Pause

I've decided to take the week off from blogging. Between prepping everything for the online shop and the seemingly endless hunt for full time employment, I'm spent. My creativity is on pause, so rather than phoning it in, I thought it'd be better to just take a break.

While I'm away, I hope you'll enjoy these blogs I've recently discovered:

A House In The Hills

Justina Blakeney

Old Brand New

See you next week with some fun posts in preparation for Cinco de Mayo!

Finds to Fancy

This week has been all about preparing for the soon-to-open Gather and Hunt online shop. Inventory has taken over our home, my afternoons are spent shooting hundreds of photos, and I'm scheming up some cool packaging for all the future orders. 

Since my current world is nearly revolving around the shop, and I haven't had time to do any thrifting, I thought I'd share some of my favorite items, from the photo shoots so far, for today's Finds to Fancy.

What have you found lately? I've been missing my weekly trips to estate sales and thrift stores- once the shop opens I'll be able to get back out and I can't hardly wait! 

As always, I'd love to see your finds! Tag your photos with #findstofancy on Instagram or Twitter, or post it on the G&H Facebook page. 

Rooms to Live In

As I prepare to begin shooting all the inventory photos for the new shop, and in turn prepare for our home to become a bit of a disaster for a few days, I wanted to share another new feature- Rooms to Live In. 

Generally, I like our home, but I definitely have moments where I see a room in someone else's home and think 'I could live there'. This is especially true when things are chaotic around here- getting away from the everyday messes and into a lovely space that's perfectly styled and properly lit is such an appealing thought sometime. 

{Via}

Today I want to live in Paula Mills' living room. Every time I come across this photo it immediately soothes me, and brings me some joy. I love all the texture, balanced by the white walls and airy light. I love the mantel styling with the pops of color and all the mirrors in interesting shapes. I even love the little washi tape star on the wall. 

Do you have days when you want to live in someone else's space? What room do you want to live in? 

Something Old/Something New

One of the unfortunate side effects of vintage goods becoming popular in the mainstream is that it's become harder to find great things, and when you do, they can be absurdly expensive. While I've always been a bit of a purist when it comes to vintage, the new vintage economy has softened me a bit to well done reproductions and vintage inspired pieces- they're available and the average person can better afford them. All of this sparked an idea for a new regular feature- Something Old/Something New- where I'll feature a vintage item, and a similar, but affordable, new piece.

{Via}

Brass has certainly made a comeback. While some of you may have been using brass accents all along, I think most of us haven't decorated with brass since the 80's, if ever. While it's quite easy to find affordable small vintage accent pieces like candlesticks, vessels, and tchotchkes at the thrift store or flea markets, larger pieces like tables will cost you quite a bit.

{Via}

A table similar to the one next to the sofa in Bri Emery's fabulous apartment could run anywhere from $200-$1000, depending on the designer and where you buy it. The West Elm side table in the foreground, while more affordable, will still put you back $150.

For a really affordable option, without losing the glam/mid-century vibe, this side table from Target costs less than $50. Plus, it's small footprint makes it easy to add, even if you're limited on space.

What do you think of this new feature? Are there any items or topics you'd like to see covered here? Let me know- I love getting feedback!

Speaking of feedback- I want to thank everyone who commented here or on IG last week regarding my idea of opening an online store- I really appreciated everything you had to say and all the encouragement. I have come to a decision, and I will be opening an online shop! I'm going to begin photographing inventory this week, and hope to be open by May. I will be using my own shop site rather than Etsy, which will live right here on the G&H site. I'm really excited and I'm thankful for your help in making this decision!

A Curated Life: Work in Progress

I think it's easy to look at pretty, styled photos of other people's homes and think- if only I could just get my home to look that good, then I'd be happy. After all, what we see online and in magazines is the best version- not the real life version.

In real life, even in the homes of interior stylists, things are constantly in flux. I'm constantly scheming up better ways to style things, and new projects I want to work on. Things are also not always pretty in real life. There are several areas in our home, now and in the past, that I am always unhappy with because they just don't look right, but sometimes I just don't have the time or energy (or money) to do anything about it. Real life can be messy and is always a work in progress.

Today I thought I'd share some before and after photos of a few areas I've recently refreshed. There are still a million things I want to change- namely I'm itching to paint most of our wood furniture (except the misters pieces) white- but I do like these little changes, and sometimes, it's all about the little things.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

(Of course, going from a bathroom with no windows and an insanely low ceiling to one with high ceilings and lots of light helps immensely too!)

