Point Away From Face And Other People ! Hastypearl

Point Away From Face And Other People !

Hastypearl

Well, the Season is upon us.

Every family has its rhythms.  

We, love to have people in our home every chance that we can.

I'm a very casual hostess.

I mean, I love pretty things, 

but, I'm just as happy to serve you tamales and the humble pinto beans, as anything.

There is something very comforting about 

non pretentiousness.

Last night, we were blessed to host my husbands side of the family.

Following a terrible personal loss this year, 

Thanksgiving and Christmas, 

are the first round of special Seasonal Days, without her.

It was important to me, 

to find time to honor their mother 

and our Aunt Barbara, 

but I hoped that we would also find our way to some 

childhood reminiscing and laughter.

I'm glad to say that we were successful :)

I greeted them wearing my handmade, 

" I Had My Colonoscopy", button.

Hey, we get our "I Voted" stickers, 

and we give kids buttons for everything, 

so why can't we adults get a pat on the back for accomplishments, as well?

It wasn't long, before the stories and laughter were full on!

My BIL said he couldn't remember when he had laughed as much.

Everyone brings just the perfect thing to a group like that.

I am so Thankful to be a part of this one :) 

Christmas is the perfect backdrop for my newly listed 

Mixed Media Collage Angels on Hastypearl Etsy.

I believe that I made 13 of them.

Every One is unique !

~ $ 54. and $62. ~ 

We didn't have much time to decorate, 

but we got out a few special pieces of Christmas Decor.

There is a Chance, that our Granddaughter will be here for Christmas, 

so we will take special care to decorate :)

I thought that my little Etsy Hastypearl Vintage Putz Houses

 looked perfect on this narrow upper ledge on our sideboard.

These are quite special !

They are much more detailed than many of the Putz Houses that I have seen.

~ $24. each ~

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My husband decided to do a little cooking and went to the store for some ingredients.

I asked him to pick up some Party Crackers/Poppers, if he could find them.

Well, he was successful !

The Angels and Chandelier are so much better for the use of those at our table :)

Can you see the streamers?

One of our family members has led a bit of a  sheltered life ;) 

with a mother that was sure to keep her safe, 

needed a little education firing her Party Cracker.

I found one of these instruction pieces, 

lodged in one of my table centerpieces this morning.

On behalf of Cindy, 

I have enlarged it, so that you will all be prepared at your next party.

And there is an instruction for You too, 

inquisitive Michael.

See?

It says... 

Not to be Dismantled ;)

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Its a busy time of the year for Everyone!

There are so many Activities, that we can sometimes miss the Special Moments.

I try to whisper a Thanks to the One,

 that allows me to live the most Wonderful life.

We aren't in danger of "using up", all of our Thank You's

...so we can use Them Liberally.

Take time All Day Everyday, 

and you will find Many Things to be Thankful for :)

As Always, I'm so glad that you stopped by.

Please take a look, here, at all of the Angels and Houses that are listed on Hastypearl !

Each listing has 5 pictures and I love telling a story about each vintage part and heirloom art.  

Now, you know how beautiful they will look in your setting.

~ Best...Laura  

Line Drawings and Gouache Putz House Fun! Hastypearl

Line Drawings and Gouache

Putz House Fun!

Hastypearl

I recently bought a great collection of Putz Houses.

The word Putz comes from the early Moravian tradition

 of decorating for Christmas, 

with street scenes or nativities or even Noah's Ark.

This practice was even more popular than decorating the tree.

After World War II, 

the Japanese started making paper houses with holes in the back,

 to be illuminated with strung lights.

My houses were Made in Japan.

The shapes and colors that you can find, seem to be endless.

So, I have recently been inspired by many, but specifically by the drawings of 

Trudi Sissons of Two Dresses Studio, 

Claudia of blog AdiandBert, Michele Maule, 

and as I have mentioned before, Jane LaFazio.  

I follow all four, either on their blogs, websites, FB or Instagram.

Separately, they each are committed to practice...drawing.

Simple, right?

My husband and I talked about it.

I said...you know, if I did a few sit ups every night, I'd be stronger.

If I practiced a language a little bit every day, I could speak it.

If I drew every day, Id get better.

Most of us aren't naturals at everything, but if we work at it, just a little every day...

we would see a change!

So, this past week, I took up my pencil, and started drawing a little bit...every day.

To make it a bit more challenging, 

I tried to position my Putz houses, at different angles each time, 

so it wouldn't always just be one dimensional.

Am I a Rembrandt? No.

Not even close.

But by the time I put a little watercolor on my sketches, I liked what I saw.

Most of the time, we are so self critical, that we quit.

That wasn't my goal.

My goal was to draw, and draw often.

I decided to make my little scenes, Nighttime Scenes.

I used a product called, Fineline Masking Fluid Pen, for the little stars.

I bought mine at Asel Art Supply in San Antonio, 

but I'm sure that you could find it online.

It has a small pin, that inserts into the tiny delivery system, 

that constantly self cleans and I never had a problem with flow.

When the mask drys, you simply paint over it.

When your paint is dry...you simply rub the mask, off.

It was fun seeing my Twinkly Stars appear in my night sky!

The houses seemed like they needed some wildlife, 

so I drew some Reindeer.

I would like to say that I was "off" on those drawings, 

but truthfully, those Reindeer, have always been a little spooky faced to me!

Maybe you can see that in the Reindeer piece, 

I masked some Holly Leaves and I added some Gold Paint

for the berries and the Reindeer antlers!

After a week or so, I had done 6 drawings.

That's exactly 6 more, than if I hadn't drawn :)

They didn't take long and I really enjoyed it.

In Silence, or with Music going or talking on the phone, it was time well spent.

I plan to continue for as long as I'm enjoying it.

The point isnt to become a slave to drawing...or doing sit ups or learning a language.

The point is to take care, that we aren't just letting time go by, 

without doing things that we've wished to do.

We all know how fast the days go by...

So, I Hope this posting Encourages you, just as Trudi, Claudia, Michele and Jane,

Unknowingly, have Encouraged me!

I'm so glad that you stopped by!

If you would like, there is a place on the right side of my blog, 

to sign up to receive email notices of my hastypearl postings.

I wont overwhelm you. I promise!

I usually check in every couple of weeks!

For those of you living in the Northern Hemisphere, 

I Hope you are enjoying these last days of warmth, 

as we head towards cooler days, 

and for you Southern Hemisphere dwellers

...I'm a little envious of you as you head into Spring!

Happy Learning....xo Laura