Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Laundering Vintage Heirlooms Hastypearl



Laundering Vintage Heirlooms 


I recently bought two Dreamy bags full of Non -Wool, 
Vintage Children's Clothing and Linens.

I couldn't wait to get home to look at my new Treasures.

From the title of this posting, You already know what came next.
They All Needed Work!

They were for the most part sound, 
but each item had at least one little brown spot on them
 which is for me, unacceptable by hastypearl's standards,
 and...they ALL smelled like Grandmothers Attic!

I felt strongly, that they were marketable 
and deserved the attention necessary to get them 
back in usable condition.
Additionally, they all proved to be handmade, 
and I felt something Emotional about that.

I spent a morning cruising the internet looking for guidance.

I was delighted to find MANY entire websites, 
dedicated to saving Precious Linens and Clothing.

I printed out and read three lengthy "How To's",  
that I thought were the most useful,
 and made my grocery list for the products that they most often recommended.
You may Already have them in your laundry arsenal!



They are:

OxiClean

Borax

Fels-Naptha

The Sun

Time 

Patience :)


I pulled out bowls, that I didn't mind leaving on my kitchen counter.
Since they were within sight and easy reach, 
it was easy with a long handled spoon, 
to stir or agitate the soaking items every now and then, 
which I learned really helped the process along.

All sites suggested starting the sometimes long soaking process
 with hot water, 
and rinsing, rinsing, rinsing, in cold.

I followed the directions on the packaging, 
for the amounts of product to use
 and actually got all of my 
stains and dullness and odor, out with OxiClean.



I checked my spots every now and then, 
and gave them a gentle rub with my fingers and if needed, 
I simply soaked longer.



In most of the pieces, the stains were completely gone in just a 24 hour soak.
And in ALL of the items where there was still a faint stain, 
 a few hours in the Sun just like Grandmother already knew, 
 and they were Completely Stain Free.

I was INSPIRED!
Inspired, to head back to my Personal collections, 
and work on things that I would have previously 
Only considered taking to the cleaners, 
and OH, how you pay$ for that, right?


I recently heard someone say, that they enjoyed doing a basic house tending job, 
because it was something that they could do and finish.

What I thought was just going to be about learning how to remove stains, 
turned out to be more.

To watch a Beautiful pair of Vintage Handmade Baby Booties, 
 that need to be Cherished Again, 
go from being stained to perfect, is FUN!


Nothing would bring me more Joy, 
than to know that another family will use 
and Value these Sweet Heirloom Pieces.




The Final Step, was also a pleasure to do.

With a warm iron...no starch...and a Movie on TV, 
I pressed or repaired seams with needle and thread, 
until each piece looked brand new!

The process was over all very educational, 
and quietly meditative. 
I thought about the Hands that had originally sewn, 
knitted or crocheted each piece, 
and those that WILL own them, anew.


So, with a little effort, you too can transform items that you 
might have Passed over before.
Over and over the instructions were simply...
if you leave an item soaking Long Enough, 
you can get just about every stain out.

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Almost sounds Providential, doesn't it?

It's possible to get all of our human Worries and Stains out too, 
if we will just be patient enough and Soak for a Little Bit Longer :)

Happy Soaking, All and thanks as always for stopping by :)
xo Laura



...oh, and if you see anything that you are interested in buying, 
you can find my contact info on the right column of this blog 
or always through my hastypearl page!  








Friday, August 15, 2014

Kindred Stitches Magazine Plus Hastypearl = :)


Kindred Stitches Magazine Plus Hastypearl  =  :)

There is a Continuum in our Lives.
Sometimes, I think we wish we could see it from start to finish, but really, 
where would the fun be in that, right?

It hasn't been long since I launched the concept of Hastypearl, but almost EVERY DAY, 
there has been something Wonderful and New to experience.

In July, I received a Lovely email, through my Hastypearl Etsy store, from two creative Australian ladies, named Lenna and Janice.

It seems, that they were both so passionate about all things needle, thread and stitching, 
that they 
CREATED an Online Magazine.

Who does that?
And Who does That, Beautifully???

Well, THEY Did :)


They called the magazine, Kindred Stitches.
What a Beautiful Name!

So, they fill their magazine with Incredible images...I mean Beautiful images.

There are features and interviews with artists.

There are stepped out "How To's" for beautiful AND achievable arts of all kinds.

There is a Selfless Promotion of artists and their craft.