Before:

After:

(Not as dramatic a change as some of the others, but enough of a change to make me happy).

What changes are you craving around your home? Are there little changes that would make you happy for now?

P.S. This post has really driven home for me how much better my photos look since I started using a 50mm lens. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm kind of blown away by the difference it's made. If you have a Canon DSLR, I definitely recommend getting the 'nifty fifty' lens- it's so affordable and makes a big impact. (Nikon users- a 50mm is still a great investment for you, but will cost you a lot more than the Canon lens- sorry).

Pondering a Change (and I need your help)

{Image via HGTV}

As I prepared to write this post, I found myself searching through old images on my computer. I came upon photos from the very first day that Dear Darling Vintage, the company Melissa and I used to have together, was open. In a few weeks it'll be 3 years since that pivotal day, and so much has happened in that time- 2 blogs, vending at 4 shows, countless logos and blog headers, at least 5 different business cards, meeting thousands of amazing people both in person and online, and a move to a new state.

My Urban Craft Uprising booth last summer.

When we decided to move to California so that the mister could pursue his PhD, I had no idea what it would mean for Gather and Hunt. I knew I'd need a 'regular' job with a steady income to support us, and that might mean putting G&H on the back burner for 4 years. Having been here for seven months now, that 'regular' job still hasn't come (though not for lack of trying), and while I've tried to keep improving the blog, the G&H shop has been in limbo (aka plastic bins stashed in every spare closet space we have), and I've been pondering what to do about it all.

Over the last month or so, I've landed on the idea of taking the G&H shop online. While I do hope to shift my focus to interior and photo styling in the future, I still have a great inventory of vintage goods just waiting for new homes, and having a shop gives me a legitimate excuse to indulge my love of scouring thrift stores and estate sales.

So here's where you come in- as I weigh all my options, I could use some feedback. Do you buy vintage from online shops? If not, why? Would you prefer to see a G&H only shopping site, or a G&H Etsy shop? I really value the opinion of my readers, and will take your input into consideration, so please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

In the Kitchen: Easter Brunch (Part 2)

Unless this is your very first time at Gather and Hunt, you probably know that the Old Fashioned is my drink. For the Easter brunch menu I wanted a cocktail that was a little outside the usual mimosa and bloody mary realm, so I decided to try a breakfast version of my go-to drink and created the Maple Old Fashioned. 

Possibly even more simple than a regular Old Fashioned, for this cocktail you'll need:

Bourbon or whiskey (I'm on a rye kick lately, and Bulleit is one of my favorites for rye or bourbon)
Orange bitters (Angostura is my top choice for orange bitters)
Good quality pure maple syrup
Orange slices (to add a little color I used a blood orange)

Start by squeezing an orange wedge into the bottom of the glass (no muddling required). Add 2-3 dashes orange bitters and 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Top with 2 oz whiskey. Stir. Add 2-3 ice cubes. Enjoy.

I even skipped the cherry on this one, which is usually my favorite part (as long as the cherries are good and not those neon red ones). The maple really complements the spice of the rye nicely and since it's small in ounces, your guests will still have room for coffee.

I hope these Easter brunch ideas have been helpful. Have a lovely holiday weekend and let me know if you make any of the dishes from my menu- I'd love to know what you thought.

In the Kitchen: Easter Brunch (Part 1)

For the final posts in the Easter table series we're getting down to the important stuff- food and drink.

To keep the meal as simple as the rest of the table I choose a few easy recipes that wouldn't have me in the kitchen the whole day. You may already know this about me, but I'm a terrible recipe user- I always add in my own things, change amounts that don't seem right to me, etc. The great thing about the recipes I picked is that they can be altered easily, so don't be afraid to try a change that appeals to you. 

Easter brunch menu:

Individual spring vegetable frittatas

Lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberries and Meyer lemon syrup (recipe below)

Thick cut bacon

Coffee

Maple Old Fashioned

A few quick notes about the changes I made to these Martha Stewart recipes:

-For the frittatas, I only made 1/4 of what the recipe calls for- it serves 4 that way. I used asparagus, red bell pepper, and carrot for the veggies and an aged Irish cheddar for the cheese. I also skipped the mini muffin tin and used a regular muffin tin- each frittata was a perfect portion for one person, just know you might need to cook them 5 minutes longer or so.

