Gather & Collect

Well, it’s been another minute since I’ve posted. I have every intent, but it’s how I roll…Not much has happened in the last year right? Oh wait…we’re still in the Pandemic of 2020, and civil unrest is more prevalent than any other time in my 51 trips around the Sun. Over the past presidential cycle, America feels more divided than ever.

It’s A LOT to take in… A LOT to think about…to worry about. It feels like rock bottom at times when you turn on the news, but hopefully WE as a nation can recover. We have to…what other choice do we have? I know that I personally have opened my heart…opened my ears…and opened my mind up to the reality that I am pretty damn fortunate to have been born into the privleges that come along with having white skin. I have taken it for granted, lived in a bubble, and it’s time to sit back and listen. Sit back and learn…sit back and reflect…and most importantly…to stand up and act. I WILL make changes and stand up against racism when I see it…when I unknowingly contribute to it…so that the society we live in is equitable for ALL. One person can’t fix the world, but I sure as shit will be part of the solution and not the problem. IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

What have we been up to?

The lockdown seemed like it would never end. Overnight, some ten plus weeks ago, I found myself closing up my little brick and mortar and realizing changes would need to be made to keep afloat. I quickly took to Facebook and Instagram and sold my wares. With the help of friends and family and the Williams boys, we delivered close to 200 orders during that time period. I began working with a web designer to help build an online shop, which is SO CLOSE to being launched. Stay tuned for that!

I can’t begin to thank those who have supported small businesses since this has all began. We’ve been fortunate to have moved on to Phase III (geez that still sounds so SCI-FI) and have reopened this past week. With new safety protocols in place, we are doing our best to be safe for everyone who enters our door. Masks are required, sanitizer is aplenty, and social distancing is key.

We’ve opened back up, stocked the shelves with new items, with a shit ton more on the way. We hope you will stop in and say hello! We’ve missed you.

OK…maybe I haven’t actually posted in three years, three months, and 27 days…but who’s counting? Initially, I couldn’t figure out what website to go to actually post…then about a year and a quarter in, I figured out that it was WordPress. For the life of me, it has taken me another year and a half to figure out the username and password. Eventually, I gave in and 37 seconds later reset the whole damn thing! Here I am, ready to post. Before sharing mesmerizing pictures that will bring tears to your eyes, I will reintroduce myself and recap the last 3 years, 3 months and 27 days…

I spent a good 40 minutes looking through random photos on my laptop and couldn’t find one where I didn’t look like I had been up for 17 hours and not used moisturizer in years. Another 20 minutes and I thought I had figured out how to rotate the picture and find out it rotated back…So this is a picture that represents me…slightly off, partially disheveled, but looking onward and upward (get it, the pic has me looking up…)

My name is Julie Spiller and I have owned Gather & Collect just shy of 8 years, 4 months. Boy have there been some ups and downs over the years, but I still enjoy what I do. Maybe not the storing it all over my garage and basement and living room and dining room and…you get the gist. A lot goes into owning a business. A LOT…A lot of time, effort, money, sweat equity, and HELP. Huge shoutout to the friends and family that make it possible.

Gather & Collect has changed a lot over the years. Where I started out the venture the first three years with a business partner and sweet friend, Jessica Moran, of @jessicamoraninteriors, I assumed the whole shabang back in 2014. Over time, I have shifted focus, shifted products, added in some snark and for better or for worse, some personality.

The tag line is still Gather & Collect…a place of vintage. I still feel that remains true. Vintage means more than just “antiques” or “aged”. To me, it’s a mix of old school, flashbacks, good vibes, memories, yester year… and so much more. My first few years I painted and sold a lot of furniture. To be honest, it became too hard to keep up with. You know when you feel stressed that you sold a few pieces, it’s time to shift gears.

Now I focus on smaller, more manageable goods. This allows me more time to thrift! I offer an eclectic mix of unique, original artwork, pottery, brassware, classic books, lamps, industrial finds, upcycled treasures, global goods…yadayadayada. I have expanded my lines to include local makers, from jewelry to soaps to candles to honey to stationery…the list goes on. The shop offers a curated collection of boho clothing, purses, scarves, ties, linens, wallets…

Maybe two or so years ago, I added “potentially offensives” to lighten the mood during the election and its current aftermath. Patches, pins, stickers, mugs, glasses, inappropriate cards, naughty pencils…political satire. I know my sense of humor may be offensive to some, and I can appreciate that. My intent is pure…to offer a chuckle here and there in hopes that it may lighten things up and you will share kindness with the next stranger you come across in your day.

That’s it…we’re all caught up! I’ll touch base in three or so years! Just kidding…I’m always posting on Instagram and Facebook, but I’m going to make every effort to post here more often. My goal is to offer items for sale online in the next few months (though for me, that may be next year). Thank you for your continued support of our little village, of my little shop, and for the memories you helped create. It really does take a village.

cheers to a life well lived…Julie

We skipped right from a rainy summer to snowy Halloween!

Man, October flew right by! It’s already November… We are bringing lots of new goods into the shop each day. Stay tuned for pics!

It’s getting dark at 3:30pm…It’s raining…again.  Fall is a beautiful time of year until the leaves are wet and laying on the lawn waiting to be picked up for the season.  Lot’s of heavy stories in the news to digest.  It’s time for comfort food.  Bowl of macaroni cheese in hand, I survey my surroundings.  Time to make “comfort space”.  It helps getting through the dreary Chicago weather by being able to look around your home and find things that give you a little pep in your step…a little flash of the pearly whites.  Here at Gather & Collect, we hope we are able to help you achieve that goal without breaking the bank.  Stop in.  We’ve scoured the midwest for vintage treasures that will surely help make your house a home.

Cheers to a vintage life well lived.

We’re gearing up for the holidays…stop in…there is literally something for EVERYONE on your list…make this years gifts affordable and personal.

I cannot BELIEVE it has been four years!  Where has the time gone??  It’s crazy to think that my two boys Jack and Owen were only 7 and 4 1/2 years old when we opened.  Huge shoutout to my forever partner Jessica Moran Rench for an amazing first three years.  So proud of her over the past year as I watch her business Jessica Moran Interiors kick into high gear!  It’s been a wonderful ride and I can’t thank everyone enough for all of the support…My friend and fellow workmate Ingrid Davis always says “it takes a village.”  So true, so true.  For all of the times I lost keys, had to run out to a baseball game, lost keys again, had help rearranging the shop and building fixtures (thanks Zak Wilson and Jordan Hasek), sudden illness, vacations, more lost keys…soooo many folks helped.  Jessica has continued to be my sounding board and support, as well as an occasional fill in!  From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and everyone of you.  Stop in the shop.  We’re now open SIX days a week!  Monday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm.  

OK…OK…so we took a brief (only 25 months) break from posting on our blog…between the business and kids and soccer, baseball, football, basketball, gymnastics, guitar, cello, dance, piano, vet runs…it has been put on the back burner. Like before, we will continue to add photos that inspire us when we scour the earth for what nots and doodads for the shop. Now to ease in…

Gather & Collect will soon be coming up on our 4th Anniversary this May in the lovely hamlet of Glen Ellyn, IL. No time to sit and collect dreams on Pinterest this morning…so I will leave you with some photos of our shop.

Check us out…we are now on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest.

Follow us, Like Us, Visit us. Shop us.

Cheers to a vintage life well lived. Julie – Gather & Collect