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
Hello dearests! How was your weekend? Busy? Relaxing?
Mine was a wonderful mix of both. Staying in on a raining Saturday and Sunday I was out all day at a Alice in Wonderland inspired fashion shoot where I was invited to provide table styling and props. Here are a few snaps of the day I took whilst the real photographer was busy doing his job. Of course those images will be stellar, but wanted to share with you right away my vantage point of the day. Although overcast and very cold, we trudged through (not minding the mud on our boots or in this case 4-inch stilletos) all for the sake of art. In between takes the models would throw on their coats and run to the heated cars waiting nearby.
The shoot was the vision of fashion designer Jennie of Vicious Threads who contacted me a week ago to see if I could join the team along with fellow local Etsian Meran of The Sai-Sai Shoppe who created the mini hats for the models.
Collaborating and trudging through an isolated landscape with plastic totes in hand reminded me of the years in art school schlepping around large art installations and costumes for performance pieces ... all in the name of art. and a shared experience. Priceless moments.
Hopefully I will have the professional images to share soon. I've given up trying to edit mine to perfection. They all seemed to come out kinda grainy today. So thanks for sharing this moment with me even if it is a bit rough around the edges.
That's why I love you so much!
ps. Also a huge thanks to my dear friend Eve Peach for loaning out some of her beloved teacups and butterfly teapot for the shoot.
A few of my favorite pretty pins this week on Pinterest + I am excited about my very first styling gig!! On Sunday I have been invited by a fellow Etsy seller.. a local fashion designer who has worked diligently to put together an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party photo shoot. Complete with her custom fashion creations, hats, and a long table in the grass. Yours truly has been invited to provide the tea sets, tea pots, vintage linens and be the table stylist on this shoot!!! Squeal!!
It is a huge dream of mine and I am simply over the moon!
Thank you dear friends for your love and support here at GS... I promise to share photos next week. Until then, hope your weekend is filled with sunshine and plentiful rest!
images: artwork, vintage hats, books, kitchen
When Susana contacted me via Etsy with an interest in some of my vintage items, I knew right away that she was a kindred spirit. Then I clicked over on her beautiful blog and was instantly smitten!! Susana is an economist by day, mother of two lovely girls and has a passion for all things pretty. Citrus and Orange is where she shares the beauty in her life, decor, design and party tables.
Her event design is so gorgeous... It is an honor to have one of my Gathering Vintage tablecloths and that Blue Coffee pot(shown above) as some of her props. They are like paints in the hands of a master. (She was featured on the Amy Atlas blog too!)
Thanks Susana for brightening my day... with your sunshine and delightful styling!
ps... check out my vintage shop stocked full with all of my latest finds destined for your table, creative projects, tea time or garden!
all images: citrus and orange
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 ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
++ 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
Emily of Whichgoose is definitely a girl after my own heart! She's a talented 20 something who has quit her day job to make lovely bridal hair accessories to sell in her Etsy shop. She is truly also a Modern Romantic with Vintage Style and I HEART all that she does. Hope you do too! To keep up with her latest magazine features and other exciting news, check out Emily's blog !
Are you thinking about Valentine Romance yet? Any traditions you would like to share? I need some creative ideas since I am going to be out of town the days prior.
Have you ever had a light bulb moment where you realize something cognitively that you knew deep down all along? Well, here I am approaching my mid-thirties and coming to terms with who I am. I don't know if you can relate but I feel like much of my life I have spent trying to be a chameleon. Always wanting to be someone else in order to blend in or please others. The color of my skin would change depending on who I was with. If there were accolades or awards for "people pleasing" I am sure I would have a gold star or two or even a golden statue by now. Its been my life's mission and I've certainly succeeded but to no real avail. Why do I feel sadness when I look at my empty desk or think about untouched projects that I put on the bottom of my list. (actually I think they fell off the edge of my list into some great abyss). It creates an ache in my soul. An ache to honor my creativity.
One thing I have realized is that I am not really a crafter or a maker. I'm not someone who can crank out merchandise or sew 20 pillows in a day. I like to dabble. And dabbling doesn't always make for a great business strategy or even a marketable product. This is where I get hung up. Between my great ideas and my practical (must turn this into a business) mentality. Why can't I just let myself play?
These are some thoughts that I have been collecting over the weekend. I thought I would share with you because I don't know that I have the answers. I'm still scratching my head.
So as a friend, here I am, asking how you give your creative self the time it needs. How do you create without putting pressure on yourself? How do you nurture that delicate seed?
images: collected from the gathering spriggs flickr group: cassia beck and daily suze
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
So many beautiful shops keeping popping up before me this week. I am trying desperately to remember them all and how I found them so that I might share with you. This simply classic French antique shop is the product of two sisters who travel the world to bring back charming finds to their LA shop. Plus, they create beautiful handmade paper treasures with that certain Je ne sais quoi. I wish I had discovered this shop before the Holiday season but fortunately for me I have some family birthdays in January too.
Hope you enjoy French Blue and Co. as well as Fanciful Designs as much as I have!
The shops are stocked and there is still a little time left to receive treasures before Dec. 24. Im including Priority Shipping on all orders this week. So are you still shopping or are you like my sister and ahead of the game with all your pretty packages neatly wrapped under the tree?Personally, I like to wait till the last minute. Seems like I have an addiction to adrenaline.
Hope you stop by or tell your friends who are looking for Modern Romantic themed handmades or vintage finds.
* NOW ADDING GIFT CERTIFICATES!! THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES! *
Artist/Designer,Vintage Housewares Shop Keeper
Recent Comments