-The ricotta pancakes are great with orange as the recipe calls for, but since I had some Meyer lemons to use up, I swapped lemon zest in for the orange and added some extra sugar to balance out the tartness. 

For the Meyer lemon syrup you'll need:

~6 Meyer lemons to yield 1 cup juice (regular lemon juice will work, it'll just be a bit more tart)

Zest of 6 Meyer lemons

1 1/2 cups sugar

Start by zesting the lemons. I wanted to leave the zest in the syrup to give it a speckled appearance, so I used my fine Microplane zester. If you prefer to strain the zest out, you can get bigger strips with a traditional zester or a vegetable peeler. Be careful to only remove the outer rind, leaving the bitter pith (white part) behind.

Next, cut all the lemons in half and juice them into a liquid measuring cup. 

Strain the juice into a small saucepan, add the lemon zest and the sugar and simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. If you plan to use this syrup only for drinks, remove the pan as soon as the sugar is dissolved, if you're using it for pancakes or desserts, cook another 5 minutes to get a thicker consistency. 

Let the syrup cool to room temperature and transfer to a jar or bottle. Syrup will keep, refridgerated, for up to 4 weeks. 

This tart syrup is great on pancakes, but can also be used on iced cream, to make sodas and cocktails or to sweeten your tea (I've been using it in iced tea and it's amazing). 

Now that the food is taken care of, stay tuned for part two- the Maple Old Fashioned recipe!

At Our (Easter) Table

One of my favorite things about holidays is having an excuse to go a little over the top with table settings. For Easter this year I wanted to create a simple brunch, with the special touches a holiday table deserves.

I've been waiting for the right occasion to feature the vintage enamelware dishes (similar here and here) I found at the Long Beach flea market a few months ago and the simple palette of this table setting was the perfect opportunity. Combined with vintage mismatched silverware, Fog Linen Work napkins, vintage milk glass mugs (similar here), and juice glasses from Anthropologie, the overall feel is fresh and not too feminine but still pretty.

These little eggshell planters were simple to create, and make a lovely gift for guests to take home. Once the weather is warm enough, they can be transplanted to the garden- eggshell and all. To stand an egg on end, without a visible holder, a large jump ring (used for jewelry and available at craft stores) placed under the center of the egg keeps it upright.

What would brunch be without cocktails? Taking advantage of all the citrus in season here in California, I dreamed up a breakfast version of my favorite drink- the Old Fashioned. Check back tomorrow for the recipe, as well as the full brunch menu.

To complement the rope wrapped vases I shared yesterday, a few lengths of cotton rope turned garland with a few knots, became a simple and affordable detail for both the table, and the dining room entry.

What are you planning for the holiday? I'd love to see how your table turns out- tag me on Instagram or Twitter, or post a photo to the G&H Facebook page.

{All photos, styling, and design by Danae Horst/Gather and Hunt}

DIY:Simple Spring Vases

Confession- Easter totally snuck up on me. For some reason I had been thinking it was in April, only to discover a little more than a week ago that it was in fact at the end of March. After a minor panic attack, I went into planning mode, knowing that whatever I choose for Easter posts, simplicity was key- for folks like me who didn't have much time to work on elaborate crafts and recipes.

I'll be sharing our Easter table tomorrow, and the menu and some easy recipes on Friday, but I thought I should start with the DIY- so you'll have enough time to make it for your Easter table if you want.

I've been really enjoying keeping things simple lately. With the arrival of spring, a clean and simple palette keeps things fresh for me, so I let that freshness inspire our table setting, and this easy rope wrapped vase (or candle holder).

For this project you'll need:

Empty glass vase or jar
Heavy duty cotton twine
Scissors
Safety pin
Hot glue gun

Begin by braiding three strands of twine together. The length of the strands will depend on how big your vase is, but you'll need about two times the circumference of the vase multiplied by the number of times you want to wrap it (sorry for the math-speak). I find it easiest to use a safety pin to anchor the braid to something sturdy. Braid as carefully as you can in order to keep the cord flat, rather than twisted.

Once you have a braided cord of the length you need, tie a knot at both ends.

Attach the cord to the vase with a small amount of hot glue and let cool. Don't worry if glue seeps out around the cord, you can either remove it when it's still warm, or cut it away with an Exacto knife later.

Begin wrapping the vase, pulling the cord as tightly as you can without dislodging the glued end. Wrap until you've reached the end of the cord. Secure the end with more hot glue. 

