gathering spriggs

Story Telling

Friends, How are you today? This week? 

This morning I awoke early with a little time to ponder... 

and have been thinking about the beloved people in my life who are uplifting me right now in a time of uncertainty.  friends who have been a part of my story for many years. friends whose lives are closely  woven together with mine through the stories we share (past and present) .

this in turn led me to think about you... and your stories. I would love to know more about you. what things have brought you to where you are today.

Just to break the ice, I will start ... with a movie clip of my story. (because who can truly share their story in a tiny box meant for about 100 characters? but its a start) 

Hi, my name is Heather Lee Spriggs Thompson ... 

the daughter of two creative, spontaneous parents looking for a place to call home in central Texas. At the age of 8 we moved from city life to a small country town with Main street and plenty of antique shops. After a nearly two year battle my father passed away from a brain tumor. A moment that forever shaped me. My mother bravely raised my sister and me in this small town with the support of family and friends. She remarried, my youngest sister was born, and I went off to college to find myself. After two years studying art, I moved from West Texas to Nashville, TN (with my family). Unfortunately home life was unstable and unhealthy so my sister and I moved out and started new lives on our own. We spent two Summers in Romania, moved in with two other sisters and lived in a beautiful turn of the century home on a lake in Nashville. (Dubbed The Betty Crocker house.. it was a safe haven for our souls). Then I met my husband and all of that changed. We married in 2003 and stayed in Nashville after my friends and sister moved away. I began my decorative painting business, finished my BFA at a local art school, and then by 2008 was searching for a new creative business to pursue. Thus began Gathering Spriggs. Still a work in process I am getting closer to my dreams everyday. 

In fact, I have a "brand storming" session tonight via Skype with the fabulous Bernadette Jiwa of The Story of Telling. We met last week during a conference call hosted by Tara Gentile of Scoutie Girl. Part of the deal was that if you were on the call you were entered into a drawing to receive one free brand storming session with Bernadette. Yep!! I was one of the winners!! Oh the benefits of not only a fabulous community but of signing up and receiving newsletters. 

So in preparation for our phone call I filled out an in depth questionnaire to help her know more about me and help me better brand my business. 

Whew!! I've been talking alot today. So needless to say, Story Telling is on my mind today. It feels essential to communicating who we are and who we long to be. 

So now I hope you will take a turn to share your story. ( and I hope it will be the start of many more). 

What is your story today? 

image: quote book tumblr and prettyfnmess

Of Sea and Sky

 

Good Morning dears. 

Today I dream of sun, sky and sea. 

Healing waters. Touches of calm. 

Peace, rest. 

To you today. 

images: artful vintage, carolyn quartermaine via brunch at saks, decor8, kitchen via houzz , bed: the cross design, pinterest

A New Dawn (embracing change)

Good Morning Lovelies! Thanks for sharing your Sunday adventures with me yesterday. Sunday seems to be a day where anything can happen in our lives. But this one was tranquil and enlightening. In fact, I began stewing over some notions and acknowledging the stirrings going on within. Mind if I share? There's been some changes in my life that are affecting me daily and transforming who I am ... here with you, at work, in relationships, and in my art. 

Hopefully in the long run for the better. 

I awoke yesterday and began dressing, realizing that I simply had nothing to wear. Really. My eyes scanned over the rows of pretty vintage items, jeans, sweaters, frilly frocks, etc.. All lovely. Some very endearing and special to me but none that fit my current body. Ugh.. Changes. 

Fast changes. Changes outside of my control. Changes continuing despite (a very restrictive) diet, exercise, and supplements.  

You see, over the past year I have been struggling with some perplexing changes in my body. And it wasn't until recently that I found a helpful health practitioner who is now searching to find out exactly what is going on. Last weekend I completed a battery of tests. Today I go to a Cardiologist for more testing. And waiting ... waiting for some sort of answer to these questions. 

So I take one day at a time and try to see the silver lining in this situation. Fortunately through this fabulous community of bloggers I have met some women who are struggling with similar symptoms or have other health problems that create daily challenges. Its actually pretty inspiring and down right hopeful to see how these women not only discover beauty in the everyday but pursue a passionate creativity. Creating breath taking works of art with soul, spirit and hope.. 

Always hope. 

