gathering spriggs

Crafting Respect

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

Thinking Green for Spring

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 

Isn't It Romantic?

Lovelies! Thank you for being here with me this week, this year, through thick and thin. This week has been somewhat challenging (as you may have noticed). I am still trying to get myself  my home, my work, my body and my creativity back together after being away for nearly a week. My home turned into a man cave while I was gone, which is ok. I don't blame him. He made it up to me by surprising me with this beautiful Romantic necklace upon my return. I just feel a bit like a mess right now in more ways than one. I have some ongoing health problems that are beginning to interrupt life as I knew it. My doctor's appointment is not for two more weeks and I am trying to hold on. To do what I can , to give myself grace. But the perfectionist, achiever in me isn't really digging this delay. So I am taking time this weekend to give to myself. My husband is a constant Romantic ... he really lives out Valentine's Day sentiments through out the year. That with the fact that he is a Classical Guitar player, we don't really see each other this time of year. He is providing a romantic musical setting for many other lovers. So we try to incorporate Valentine's into our routine. Try to make time for dinner out, he buys me flowers and sweet gifts. We are planning a romantic mountain getaway in a few weeks, so we look forward to that time together. 

What are your plans this weekend?

How do you take time for Romance? How do you offer love to your devoted and yourself ?

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++ I almost forgot!! The Pink /Red Sale ends this monday so hurry over and receive 20% off in both of my shops! Gathering Vintage and Gathering Spriggs

Just enter the code: PINKRED11  when you check out! 

 

(i just added new items to Gathering Vintage.. so full of Romance!)

images: paper roses: blush envy, painting: britt hermann, teacups: gathering spriggs, dress: 

beach image: ada and darcy

A New Take on an Old Favorite: Mae

Friends, Hello. 

After an adventurous weekend and a 11 hour train/car ride I finally made it back to Nashville in the wee hours of the morning. So please excuse my delay in blogging and returning to the life I left behind last week. If only my dog and floors were as gracious and forgiving as you.

Honestly, I was hoping to craft a post sharing some of my new ideas on creative collaboration (after spending my Thanksgiving with the imaginative and thought-provoking Brigitte of Covet Chicago). Our conversations produced so much fodder for the imagination . Along with finishing The Art of Non-Conformity, my heart is rich with desire, hope, inspiration and touched by the beauty of true friendship. 

So, I will leave you to peruse a shop I discovered last week before I left... a fanciful kind of wall decal company based out of Australia. 

Mae is not your average wall decal shop. Its a new take on an old favorite. And its fabric!!! Squeal with delight!

Love to you dear friends,

all images :mae

Heather's Holiday Decor & Inspiration

Happy Monday!! So.... how was your weekend? Restful? Restoring? And those of you, post- Thanksgiving feasts, how are you doing today? Back to work? Are we ready for December? Ready to officially kick off the holiday season?

Well, allow me to indulge you a bit more with some of my favorite web finds to inspire your holiday decorating. I've been collecting these images for weeks over on Pinterest and for more check out my Holiday Inspiration and White Out Boards.

And as if it was made just for me, take a peek at stylist, Marie Nichols Christmas table decor series. (last image)

Hope you have a lovely Monday and I will be back tomorrow with updates on my long weekend and much more. 

images: simply grove, top collage: linda and harriet, free people vintage , susannah t, drift living,

recycled christmas tree: style-files

second collage: ruby upcycled designs, focal point, joliejolie designs, mantle: pinterest, luna and chloe, 

last image: marie nichols via whole lotta lovely

 

Holiday Glitz Jewelry Roundup: Upcycled Vintage

 

Happy Tuesday dear friends! I am sure many of you in the US are gearing up for your Thanksgiving holiday.  Although I am not cooking the meal this year, I have been doing some baking and the house smells of pumpkin pie spices! Mmmm! Today  I am back with this week's installment of my Holiday Jewelry Roundup featuring Upcycled /Recycled Vintage. (Ahhh.. love this one!) So near and dear to my heart. I actually made some upcycled vintage brooches last year at this time and my sister wants me to make more but it takes some time and that is one commodity I am running short on these days. 

So happy jewelry shopping... its a great time of year for glitzing up your look and finding treasures for loved ones! 

Doloris Petunia- creates custom designs from your own (or grandma's) cast offs. You will see her designs available this season at Anthropologie too! 

J.Francis Designs- creates a mixture of new and vintage pieces (made new) with vintage chandelier bits and baubles!

Maganda Jewelry- "Maganda means beautiful in  Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines) and that is exactly what these treasured collages are... I love these new fall pieces.

Alona Freeman- I've been eyeing these beauties since this summer. So feminine and fresh. Modern Romance, Vintage Style to a tee!

Gifting and Giving

Love is in the air 
Everywhere I look around 
Love is in the air 
Every sight and every sound

Love is in the air 
In the whisper of the trees 
Love is in the air 
In the thunder of the sea

And I don't know if I'm just dreaming 
Don't know if I feel sane 
But it's something that I must believe in 
And it's there when you call out my name

(John Paul Young)

Words escape me today. For the the spirit of giving yesterday touched me and when you have been handed an unexpected gift it takes your breath away (ok, go ahead.. insert lyrics here!) Maybe that is why countless songs have been written to try to express the unexplainable. Unfettered generosity. A true gift of heavenly proportions. 

When my husband came home last night he opened up his laptop and hit the play button. On the screen was a piece of music he had composed titled "Heather's Interlude" and the music.... Ahhh the music a rapturous violin and guitar duo that somehow felt like me, my heart. Not only was it a gift of tender love but I truly felt the gift of his passion, his creative soul.(especially when this is his busiest time of year filled to the brim with concerts, recitals, lessons,etc.)  I melted. 

And if I wasn't already in a puddle, I then began to read my emails for the day and found a message from one of my Etsy buyers who wrote an incredible letter thanking me for including a watercolor in the frame she purchased last week. She shared her story of giving her life in the service of nursing for the past 30 years and how she had to finally quit due to ongoing health problems and now disability keeping her from giving to others (her true heart). She mentioned that she noticed artists are generous people and is on a quest to fill her home with art and surround herself with inspiring creativity. Gasp! (Hands clasped over my heart). And to think that I was one of them! The simple act of giving a small watercolor, not only blessed her but she gave the gift back to me and it touched me so much that I know I must take my art, my creativity and my own giftings more seriously. And realize that the little things do reap great rewards. (even if we never know about them).

Simple gifts. Simple acts. 

How do you give and receive this time of year? 

p.s. dont you love these holiday packaging ideas... with National recycling day upon us I think these are some great ways to use what you have to present your presents.

images:  1. sea life style    2. la boheme blog   3. stacey winters 4. lolalina

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

Things I Love Thursdays: Its a Wrap

 

When Natalie of Stansberry Designs emailed me this week to share her vintage inspired Fall collection, I was instantly inspired to concoct a post with all of my favorite wraps for Fall. Plus there is finally a nip in the air here in Nashville and the leaves are beginning to turn so I must go pilfer through the closet for all my winter accessories. But these collections have me convinced that I may need a few more additions this year. How do you wrap for winter? I live in a pretty mild climate so I am still learning how to layer appropriately but love the idea of some wooly pieces mixed with knits. How about you??

images: top-stansberry designs collage-otto knits, thai elephant, two sea side babes, bottom- lazybones

Painted Pretties

 

 

Here's a few inspiration images that have my wheels turning for a new aspect of my business that I am embarking on.... I am constantly amazed what a little paint and a brush can do to bring new life to outdated pieces. What do you think about painted pieces?? Do you have any DIY success stories to share?

images: mixr, house to home, and gap interiors