Hastypearl

It's A New Day! Hastypearl

2016-09-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

It's A New Day!

Hastypearl

Hi, guys...friends old and new that have been reading this Hastypearl blog!

I have some great news...

After a wonderfully interesting process and passing of time,

I will be moving my Hastypearl presence away from Blogger,

over to my very own site...

Hastypearl.com !

Since the beginning of Hastypearl in 2012,

I've found myself wondrously In Over My Head!

Happily, I have found at EVERY turn,

Generous Sharers of their knowledge,

that have HELPED me every step of the way.

If there is Any one thing that I can encourage you to do

...it's to ASK FOR HELP!

Not one to have ANY problem with doing that,

I have learned SO much.

The best part about that,

is that there will ALWAYS be opportunities for us

to Give Back of the knowledge that we possess...

and I Love doing that. :)

We, Pay It Forward...like the movie said.

So, you will still find me at Hastypearl Etsy,

where you will find lots of amazing Vintage Finds

...cause I love hunting for the very best and unique pieces out there.

And, I'm still buzzing around Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

All of those links are listed on my Hastypearl.com

home page.

I'll still be blogging away,

about things going on in the Hastypearl Art Studio,

publications that you can find me in, my garden and travels beyond.

I love sharing my life with you.

This Blogger blog, will stay Open.

~I love looking back on the postings of workshops

I have hosted and the friends that I've made there.

~I love rereading the Artist interviews I have done...

I could Never leave those behind!

(I have some wonderful NEW interviews

lined up that you will enjoy reading for sure.)

It's been so much fun here, but its time to move on!

For those of you, that have followed me from the beginning, Thank You!

It's been great to look over at the Feedjit register,

and see you tip toeing through my words.

Those of you coming from all over the world,

have been mind blowing.

Whether you have stopped in once or many times...

Thank You!

Please sign up on the right side of this page, to continue on with me.

With those signatures, I will finally start a Newsletter.

I want you to be the first to hear about my new

Mixed Media Art and gift listings,

and special sale announcements in those

upcoming Hastypearl Newsletters.

I'm excited that for the first time, Hastypearl art

will now be sold right from Hastypearl.com

Of course, I hope you will tell you friends and family about Hastypearl.

To the many people that have helped me along the way...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Doing cartwheels...

Lets get started!!!

Its a New Day!...Laura aka hastypearl

Hastypearl is Still Kickin'

2016-03-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hastypearl is Still Kickin'

Hey guys!

Yep, I'm still in the game.

We are working on opening a new Hastypearl.com site,

so confess, I haven't been blogging.

I kind of hate to, and then switch sites.

You know?

But I really MISS blogging!

You should see my list of "to blog"topics.

It keeps GROWING !

But, change takes time and its going to be so fun when the new site is up.

In the mean time, everything is still good in Hastypearl Land.

I've got LOTS going on in the studio.

(seriously...it looks like Dorothy and Toto flew through this morning...but its a good thing!)

I've got several articles coming out soon, in the most wonderful publications.

I'm hosting another Book Arts Workshop with the fantastical

Roxanne Evans Stout and Leslie Marsh,

June 24-26 in our Redstone, Colorado home.

(there are still a few spaces left...please come!)

My family is great.

My South Central Texas garden is A-Live, soooo Alive.

See?

I have tons to talk about.

If you want to be alerted when I go live at Hastypearl.com,

MAKE SURE THAT YOU SIGN UP

on the right side of this page

and you will be emailed!

In the meantime,

you can still find me posting/listing away at Hastypearl Etsy,

FB,

Instagram

and Pinterest.

I love them All!

This Mixed Media Teal Book Art Piece,

is available at Hastypearl Etsy.

Come Take a Look :)

I'm so happy that You stopped by!

Whether you are Northern or Southern Hemisphere,

I hope you are well and enjoying these

Wonderfilled Days!!!!