The ONLY thing that is missing in this magazine is....ADVERTISING.
Awww ;)

So, why did they contact Hastypearl?
I was honored to be asked to be included in their Twelfth Issue, called, 
A Place To Call Home.
They thoughtfully, include artists and their creations...and this time, my little Fairy House, 
fit right in with their Homey theme!

I'm pretty sure, that the Noisy Fairy Residents in my little cottages, 
must have had Something to do with Wooing Lenna and Janice to contact me! 




You can imagine how Thrilled I was to see my little Home

Besides the fact that these little cottages were such a joy to make, 
its great to see that They loved them, also.

I hope that you will take a look at them, and see if you love them, too!


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The magazine creators didn't know, that Hastypearl's recent life Continuum included a declining of an offer for another wonderful opportunity, because it just didn't quite fit my goals, 
to only embrace opportunities of Excellence.

Kindred Stitches Magazine definitely met that goal !

Kindred Stitches, is available through the Apple Newstand and is so easy to buy.
I hope you will check it out and forward this posting to all of your "Stitchy" Friends :)

Thanks again, Lenna and Janice.




Enjoy the Continuum called Life, Everyone!

You never know what will Next, come knocking on your Life's Door!

xox Laura






Thursday, August 7, 2014

Colorado Creatures Watercolor Collage Hastypearl


Colorado Creatures Watercolor Collage



As you know, I enjoy traveling to the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
It is a Happy and Reoccurring theme, in my life.

While in Colorado one trip, I decided to focus on and to draw and paint, some of the local animals.
I will usually head outside, under giant and ancient evergreens, and listen to the birds, hummers, squirrels and the nearby Crystal River, for inspiration.

I ended up Drawing and Watercoloring a number of animals, two of which are featured in this posting.

I know that I just posted about these, in the previous blog posting, but I thought that I would revisit them, with a few more images and explanation.

Today, you will see, The Barn Owl and the Red Fox.

My Best Animal Treat on that trip, was actually seeing a Red Fox, literally sit down yards from me, while I photographed with curiosity, as to why he seemed so docile. 
I questioned a local about it and he said that unfortunately, people had probably been feeding it, in their backyards.
Irregardless, I had thought so much about the Red Fox, that I was so glad to be able to see him.
All of the Foxes in my Texas neighborhood do what nature intends them to do, which is to Disappear! 

I didn't collage the pieces, until after the trip, and back here in my Texas studio.
Its hard to travel with the perfect papers for projects.
It was fun to continue the process After I got home, anyway.
It was a way for me to remember my trip and enjoy thinking about those special hours, creating.

As I look back over this collection, I see that I had a bit of a black and white theme going.
That combination is dramatic and always one of my favorites.

Please Enjoy!



I love his serious and business like eyes.
It feels like he is locked on to his dinner! Yikes!

He is a set of blank cards. 
I often write in my Etsy, Hastypearl card set listings, that after the recipient enjoys the card, 
its easy to slip it into a ready cut mat, for framing.

The card below, is a black and white version of the Watercolored one, above.



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The three Red Fox pieces below would look great framed as a set, but can also stand, alone.

The first piece and Fox, is definitely the confident Alpha Fox, and Leader of the Pack. 
Sometimes, we all enjoy kicking back, and letting someone else more qualified, do the leading.



I used Vintage Ephemera from my collection. 




Below, is the full shot of the piece.




This second piece, is a pair... maybe they are siblings?
They have stopped, to look off into the distance at something that has caught their eye. 
I wonder what it was?





More Layers of Vintage Papers.




Here they are again, framed in a ready cut mat just to show you just how easy it can be.





Finally, the last piece, is the Fox at the back of the pack.
You've heard the phrase..."I've got your back".

Its good to know that there is always Someone...that has our backs for us, right?



Also on this piece, is a page from a dictionary from the 1800's, 
a small bit of Colorado map, actually near where we stay, 
and some pages from a Vintage Typing School Book.



Below, is a shot of the last piece...again framed.



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It was a Wonderful time of focus on animals of the region that I love.

Both animals are Illusive.
Not naturally interested in posing for photographs.

Meant to be left alone in nature.

 *

I hope that you enjoyed seeing a few of my Watercolor Collage Pieces.

They are all available at Hastypearl, my Etsy shop.
I would love for you to take a look at them and the other listings that I have!

Thanks for stopping by...for a little time together.

I hope that you are enjoying these Wonderful Days...Whether Winter or Summer...Wherever You Are :)
It makes me so fascinated, to see on the feedjit chart on the right of the page, where you all live!
Its really such a small world, right?

I hope that you will check back in...Often!

:) Laura aka Hastypearl