gathering spriggs

Earth Day: Supporting Upcycled Handmades

 

Good Morning dears! Shwoo. Its been a busy week this week and Im catching my breath a little bit here. I've been pondering what to write about for Earth day and with literally hundreds of submissions for Earth day I ending up going with the things that are most important to me- a call to support upcycled handmades and the artists who are struggling to make beautiful creations. (maybe cause thats me too)

Anway, here is a new etsy shop called Bee Vintage Redux whom i discovered via the Gathering Spriggs flickr group.

Hope you enjoy too!

images: bee vintage redux

Jutta's 1950's Bungalow Home Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another rainy dreary day here. And after yesterday filled with rain and taxes I need some color in my life today! And I couldn't think of a better way than to share with you the colorful home of, Jutta! She recently got married and this couple is in the process of fixing up their 1950's bungalow in Finland! The colors she has chosen are bold yet somehow soothing and refreshing. Jutta painted those rockin' kitchen cabinets herself. And did you notice the wallpaper in the entry hall?? I am in love!! I really admire people like Jutta who aren't afraid of taking risks, and they always pay off ( if you follow your heart). She has been documenting her process on flickr and her blog, Kootut murut. (dont worry, she writes in english too). Hope you enjoy the fearless designs Jutta has to offer. I can't wait to see it what else she comes up with. Maybe I need to go paint something hot pink now. Thanks Jutta for the inspiration!

Flea Market Storage Solutions 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends! Im so excited to have time now to post multiple times during the day! Ive been doing tons of research this weekend on line and have so many new things to share with you. I stayed up til 1:00 am last night and had dreams of interiors, fabrics, and etsy artisans! How fun! How is your monday going so far?  Are you like me, and the rest of us, trying to get organized, start taxes, and put away Christmas decor? Well, here are some of my favorite storage solutions using vintage items. Why not mix the old with the new. I like a little vintage mixed with some fresh Ikea pieces. Hope you are inspired! 

images: living etc, freudian slip vintage, skona hem, am radio, collage: 1. sisters agency, 2. karly b, 3. living etc.

  
 

Flea Market Storage Solutions Revisited

 

 

 

 

Happy Monday!! Can you believe it?? Is this year really almost over??  Of course this is such a good period for reflection between the end of one year and the start of another. My family is still here and will be here through the end of the week. It is such a treat to have all with us here in Nashville for the first time. It has been fun filled and busy but I won't forget about you! How was your holiday celebrations? Lots of food and fun? I sure hope so and would love to hear all about it!  

I began recalling some posts from earlier in the year and remembered this series on flea market storage solutions. I have decided to resurrect it for 2010. I still love finding new ways to incorporate new and well worn pieces together for creative home organization. Do you have any good ideas? Maybe you can let me know as this series progresses in the coming month. This is your sneak peak!

Also, remember to vote for your favorite blogs over at Apartment Therapy's Homies 2009. You can vote for Gathering Spriggs, here (just click the little house) and see who I have voted for here. Thank you dear readers!! 

images: house to home, living etc, chez larsson, 

Getting to Know...Elizabeth of Betty Hatchett Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allow me to introduce one of my dearest friends, Elizabeth of Betty Hatchett Design. Once roomates, Elizabeth and I have shared a similar design aesthetic and desire to create art and spaces together. She has recently moved and completely restored a Victorian row house in Cincinnati. And I love the way it is turning out so far. Hopefully someday we will have a home tour.

Name: Elizabeth (Betty) Hatchett

Occupation: Artist/ Designer

Location: Cincinnati, OH

As a wedding favor, my husband and I made 300 venus de milo candles out of a mold that belonged to his grandmother.  There were about 20 wall flowers that weren't chosen, so we display them as a reminder.  It's super fun to see candles at our friends homes too, especially when they are interestingly contorted by heat (lesson: use wax stiffener!)  We also smiled really big when we learned that one of our favorite little girls (who was actually present at the wedding, before Juli, her mother, even knew it) is learning the joys of nurturing with her yellow armless friend.  (Juli took her little angel's photo and, as you can see, she is a fantastic photographer… juliannaboehm.com)

I've been buying dried beans and grains at the recommendation of some of my health guru friends.  It makes me feel good to eat healthier and buy less packaging, but honestly, what I feel best about is how pretty it all looks in those glass jars.  (purchased from ikea).  Occasionally I like to pull an Amelie and plunge my hand into the grains too.

