I recently stumbled upon the work of textile designer Jess Feury. The muted color palette of her fiber work is consistent across all her pieces and is both retro and thoroughly modern at the same time. She lives and works in Berkeley, California and is the daughter of an artist and mechanic who values working with her hands. Her work includes handwoven apparel, jewelry and textiles. She draws inspiration from antique textiles, outsider and folk art, the world around her and found and unusual materials. How beautiful is her work?
For the past few years the shop has been using my Spotify account for the music in the space. When I’m at home or in the car, I’m constantly getting logged out so I finally created a dedicated account for the shop. Huzzah for small victories! Currently I just have one playlist, the one you see here which you can listen to below or at this link, but eventually there will be more. If you want to follow the account here for when we post new mixes, our username is gathergoodsco.
I love making and receiving music mixes and they were a staple of my growing up years. There is something about changing seasons that always inspires a new one. This playlist features most of my recent favorites that I have been listening to for the past year. Hope you enjoy. What have you been listening to lately?
My friend Amber always has the best makeup and beauty tips. She is the go-to among our girlfriends for new products & tricks we had no idea existed before but now we cant live without. Here are three such things:
1. The nail polish Penny Talk by essie . I met up with Amber and some friends for a quick afternoon get together and she was wearing this nail polish. It’s perfectly shimmery but still almost a neutral. I picked it up and it doesn’t disappoint.
2. Lanolin (aka nipple cream) as lip balm. I use Lansinoh brand. I know, I know, it seems weird, but trust me here. I was skeptical when Amber suggested it as well but now I use it too and there is no looking back. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it. And for purists, its only ingredient is wool fat, with no added ingredients or chemicals.
3. The oil cleansing method for washing your face at night. Have you heard of this? I hadn’t until Amber mentioned it. Another thing I was skeptical of, it is a technique that involves rubbing oil into your face and then wiping it off instead of face wash. Crazy, right? But it works amazingly. My husband, a scientist/chemist type said oil attracts oil like a magnet so that’s why it works. I had really clear skin in high school and then as soon as I hit my twenties I developed really bad acne that I still battle and have the scars to show for it. I tried everything and nothing helped. Oil cleansing has been hands-down a miracle for my skin.
What are some of your tried and true or new favorite beauty tips?
I first spotted this lovely bright and cheery living room of clothing designer Ulla Johnson on Domino Magazine’sinstagram feed. This is the color palette that I am always drawn to across all projects: mostly neutral with hints of green, steel blue, brown leather and pink.
I really like the glass pendant shown here that has a distinct but subtle look that doesn’t overpower the space. I also really like the texture of all the textiles in the space.
I am particularly obsessed with how people decorate their tiny details on dressers and other surfaces around the house. You can see where I’ve cataloged these on my Pinterest board “decor details“.
Mantles too stump me a bit. I don’t like things that look too cluttered or likewise too styled and it’s hard to strike that delicate balance in this spot. My own fireplace mantle is deep and in a corner so it is an awkward spot. I think I’ve finally found a good solution but it took me almost ten years before finding it. Ha!
I love the simplicity of this bedroom. It is sweet and lovely and I’d like to imagine a space like this for my daughter, but the reality is the floor is covered in legos and her walls plastered with drawings and I’m not sure either one of us have inherited the “minimal” gene.
I’ve been brainstorming bookshelves for our house too for a few years since we are avid readers and have books in all the nooks and crannies of our home. I’ve cataloged a lot of bookcases on Pinterest too here. We’ve finally purchased the lumber so I’m excited to see how they turn out. What solutions have you found for keeping all your books tidy and accessible?
The dreamiest table setting. What’s prettier than a collection of ceramics, tableware and plants on a farmhouse table in a room with lots of light? This tabletop moment from the instagram ofJersey Ice Cream Co, a husband and wife home designer and stylist team, makes me want to pull up a chair.
I really miss making and serving up drinks like we did at the old Gather space. Now that the weather is hot I’m craving delicious iced drinks. This iced hot chocolate from the instagram of Durham’s Cocoa Cinnamon looks amazing.
As a seriously introverted person (who does a good job of making it seem otherwise) I crave time in my own space and waffle between having a public space like Gather is now, or just a home studio where I can do my photography and styling work, have an online shop only, and do events separately. My extroverted friends get stir crazy by themselves and at home, whereas I’m the opposite and thrive and am most inspired by my lonesome with little bursts of outside stimulation. I love the idea of having a home kitchen photo studio like Seattle based food photographer Cannelle et Vanille that she showcased on her instagram.
