pinterest and now writing about her beautiful world here! Honestly, I don't know too much about Abby except that she lives in Australia with her husband and two boys and spends time dabbling in photography and designing her home. Her personal style, flavor and knack for gorgeous collages of color themed personal items reminds me of Leslie of A Creative Mint. Simple, clean and saturated beauty!  You will enjoy Abby as much as I have. Just like a delectable dish, she keeps me coming back for more. (I'm licking my platter clean here with each new post).

Sponsor Feature: Tiny Prints

Are you ready for holiday card season? (Can you believe its right around the corner). Well allow me to share with you your one stop shop for the season. Tiny Prints offers a HUGE variety of styles for your personalized photo cards with soooo many bonuses like standard recycled cardstock, design and text options for the back and inside + rectangular envelopes for square cards to help save on postage! Wow! What will they think of next! (Oh, looks like a family website designed around your card is on the way!!) So go check out the newest Gathering Spriggs sponsor and tell your friends about this fabulous company that believes the tiny things in life leave lasting impressions.

images: tiny prints