If you prefer to hide the ends, rather than have the knot showing, cut the knot off, apply the glue and tuck the end behind the cord above it to secure. 

There are a number of variations you could try with this projects as well: wrapping it with unbraided twine or a piece of cotton rope; covering the rope with sections of colored thread; using colored twine instead of natural; etc. If you try any of these, I'd love to see!

Once your vase is complete, use it however you fancy. I planted herbs and flowers in mine, which will serve as the centerpiece of our Easter table, then be transplanted outside in a few weeks.

As always, if you make this project, share your photos with me- tag me on Instagram (@gatherandhunt) or Twitter (@gather_and_hunt), or post it to the G&H Facebook page!

Finds to Fancy: Vintage Whites Market

Last week I shared a peek at the Vintage Whites Market in Salt Lake City with you, but I didn't share any of my purchases with you. Since I definitely found a few things I fancy there, it seemed fitting to give them a Finds to Fancy post all their own.

Upon discovering this step stool folded, I couldn't get my money out fast enough. I've been looking for an old one for years, but have never found one that folded up as neatly as the modern one I have. Now I have a functional step stool that can also be used as a prop. The stool, as well as this cool military metal drum (which I will likely use for flowers) both came from the charming Ande Monster booth.

After the kindness Cathie from Flea Attitude showed me by lending me shelves to use in the workshop, I knew I wanted to make sure and support her with a purchase. She had loads of amazing things, so it wasn't a hard decision at all.

She had a whole pile of what I think are iron drill bits (if anyone knows for sure what it is, please comment below), and she had even gone to the trouble of sealing them so the rust wasn't rubbing off on everything. I wanted all of them, but restrained myself with just one.

As you may have noticed, I have a small collection of old bottles, and a milk glass collection, but this is my first milk glass bottle. I love the embossed type on it, which reads 'Harriet Hubbard/Ayer/New York N.Y./ USA'. (Harriet Hubbard was apparently the first american woman to have a large cosmetics company).

The brass hose clamp rings in the next photo were also found at Flea Attitude, and as is occasionally the case with me and little old things, I'm not sure what I'll be using them for.

Though I wish I had been able to spend more money on all the wonderful goods Dots & Stripes had in their booth, I love these little photo holders, and Caytlyn was kind enough to gift me the adorable little ampersand too, which I can't wait to add to the new vignette I'm working on that's all about the mister and I.

Jennifer, of Funky Junk, always has an amazing selection of unique items, and really has a knack for finding the coolest industrial things. There were so many things I wish I could have bought from her, but I narrowed it down to this spoon. It's worn just perfectly and will make a good addition to the photo styling prop collection.

My final purchase of the day was this new old stock wooden gas gauge. John, from The Cabinet of Curiosity, had a whole pile of them and told me about how early model cars came with something similar but that since they were wood, they became worn out over time so gas stations would have these available. Since different kinds of cars had different styles of gas tanks, each manufacturer would have a gauge specific to their car. I loved the graphic look of it and think it will fit in nicely with my unusual measuring tools collection (which I still need to install in our new place).

What have you found lately? As always, I'd love to see! Tag me in an Instagram photo (@gatherandhunt), or even better, send me some photos to be featured in a future edition of Finds to Fancy!

Round 'Em Up: Patio Plans

When we first moved into our place in Pasadena, one of the features I was most excited about was the little piece of space right outside the back door. It's not much to look at- the grass died long along and there's an old planter box that's falling apart, but I knew it could make a perfect, though tiny, patio.

{Via}

For our anniversary we decided to buy a patio table and chairs as a gift to ourselves. I found a vintage Brown and Jordan set for less than $100, and they even offerred to deliver it. We were sold! It's pretty cute- similar to the one above, but ours still has it's glass top.

We cleaned it up a little and set it out in our little dirt patch and started enjoying meals outside, but never got around to turning it into a real patio, unless you count hanging up some lights.

Now that summer is approaching again, I'm back in patio planning mode and scheming about all that we can do with the space. The yard work and gardening that needs to be done is a bit daunting to me, but once that's taken care of, the fun part begins- accessorizing. Here's a little of what I've been dreaming about...

Clockwise from top: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

I was originally thinking of doing black and white with the yellow table set, but thanks to that pillow up there, and some feedback from a few of you on Instagram, I decided on a brighter palette instead- yellows, turquoise, colbalt blue, and kelly green. Thanks for saving me from my black and white addiction everyone! 