For texture of a different variety, I've been really enjoying our flokati rug.  This may be because we got it this week, it may be because it's the first room size rug I've ever owned, but I think it's mostly because it's fluffy to the point of obnoxiousness

my favorite flower vacillates between peonies and dahlias, usually depending on the season, and this is the glorious time of year when dahlias shine.  This beauty was at a fabulous public garden in Cincinnati called Ault Park.

My husband woke up one morning with a "vision" for our future bedroom: black ceilings and white lanterns.  This was right about the time when I was feeling like a light and airy decor change could be nice. But he was so excited…so we tried it and behold, I really love it.  They are on a remote control dimmer too.  (he's so smart)

I found this lady at the salvation army when I was looking for a necklace hook.  We attached her to the side of a cabinet in our bathroom and those voluptuous hips do the job perfectly.  Now I love her so much I want to find little friends for her to carry the rest of my necklace collection.

Hunting And Gathering: Photo Competition

So after last weeks post , I have decided to make Hunting and Gathering a weekly feature! To kick things off, I would love to see your vintage collections. So send me your best photos of vintage collections and I will post the top five next Tuesday. Please send jpgs only to [email protected] (one photo per person). The winners will receive a special prize (to be announced).  Good Luck!!

Eco-Interview: Heather Hackett of Little Hen Designs

Are you on the lookout for easy to do eco-friendly tips?  Well,Heather of Little Hen Designs has scores of impressive ideas up her sleeve. I met Heather through Holly Becker's Blogging your Way ecourse and love her fabulous blog. This will be a longer post than usual for me, so grab your beverage of choice and hang out with me to hear from Heather Hackett -you won't be dissapointed.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and the story of Little Hen Designs.

I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to pursue acting, writing and a creative life in general. I'm also an RN and have worked as a pediatric intensive care nurse for the past 9 years. A crazy combination, but I love both careers! Last spring, my wonderful husband and I welcomed our son, Henry, into the world and my quest to work from home began. I've always been obsessed with decorating our home and love, love, love to take on DIY projects. I started Little Hen Designs as a creative outlet, a way to share my projects and design ideas, as well as a launching pad for a work-from-home business. Blogging Your Way came along just as I began blogging, and it really inspired me to get Little Hen Designs up and running. I'm so excited about it and thrilled to be connecting with creative people from all over the world!

How long have you been living a eco-conscious life? And what inspired you?

I started to live a more eco-conscious life when I moved to California, where there is a huge emphasis on healthy, eco-friendly living. Southern California is incredibly beautiful, but LA is also overpopulated and polluted. I feel a responsibility to help keep it as clean and beautiful as possible, especially now that I'm raising a family here. I want to set a good example for my son and leave the earth a better place for him. I hope that for him green living is less a choice and more a way of life.

What are some of your favorite eco-friendly products?

I buy Dr. Bronner's Castile Lavender Liquid Soap in bulk and use it for everything, from body wash to floor cleaner. It's so fabulous! I also use Seventh Generation and Burt's Bees products quite a bit. I bought a food mill when my son was an infant and made my own organic baby food, which was both fun and economical! I keep a stash of cute re-usable canvas shopping bags in my car (a hybrid!) and find Ecover Stain Remover to be a daily necessity. Seriously, if you have kids you need this stuff! I also save every last bit of left over paint - we use Fresh Aire, which has zero VOCs - in airtight containers for DIY projects around the house. The containers are clear and look so pretty and neat all stacked up on a shelf! 

What tips can you offer on creating easy, practical green living habits?

