gathering spriggs

Collecting Thoughts, Holding on to Dreams

Have you ever had a light bulb moment where you realize something cognitively that you knew deep down all along? Well, here I am approaching my mid-thirties and coming to terms with who I am. I don't know if you can relate but  I feel like much of my life I have spent trying to be a chameleon. Always wanting to be someone else in order to blend in or please others.  The color of my skin would change depending on who I was with. If there were accolades or awards for "people pleasing" I am sure I would have a gold star or two or even a golden statue by now. Its been my life's mission and I've certainly succeeded but to no real avail. Why do I feel sadness when I look at my empty desk or think about untouched projects that I put on the bottom of my list. (actually I think they fell off the edge of my list into some great abyss). It creates an ache in my soul. An ache to honor my creativity. 

One thing I have realized is that I am not really a crafter or a maker. I'm not someone who can crank out merchandise or sew 20 pillows in a day. I like to dabble. And dabbling doesn't always make for a great business strategy or even a marketable product. This is where I get hung up. Between my great ideas and my practical (must turn this into a business) mentality. Why can't I just let myself play? 

These are some thoughts that I have been collecting over the weekend. I thought I would share with you because I don't know that I have the answers. I'm still scratching my head. 

So as a friend, here I am, asking how you give your creative self the time it needs. How do you create without putting pressure on yourself? How do you nurture that delicate seed? 

 

images: collected from the gathering spriggs flickr group: cassia beck and daily suze

A Quote a Day: Week 2

Friends! Its Friday! And you know what that means? One day closer to the weekend? A day to get crazy and wear jeans to work? No, its time for "A Quote A Day" 

As promised, I took the quotes left by lovely readers last week and turned them into three illustrated works. I love this collaboration! It is so fun! 

The contributors from last week's comment section were as follows (from top to bottom):

Margot of Margot Madison Creative

Cinderella Patch - this quote came from a pitcher in her grandmother's kitchen from the UK!

Jutta of Kootut Murut (inspired by this illustrators version)

Thank you dear contributors for playing "A Quote a Day" with me. This is so much fun! So now its time for you to leave a comment with your favorite inspirational quote. Remember you have just as much wisdom as Abraham Lincoln or your grandmother's pitcher! 

Can't wait to see what you have to offer. All quotes left this week will be published next Friday! 

Happy Weekend!

images: heather s thompson for gathering spriggs

Penelope Dullaghan, Artist/Illustrator

Penelope Dullaghan is who I would want to be in another life. Her work strikes a chord within me. Her colors ... my best friends. Her style... soft yet forthright. Her creativity... deeply moving. Thanks Penelope for a dose of energy this morning. 

Check out her blog, and have fun clicking all around her website.. it is extensive and inspiring to say the least. And look at her about page! Its honest, creative and makes me want to be her friend. 

all images: penelope dullaghan

The New Face of Blogging

Friends, I am noticing a change this year. No, not "the change" but changes in what seems to be a new era of blogging. Have you sensed it? Ever since this article from Poppytalk earlier this season, I (and I imagine others) have been pondering what our online presence means now 5 years after the big design boom online. How do we navigate blogging, selling our wares or social networking in what seems to be a completely saturated market. Where do we find ourselves in this ocean of familiarity? 

Recently, I have taken a more honest and forthcoming approach to blogging. Instead of just submitting pretty pictures, I try to put myself, my personality, and dare I say my vulnerability into my posts. And it seems other bloggers are beginning to ask hard questions on their sites as well. This post by my friend Christina of Down and Out Chic got my wheels turning this week with her honest struggle of feeling lost in a popularity contest. And then there was the Alt Summit last weekend. Have you been reading all the post-summit posts this week? Here are a few: 

Oh, Hello Friend 

Design for Mankind and Part 2

Design Sponge Biz Ladies : Online Etiquette and Ethics

One theme that resonates with me on nearly all these posts is authenticity. Presenting yourself, your ideas and your continued creative inspiration  seems to be the key to keeping afloat in this ocean of blogging. No one else has your unique voice. So keep those wheels turning and sing your song with courage! This ocean needs you. 

On that note... what are your thoughts on this new direction. How do you navigate on these high seas of change? 

image: one of my design heriones at All The Luck in The World and she has a lovely shop too! 