Best, Laura

My Somerset Studio Gallery Magazine Experience Hastypearl

2016-01-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

My Somerset Studio Gallery Magazine Experience

Hastypearl

This time last year, I was thinking about my annual goals.

I always set some realistic goals, and for good measure,

I throw some in that seem completely...

OUT THERE.

There isn't a Goal Police, after all.

If you achieve, great.

If you don't, you don't,

but as you know,

we wont achieve them if we don't try.

One of my goals, was rather open ended...meaning...

it could happen in a number of ways, but the basis was,

SUBMIT my art to publications.

SUBMIT.

That is a lot different than BE PUBLISHED.

One of them I had control over, the other I didn't.

I had learned, that publications, have schedules in their pages,

for concepts that they want submitted and due dates.

I started thumbing through my stock of Somerset Magazines

and one day, saw a request for a Gothic Themed Mixed Media piece.

I SUBMITTED, and was ecstatic to learn that it was accepted for the

Readers Submissions section, of the Somerset Studio magazine!

Yay!

After that,

I met a wonderful new Managing Editor of Somerset Studio Gallery,

named, Brianne Martin.

I sent her pictures of some Mixed Media Finial Birds

and was again....sooooo delighted

that she liked them and wanted to publish them.

What????

How could this be happening?

Yes, you see artist after artist on FB talking about

how they have been published...

but now,

it was my turn.

Soooo Thrilled !

I couldn't believe it when I saw on the cover...

Introducing

The Finial Birds !!!

My little flock, had an Introduction on the Cover!

Brianne made everything SO easy.

It's Time to emphasize, that we don't need to know how

to accomplish every step of our goals.

There are people out there that already know the wheel and how to turn it.

We don't have to reinvent it every time!

I've learned more about asking for help,

and how generous people are through my art.

Most people WANT to help us !

I sent in pictures...

boy, I have learned sooo much more about photography since then,

(and wont ever stop climbing that learning curve)

but it doesn't matter.

You can Send In your art for the magazine to photograph and return,

or you can submit your own photos.

They have TALENTED photographers/editors,

that can do Wonders with our photos.

*Lesson Number One Million*

Don't wait until you are Annie Liebovitz, photographer extraordinaire, to try.

That MIGHT take longer than you want.

Just SUBMIT.

I wanted to give it a try,

and do my own writing about the creation of my Finial Birds.

I suggested Brianne go to the Where Women Cook article that I had just written,

and again...I am not a professional writer, but she liked it.

Brianne the Angel,

came through again.

While constructing the birds,

I took photos of the creation process...Always Do That.

You never know when you can use them in a blog,

a workshop or an article.

It helps also to refer back to, when you are describing your steps.

I sent in the required number of words,

and what was needed for their format and it was approved !

It was such fun, to see my OWN words on the page!

I thought that you might enjoy seeing some of the following images,

that I Didn't send in.

Yes, I took them.

Retook them.

Retook.

Is Retook even a word?;)

This photograph of the French Bird,

helped me sell this shelf at Hastypearl Etsy.

I think that little bird in a beret,

would have sold an old shoe sole, it was so cute :)

This little Finial Bird was based on Mr. Carson,

the wonderful head butler on Downton's Abbey.

I found the most amazing vintage keys to use for their wings.

Can you believe, that these tiny keys were actually original Model A car keys ?

The etching on each key was BEAUTIFUL !

I'm always looking for Beautiful.

Anyone can use just a key,

but Hastypearl isn't just Anyone :)

This bird was meant to be a ode to Amelia Earhart.

First woman to fly.

Thus, Amelia Birdheart seemed right !

Again, I try very hard, to go the extra mile.

I didn't just form a bird head,

I formed it over and over,

because when I pressed a beautiful stamp to bring

texture and embossing into the clay,

it would distort the head.

So, I would do it again,

until I could get the embossing AND the head shape that I wanted.

Its all about the details.

This was the Clown Bird.

If there is a Clown Fish, I saw no reason not to have a Clown Bird.

