Holiday

GatheringsGift Guide

2011

Happy Holidays! Dear Friends! “Its the most wonderful time of the year!” Truly! I keep asking myself how December creeped up so quickly? In January this year I remember proclaiming in my journal “ This will be a year of change!” Little did I know how true that statement would prove itself. Not only was it the birth of Gatherings Magazine, but also became the dawn of parenthood for my husband and me. Today we found out that we are having a boy! OH BOY!Fewer things have taken me by such surprise.

It is my hope that you find an element of surprise in this little gift guide as we bring together simple joys of’holiday inspiration. We offer our favorite gift ideas for the loved ones in your life... (for everyone from the Gardener to the Music Aficionado). You will find sweet snacks and ideas for decorating your home for the holidays. Within these pages six amazing contributors and I open our homes and hearts as a gift to you.

This intro into a new phase of life for me brings this season quickly into per-spective. It is my hope that the doors of your heart open wide to receive Joy, Peace, Hope and Love in a new way.

Always,

HeatherBlessed is the season which engages the whole

world in a conspiracy of love! - Hamilton Wright Mabie

cover photo: heather spriggs

Contributors

Meghan KellyDesign Aficionado/Blogger

Ginny Donovan Food Blogger

Debra NortonStationary Designer/Blogger

Jennie PrinceDIY Blogger, Stylist

Eve PeachCrafter

Mary Ann SandersAntiques Dealer

Give the gift of Inspiration, Collaboration, and Invention

now available in print or digital download

Gatherings Magazine

Table of Contents

pages 2-3 Welcome/Contributors

pages 5 Table of contents

pages 6-9 Busy as a Bee Featured Shop

pages 11-27 Holiday Gift Guide

pages 28-31 In Mint Tradition

pages 32-37 New Twists on Old Standbys

pages 39-44 A Very Vintage Christmas

Busy As a Bee Heirloom Creations from Bee Vintage Redux

photos and text by Heather Breyer

Featured Shop

The Kind and Generous NecklaceA sweet bouquet of vintage roses in shades of blue and yellow! This one of a kind necklace is a collage of repurposed vintage rose earrings and pins. The little pendant, which measures 2”, hangs from a 21” antiqued brass chain and secures with a matching lobster clasp.$37

The Cooksferry Queen RingA one of a kind floral statement ring! This little lovely has been made from a vintage yellow and darkest blue pansy, which is centered with a sparkling rhinestone. The pansy, which measures 1 1/2” in diameter, has been affixed to an antiqued brass band that adjusts to fit sizes 6 1/2 to 9.$20

The Pearly Queen NecklaceA collage of vintage treasures in pearly shades of ivory and peachy pink! This vintage inspired neck-lace features a pendant made from a collection of old buttons, charm-ing roses, and a sweet swooping bird. The 2” pendant hangs from a 19 1/2” length of antiqued brass chain, and secures with a matching lobster clasp.$35

Opposite Page:

A Pretty HookA sweet and eco-friendly way to collect your hang-ups! This little wooden hook is painted the sweetest shade of blue, and decoupaged in a delightful rose-printed paper. And old wooden knob has been painted to match and strongly affixed to the front, ready to hold whatever you hang. The hook measures 4” in diameter. A saw-toothed picture hanger has been attached to the back.$16

The Green Aisles EarringsA sweet treat of a pair, these earrings have been made from gold and vintage mint green glass beads. The beads spin around a pair of gold plated hoop earrings. These one of a kind hoop earrings measure 1” in diameter.$18

The Slow Parade EarringsA sweet and lady-like earring pair, made from a collection of vintage goodies. Beads the color champagne are adorned with vintage ivory roses, and perfectly finished with tiny buds of blue and gold. The beads hang from a pair of nickle-free antiqued brass ear wires, and mea-sure 1 1/4” from tip to top.$21

The Breakfast In Bed RingA one of a kind ring festooned in pink and blue florals. This unique ring is made from a repur-posed vintage china plate. The edges have been smoothed down to be touchably smooth before being affixed to an antiqued brass band that adjusts to fit sizes 6 1/2-9.$18

