gathering spriggs

Victorian Romance

Romantic style captured my heart from a very young age.  I remember when my ears were first pierced at age 12 ( a long anticipated rite of passage), and all I could imagine for weeks was the feeling of beautiful dangling victorian rose petals or antique brass trinkets twinkling with tiny jewels. Years have passed and the young Victorian in me still abides. I'm a sucker for jewelry with a historic spin. With Valentine's Day right around the corner and wedding season approaching I am imagining a new Romantic wandering the streets, adorned with precious tokens of love such as these. Here are a few of my Etsy favorites : La Boite a Bijoux, Vintage in Bloom and Room of Your Own.  

For more of my favorite etsy shops, click here. 

images: la boite a bijoux,  vintage in bloom, room of your own 

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 

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!

You are (Gifted)

 

Hello dears! Have you seen the much talked about and anticipated Holiday Magazine from Creature Comforts, Gifted? Its a beautiful work of love and community. Not only does it feature hundreds of possible gift ideas for everyone imaginable but Ez has collaborated with tons of fabulous women...bloggers, crafters, photographers and stylists. Please take a peak for virtual feast! 

With the holiday season upon us officially now, this sweet guide (along with your comments from yesterday) has my wheels turning about gifts, gifting, and being gifted. Mostly in the sense of our talents. I truly believe that we each have certain giftings that make us unique. And each day we have an opportunity to utilize those gifts for a greater good. Whether its a talent such as playing the piano, sewing clothes or concocting creations in the kitchen, we each have something to offer. Each have a distinctive voice either shaped from our past experiences or learned from others.  I'll share mine first (only if you promise to share yours too). Its taken me many years and countless hours of therapy to say this but " I have the gifts of : encouraging, listening, designing, creating art and hostessing" 

So Im excited to find out... How are you gifted?  And how do you use your gifts to give back?

 

all images: gifted magazine

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

A Few of My Favorite Things

 

So Very Pretty +  Kerry Berri

Gathering Spriggs + Yellena James +  Seesaw Designs + A Field Journal

Elle Interior SE 

Hello dearests! How was your weekend?? Restful? I sure hope you are ready for a new week full of grace for us! I know I am! I'll take all the grace I can get. Its going to be a busy one. I am right in the middle of finishing up a huge home project for a client (including vaulted ceilings, marble columns, trim, wainscote, niches,and more). Plus on thursday I am off to visit my sister in Kansas City to console her in her loss and be with her during my (2 yr. old nephews operation) ! She has been through such a hard time so please send your thoughts, prayers, hopes and love her way. She needs it right now.  While I am away I have another string of fabulous guest writers lined up for you... You will really love all this new material! Beauty, business tips and more! For now, I must leave you with these images of some of my favorite things that have me dreaming of a season of gifting coming up!  p.s. I am anxious to show you some new pics of my home but the image of the bed is a little corner I worked up this weekend complete with new coral sconces available in the shop.  ...... Hugs, Heather

Fair Weather Fall Collections

 

 
 

 

Happy Wednesday dear friends. At least I think its Wednesday, right? My brain is still in a bit of a fog as I try to adjust back to normal life. Today is my first day back to work and I am really trying to pretend like I have it together and can actually make it out the door in time. But before I do, I wanted to send you a good morning hug and show you these two companies I found recently and fell in love with. I love a good seasonal catalogue to imagine my life by and these two did just the trick. First is the Swedish home and fashion accessories company, Ceannis. Then, Dejeuner sur l'herbe, French ceramics with a quirky twist. 

How is your mid week going so far? Do you have any inspirations for Fall to share. Its been unseasonably warm this week (still in the mid 90's) but it can't stop me from dreaming of cooler days ahead.

 images: ceannis and dejeuner sur l'herbe