gathering spriggs

What do your collections say about you??

Butterfly wings, wildflowers, shells, lambswool, feathers, vintage hats, clothes, tea tins, teapots, linens, etc.. These are a few of my favorite things..The list could go on and on and would include some less than lovely items (think more along the lines of specimens- yes. I love science and biology and have always collected items from nature like bones,etc.) My love for collecting was born from a long line of hunters and gatherers before me. As a child Saturday mornings meant piling into my fathers pick up truck to scour garage sales for trinkets and treasures. My grandparents have an RV garage (not for their RV mind you) but to house antiques. It's like touring a museum every time I visit them. The best part is that they know the stories and history behind every treasure. No piece is left unnoticed. 

This love for antiques was gifted to my sister and me and we carry the baton joyfully... (so much so that I opened an online shop to share my hobby addiction.) 

So what do my collections say about me? I am a constant gatherer. I love history. I love story. I love finding new life in the discarded, the forgotten, the remnants. I love to adopt items that have been loved before and are looking for a new home. I love discovering beauty in the unexpected.  My collections remind me of my own story. That I am a diamond in the rough: a soul with a bumpy past but great hope for the future.

How about you?? What do you collect? What items are you drawn to? And what do those collections say about you?

images: 1, polly eltes, 2, gathering vintage (me), 3, somethings hiding in here, 4. collage: (purl bee, design sponge, the selby, anthropologie eu, and stamps: anthro u.s.)

Gathering Vintage Fall 2010

Its Monday again. Not sure how that happened so fast. It all seems like a blur. And now its Monday morning and I only have about 15 minutes before I need to walk out the door. Certainly not enough time to spend with beloved friends. It makes me sad and long for luxurious amounts of time with you. I wish you were here with me this morning sitting across from me on one of my vintage peachy coral arm chairs with your cup of tea (or hot beverage of choice) telling me all about your weekend, your dreams, your hopes and inspirations. Then I would whip up a batch of chocolate chip scones and begin to tell you my story. Its a long one. But you are dear. Maybe we could stay in our jammies all day! (In this dream I would never have to get up and go get my dog from digging for chipmunks in the back flower beds, as I just did). Ugh. Its Monday! And my tea is getting cold. So I will say adios to you now. But will be back again to try to make this dream more of a reality.

In the meantime... check out all my new vintage loot I brought back from Kansas City!! Im pretty excited about all my new shop listings. Including a wide array of tea tins, and quirky souvenir plates, etc.. You never know maybe one of my treasures could be the perfect gift for your mom, sister , aunt or even yourself. Let me know what your favorites are! 

Love to you, Heather

all images: heather s thompson for gathering vintage 

Fashioning a Fall Palette

 

 

Have you ever wondered how Rachel Ashwell decorates her home for Autumn or say someone else with a defined stylistic color palette ?? Yesterday I had a little time before finishing my paint project and packing for my trip, to ponder my own Fall Interiors Palette. "How can a girl with a penchant for pastels inject Autumnal hues without straying from form", I asked? So I rounded up some treasures from around the house and began some color collages. Now, I am no Leslie of A Creative Mint, but this was a really fun (and therapeutic) project. And although I have been accused of making too many vignettes I realized its in my blood. I love my little vignettes as stories to my soul. (did you notice the one signature item that finds its way in all i do?) So in this little research project I found the answer to my question. It is possible to forfeit the local craft store decor in order to stay true to one's own style. And you?? What's your personal style and color palette?   and how do you do your home for Fall? 

Please share your Autumn inspirations over at Gathering Spriggs Flickr Group! I would love to see your inspirations and perhaps even a vignette or two! 

images: heather spriggs thompson for gathering spriggs

Waltz Around Texas...