All the color will be a great accent for the vintage yellow of the table and it will add a little more interest to the space, which faces a drab tan wall. (Though I'm also scheming on ways to hide that wall with greenery).  

Are you dreaming of summer? What are you most excited about? 

In The Kitchen: Spiced Cream

Last week I posted an Instagram photo while I was making iced cream and a few of you asked for the recipe, so I'm happily obliging today.

A few years back, shortly after my mister and I were married, I started working on a new business- an iced cream shop. I spent months and months creating and testing recipes, looking at spaces in our Seattle neighborhood, searching for used equipment and all the other work that goes into opening a small business. We even held a big iced cream social (our shop was going to be called 'Social') that also served as a tasting party where I gathered feedback from our friends. Though a variety of things ended up getting in the way of my iced cream shop plans, those months at least left me with a great collection of original iced cream recipes. Today's flavor- Spiced Cream- is my mister's favorite and I think it's a great choice for this time of the year. The spices and vanilla have a warmth reminiscent of masala chai that can make even the gloomiest winter day a bit better, but for those of us in warmer climates, it's still a refreshing treat on a sunny day.

For a 2 qt. batch you'll need:

3 c. heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 c. whole milk
9 large egg yolks
1 c. sugar (this is one of the few recipes I use baker's sugar for rather than evaporated cane juice)
1/4 t. salt
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
1/4 t. each ginger, clove, cardamom, allspice
1/4 t. fresh ground black pepper (if you're feeling adventurous)
(These spice measurements are a good starting point, but you can add more to taste).

Bring cream, milk, vanilla and spices to simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. In the meantime, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and salt until thick.

Once the cream mixture is simmering (small bubbles will appear across the surface), remove from heat and slowly whisk the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture. I like to 'temper' the mixture by quickly whisking about 1/4 cup of the cream into the eggs before adding the rest.

Return mixture to saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until it reaches 178°F (about 5 minutes). Immediately remove from heat. The temperature is very important so the easiest way to ensure you don't scald the mixture is to keep a thermometer clipped to the side of the pan, making sure the tip doesn't touch the bottom or side of the pan. If you have a digital thermometer, you can set it to monitor the temp and beep when it's reached 178°.

Set a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and and strain the iced cream base into the bowl. Place bowl inside a larger bowl and surround with ice. Add water to create an ice bath and place the bowls in the fridge. Stir periodically until the mixture has chilled completely.

Once chilled, freeze the iced cream base in your iced cream maker according to the manufacturers instructions. (We have the Cuisinart 2 qt maker and for an affordable home machine I think it's wonderful).

After the iced cream maker has done it's job, transfer the iced cream to a freezer safe container and freeze until it's at your preferred consistency- 2 hours is usually perfect. Serve and enjoy! If you're looking for a slightly fancier dessert, homemade gingersnaps make a great companion to the spicy flavors of the iced cream.

A few notes:

- You can try making this low fat by using lower fat milk, but I can't attest to the results. It will likely not be as creamy and smooth.

-Homemade iced cream, without all the preservatives and stabilizers of many store bought brands, melts much faster, so you'll want to serve it right before it will be eaten for best consistency.

-This recipe is a great base for other iced cream flavors, just omit the spices and add other ingredients.

Once you try this recipe at home, let me know what you think! I'd also love to hear your ideas for any additions or substitutions.

Good Times at the Vintage Whites Market

I almost can't believe that this time last week I was rolling into Salt Lake City to spend the weekend at The Vintage Whites Market. Where did this week go?!

I had a lovely time at the VWM and enjoyed teaching my first interior styling class, meeting new friends, catching up with old ones, and doing a tiny bit of shopping too. I even managed to run around before the market opened and take some photos to share.

I wish I had been able to get a better shot of the entry- 3 Dotters Vintage Rentals did an amazing job. There were bikes and globes hanging from the ceiling!

Love the VWM totes- they're handmade!

These old educational charts from asian countries were so cool. C.G. Sparks had a great selection of antiques and beautiful new imported items as well.

Ande Monster was one of my favorite booths- they had a great mix of vintage clothing and home goods,  and their signs with the chalk lettering were amazing.

Cathie from Flea Attitude had a booth filled with great things, and she really helped me out of a bind by loaning me some shelves to use in my class. So thankful.

The ladies from Vintage Cupcake Co kept everyone going with delicious treats and charming old fashioned sodas.

