gathering spriggs

A Peachy Tribute

Thank you friends for your kind words, your continued support and for just taking time to hang with me here. This week feels like a dream, a walk in slow motion, adjusting the eyes. (not to mention the sketchy internet connection). My sister came back with me from Texas to stay for a couple of weeks. I'm hovering in a crossroads of desire to make this a fun trip for her and work on my own future plans....but I am not fully recovered from our whirlwind trip. 

My brain has been a bit dried up like a raisin and inspiration drained.( not to mention the fact that I am trying a new diet for health purposes that excludes caffeine, sugar, dairy and gluten. OMG! Its hard. I miss my morning black tea! 

So... blah, blah,blah. Here is my tribute post to my favorite color this year. A color of controversy and situated between desire and fear. We don't want to resurrect our mother's decorating mistakes of the 80's but long for a world of soft, dreamy sun-kissed pleasure. You may remember my original peach post.  I think we have come a long way this year to embracing this pretty pastel with new arms in design, art, decor, fashion, etc.. Have you been aware of the power of peach this year? What is your gut reaction? Love or Loathe?

I have always loved peach, since 5th grade! You can see how I have used it as my theme color in my home and work this year.  

Thank you Peach for inspiring me in 2010! What has been your color muse this year???

images: cream colored ponies, creamy life padgett hoke, img. ffffound,  raliegh vintage 1. bp. blogspot, remodelista , audrey hepburn complex

Sweet Romance

Have to say I am still recovering a bit from our travels and busy holiday with the family. Here are some pretties I pulled together last week that are calling to me to tack up on my inspiration board for next years' style files.  A little exotic, a little rough hewn vintage and a little modern all at once. 

How about you? Are you still chillin' in holiday mode or ready to look forward to a New Year? I think I'm a little of both this week.

images: elizabeth demos, a life's design ,  lisa warninger , beautiful paper   design box

Holding on: Holding Back

Greetings dear friends! How was your weekend of festivities? Back to work already or still recovering? I am still traveling today on a whirlwind trip. And there is much to share with you this week but for now I wanted to create a conversation with some thoughts I've had on these long stretches of open Texas highway. 

After a road trip inspired conversation I began thinking about what I've been holding onto that has been holding me back this year. You know, those little things that seem to go unnoticed in the daily bustle of busyness? For example, I think I tend to hold onto the small lies that sneak in and tell me that I am unworthy or unacceptable. Without realizing it I am subtly buying into them and thinking that I don't have what it takes or that I am not enough for the people in my life. 

So realization is the first step to recovery right? So I am acknowledging here in front of you and making a pact to be alert in 2011 and watch for the little things that I hold onto that can hold me back. 

How about you? Do you struggle with this ? Are you holding onto things in your life that might hold you back in the coming year? 

image: holli

Christmas Wishes

 

Thank you friends for being my Christmas wish come true. My days sparkle and glow with the love and friendship you share with me here in my little corner of the world. You presence is my gift. Thank you for sharing your heart and allowing me to open mine to you.  During this season of giving, and remembering the gifts we have received, I am humbled and honored to connect in this space with you. My wish for you this week is that you find peace for today, hope for tomorrow and grace for the past. May our spirits unite across the miles. 

Until we meet again, Merry Christmas! 

Friends and Faves: Party Hardy

Beginning to feel a bit festive?? My husband has been asking for a week if I am getting excited about going to Texas and my answer has been the same " not until everything is done", until yesterday.  Talking to my sisters on the phone whilst making Chocolate Truffles caused my heart to do a festive little dance.  So as I prepare to leave tomorrow here is my ode to all things rockin' around the Christmas Tree (and a little New Years bling thrown in for good measure).  But do tell me about you. How are you feeling right now? Tired, stressed? Hopeful? Enthusiastic? Anticipating? What is your life looking like the few days before Christmas?

A great source for all things Pom Pom!

A colorful shop from one of my favorite designers.  

A newly launched website from my all time fave stylist. 

A great resource for vintage jewelry as well as new and vintage clothes. So glad I discovered this artful clothing store. 

images:  pomtree  all the luck in the world, marie nichols, spool 72 

Friends and Faves: Cozy Up

Friends, How was your weekend? Are you ready for this week of celebration? My to do list is not completed as I prepare for the travels ahead this week. So I decided to share with you some of my visual inspiration... my friends and faves on Etsy and blogland through the rest of the week.

Today, meet two pretty blogs and a special shop that have me wanting to cozy up to hearth and home!

ReRae   a lovely approach to a simpler life through resurrecting hand craft traditions. Rerae also has an Etsy store for a beautiful brush with the past. Sophie's Haus is a new to me blog written by a photographer (I love those!) with features on fashion, food and decor~ And check out her beautiful beyond words shop: ButikSophie.

Finally, a perfectly simple and endearing shop from Kathi who stops by often to bring me words of encouragement.  All Things White.  Thanks ladies for the beauty you bring into my life!

May you find peace today in the midst of the hustle and bustle. 