Maybe its that hope which has been driving me back to my own studio lately. My body may be lacking but my creative spirit feels open, fresh, free and unhindered. In fact the visuals and artistry in my imagination are pretty amazing. I wish I could just insert a USB cable and download them for you now. But alas, like any great work, it takes time. 

And maybe I will have more time now as I take steps to slow myself. Rest and reflect. 

I wanted to share with you my story for now so you will understand if I need breaks or if I only post images (since one of my symptoms is cloudy thinking or brain fog which makes it difficult to process information or create coherent sentences). 

Thank you for your love and support and continuing with me on this journey! 

As of now, I have some great posts for this week and continue to be inspired by lovely imagery. 

So.. shall we enter into change together? One step at a time.... 

And how about you? What are the changes in your life now? 

images: great new to me shop, Katya Horner of slight clutter photography ... a fellow Texan!

 

What to do with Sunday?

Some ideas...

I started with a cup of tea and homemade (gluten free) waffles. Will see where I go from there.

What will you do with Sunday? (or what have you done?) .....

all images from Searching for Beauty Tumblr (please refer to them there for original sources)

My Week in Images

Spring abounds. 

Petals all around.

Some new, some old

All with a story to be told.

 

Here is to you and yours, 

May you find all that is in store

this weekend and forever more. 

 

* visit my shops to discover.... new hair adornments in gathering spriggs and fresh spring finds at gathering vintage (and next week there is more to come!) 

all images taken with my iphone by me for gathering spriggs

A Dutch Treat: At Home with Iris from Irideeen

Friends you are in for a real treat today. A Dutch treat from my dear blogging friend Iris of Irideeen who has long been a GS reader and often stops by to leave generous comments. I've enjoyed getting to know Iris better after she posted some thoughts to my query about Dutch design on this post. As I clicked over to her Flickr page I couldn't get enough of the images of her home. Her clean, feminine touch with a open door made me melt. This was a must share. 

Without further a do ... here are some thoughts from dear Iris about why she loves this lovely place called home. 

1. Tell us some of the basics: Name, Location, Occupation

 

Iris, The Netherlands (The Hague), inhouse lawyer 

 

2. What is the main design inspiration for your home?

 

I have an eclectic taste: I mix and match brocante, design, Ikea and antiques. Hence, I read and gain inspiration from a lot of interior blogs, magazines and books in many different styles.

 

3. What makes your home "feel like home"?

 

I think it is primarily the soul of the house (it was built in 1905), combined with the beloved items and art we have gathered over the years and the calming colors we have used (mainly blues, sand colors, whites and pastels).

 

4. Do you feel influenced by any design trends? If yes, which ones?

I am not really influenced by design trends; I stick to my own style and cherry pick in new designs that match my taste.

 

5. If we were to come over for a visit what would be the first thing we would see and what would you say to us? 

 

The first thing you would see would be my bicycle in the hallway, then you would see my children running at the door to greet you and I would say: "Hey, please come in, it is so lovely to have you here. Let's sit at the dining table, shall we?" (I love cooking, food and wine, so I would probably have invited you over for dinner or to enjoy a nice glass of wine and some finger food) 

Thanks Iris!! You and your home are simply beautiful.

... did you see those yummy desserts on her (parent's) table. I am looking forward to my visit someday!
Roadtrip to The Hague anyone? 

To learn more about Iris.. visit this post on Irideeen. Hope you enjoy even more images of her gorgeous home while you are there. 

 

* ps Irideeen is a Dutch word for plants that belong to the Iris species.

 

 all images: iris of irideeen

Shop Around the Corner: Paperdolls

Ok. I know its been too long since I did a Shop Around the Corner post. Many of you have asked about it and honestly, I was a little burnt out (since I put the pressure on myself to find a new unique shop every week). So when I stumbled upon this delightful Parisian beauty (via So Lovely decoration), it felt right... natural again. The joy was restored. 

