Mixed Media Fiber Art "Rest" Hastypearl

Mixed Media Fiber Art

"Rest"

Hastypearl

The internet is an interesting world.

A facilitator for friend making, for sure.

I don't remember how it happened, but I started chatting with an artist a while back.

Because such things seem destined to happen...

we became Friends.

Along the way, I learned that she had been sick. Really sick.

After a time of health, it seems that she is in for another fight for survival.

She recently posted a picture of herself, during an infusion.

The picture was just of her feet.

I've seen the chairs that you sit in during those treatments, some of you have been there.

I thought...wouldn't it be nice, if she had a really comfy sofa to stretch out on.

I thought that in my way, I could do that for her.

I made this simple stitched piece as a surprise for her.

Its flying its way to her Right Now...

During times of battle, its hard to imagine simultaneously finding... Rest.

Battle and Rest don't exactly seem like compatibles...

but you Know, that you Have To Find Rest.

Not necessarily the kind that happens in a bed or chair...

but the kind where your questions stop, 

and your Trust Takes Over.

I stitched the word Rest, on the piece and for the personal sentiment on the back, 

as I often do, 

I turned to the Old Testament...

which for me, is always so full of Wisdom.

David said,

My Soul finds Rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress,

I will never be shaken.

Know someone that needs Rest?

Thankfully, its Available.

To those of us, who are in battles...

Find Rest....

xoxo Laura

Hastypearl... On Love A Photo Essay!

Hastypearl... On Love

A Photo Essay

For me, Valentines and my next day birthday, have always been rolled into one.

It seems that the celebrations come one after the other, starting at Thanksgiving, and ending in March, when both of our sons were born.

Ill show you a few photos from the 2014 February period, that make me think of Love!

I was contacted by a great buyer, that was interested in my Hastypearl Etsy Vintage Letterpress letters.

At first she wanted to spell, L-O-V-E.

And she ended up with, X-O.

I love it when I get to see/hear about what people do with the vintage parts and heirloom art, that I sell them.

She is an interior designer, so Ill bet it will be G-R-E-A-T!

There was of course time, to make a fiber Valentine, for my Sweetheart granddaughter, Katherine Anne!

We  had a great time Skypeing with her last night.

Thank Goodness, for that technology!

Of course, Larry and I exchanged something, Valentine-y.

I've known him, probably 42 years now, and we have been married Most of that.

That's a lot of cards!

At the last hour, we put together a Valentines evening out with some sweet friends of ours, where we joined up at one of our favorite restaurants in Boerne, called The Cypress Grill. 

Good Times and delicious food :) 

A good while ago, while following the artist Lisa Grahams blog, I saw this oil piece, called, Eight.

It appeals to me on so many levels.

Later, she mentioned on FB, that she would be taking it to a gallery, for an art crawl.

I got this gasp feeling, as I knew that it would likely sell.

I showed it to Larry, who knows and appreciates art...thanks to his parents owning two galleries, in San Antonio, during his youth.

He immediately said...you should buy it for your birthday!

Bingo!

Great idea...AND I DID!

Well, it is HERE and it is just as amazing in "person" as it was on Lisa's blog.

I am soooo thrilled about owning it.

I will eventually get with my framing friend, Patsy, and  we will have some fun!

I'll let you see it when we are done.

Sometimes love Comes, and sometimes, it Goes.

Stamp Antonio Arts, is closing its doors, soon. :(

Of course, we are all so sad about it.

It is a testimony to the times.

Specifically the times, where it is increasingly difficult, for individuals, to successfully own and operate small businesses. Especially those, that have large chain stores, as competitors.

So, if you have a favorite book store, art or gift shop...keep SHOPPING and BUYING there.

There is NO guarantee, that it will Always be there!

When I heard that they were closing, I assumed that there would be one more opportunity to take a class with the amazing, Carrie Avery.

The story is long about how I found her, but the truth is...She Gave Me Life!

That is what I wrote on a small gift that I gave her, yesterday.

She has art and craft knowledge, that will crack most brains, but she even has More than that!

She operates a "Recovery Room"!