And as a person who lives mostly in my head, I find that mind over matter is a big thing these days. I love this quote by Meryl Streep posted on Clementine Daily’sinstagram about putting blinders. Yes.
And speaking of checking out, don’t you just love this photo by Local Milk she posted on her instagram. Don’t you want to be here on this blanket on the beach having a picnic? I do.
I always love seeing how others shops merchandise their shelves. U.K. based Botany which sells plants and home wares and seems a kindred spirit, posted this shot on their instagram.
Last year at this time my husband, daughter and I were in Europe for about a month. My husband had the opportunity to work at his company’s German headquarters so my daughter and I tagged along and explored. Every weekend we traveled to another country and explored there too because of the close proximity of countries to Dusseldorf, our home base. I took a lot of photos, mostly of shops and flowers because I knew this was a once in a lifetime thing and I may not get the chance again. The trip was so inspiring to me as a designer and shop owner.
One of our weekend trips was to Amsterdam. Every store here was beautiful, plant-filled, white and bright. I really loved how all the shops we went to in Europe really cared about their shop exterior and interior.
Despite the chilly weather in Amsterdam, there were gorgeous, exotic, fresh cut flowers in vases in every shop, candles lit, and attention paid to the smallest details. The shop Sukah Amsterdam was just stunning. I loved the climbing vine framing the storefront window and the script type decal on the window in white. The potted planters with dainty purple flowers in them were the perfect accent.
Inside Sukah, everything was very neutral. The display pieces were all white which really allowed the merchandise to pop. Despite the lack of color in the shop, the space still felt warm because of the materials and textures they used for their displays: rope, wool fabrics, wood and yarn.
Every area of the shop was creatively merchandised and designed for your imagination to be sparked but also left plenty of eye-pleasing blank space for you to take in what you just saw. Here you see jewelry displayed in open wood frames arranged gallery wall style with a script quote. The font and quote keeps the continuity of the branding from the front of the store consistent throughout the space and still feels whimsical and not heavy handed.
When other colors were used in the merchandising of the space they stuck to light grays, and very pale pastels.
I especially enjoyed this table topped with beautiful ceramic pieces. Those white ceramic tea pots with wooden handles and copper details are right up my alley.
The attention to detail extended to their employee kitchenette, which fully visible from the shop, was tidy and perfectly lovely. Sigh, if only my kitchen stayed that way.
These wooden cabinets on the wall create movement and allow the space to not feel static and all “on display”. The clothing racks in the shop were made from birch wood and rope hung from the ceiling.
And as you leave a sweet little sign framed in wood. So nice.
Photos by Michelle Smith. Hire me for your next project.
Here are some things that have caught my eye on instagram:
I like the idea of a handsome desk tucked away into a corner. This desk posted by homepolish with it’s dark wood and single drawer is the perfect accent against an elegant backdrop of white walls and woodwork.
I’m perpetually curious and inspired by restaurant and retail spaces in other locales. This roadside spot in Petaluma captured by aguynamedpatrick looks intriguing. The tall galvanized tin bucket planters close in the patio, the patio lights add ambiance and of course the hand lettered sign on the old facade is rustic perfection.
Here’s another spot I wouldn’t mind visiting one day. This hotel room at the Henry Howard Hotel in New Orleans captured by designsponge on her instagram looks divine. I am a sucker for blue and white toile wallpaper and a four poster bed. Everything about this room says cozy and refined and I especially love the nod towards Louisiana jazz culture with the trombone above the bed.
If I could take pictures all day every day of flowers I would be a happy girl. That’s why I’m always enamored with the photographs of Ngoc Minh Ngo, she is a photographer after my own heart. I adore the photos in her first book Bringing Nature Home and stumbled upon this gorgeous photo of a peony on her instagram account.
When you run a business there are so many goals to set and try to reach. This quote by Yogi Berra hand lettered by Sycamore Street Press and posted on their instagram hits home.
I am always in awe of the decorating sense of Victoria Smith of sfgirlbybay. When she shares snippets of her house on instagram and elseware, they are always so good and the space looks wonderfully cozy and inviting. Major house goals.