I didn't even look to see how much this amazing sign from Coquille Vintage was, but I knew I had to at least have a photo of it.

3 Craft Chicks had so many great things- aren't these suitcases beautiful?

Nathan, from Funky Junk, hamming it up for the camera. His wife Jennifer, puts on the Funky Junk Show and always has one of the best booths at the Farm Chicks Show. I always love getting to see them so it was a great surprise to find them here with all the wonderful things in their booth.

I love love love these tipi's from Cat & Quail! If I had kids I would have bought one of these in a heart beat.  Their booth was great looking too.

The flowers and decor in the Ruche booth were so beautiful! Designed by Ashley from Tinge, they were the perfect match for the Ruche brand. If you're in Salt Lake- hire her for your next event, she's amazing!

Sam and Beth from Ruche, and Ben from Folk magazine- some of my lovely new friends from the weekend! Ruche and Folk both sponsored the event- thanks friends!

Loved that all the tables for shoppers to sit at were topped with vintage linens.

John from The Cabinet of Curiosity had a booth filled with all sorts of unusual things- always my favorite.

I even got to have a little reunion with Caytlyn, who I met at Alt this year. She and her husband run Dots & Stripes and  make the cutest wood cutout signs. Their booth design was so simple and looked amazing- all those bright colors made me happy every time I walked by.

My favorite vintage clothing booth was definitely 58 Bluebirds. The very stylish proprietor (and another new pal), Sonja, had the best selection of  clothes and accessories and was so helpful- loaning out things for us to use in the vintage fashion show.

I was so impressed with the vignettes that the students from my workshop created. I especially loved hearing their thoughts behind the displays. The woman who created the vignette on the red shelf even told a story about a family member through it, in spite of the fact she was working with items I had brought as props which she had no connection with. I had such a great time with the 'students'.

Before I left for the day I had to snap a photo of this charming rest room building. There were so many lovely old buildings all over the fairgrounds.

What a great time! If you ever have the chance to visit either the Salt Lake or Montana markets, I'd recommend it- it's one of my favorites!

I'll be back next week- sorry for the long stretch between posts, I should be back on a normal schedule now though.

Happy weekend!

Please Stand By...

This week is already looking to be a super busy one, and unfortunately, I didn't plan any posts ahead of time, so the blog will be suffering a teeny bit for a few days. 

In the meantime, I created a few new Pinterest boards, including a board inspired by the upcoming class at The Vintage Whites Market. Hopefully a little G&H on Pinterest will tide you over until I can get a new post up! 

Thanks for bearing with me friends! 

XO

In The Kitchen: Dark & Stormy Cocktail

Cocktails are one of my favorite things to make at home- partly because it's much more thrifty to make them at home, and partly because I've always wanted to be a bartender (but couldn't take the hours these days). Today I thought I'd share one of my favorites, a drink that is equally appropriate for cold Northeast nights, as it is for sunny SoCal afternoons- the Dark & Stormy.

First, a tiny bit of history (this is a vintage blog after all). The Dark & Stormy was supposedly created in the late 19th century after the British Navy purchased a ginger beer plant in Bermuda. Lore has it that ginger beer and rum were both beverages readily available on British naval vessels, and it wasn't long before they were combined. Today, the Bermudan rum company Gosling's actually holds a trademark on the name "Dark 'N' Stormy" and that trademark dictates that the drink be made only with Gosling's Black Seal Rum and ginger beer- nothing more.

The cocktail I'm sharing today, while similar to, and inspired by, the Dark 'n' Stormy, is my own take on the drink so I'm using the legally safe moniker 'Dark & Stormy'.

Gosling's rum is not a liquor we usually keep on hand, however The Kraken black spiced rum is (we love it mixed with eggnog at the holiday's), so it has become our rum of choice in this drink.

Other than the dark rum, you'll need:

Fresh ginger
Lime*
Ginger beer of choice
(I like a spicy one, especially in this drink, so Fever-Tree or Reed's is my pick. If you're in Seattle, go for locally made Rachel's Ginger Beer- it's amazing and what I used when we could get it).

Start with a slice of fresh ginger combined with a lime wedge in a tall glass. Muddle the ginger and lime until the lime is juiced and the ginger is broken up a bit.

After muddling, you can opt to leave the lime and ginger in the bottom of the glass, or remove them with a slotted spoon (like I did) and then fill the glass with ice.