But, because there are people out there, that have Clown issues, ;),

I tried really hard to make mine a Sweet Clown...

not a Scary Clown.

Don't you just want to squeeze that little red nose and see if it honks?:)

Mr. Carson looking very Dapper !

His collar is freshly Starched.

An "ariel"view of the group.

Finally, it seemed appropriate to have a pirate in the group.

But not just Any pirate.

How about Johnny Depp's, Jack Sparrow?

Geeeeeeeet it?

Spaaaaaaarow?

;)

OK.

It takes a long time to make one of these little creatures,

so I had lots of time to form their characters,

personalities and names !

The above image as used on the second page of the article.

I cant explain the thrill of privately and dorkily,

going to the bookstore,

and searching for these magazines.

When you find them...you wonder if its crossing the line,

to tap innocent people on the shoulder and say,

"Do you want to see my Finial Birds",

but sanity requires that you DON'T !

But, you do Have to get up the courage to geek out

and ask an employee to take your goofy picture,

with a smile that almost won't fit in the frame.

It's Just Plain Fun!!

Moral of the story...

If I can do it...YOU can do it :)

If its not being published, its something else, wonderful.

YOU can do it!!

The icing on the cake,

is that a friend from Florida,

who came to an art workshop that I hosted in my home,

bought the WHOLE series/FLOCK from Hastypearl !

I could have been happy with all or part of the above happening,

but when I posted an image of one of the birds on my FB page

and she said she wanted them...

YES!!!

Such a Happy Ending!

So, I have some very achievable goals for 2016.

We all should.

But, I have some OTHERS, that seem SOOOO unattainable.

It doesn't matter.

I'm Going for it.

If I don't make it,

I'll either reevaluate or I'll roll them over to Next Year.

Hear that?

Yeah. Its silence.

Its the absence of the siren sound of the Goal Police !

Whats YOUR craziest 2016 goal? :)

Thanks for stopping by to my Hastypearl blog.

As I mentioned in my last posting, I am working

on starting a new blog.

While I am doing that,

it will give you time to decide if you want to follow me over.

You can do that by signing up to get an email

about the switch over time and new location.

Its over on the right side of this page.--->

I Hope you are enjoying your days, warm or cool,

depending on which side of the equator you live!

Best to you...Laura aka hastypearl

P.S.

If you have a favorite fictional character or an occupation in mind,

that you would like for me to custom make for you, let me know.

You can find me on Etsy and contact me there!

I've collaborated with customers,

to create just the thing that is in their imaginations!

It's fun to do together :)

Hmmm....how about a fireman, teacher, movie star?

The list is ENDLESS!

Collage Wall Decor by Hastypearl !

2016-01-11T14:02:00.001-08:00

Collage Wall Decor

by Hastypearl

Happy New Year!!!

Are you used to saying 2016 yet, or are you still saying 2015?

Whew...How can the days zip by so fast, right?

2015 was amazing in so many ways.

It had its hard days, but the Wonderful days far outweighed them.

You already know that I've said...

when you lose something...be patient,

because something amazing is waiting in the wings to blow you AWAY!

Its certainly been true for me.

I had a wonderful Christmas season hosting and co-hosting several events.

It's lots of work, but I just cant get enough of it.

It's so wonderful to spend time with people that I love.

I am so Blessed.

I want to show you a couple of Collage Wall Decor pieces that I made in 2015,

but before I do...

I want to mention to you,

that I am busy working on a new website, that will also house this Hastypearl blog.

If you have enjoyed reading Hastypearl, then be sure that you

*sign up on the right, to Follow by Email*.

I don't want to lose you or make you feel like I moved out

and didn't leave you a forwarding address :)

Its going to take a while to work out the details and to make the switch, so stay tuned...

The following pieces are in a series of Hastypearl Collages.

They were all laid down on white watercolor paper,

and then mounted on 1" birch wood panels.

These two have black edges.

While they are Ready to hang on the wall or stand on a shelf,

they can still be incorporated into a framing arrangement if you want.