A room, where you walk in with concerns or worries, and they slip right off of you, only to be left, somewhere outside on the sidewalk!

She has an infectious laugh...and shes not afraid to use it!

She makes you feel So Comfortable and Capable.

Every student, feels Encouraged and Special.

Its not an easy Thing to do, but she is THE BEST!

So, thank you Carrie, for your big heart, your freely shared talent and as I told the ladies in the room...its not OVER!

Stamp Antonio just got us, Started :)

Carrie has a great etsy shop and Paper Wings Productions.

Please check them out!

You KNOW the happy Buzz of a great class!

Everyone goes about their work, but still has the energy to chat and share and have a great time.

I'm so Happy, that I got a first time picture of my sweet, "Save the Day", friend, Jill!

She is pictured, seated on the lower, right corner.

One day, in that same room, I told Carrie, that I Wanted to set up an Etsy shop, but I didn't have a clue how to do it.

Boy, am I technically, challenged!

Not far, from where she is seated in this picture, Jill said softly..."Ill help you".

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a God Sent girl she has been!

I call and say HELP...and she Does.

Like she will run and do it during a commercial...its so easy for her :)

She has NEVERNOTONCELAUGHED and said...you have Got to be kidding...the average 4 year old could do that :)

Nope, she just fixes it or sends me Amazing step by step tutorials, that make it Possible to do what I thought was Impossible.

So, please check out her blog and etsy shop. 

Here I am, at my last art class in these beautiful blue walls.

There will be MORE classes to come...Elsewhere!

Two, Amazing classes...I mean Amazing...are already in the works.

I will let you know more, when the details get ironed out.

Then finally, what do I Love?

I LOVE SO MUCH!!!!

My two Boys, who were so sweet to check in for my birthday...and often during the weeks.

My friends and family...husband, mother and sister...who, I also heard from.

My home with this view. (this was taken this week, off of my upstairs deck. I love to watch the sun line/shadow march across the valley, as it faithfully wakes us all up every morning!)

 I could never have dreamed Big Enough to have imagined, that I could be blessed to be Owned, by this Homeplace..that is named...Splendid Rise!.

My sweet animals...the four legged kind...canine, feline and equine!

Its always Overwhelming at times like this, to Collect it all, in your mind and Heart, and just Soak It In, and to know that there is a God who Loves me and Gifts me with SO MUCH!

So, there is a Quick View of my Happy, Happy, thoughts on Love 

What Sweet Feelings, did YOU Discover this Valentines?  

xoxo Laura

p.s. for those of you that are new to my blog, if you would like to sign up to receive an email, indicating that I have just posted, you can do that, on the right column.

I would love for you to.

I promise that I wont overwhelm you!

There are wonderful things ahead for hastypearl, and I love reading your comments below :)

I've made some wonderful connections with bloggers, just by chatting with them in their comments sections!

so, dont be shy :)

Carolyn Saxby Artist A Birthday Treat for Hastypearl

Carolyn Saxby Artist

A Birthday Treat for Hastypearl

I first discovered English artist, Carolyn Saxby, in January, 2013.

Why do I remember that?

Well, Hastypearl was brand new to Etsy.

Everything was Exciting (it still is :) and there were many Firsts, happening to me in those days.

I had been featured in 5 beautiful Treasuries, and in number 6, Carolyn Saxby, appeared.

Her item featured in the treasury, was an amazing fiber piece.

She had dyed and layered beautiful fibers and it Stood Out, to me.

I'm a little blurry after that, but I think we ended up in another Treasury together and I contacted her about it.

She was very sweet about my convo and the rest is history.

I was a hooked Fan and Follower.

I found my way to her Carolyn Saxby blog and FB page.

What I saw as a pattern for her was...she would Make these heavenly fiber hearts and list them on Etsy.

And...They would Sell, before I could even make my way, over to her shop.

Not that it was any of my business, as she was clearly a successful shop owner, I wrote to her, again.

This time to tell her that I thought that she needed to Raise her prices on her Beautiful hearts.

Yes, that's Nosey me for you :)

What did I know about her pricing?

What I learned from her response told me a lot about her.

She said she didnt think she should.

