Gather-Studio - Gather Goods Co

July 5, 2018

Gather Studios, Grand Opening, Maker Pop Up in Garden

I am happy to say that all seven offices in the new Gather Studios space are filled with a wonderful mix of tenants, each of which are business owners. I will hopefully post more about that (and them) at a later date but for now wanted to share about the grand opening and some of the makers that I will have popped up in the back garden.

I have been spending the past few months upfitting the space and getting it geared up to host classes, events and to function as the showroom of the relaunching soon online shop. One of the key differences I was seeking out the most compared to the other Gather spaces was a private office for myself, outdoor and bigger classroom space again, a focus again on community and shared spaces, and a showroom versus an open all the time retail store. I have achieved that with the new space and it feels like I’ve landed on the winning solution after years of editing and refining and of course a year long break to figure out what I really wanted. I also adore being in what feels like a small town where I can walk from my home to here and be a part of a close-knit community but also very close to Raleigh as well.

Gather Goods Co Grand Opening

It feels like now is as good a time as any to host a grand opening event to celebrate this special space, and it lights a fire under me to wrap up a lot of the open ended projects that I’ve been working on non-stop in getting a space up and running again. There are so.many.details. and I seem to always forget that, rose colored glasses and all, but the effort is always worth it in the end, when the space comes to life and functions as I’ve envisioned it and feels like a cozy, serene and inspiring spot for myself and others to interact with and work out of.

To celebrate on Thursday July 19th from 7-9pm I am hosting a maker pop up in the back garden featuring a handful of talented makers, The Humble Pig food truck will be here, Pharmacy Bottle & Beverage will be serving beer and wine, there will be live music and everything in the showroom (lots of new items for the relaunching that day online shop) will be 20% off. Fun!

The new space is located at 417 Kildaire Farm Road, downtown Cary, NC 27511. There is a big parking lot across the street for the Cary Arts Center as well as Cary Elementary and this is where I would encourage you to park. You can find more information at the facebook invitation here.

Below are highlights from the makers who will be in the back garden selling their wares (and there may be a few others joining in as well)

Derek Keller, 440 Gentleman Supply, Leathercraft, Raleigh, NC - Gather Goods Co

Derek Keller of 440 Gentleman Supply makes handmade leather goods like bags, wallets and other accessories from his garage studio in Raleigh. Everything he makes is hand cut, sewn and produced by him and is inspired by modern architecture and vintage motorcycles and gear. He learned how to craft from his parents and recently took his craft full-time.

440 Gentleman Supply Leather Bag, Raleigh, NC, Maker - Gather Goods Co

Liz Esser, Haden Designs - Raleigh, NC Maker - Gather Goods Co

Liz Esser of Haden Designs in Raleigh specializes in brass and leather jewelry and seeks to create pieces that give that feeling of unique beauty to their wearer. Some of her newest pieces combine intricate metal patterns and textile weaving and all are in lovely muted shades that are reminiscent of autumn.

Haden Designs, Brass & Leather Earrings, Raleigh, NC Maker | Gather Goods Co

Erica Gimson, Textile Designer, Raleigh, NC | Gather Goods Co

Erica Gimson is a textile designer with 20 years of experience creating home accessories for multiple Fortune 500 companies. She now makes her home in Raleigh where she designs her own pieces which start from hand drawn sketches. She is inspired by the idea of giving people the tools to create a life that they love.

Erica Gimson Textile Design, Raleigh, NC Maker | Gather Goods Co

Matt Booty, Enkle Designs, Raleigh, NC Maker | Gather Goods Co

Raleigh, NC based furniture maker Matt Booty of Enkle Designs has lived in South Africa, Seattle, Greensboro and Raleigh and brings that well-traveled perspective to his work, drawing particular inspiration from Scandinavia. Specializing in handmade furniture and home accessories, Enkle Designs makes each piece by hand and places a high value on sustainable materials.

Wooden Pendant by Matt Booty, Enkle Designs, Raleigh, NC Maker | Gather Goods Co

Liz Kelly Pottery, Ceramics Maker, Raleigh, NC | Gather Goods Co

Raleigh, NC potter Liz Kelly’s ceramic work is inspired by traditional craft and contemporary design. She makes functional home goods that are both earthy and elegant. Her time studying at NC State’s College of Design has given her a unique perspective rooted in the craft origins of design.

Liz Kelly Pottery, Raleigh, NC Ceramics | Gather Goods Co

Adam Davis Furniture specializes in handmade wooden furniture and unique wooden accessories and is based in Raleigh.