They are both 8 " x 10 "

$ 88. each

My first layer is a background where I painted with tea.

Can you see the faint color?

Keep an eye out and see if you can see the little embossed edging that I applied.

I found this amazing vintage tool...

I don't even know what its called or what it was used for,

but I loved using it on my pieces.

It just adds one more layer, and for me...I LOVE LAYERS :)

I'm pretty crazy about this Orange and Red combo.

In fact it shows up in my work fairly often.

Black is most likely going to appear as well.

I used some of my hand painted papers, mark making papers,

vintage children's book fragments,

vintage lettering, book cover spines, thread, trims.

Hey, I'm a Mixed Media Artist!

There's always room for one more Thing!

Its all about the Story for me.

The one that is in my head.

The one that is in your head.

50 people can see an art piece and Find a different story.

The story that matters the most, is always our Own :)

I got in the mood, and am paying the shipping bill for US buyers.

Yep, FREE SHIPPING on these two collages for US buyers.

I didn't raise the price of the art to cover it...Ill Pay It For You :)

Lets call it a First of the Year treat!

Check in Often and I'll pay shipping for an International buyer another time !

It can feel like there are bad things that happen in the world,

but just like good days and bad days,

there are many more good people, than bad.

Lets keep focused on That.

Encourage Someone.

Give a random Smile to someone.

It can mean Way More Than We Will Ever Know!

As always, hop over to Hastypearl Etsy and take a look around.

You can get there with this link

or you can use the Hastypearl button on the right side of this page.

As Always, Thanks SO MUCH for checking in.

Welcome to you New readers,

and I cant thank those of you Long Time readers, enough!!!!

2016 Blessings to ALL :)

Laura aka hastypearl

What Do You Do, When You Get THAT Invitation ? Hastypearl

2015-12-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

What Do You Do When You Get THAT Invitation ?

Hastypearl

That's a leading question, right?

I didn't specify, if it was a Bad invitation or a Good one, did I?

Well, I am happy to say that it was recently for me, a Good one.

A Very Good one!

I have happily and only recently met local San Antonio artists,

Michelle Belto and Lyn Belisle

Michelle, because of an Encaustics class that I took from her,

and Lyn,

because she opened one of the encaustics mornings, for Michelle.

We also had a Very Happy incident,

where I was able to connect them,

with a sudden opening to teach at a Texas Art Workshop.

That was one of those meant to be moments that made at least 4 of us smile,

and I'm pretty certain that their students smiled, as well.

Anyway, back to my original question!

I happened to be looking through Lyn Belisle's 2015 Workshop schedule,

where she has the dates linked back to pertinent info.

I found this one date...December 12,

that didn't have a link.

I FB messaged her inquiring,

and her response really surprised me....she replied...

I signed You UP !

The first thing that I thought was ....AWESOME !

Not, hmmm...I wonder if I have that date available?

Not, I wonder what she will be doing?

I just thought....AWESOME!

I figured if it was snake handling or something TOOOO risky,

I could decline.

Otherwise, it didn't matter WHAT she was going to be doing,

I knew I was in.

Further explanation arrived and I learned that it wasn't just going to be Lyn,

it was also going to be Michelle!

WHAT???? :)

Turns out,

they had scheduled some time together in Lyn's beautiful studio,

to work on some ideas of things that they had been tossing around.

I and two other ladies, were invited to be guinea pigs of sorts,

and I couldn't have been more thrilled!

So, I guess you have deduced by now, that to the invitation, I said,

YES!!!!!!

The following are a few pics of some of their Mixed Media Art pieces and

some of the things that we played around doing.

It couldn't have been any MORE WONDER FULL !

Someone once told me,

that in any area of your life,

you should find/seek out people that you admire,

and simply, do what they do.

For me, its been fun to see how many times that its really been instead...

Laura, watch and see, how you are being GIFTED with connections,

of people that you admire.

Its easy to attribute it to Gods hand in my life.