I disagreed.

Her Humble response Impressed me.

Her photography and textile art pieces, are Singular.

They are totally handmade, and Im sure that there is as much time in dyeing her fabrics and notions, as goes into the actual construction of her piece.

Shes probably cringing at my telling you this, but its not the part about the pricing that's important...what was important to me...was the Humility.

Well, she finally conceded and Barrrrrrely raised her prices and listed more hearts.

AGAIN, they sold before I could get to them :)

It took me a while, to figure out, that I could message her on FB and PLEAD...that's melodramatic.. but fun...to Please Save me one of her hearts!

She is a Very Busy Lady, but it wasn't long, before pictures arrived for me to select a heart, that I wanted.

Yes, you can contact an artist and talk to them.

No, MOST of them will not BITE...not Hard at least ;)

So, That is a long introduction, to the rest of  my posting, which I know that you will DEFINITELY enjoy!

Pictured below, is an equally "wonderful package opening experience", to an earlier "package opening" (which you can also read about in a previous posting) of my last purchase, from Elizabeth Bunsen!

That means I must have Great Taste in finding ladies, with wonderful character AND that Surely know how to wrap a purchase!

So, here we go...and please enjoy!

I KNOW that I did! :)

...oh, and you should also know, that Carolyn, lives in one of the areas in England that has been hardest hit by rain and ruin.

Still, she managed to get this out to me, in record time.

Pray for these sweet people, who have MUCH  recovery ahead of them.

This was what I found in my mailbox, yesterday.

She also makes the sweet beaded snowflakes.

I didn't want to open it, it looked so pretty!

OK. That's not true. I Wanted to open it :) 

Isn't it wonderful, when so much time and care, is taken to make a gift even more special than it already is?

Even her business card is beautiful!

She enclosed, two of her beautifully photographed greeting cards, which she also carries in her Etsy shop.

Earlier, when she sent pictures, of the two hearts that she was working on, she told me that she had picked up a tiny shell at "Mousehole at Christmas"...

I stopped listening after the totally cute name...Mousehole!

I love to pick up stones and fossils and bark...and I'm sure that I would have picked up This tiny shell, if I had been lucky enough to go to a place as sweet sounding, as Mousehole! 

So, because of the shell from Mousehole...it was reserved and MINE!

What a wonderful acquisition, to mark a wonderful new friendship!

On the 15th, that's three days from now, I turn 58.

I could go on and on with the true but cliche...How did I get here?

That the time has flown by!

That I still feel like a girl, inside...but most of you already know about such things.

I do know, that This Year, while not Perfect...because as you know, "Perfect" only happens in the movies...has been an Amazing Year.

At every turn, new friendships have been made.

Events that I never knew to Dream...are Happening.

Things that I DID know to dream...are Happening.

I've been Happily Stretched, in so many wonderful and refreshing ways, that it would take a book to detail.

What I also Know at this Birthday time, is how Much My God loves me!

Even if Wonderful things Didn't happen, I am mature enough to Rest in that Truth.

So...Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, Happy I Am...

I'm so Glad that you stopped in to read my posting and I Hope that you will head over to Carolynsaxbytextiles, on Etsy.

You may have to get in line for one of these Beauties, but it will be worth the wait and I know, that you will make a Wonderful New Friend!

xoxo Laura

Hastypearl Gets Antique "y" !

Hastypearl, Gets Antique "y"!

Hopefully, it's clear to you by now, that Hastypearl,

is about Vintage Parts and Heirloom Art.

For me, the joy is Mixing the Two.

Last year, for 8 months, I had a small case

at Johns Road Antique Mall ,

in Boerne, Texas, just west/outside of San Antonio.

I really enjoyed it and not surprisingly,

inquired about "upsizing" to a larger space.

The good news is, that the space owners, really love their spaces.

The bad news is, that the space owners, really love their spaces!

The owners, promised me,

that my monthly"bugging/reminding" them

about a new space was encouraged, and so...I did!

Well, it turned out, that one shop owner,

wanted to consolidate two spaces to one,

and a February placing, opened up for me.

Awesome, News and I had a MONTH, to shop.