So are you ready to fall in love ( I know those images already have you swooning)? Meet Candy Miller,a British expatriate passionate about fashion, who moved to Paris with a dream of opening a shop dedicated to promoting young artists. A decade later and several successful marketing and communications projects under her belt, Candy realizes her dream and launches Paperdolls. (english version)

Let me tell you that its pretty obvious that those years in marketing paid off for Miller's concept is simple yet brilliant. A house thats a shop. A shop thats a house. Its a topsy turvy fantasy where Wonderland peeks around every corner thanks to the careful planning of Agence Avous design. I mean look how the vintage lamps creep up the wall and onto the ceiling.. along with plates, chairs and cutlery. Each section of the store is divided up into rooms (kitchen, dining, salon, bedroom, bath ,etc.) And the creative styling is enough to make Anthropologie a bit green with envy. 

I would imagine it feeling a bit like a museum with fascinating collections begging you to stop and take in every last detail. (Btw, did you notice the vintage cast iron stove repurposed as Candy's cashwrap??... genius!)

Thanks Candy for your eye, your vision, your creativity and supporting young designers! Now, I just need to go update my passport and purchase a ticket! 

images: paperdolls and agence avous

Rainbow Dreams

Sometimes we just need a little rainbow in our lives after the rain...

Hope your week is bright and color filled as we live, breathe and learn to hope. 

Hugs to you all! 


images: such pretty things, apartment therapy,  necklace: AutMandata flowers in pail: Johner, kitchen: nest pretty things tumblr, chairs: red online, flowers: irideeen via gathering spriggs flickr group

Can Art Heal?

 

Amidst all the chaos in the world, and reading the amazing responses from the art and design community to the Japanese tragedy, I found myself pondering the role of art in times of crisis over the weekend.

As an artist and strong believer in personal counseling, I returned to some of the research I collected while in art school on Art and Healing. A topic of great importance to my final body of work. It seems true that art making has long been thought of as a cathartic tool, but my questions come as an artist creating to impact the world. How can viewing art change (or heal) the world?? 

A book on my bookshelf helped open up my narrow view:  

"But the intent of art...is not to alter the individual but to speak to that which is common to all viewers. In doing so it can change any one of us, but in ways now common to all viewers. We the veiwers, own the work of art. We bring to it our desires, our needs, and our interests."

" You become the perfection of the fragmented, broken work of art we see and feel... we at the final moment must determine how." ---  

(Art, Healing, and History by Sander L. Gillman from the book Pulse: Art, Healing and Transformation )

This article suggests that WE become the change factor.. our actions (and reactions)  the missing link.  

And how about you? How are you coping with this crisis? What has pulled you through these times of sadness and unknown? 

Are you looking to art, design, beauty for a symbol of hope? 

Here are some artists who influenced me over the years:

images :ernesto neto, naomi kobayashi, kiki smith via brooklyn museum all fiber art: joetta maue 

Love For Japan: Local effort goes Global

Friends, in times of great tragedy comes great need. We watch the devastation feeling helpless. Maybe even hopeless. That is why I want to share with you several efforts here at home where artists and shop owners are taking great steps to be proactive within their grief. When I saw EZ's relief fundraiser (donating all of her shop sales to the Red Cross), it sparked a light of hope within me. Then I began seeing more tweets of other shops taking action with donation. Redefine Home is pledging 25% of all sales to Architecture for Humanity. And many Etsians are offering special limited edition art prints where all proceeds will go to help our neighbor in need; like : this Remember Print by Design Twenty Six. In fact if you search "Japan or Japan Relief" on Etsy you are sure to find numerous shops that are contributing to the need. 

So, Gathering Spriggs and Gathering Vintage too are participating in the cause by donating 30% off all sales in both shops to World Vision (Building a Better World for Children). With new items being added daily in each of my Etsy shops, you are sure to find a gift for a friend, a special something for yourself as a reminder of your donation, or even a present to give for Easter or Mother's Day. 

Are you aware of other relief efforts in the art/design community? Please tweet them to me so I can add them to the list. How do you offer hope and help for those in need during great tragedy? 

** UPDATES: ** ( I will add other resources here through out the day)

For Japan With Love (Bloggers Day of Silence)

Dutch Door Press (100% of profits go toward Red Cross Relief)

Pingg- Designer cards with a heart for Japan

WSAKE- Help Japan Necklace

Secrets of a Butterfly: Withe Love to Japan, a Postcard donation event. 

Sweet Eventide: For Japan Print

 

Japan, know our hearts are with you! 

 creature comforts,  remember print by design twenty six, redefine home