Adam Davis Furniture, Raleigh, NC | Gather Goods Co

Hope to see you there meeting these makers in person and supporting their craft (and of course just checking out the space), and if you can, please help me spread the word! 🙂

March 23, 2018

Gather-Studios

I am embarking on a new phase of Gather, one that I had intended to start from the beginning but along the way, it became other things – wonderful, beautiful things, but diversions from my ultimate goals. I love nothing more than driving down a winding back road and am grateful for each of the opportunities that have lead me here and all the things I wouldn’t have been able to see had I not explored other directions.

In stepping back for the past year and refining and editing what I really wanted to pursue and in looking for shared office space for my husband’s peppermint bark business as well as a place to house the goods from my online shop, we recognized the need for a space like what we had created with the original Gather: a cozy space that encourages community, is collaborative and feels like a home, filled with plants and light and like-minded individuals who are able to put their heads down and work when they need to but also to pop up and chat when they want to.

This really hit home after doing a year and a half of accidental research, when looking for our own small office we kept seeing the same thing: soulless spaces that weren’t resonating, none of them were Gather. We actually didn’t intend to embark on another big venture, instead we were planning on just ramping Gather up quietly behind the scenes but in all that looking for space we happened upon one that was only a few blocks from our own home and in the walkable downtown core of Cary, a community that we had truly fallen in love with after the first Gather shop here 4 or 5 years ago, and where we had moved just eight months prior.

My husband and I, despite all appearances, are actually quite risk-averse, and after extensive pro-con lists, deliberating, manifesting, praying and every other way you can think of decision making, recognized that this space was really a great option for us if we could get past the initial hesitation of jumping back into a new thing.

To me, the heart of my business has always been in facilitating and helping others, and in creating community and conversations that spotlight others, ideas and design. The shop, while a portion, was only a piece of it. In addition, I recognized a strong need to be more behind the scenes and less of a day to day retail shop but more of a private space that is only public facing occasionally and a space where I could continue to host classes and events but also a place where we could work out of quietly.

This new space, which we are calling Gather-Studios is only a few blocks from our home and right in the walkable core of downtown Cary and like the original Gather space it also has a back garden area (and also like the original it needs to be spruced up). I would love to offer this back garden space to an emerging flower farmer. I have other plans too, but for now it will be office space, an occasional showroom and classroom space.

There are a handful of office spaces available in the building and I have already leased out a few. If you are looking for a private office/studio space to rent, please get in touch. I am looking to get these filled asap and once they are gone, they won’t be available again for at least a year.

Here are more details about the space:

Gather-Studios, a new private work space in downtown Cary is currently looking for tenants. There are a limited amount of private offices available for 1 year lease terms. Ideal tenants are creative professionals who are looking for a quiet, collaborative community environment, curated by Michelle Smith of Gather Goods Co, who alongside her husband The Apothecary’s Kitchen will also have office space there. Photographers, Wellness Practitioners, Makers and Artists, and Design Professionals are a great fit, but you aren’t required to be one to lease space. In addition, Michelle will be hosting classes and private events in the front space as well as in the back garden patio. For more information please visit https://shop.gathergoodsco.com/pages/studios and email Michelle at info@gathernc.com.

August 23, 2016

Gather-Studio, Headshot Photography for a Marketing & Communications Manager, Raleigh

Olympia is a freelance marketing and communications manager who works as a consultant for various companies. She is also the founder of Dame Good 365, an online community of women connecting and finding inspiration to do good in their communities. Her passion is in giving back and working at the intersection of digital communications, social media, brand development, and public relations. Obviously, because of her skills and expertise, she knows, like me, the value of having an updated and professional headshot and I was thrilled when she asked me to shoot hers recently.

Currently, Olympia is living in a small apartment with her husband and other family members so her home office doesn’t have the professional look she wants to convey in her professional life. I scouted out a few locations before deciding to shoot at NC State’s super sleek new library, the James B. Hunt library located on Centennial Campus. It is a cool spot, not only because the books are pulled from the shelves by robots, but more importantly, because of it’s floor to ceiling windows on every floor, varied backdrops and work surfaces.

First impressions count and when you are pitching yourself to potential clients or seeking job opportunities, your photo is one of the first things that person hiring or buying from you sees. Olympia will be using these new headshot photos across her social media platforms and I’m confident they will help her garner more work and continue to position herself as an expert in her field. Thanks Olympia for working with me!

Gather Goods Co is a tiny gift shop, classroom and online store focused on showcasing beautiful goods, many of which are made by emerging makers. We also have our own line of gift and garden products under the same name. Gather-Studio is our service arm focused on photography, styling, social media, marketing, branding and design work for clients. Interested in our services? Email me for more details.

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