Who else could I trust more? :)

These two singly, have More Amazing Talent imaginable,

but together, they are a powerfully, compatible Force !

I'm Fine, with having two new people in my life, to Admire :)

Its at times like this that I always think of,

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you.

They will pour into your lap a good measure-

pressed down,

shaken together,

and running over.

For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return.

Boy Michelle and Lyn,

was I given a Good Measure :)

I'm so glad that you stopped by to visit!

I hope that you are enjoying these Wonder-Full days....

Best,

Laura

It's Friday !! Lets Play a Game :) Hastypearl

2015-12-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

It's Friday !!

Lets Play a Game :)

Hastypearl

Welcome to my SCentral Texas Garden !

We've all worked hard this week, so lets keep it lite.

One of these plants below, is definitely something that you DO NOT WANT to touch !

Ask your family to help you if you need to.

Write the number of the plant that you think it is in the comments box below,

or comment on hastypearls FB, and see if you can get it right.

These are pictures that I took today, while on a walk with our dogs, on our property.

The foliage looks more like it should be mid November, but as you know, its is December 4th.

Can't wait to see what you think.

I will let you know the "DON'T TOUCH ME" plant, in my next posting :)

Have fun !

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

OK.

There you go.

Regardless of where you live, you stand a VERY GOOD chance of getting this right :)

I'll see you on the flip side !

Laura aka hastypearl

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Follow up posting with answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

....if you guessed image #3 and #9 were plants that you Do Not Want To Touch,

then you would be right.

Beautifully colored in reds in the fall and early winter...

For those of us that live in SCentral Texas, this is good old

Toxicodendron Radicans,

commonly called, Poison Ivy

Leaflets Three, Let It Be!

Looks like I have some removing to be done !

Thanks for playing along :) Laura

Let Heaven and Nature Sing ! Mixed Media Angels Hastypearl

2015-12-01T18:12:00.002-08:00

Let Heaven and Nature Sing !

Mixed Media Angels

Hastypearl

I don't know when I made my first Mixed Media Angel.

I know that after the first, I wanted to make more !

Angels have such great symbolism,

and we sing about them a lot, during the holidays.

The Bible discusses them often,

in both the Old and the New Testament.

Nehemiah 9 : 6

"You are the Lord, You Alone.

You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens,

with all of their host,

the earth and all that is on it,

the seas and all that is in them;

and you preserve all of them;

and the host of heaven worships You.

Angels are powerful, but never meant to be worshiped.

They always point back to their Creator.

They have many duties and some are Created to be our Guardians.

Artists have attempted to paint and draw them,

but I love to use my imagination and Engineer them

out of my collections of Vintage Finds.

I realized, that I have quite a few in my Hastypearl Etsy shop right now,

and thought that you might enjoy seeing some of them :)

~$90. ~

This little Angel, is very elegant and pure.

I used Garnets...my favorite stone, and some silver leaf.

There is a bit of bridal trim and rusty bits.

Her crown has an Owl on it symbolizing, Wisdom.

I often find tools on my Vintage Hunts.

This one was perfect suggesting a body !

I built her on an amazing Wooden Vintage Plinth,

that I found at an old Texas estate.

~ $120. ~

This next Angel, may be one of my most complicated, yet.

I bought a "lot" of Vintage Clock Dome glass.

I wanted to simulate something of an old snow globe,

only interpreted My way :)

Instead of snow, I filled the "globe" with lots of Vintage Pieces.

When you shake it...with care of course,

the pieces are free to settle anywhere they fall.

I put faces on both sides, so it is as pretty from the back as it is the front !

Her body, is a wood finial,

that I bought at the estate of a retired Clock Repairman.

That estate will rank in my top 5, for a very long time.

I don't have an instruction book when I make my Angels.

They are very labor intensive.

Every step has to be thought through and figured out before I drill or glue.

If not, I often cant undo it !

I bought another "lot" of Vintage Mother Of Pearl Chinese Game Tokens.

Only One, had a hole drilled through it.