The Golden Age BraceletA vintage garden of gold, ivory, and rhine-stone flowers and butterfly have been gathered together to create this sweet wrist corsage. This collage of repurposed earrings and pins sits atop an adjustable antiqued brass cuff bracelet.$35

Bee Vintage Redux is a collection of home and personal accessories created with the environment in mind. Using repurposed vintage finds as the main components of my work, I am putting to good use my love of flea markets and the treasures found within, repurposing and recycling time-worn vintage trinkets into something new and lovely, just for you!--- Heather Breyer etsy.com/shop/beevintageredux

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Ask About Our Advertising Options Email: Gatheringsmag@yahoo.com

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eLoved Circle Necklace by Olive and Cocoa

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Who’s on Your List?Gatherings Contributor’s

Top Picks for all the special people on your list.

No. 5 Primitive garden tools by This Vintage ThingNo. 6 Herb Garden Stakes by Pigeon Toe Ceramics No. 7 Homegrown Garden Cards from Terrain

No. 8 Mophead Hydrangea from Terrain

the Garden Lover

by Jennie Prince

No. 1 Farmer’s Basket from WisteriaNo. 2 Cottage Chic Bird Set from Timeless SettingsNo. 3 Gardman Watering Can from AmazonNo. 4 Palace Bird Feeder at Frontgate =click on photos for source link

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1.Revel Delve2.Designs By Taylor 4U3.Black Baroque4.Naturally Heart Felt5.Hana Hana6.Nika Perne

by Heather Spriggs

World Traveller4. 5.

6.

The Music Lover

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by Meghan Kelly

1. Urban Outfitters 2. Sonos 3. Uncommon 4. Chronicle Books 5. Amazon 6. West Elm

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1. Urban Outfitters 2. Sonos 3. Uncommon 4. Chronicle Books 5. Amazon 6. West Elm

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1. Pottery Barn 2. Besotted Brand 3.Matthew Mead Collection

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7by Debra Norton

The Collector

4. Mari Forssell 5. Uppercase Magazine.6. Anthropologie 7. Ladies and Gentlemen

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The Animal Loverby Meghan Kelly

1.Aubin and Wills 2. Pet Portraits by Kate Pugsley 3. Savage Artworks 4. Farm Anatomy- Amazon

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The Animal Loverby Meghan Kelly

5. Renegade Handmade 6.Corella Designs 7.Coral and Tusk

the Natural Baby

1. A Summer Afternoon 2. Baby Animals 3. Sewn Natural

by eve peach1.

2. 3.

the Natural Baby

4. Zeppi Prints 5. Smiling Tree Toys

6. Riley Construction

by eve peach

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3. Tea Time in a Parisian Tea Room” by Luci 4. Shortbread House Chocolate Orange Shortbread from Williams-Sonoma 5. Glass Teapot from Williams-Sonoma 6. Watercolor Petals Cup & saucer from Anthropologie

by Jennie Prince

1. 6” Cake Stand from Fishes Eddy 2. Harney and Son’s Tea 7. Small Sweet Treats by Zac Williams from Amazon 8. Stanhope Teapot from Anthropologie

The Crafter

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1.The Curiosity Shop2. Margo Nielsen Darling Ranges Dress3. Paint by Number4. Penguin Threads5. Handmade Living6. Uncommon Goods7. Purl Bee- Knit Cowl Pattern

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by Meghan Kelly

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Our resident culinary authority offers up one of her

favorite holiday treats for all ages.

In Mint Tradition

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wby Ginny Donovan

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Red Velvet Cupcakes with Mint Cream Cheese Icing

makes 28 cupcakes

1/8 cup (1 ounce) red food coloring3 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature1 3/4 cup sugar2 large eggs3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking soda2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 cup buttermilk1 cup sour cream1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

Icing1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature1 cup (8 ounces) cream cheese at room temperature1 1/2 cups powdered sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon vanilla or mint extractgreen food coloring, optional7-8 crushed peppermint candy canes for garnish, optional

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In a small bowl, stir the food coloring and cocoa powder together to make a smooth paste. Set aside. Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and the sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, then add the cocoa paste while continuing to beat. Reduce mixer speed to medium and beat the batter for about 4 minutes. In medium bowl, sift to-gether the flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir the vanilla into the buttermilk (this can be done in the measuring cup). Add the flour mixture in 3 increments alternately with the buttermilk in 2 increments, starting and ending with flour. Beat on medium speed just until ingredients are combined. Add the sour cream and vinegar and beat on low speed until combined.