 

You know it truly is a small world and maybe growing smaller by the day with globalization and so many online capabilities. I met a neighbor today. Hope on this wagon train and take a gander at the beautiful blog written by photographer and fellow Texan native (and now fellow Nashvillian), Keely Marie Scott. Since I am in Texas this weekend for the 4th of July, I couldn't think of better images to share with you than these beauties from Keely of her adventures at the Round Top Antiques Fair this spring. Do you live in the US and are you celebrating our Independence Day this weekend?? I'd love to hear all about it!

images: keely marie scott

Things I Love Thursday: Gathering Vintage Home Decor

 

Good Morning glories!!! How are you today?? Are you gearing up for the weekend? I know I am as I prepare for birthday mode. There are two this week. My very own. And then last night I realized that it is the one year anniversary of Gathering Vintage , my vintage etsy shop. Collecting is my passion or um.. addiction. Yes. I said it! So this shop helps me do so guilt free.  My passion is housewares from the 1940s-60s  but there are a few boho chic handmade 70s wares too that kind of round out the otherwise ultra shabby chic pieces.  Here I have curated little groupings of rooms that fit the GV style.  Also don't forget to add you own favorite images to the Gathering Spriggs flickr group- one of my best resources.

TO CELEBRATE IM OFFERING A SPECIAL 30% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE!!! (to Gathering Spriggs readers). 

Just type in code: BIRTHDAY when checking out. 

images: top right, holmberg living second rightadore vintage third right, what delilah did, chair: valspring, bottom embroidery ashleigh ewing,

all others : gathering vintage

Hunting and Gathering: Romance

Happy Weekend!! Hope you are resting today and starting a weekend of R and R! For me, its vacation time over and back to work on the shops, some new business cards and some other fun things Im working on that I will share later on... 

You may realize by now that I have a vintage addiction. Yes, I said it. Hello, my name is Heather and I am addicted to collecting vintage treasures. So I opened an Etsy shop (last May) to help purge some of my collections or at least feel like I have an excuse to buy new finds now. Whatever the case may be, here are some of my favorites- some of which were scored in Chicago this past trip and all with a romantic theme. Perfect options for Mother's Day or Summer Weddings! :)

images: taken/edited by heather for gathering vintage

Plentiful Parakeet Motifs

 

 

  

I don't know about you but I seem to have seen a ton of parakeet themes lately. M My sister pointed out these in the Anthopologie catalogue this month, and I have to kick myself for not getting a vintage pair for a steal in a antique mall in Kansas City. Usually not a fan of bird motifs, I have to say I have really fallen for these beauties. The colors are incredible (love the aqua, teal and yellow) with a tropical flair but not quite as flamboyant at the parrot. So what do  you think?? Yeah or Neh? Or do you have another obsession that is now a trend?

images: top collage: left: timeless design,right: mushroom and moss, all bottom: anthropologie, 2. prints and paper, 3. zipper pouch: burke decor, 4. cage lamp shade: anthropologie,figurine: sparker shop

 

A French Toast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Sunday friends! I never cease to be amazed at how many wonderfully creative blogs exist in cyberspace today. And after a little poking around last night, I discovered a blog written by an American living in France , taking gorgeous photos of her life there and sharing them on: Toungue and Cheek. Corey also began an online shop as another way to share her French antiques. I fell in love with the simple beauty of her images of life in France. What a way to live vicariously through someone with an amazing gift!  Hope the rest of your weekend is restful (as we adjust to the time change:)  oh, ps. you must check out her recipes section where she shares secrets of French cooking - i especially love the hot chocolate recipe!!

images: corey amaro of tongue in cheek

      

Colorful Collections

 

 

 

 

    
 
 

Hello all. How are you today? Making it through the middle of the week??  I have just returned from our little get away in Cincinnati and was extremely inspired by the creative home of my dear friends. They have a knack for pairing cool colors with warm, adding touches of color and whimsy with a well edited eye. More of that coming soon.

images: all from Its Great to be Home -photostream, please see for original sources

Hunting and Gathering: Only Time Will Tell

 

 

 

 

  

Good Morning dears! It has been one of those mornings already. This is my second attempt at this post. In the first one I tried to post it and my internet service went out and I lost everything! Urggh! So I am trying to let all that go and rewrite with my same enthusiasm I had the first time.  

So How are YOU? Are you a collector of things? Do you get inspired by objects that have history. Well, I am not only a collector but may I dare say a bit of an addict when it comes to vintage housewares, jewelry and clothes. Someone once told me the best thing for a collector to do is to sell your wares and share them with others, because there really is no cure for the disease. So that is why I opened my own little shop up. To have excuse for my addiction. These images all came from a little gallery I started to share photos of great finds. So do you have any collections. I would love to hear about them or even better you can upload photos and share them here.

Blessings today,

 images: seaside rose garden, kelly rae roberts, sunday times market, calloocallay, maureclaire, jek in the box