Touches of Aqua

Words elude me today. Pictures are worth a thousand words. So I leave you with one of my favorite colors that adorns my own home with its unsuspecting hues. What is your most desired color to accent your abode?

images: pinterest, heather s thompson for gathering spriggs, vi.sualize...sarah face interiors happiness is..., sfgirlbybay

simple joys

happy monday morning to you dears! have you ever imagined being in a place of pure joy? do you know the feeling? almost everywhere i have turned over the weekend had me bumping into people speaking about "joy". kind of a tough topic for me. it seems easy enough in theory. but the application is where i get hung up. i loved what brene brown speaks of in her much loved TED talk  (thanks to Stephanie for this link), that joy is often numbed out as we try to numb the pain in our lives. can't numb one and save the other. i have an uncanny knack for doing this. brown speaks much on authenticity and so eloquently describes it here:

"mindfully practicing authenticity during our most soul-searching struggles is how we invite grace, joy, and gratitude into our lives." (emphasis mine) 

we have the power to invite joy in. so i ask you my friends, how do invite joy? (especially in the midst of a bleak midwinter) ? i found joy in these images today from friends on flickr ... combing through my faves in the gathering spriggs flickr group. have you browsed through the beauties in this group lately. you might just discover some inspiration and JOY! 

images: travelling mama, lisa solomn, havin fun with photos, holly becker: haus maus, city of blackbirds

A Quote a Day : Week 1

Week 1 of the Quote a Day project has passed. Here are some quotes submitted this past week by two GS readers. The Emerson quote submitted by Brigitte of Covet Chicago and Nin quote submitted by Ginny of Cooking with Chopin, Living with Elmo. 

To submit your favorite quotes for next weeks post please leave a comment here. Remember you can quote a favorite author/artist etc. or leave a message of truth from your own heart. I look forward to hearing the wisdom from you! 

Also, you can keep up with the daily project here. 

Happy Weekend !!

images: heather s thompson - photograph and painting also heather s thompson

The Meaning of Success

Friends, thanks so much for being with me here everyday to listen and share with me. It is a solace to me. Since the New Year I have been researching new business ideas, marketing, and PR. But then  my health took a turn and I have to put some of my grandiose ideas on the back burner for now. I ask myself a lot, nearly everyday what does "Success" mean. Does it mean money in your pocket? Does it mean more numbers on your blog stats? Does it mean more sales on Etsy? Does it mean reaching your target weight? Or is there something more... something deeper. Daily victories?

What does success mean to you?

The Lure of Doing it All

Good Morning! How is your day so far? Are you making your plans for the day? Busy into the work day already? Making your list? 

Yesterday I had lunch with a dear friend at the downtown Library cafe with her 1-year old son. Over the sounds of children playing under the tables and coffee being frothed, we talked about the pressures we put on ourselves to do it all (and do it well). Mothering/Homemaking, Creating, Loving our Spouses, Caretaking, Reading/Researching, Cultivating the Spiritual, Blogging, Being Entrepreneurs and then trying to Tend to our fragile Bodies. (the list goes on). 

Of course there is the allure of imagining that many other women "out there" have it together and we are stuck in this never ending rut, but I know for a fact that is not true. (Even in blogland where it is so tempting to put on a smiling "face" and seem like life is all ponies and rainbows.) So how can we combat not only the lies in our head but the pull, the desire, the yearning to do it all. 

We brainstormed some ideas from Yoga, to taking naps to the idea of doing one small thing per day on your list (small steps toward big goals). But since you are dear friends and fellow sojourners together I would love to pick your brain to find out how you navigate your way on this day to day journey of life. How do you create grace for yourself each day?

images: heather spriggs thompson (my desk)

Waiting for Spring: Lavender Hues

Hello all. Have you been dreaming of brighter days softened with Romantic Mauve and Lavender Hues? After creating this Treasury yesterday I have been swooning over the idea of lying in a French lavender field in my creamy lace frock with a book of poetry in hand. 

Thank you for your precious thoughts last week on the Survey, I have put a little blogging schedule together and every Tuesday will be a new color story! ( I do love the power of color and creating these vignettes for you. So thank you for seeing my passions and supporting my heart's desires). 

Wishing you a dreamy day! 

 

images:

 top collage (l-r)1.Yvette Inufio 2._acido 3. Sanctuary

4. A cottage in the Woods 5. Sadie Olive 6.decor8

bottom collage:  this is glamorous , River of Romansk, Magnolija Dress