Having it All Wrapped Up

Hello dears! Its Friday but it feels like a new week starting instead of a week ending and restful splendour approaching.  There is still so much to do. Yes, I am a Christmas procrastinator. (I should have this poster.) We are making a trek back to my home in Texas this year for a reunion of family and friends like I haven't seen on Christmas since circa 1992. So needless to say there are numerous preparations especially since I am attempting a more handmade Christmas this year. The real treat however will be celebrating with food and family adopting my native traditions like Tamales and Chili for Christmas dinner, gathering round the cedar trees and basking in the warmth of the Texas sun. Maybe I can convince the husband to play Christmas carols on his guitar! 

But in the meantime I want to savor these few days before the celebration. I want to take time to ponder this year. The past, present and future. I want to be in the moment, crafting, baking, creating with Joy instead of panic.  Maybe it won't be perfection (what ever really is?), but I am beginning to think that it is not necessarily about having it all wrapped up. (perfectly). Maybe my floors won't be mopped to a shiny finish and who knows if I will actually get around to baking like I dreamt of earlier in the season. ( I had sugar plum visions of taking hand baked loaves of bread to all my neighbors). But I am making this promise to myself and with you as my witness that:

I will be present.

I will give myself grace as it has been given to me.

I will love my body and be thankful for it (instead of scorning it)

I will offer my true heart in all that I do. 

May you also remember to give  yourself  grace, peace, joy and love as much as you graciously give to others over the next week.

Hugs to you dear friends. You presence is my present this year. Thank you for taking time out of your day to be a part of my life! 

You are loved!

 

images: space for inspiration and lobster and swan

Shop Around the Corner: French Blue & Co.

 

So many beautiful shops keeping popping up before me this week. I am trying desperately to remember them all and how I found them so that I might share with you. This simply classic French antique shop is the product of two sisters who travel the world to bring back charming finds to their LA shop. Plus, they create beautiful handmade paper treasures with that certain Je ne sais quoi.  I wish I had discovered this shop before the Holiday season but fortunately for me I have some family birthdays in January too. 

Hope you enjoy French Blue and Co. as well as Fanciful Designs as much as I have!

Make It or Break It- A Pretty Success Story

Hello friends! I know its Wednesday and I usually post my "Make It or Break It" series on Thursday but I am ahead of myself this week. Ever since receiving the questions back from this interview I have been giddy with anticipation to share the secret wisdom from one of my personal creative business heroines. So go refill your cup of tea (or coffee) and sit down with me to hear from Tamar Schechner of Nest Pretty Things!

1.I know you are a creative entrepreneur. How did you start your Etsy business?

Tamar: When we moved to the country side I knew I would have to seek alternative work, I thought I would start an Interior design business, which I did, only Vermont is so tiny I couldn't really make a living out of it so I started crafting, I could knit a little so I pursued that, learning as I went along, I opened my first Etsy shop in 2006 and sold hats, then I taught myself how to sew and started making totes and pouches. That was very time consuming because I am a crazy perfectionist...then I started designing jewelry and that really took off and I absolutely love it! This year I opened another shop with Jewelry for kids,you can see how my work evolved if you go back to my first sales..

2. What would you say has been the secret to your success?

I am not sure what the secret is, it took a few years to build the business and I just never gave up. I've worked for magazines my entire career as a photo stylist and creative director so I have a lot of photography experience in my background, but I had no knowledge of sales and marketing so I read a lot about it and tried lots of different things until I begun to actually feel I know what I'm doing. I am very driven and I've never been as creative as I am now (I am 52 by the way, so it's never to late to start something new!)

3. What are your some of your joys and challenges of having an online business?

For me it's mostly joy, I love working from home and being my own boss and I love being able to sell all over the world! 

4. What advice would you offer creative business novices?

be very clear about what your are selling,

try to be original,

take great photographs, If you don't know how Etsy guides has some wonderful advise 
www.etsy.com/storque/seller-handbook/etsys-guide-to-photography-10979/

Promote your business when ever and where ever you can, personally I love to blog, I also post photos on Flickr, and Pinterest.

Stick to it and don't give up!! it takes time!

 

Thanks Tamar for taking time out of your VERY busy schedule to chat with us here! And if you haven't checked out her lovely shops on Etsy please stop by (there is still time for ordering last minute gifts).

Nest Pretty Things: Women's Jewelry Shop

Nest Pretty Things Kids: Children's Jewelry Shop

Nest Pretty Things Blog : For all things beautiful and inspiring 

Moodboards as Art

Inspired by a post from Melissa at Design Box. A recent graduate of Holly Becker's Blogging Your Way E-course, she collected images of moodboards from her classmates and displayed them for us to view in her lovely post. I am loving how each piece is personal and not only reveals something about the creator but each stands alone as a work of art.  I put together a little photo collage Moodboard of some images of my favorite objects but it didn't feel quite up to par with these. You can however, view it here. (Although these are my favorite colors I  am feeling a bit more blue today than coral).

If you could do a moodboard today right now about you, your mood, what would it say about you?

images: orginal source of photos found here