If you have a local farmer's market, shop it! It's a great way to buy fresh, organic, affordable food and spend time outdoors. Keep a recycling bin right next to your trash can; it makes recycling easy and convenient. We recently put our cans side-by-side in the kitchen and were surprised to find the recycling bin filling faster than the trash can. Installing CFL bulbs, programmable thermostats, water heater blankets and energy saving blinds are all simple home projects that can reduce energy use and utility costs. Plants are a fantastic and inexpensive way to reduce indoor air pollution and making your own cleaning and beauty products can be really simple - I highly recommend "Home Hints & Tips" by Rosamond Richardson. Craigslist and Freecycle are the best! If you can buy used and renovate, it's the way to go! It helps reduce waste and it's rewarding both creatively and financially. Websites like Treehugger and The Daily Green are great places to visit for more information and daily tips for green living..

What are you working on now?

We moved into a new home at the beginning of the year, so I've been trying to renovate our old stuff rather than buying new. I'd like to convert a 6 foot bookshelf into two smaller shelves, but I haven't whipped out the power tools just yet! I'm also planning to sand and paint our coffee table (a great flea market find) and a bench I found on craigslist for $25 that's just oozing with potential. I'm thinking about re-upholstering our couch and armchairs, if I can talk my husband into it! At some point I'd also really like to start a vegetable garden. I don't exactly have a green thumb, but it's something I'd love to learn about.. As usual, I have way more projects on my list than I actually have time for!    

(All images: Heather Hackett)

Heads up

I've never been a fan of my (husband's bachelor pad) headboard, and have tried various alternatives including constructing slipcovers. But I am still not satisfied, so today I began a hunt for clever vintage inspired alternatives for headboards. Here are some that have tickled my fancy:

Martha Stewart via Apartment Therapy

Mirror Headboard via Coco + Kelley

Point Click Home

Vintage Iron Gate Headboard from Birds of a Feather

Upcycled Stationary

You are in for a treat today! One of my favorite new blogs from Blogging Your Way E-course is Blah to Tada by Claire.  She is a crafting/repurposing genius who takes everyday household items and gives them new life. Get ready to be amazed...

Ever wonder what to do with junk mail or bills without chucking them into the recycle bin? Claire has a creative answer!

Notice the tiny confetti created from the hole punches and how she turned the envelope window into a pocket for the confetti. WoW!

And another resourceful crafter who makes upcycled stationary from everyday materials is Paragraph Cove by Just Us Women. (Like these paint chip notecards! Love! So Creative!)

For more info and inspiration check out Esther's blog. She started her Etsy shop with encouragement from friends after creating handmade mail art for them.

So what are you waiting for? Lets go make some stationary and send a note to a friend.

Repurposed Vintage

Let me introduce you to a creative handful of new art made from old elements transformed in the hands of talented artists! This week's collection of vintage comes as a collage of beautiful handmade items from various sources.  One of these sources is the famed, ShopSCAD : the visionary empire that is brainchild of Paula S. Wallace, Amy Zurcher and Katie Runnels (you may have seen her around Design*Sponge, Decor8, Better Homes and Gardens).  In this shop they have pooled the talents of the artists of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for and assortment of  wares from fine art to decor, stationary,and accessories.  Other sources in this segment include Flickr, and Etsy. Each highlighted link will take you to the appropriate source.

-handmade book(top and left) wrapped in vintage fabric by photographer and book artists,

Rebecca Walker. 

 -mixed media art (tree and book pages) Kat Geiger .

-vintage atlas paperpouch by My Paper Garden.

-Top bedroom image:curtains by Jen Swearington made from two panels of hand-dyed, burnout    velvet and printed organza.

-Butlers Flatware by artist Adam Smith created from antique sterling flatware.

-Tea Cup chandelier by Domestic Construction.

-Upcycled window frame with salvaged quilt pieces from Jeepinpixie.

- top two images are the handiwork of Good Girl Studio

(she repurposes bits of costume jewelry to create new unique items.)

- bottom two earrings crafted from vintage glass beads by artist, Sam Norgard.