Love Letters! Hastypearl

Love Letters!

Hastypearl

I thought this rainy May morning, about how we are headed towards the month of June.

A month full of weddings and brides and flowers.

I was a little rebellious in my youth, and chose the last day of May to be married.

Sort of a stand for not being like everyone else :)

Valentines Day is famous for being a day of sending greetings of love to someone special, 

but again, who says that we have to wait for a day 

that someone decided would be THE day of love? 

I started looking through my Etsy Hastypearl shop, 

and saw a reoccurring theme of  Letters.

Of course for me, they are more Valued, 

when they are Vintage...have stood the test of time simply 

by not ending up in the dumpster somewhere.

I saw that I have them in different sizes....

materials...

and fonts.

My customers contact me asking for combinations of letters 

that mean something just to them.

These two were requested by a mother, for her two sons.

It looks like shes healthy because she wanted to 

include her Daughter In Law's names.

Very sweet!

I often use letters in my Mixed Media Art, 

like in this altered Cigar Box, that I have listed on hastypearl.

The box itself is beautiful wood, and the slight lingering fragrance 

of the wood and tobacco was wonderful and surprising.

I found an ancient poem and slipped it into a 

stained tea bag and wrote the word, yes.

Yes, is always a good word! 

hmmm...speaking of Always...

I hammered Love Letters in white faux leather and custom made envelopes.

These envelopes wont get tossed in the recycle bin, 

but rather will be kept to pass down to our granddaughters.

With words like Friend, Enduring, Boundless...Always, 

the lavender filled pouches wont Wither, 

but rather remind us forever of the sentiments 

hammered on the envelopes.

These are available at hastypearl.

*

This XO, was purchased by a bride for her groom.

They have been married for 39 years.

That's a long time to be in Love.

*

I'm patiently waiting for the day, 

that this set of Letterpress Letters is purchased.

I cant think of anything more wonderful, 

than for hastypearl to be right in the middle of a proposal!

Apparently, I have a bit of Match Maker in me:)

I was contacted by a lady, that told me that she had an 8 inch Letterpress Letter S, 

and could I help her spell the word, Scott?

Well, yes I could 

and we even celebrated Scott with an Exclamation Point [!]

Then there was the customer that bought an A and an S, and this set of letters.

I hope that she will write me and tell me her story :)

Recently, I was asked for these three Letters.

I send pictures to my customer, to show them what Letters I have, 

and then we play until we get it like we want it.

Love Letters are so much fun...

*

So, We don't have to wait until June or Valentines Day, 

to tell someone that we love them.

We can tell them all year long.

This weekend, there will be lots of people telling their Mothers, that they care for them.

Maybe there will be candy, or flowers...but above all ..there will be Letters...

Lots and Lots of  Letters from the Heart....

I've sprinkled in lots of hastypearl links for you to find your way over to my shop!

I hope that you will. 

You'll see lots of ways to express yourself.

  

Thanks so much, for stopping in today...

I love writing these posts and staying in touch...

I hope to see you again, soon.

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 :)

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