Piece of Cake!

I was sure that that was Plenty of time, to Fill my small space.

Boy, was I Surprised!

Its not that I didn't go to Many Estate Sales and Auctions,

because I did!

I was determined, to make this space Legendary...yes,

that is my Word!

Okay. I know that there is Legendary

like a Cathedral in Europe...but what Im NOT going to do,

is get lazy and place Just Anything

in my little shop, that isn't as Legendary,

as I am capable of!

I hope that when you see it,

you will be pleased with what I've selected.

If you ever see anything that you are interested in

...use the Email button on the right column,

and I'm sure, that we can work something out!

The following images, are the Before and After images, of the process!

Here we go!

The Purchased items, started showing up in the "storage room",

formerly referred to as the Dining Room! :)

There were also larger pieces, stored in the garage.

That old ironing board has seen some use!

It is solid wood and VERY Heavy. 

Can you imagine lugging that thing out to press a shirt?

I'm using is as a great display table for my Valentines!

You will see later...

More collections waiting...

I found an entire collection of

hundreds of beautiful creamers at an estate sale.

I selected... the most Legendary...:)

The beautiful linens that I found,

were washed and ironed...of course,

but Not, on the old Wood Ironing Board :)

There is a stunning finger tip towel,

with an embroidered "C" on it, in this group.

With Larry working so much these days,

I am hitting the road for auctions, myself.

Thankfully, the employees, load for you,

so after I get them home,

I begin the process of repairs and refreshing up. 

Its a lot of work, but I love the fantasy of

Who has Used each piece and find

some interesting goodies left behind

in the drawers and spaces.

This is the bottom of a great English Bookcase.

You will see it later, with the creamer collection,

tucked safely inside! 

Larry, helped me one morning,

with a loose hinge.

I couldn't have done Any part of this,

Without His Help!

Saturday morning, we delivered the large items

and bought and transported, the oak display case,

which will be perfect for showing my small offerings.

 Here's an After shot, from Sunday around 3 pm.

Another angle view where you can see the

new oak display case, and the tall bookcase

that was last seen in my truck bed.

I added my Original Art Pieces,

so you can see that it is shaping up nicely!

I made the necklace on the mannequin.

It has a beautiful skeleton key hanging from a polymer clay heart.

I etched on a metal plate,

a quote from Dickens that I love...

It says...

"A very little key, can open a very large door."

What a Great Phrase of Encouragement,

to wear around your neck!

One of the best parts about opening in February,

was being able to make a great Red Valentine Display!

These are little ornaments, that actually started out as

unfinished corner baseboards.

With some polymer clay, fabric, wire and fibers... I did the rest!

They were great engineering fun!

One is called, "Love Bird" and the

other is a sleeping cat called, "Dreaming of You"!

This image, features my little handmade

faux leather envelopes with lavender pouches,

made from beautiful fabrics and fibers...

and of course...they Smell Wonderful!

I hand stamped words into the envelope

fronts that say things like...Friend, Unbroken, Timeless..

This is NOT an envelope,

that will end up in the recycling bin!

Ahhh, so sweet!

This is the Last picture of the Valentines.

The pillow on the left and the heart shaped

ornament are my hand mades,

and the little trunk on the back,

is a turn of the last century doll chest.

I think that you can see, that my love of vintage parts

and my heart to make Heirloom Art Pieces,

is evident in my little space.

I want to find and offer...Legendary to Me,

items, that are also Affordable,

and make it worth the trip to see!

If you are in Boerne, Johns Road Antique Mall

is at IH10 West, exit # 539.

Its really easy to find, and you should plan on staying a while,

as there are 70 shop owners!

I have been shopping there since it opened,

almost 5 years ago! 

There are now, several Food Trucks, parked next door,

that serve up a variety of Yummy!

I hope that you enjoyed this little posting about my

Next Adventure, and will share the News

about it with your Friends!

My days are Full, and I stay Amazed at how My Life

constantly turns New and Exciting Corners...

All Of The Time!

It is Wonderful to Recognize, the Providence, in all of it!

Thanks for joining me in yet another,  

Hasty Unfolding!

xoxo Laura