Fill the muffin cups with about 1 tablespoon of batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes, just until cupcakes feel firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not overbake or the cupcakes will dry out. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then unmold onto a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.

Icing:In the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar on medium-high heat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla or mint extract, if using. (At this point, if you are going to color or flavor the icing and you want some to remain white, divide the icing. Mix in green food coloring and mint extract, if de-sired.)

Crush the candy canes (I put them between pieces of waxed paper and whacked them with a meat mallet. This way candy didn’t fly everywhere.) Sprinkle the pieces on top of the cup-cakes, if desired. w

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New Twists ... on Old Standbys?

This Season, Why not try oo

styling, photography and words by Heather Spriggs

otake simple objects found in nature, add a little color

and mix it up with fun cocktail jewelry pieces + handmade elements

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How do you take the everyday and repurpose it seasonally?

This year I decided to create a little vignette using objects found in nature along with a few household supplies and the creative handiwork of a dear friend. Eve Peach and I have collaborated since art school and often are inspired by similar materials and color choices. She whipped up some fluffy pom pom ornaments and garland using vintage fabric scraps on hand. I added the painted acorns and branches amped up with a few shots of hot pink duct tape.

Together this mix of soft/hard, cool/warm, natural/synthetic strikes just the right balance for an unexpected holiday vignette.

So go raid the pantry, your jewelry box, the back yard or even a friend’s craft room to infuse your holiday decor with a little unsuspected magic!

o

-to purchase the fabric ornaments and garland visit Eve’s Eden(http://evepeachart.etsy.com

A Very Vintage Christmas

text and styling by MaryAnn Sanders , photos by Heather Spriggs

A Nashville Antiques Dealer shares her secrets to

incorporating Vintage Christmas

accessories into her home.

I LOVE Vintage Christmas ornaments, all shapes, sizes and colors. I have been collecting them for years, and each year try to come up with new ways to dis-play them, since I have far too many for one tree.

One of my favorite ways to display is to combine the ornaments with other things that I collect, like my vintage pottery collection. I stuff the hollow centers of the pot-tery vases, planters and bowls with tissue paper and stack the ornaments in them. This adds a pop of color to the cabinet that I display the pottery in. I also love to use glass compotes and bowls, I have several and will place them all over the house filled to the brim with colorful old Shiny Brites! I save the older, more precious and detailed ones (Made in Poland or Germany) for the tree and mix in some of the solid colors. If you don’t have glass bowls and compotes, use any vase or clear glass container with a large enough mouth to get the ornaments in and out of easily.

Vintage Glass

Ornaments

Look around your home, use non-traditional containers from canning jars, to cake stands with glass domes, to flower pots painted in festive glitter paint to display all of your lovely vintage Christmas ornaments. A Jar that might hold cotton balls the rest of the year in the bathroom, used at Christmas can hold a lovely assortment of orna-ments and other festive trinkets. A silver-plated ice bucket, water pitcher or tiered serving tray filled and layered with vintage ornaments and a bit of glass garland, makes a lovely center piece or focal point in a room.

I collect 1950’s Celluloid Santa figurines that I use to decorate the fireplace mantle. Most years I combine them with a garland and vintage bubble lights. This year they may be grouped with a few vintage” Knee-Hugger” Elves and a celluloid snow man next to the tree on a table or on the buffet in the dining room. I like to have one or two groupings in each room of the house for the season rather than individual pieces all over. Groupings make more of a statement, and mixing Vintage Christmas items from your family or personal collections with newer items can offer high impact. q

During the Holidays I change out several of the floral prints that I have around my home with framed vintage cards.

And mix them in to areas where I have family photos.

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Groupings make more of a statement, and mixing Vintage Christmas items from your family or personal

collections with newer items can offer high impact. -MaryAnn Sanders yy

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Don’t Miss the White Issue

Winter 2012Releasing Jan. 15

Gatherings Magazine

photo Iris of Irideeen

subscribe: heatherspriggs.com

Have a Happy New Year!!!

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