Add 2 oz. dark rum, top off with ginger beer, and garnish with a slice of lime.

This drink is great for parties with it's simple ingredients, and if you have guests who don't drink alcohol they can enjoy a spicy ginger beer all by itself (ginger beer is a non-alcoholic soda).

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you have an enjoyable weekend ahead of you. I think I'm heading to the Beverly West Elm tomorrow for the Etsy pop-up shop with Emily Henderson. If you'll be there- let me know- I'd love to meet up for a Smilebooth photo!

*Want to know how to pick a good lime? Look for one with even skin texture, that's a bit soft when you gently squeeze it. Didn't get a soft one? No worries- just pop it in the microwave for 5-8 seconds before cutting to soften it up and make the juices easier to release.

A Curated Life

The collection I'm sharing today is one that I don't think anyone has seen before- not even the mister (at least not in it's entirety).

You may remember that I have a jewelry line from the giveaway I did last year. Now Prairie and Pearl never really took off like I hoped it would so I'm considering calling it quits, but in the course of creating this line of jewelry I have amassed quite the collection of trinkets (for lack of a better word). These little bits and baubles normally live in drawers above my work table- hidden away- but today I thought I'd share some of them with you.

Pen knives

Pens and pencils

Tiny achievement badges (anyone know where these would have been displayed?)

Random tags

The whole concept behind Prairie and Pearl was taking unusual vintage bits like these, combining them with modern findings and creating jewelry 'with a vintage past'. I had already gathered a small collection of these types of items, and once I had a reason to buy more, I'd grab up every funny little thing I found at estate sales, flea markets, and even Etsy.

Pocket and stop watches

Mini padlocks

Swivel clips

I ended up with multiples of nearly everything, in hopes that once the jewelry started selling I would need to be able to create multiple versions of each piece (though no one piece was exactly alike). With so many little items collected and put away in drawers I feel a bit like a hoarder now, and may start selling them to people who can put them to use.

Pen nibs

Close up- aren't they cool?

Do you have things you've collected for projects you've never completed? It seems sad to let all of this go, but if I'm not going to use them, it's more sad to have them hidden away- right?

If you're interested in seeing the rest of the Prairie and Pearl line (or what's listed at least), visit my Etsy shop.

Finds to Fancy

I am utterly embarrassed by the tardiness of this Finds to Fancy post. It was supposed to go up last Friday, but life got in the way (as it does), and next thing I know- it's Wednesday already. I hope you'll accept my apologies, and enjoy these finds...

A few weeks ago, I made a visit to the Long Beach Antique Market for the first time. I had heard good things- lower prices, a more manageable size- so I was excited to have a chance to see it for myself. As with most of the flea markets out here there was a good mix of junk and amazingness. A entire booth full of vintage educational charts? Yes please! The prices were too high for this unemployed girl, but it was still amazing to see them all laid out.

I appear to have been drawn to lots of orange chairs that day. Aren't those stools in the middle awesome? The booth they were in had pretty high prices on everything so I didn't even ask about these, but I can dream about them, right?

The Wyoming girl in me just can't get into the idea of paying for antlers (especially shed ones), since you can wander around a field and find them for free (provided you have permission, of course) in my home state, but this booth had a ton of them, and they were selling like hot cakes.

I'm not positive if this was an attendance board, or something to keep track of bible verses, or what, but it definitely caught my eye. Does anyone know what this would have been used for?

It was a pretty light day for me- I could have left the cart in the car really. I was on a mission though- focused on finding some things to include in the tool kits I'm providing to the students who attend my home styling class at The Vintage Whites Market next weekend.

Mission accomplished- old bottles are always an easy addition to any vignette or display, so these were a great find for the tool kits. The vendor I purchased them from was nice and threw in a few extras, since I was buying so many- I always appreciate flea vendors who provide good customer service too.

Amazingly, this is the only thing I purchased for myself. I've been hoping to find a set of enamelware dishes, and this set of 6 was in great shape. Plus, I scored it for a song (her price was so reasonable I didn't even bargain with her). You'll definitely be seeing these in some upcoming photo shoots.

What have you found lately? You know I'd love to see! Take a photo for Instagram and tag me (@gatherandhunt) or email me photos and I'll share them in an upcoming Finds to Fancy.

A Curated Life

Sometimes, when I'm in need of inspiration, I look to those who have interests or styles that are similar to mine, but more so. A project that's over the top by comparison to how I would do it. Something on a scale I couldn't currently accomplish.

{Via}

This week I've been looking to Hollister and Porter Hovey for that kind of inspiration. You've probably seen their home, or their work, before. They've been featured in The New York Times, on Design Sponge, and even created a line of super amazing wall paper for Anthropologie. Hollister has a popular lifestyle blog, and the sisters started their company, Hovey Design, together. They collect all manner of beautiful curiosities, and have a major talent for styling their collections in dramatic ways. They're master curators.

{R: Via  L: Via}

What's inspiring you lately? What will you do with that inspiration? I think it's time to re-style the cubby-shelf thing in our living room that we also use as our 'entertainment center'. I'm hoping some of the inspiration I've been gathering this week will prove useful to me with that.

Gratitude

It's been months since I've done a Gratitude post and it seems like it's time for a comeback. I know I could use a little more gratitude in my life- it's been too easy to focus on life's problems these past months, and forget about everything there is to be grateful for.

Lately I've been feeling pretty discouraged about Gather and Hunt. It seems like things just aren't gaining the momentum I'd like and I start to wonder if any of it really matters, or if it's even worth my time or yours. I'd like to say that I've moved past that discouragement, but that would be a lie. However, I haven't given up yet, and that is entirely due to you, dear readers. Today, I am grateful for all of you.

I wish there was a way to thank each of you personally, or that I could afford to send you all a token of my appreciation. Maybe someday. Until then, I thought I'd introduce you all to a few readers (who also blog) who consistently bring a little extra joy to my day with their comments and support.

One.
Katrina from Calikatrina. I met Katrina at the Oh Hello Friend holiday sale this past November- she bought one of my favorites from my deer collection. Since then, she has been just the sweetest- frequently stopping by the blog to comment. Her own blog is full of beautiful photography capturing her family life, as well as peeks at her amazing crochet work. She has an Etsy shop where she sells the cutest little crocheted bows and Buggs (those adorable booties in the photo above).

Two.
Meghan, from Sweet Pea and Beans. I'm not even sure how Meghan found G&H, but her comments always brighten my day. A wonderful writer, Meghan blogs about her sweet family and occasionally, their beautiful home, originally her grandparent's house. Her vintage business, The Postscript Society, has one of the most charming names- don't you think?

Three.
Emily from Peck Life. Now, I know I introduced you to Emily when I got back from Alt, but I just had to mention her again. She's one of the sweetest people I know and I always love getting a comment from her. A soon-to-be mom to two (she has an adorable 3 year old boy and another on the way!), her blog is full of inspiration, especially for those of you with little ones. She and her husband have also been living in the midst of a renovation to her Grandmother's 1971 rambler (it has a white fireplace- which I dream of having someday).

Four.
Brianne from The Ravenna Girls. Another blogger you might remember meeting here, Brianne is also a real life friend, but has been such a wonderful supporter from early on. Her site, which she co-edits with her best friend and housemate Danielle, covers everything from their beautiful home to their amazing garden, crafts, and more. They also run two Etsy shops- one for their vintage finds and another with their handmade goods (I love their nautical rope bracelets!). In addition to all that, Brianne is also an architect and is planning her upcoming wedding- I don't know how she does it!

Five.
Rebecca from We Are Large, People. Another one of my real life friends, Rebecca has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Though she hasn't been blogging lately, in the past, Rebecca has posted about fashion mainly as well as snippets of her life in general. She seeks to inspire others to love their bodies- no matter their size. She and her husband Bob have a cute dog, named Waffles, who they adore and recently bought the cutest little house in Seattle.

Six.
Melissa from Re.Stock. Of course, a post about the readers who encourage me most wouldn't be complete without mentioning my best friend, and biggest supporter, Melissa. Her own blog gives you a peek into her wonderful and creatively styled home, as well as her life with some of the cutest little girls in the world (yes, I might be a little biased), her husband (who was one of my first friends when I moved to Seattle), and their chickens. A clever decorator and maker, Melissa is always showcasing inventive ways to use vintage finds and is planning to open an Etsy store for her handmade goods this year.

I only wish every single one of you had a blog or website I could link to- because I really appreciate all of you, and treasure every comment you leave here, on FB or on Instagram. If you're a regular reader and have a blog- please leave your link in the comments here- I love to see what everyone else is up to.

Thank you again- all you lovely readers. I'm so grateful for you and the time you spend here every week.

{All photos in this post are via the blogs mentioned.}