The hanger on this angel was a perfect place to use it.

The tiny details hand inscribed in this Token, are so beautiful.

My Mother taught me from a young age, to look for details.

She pointed out tiny tucks and lace and buttons on garments.

I still look for the details, to this day.

No piece is too small to save.

I waited for a Long Time,

to use this tiny piece of Victorian Lace.

It is very old and is exquisite.

The Renaissance Angel below,

had its beginning from a flat furniture finial.

I found a rusty metal strap and thought it would make perfect wings!

~ $78. ~

I hand coiled tiny wires, for her radiating halo.

Her necklace is made from seating a found moth in a resin filled bezel.

I have a whole drawer,

dedicated to Natural Wonders

that are also waiting to be used, on just the right piece.

Angels cover a lot of ground,

so I thought I would help this one along by giving it a wheel.

Scripture describing some Angels...

Ezekiel 1:16

The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl,

and all four of them had the same form,

their appearance and workmanship

being as if one wheel were within another.

Trying to imagine that is Fantastic!

Finally, this Angel was part of a challenge by an artist friend.

Her suggestion...See if you can use a spoon in your piece.

I had a number of wooden spoons in my kitchen,

so I used them in different ways.

I love how this one turned out.

~ $80. ~

Gold Leaf and Clock parts make for great Details.

Again, Garnets.

The very tiny buttons are quite old.

She can be hung anywhere by the attached beaded loop.

She could hang from a Christmas tree, in a child's room or on a book shelf.

She has no powers...shes just vintage parts,

but she can remind you of the legions of Guardians,

that surround you !

'Tis the Season to think of such things !

Gifting and the Messages that come with them, are important.

I love gifting Handmade Things.

They seem to last longer and have the added Bonus,

that someone's Hands and Hearts have touched them.

Please stop by Hastypearl Etsy,

to see additional images of these Angels

and other Angels that I have listed.

These wont be the last that I make...I promise :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Best...Laura aka hastypearl

Point Away From Face And Other People ! Hastypearl

2015-11-29T09:16:00.001-08:00

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 ~

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 ;)

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

Go With The Flow And Break Some Rules.... Hastypearl

2015-11-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

Go With The Flow And Break Some Rules....

Hastypearl

OK.

Your are probably ALL stuffed full of Turkey and Appropriate Regional sides, by now.

Our family did our best, to break our 17 minutes eat time,

but I'm afraid that we were terribly slow this year.

Towards the end of our meal, we played a solemn little game of,

Tell Me About You...

Helping Young People Talk to Grown Ups.

There weren't any young people at our table this year,

not by a long shot,

but we still had fun answering our questions about ourselves

and learning some new things about each other.

THENNNNN.....

Something happened,

that turned our day into total fun!

And it wasn't because of the brilliance of an adult,

but the honesty of a verrrrrrry young person in our family.

It was time, for the family photos to start coming in

when my sisters son's family picture arrived in text form.

Upon first gaze, it looked like a lovely pose,

of a very attractive family and was it...

ooops?

yes,

their toddler daughter at the last second before the shutter clicked,

had managed to stab her little finger in two knuckles deep,

for that illusivegottopickit "boogey" !

I cracked up and shared it with my table mates.

Hastily...

well, that's how fast these sordid ideas come to me,

I said,

lets send them a picture back with us

digging for our own "boogies" !

Three happy volunteers stepped forward.

I showed my 87 year old mother how to take our picture

and we were

OFF TO THE BOOGIE RACES :)

I sent that "pick pic", to many contacts in our family.

It took only seconds when our first Nose Picking Selfie came Right Back !

Hilarious!

We had momentum!

Then...

Our NOT SHY AT ALL cousins from West, Texas,

were TWO FINGERS in

and we were up to 8 PICKERS!

Then a "pic" from A BRAVE Lone Wolf in Baird.

Two more in San Antonio!

We were ON A ROLL.

Two funny jokes videos came in from West and ANOTHER from San Antonio.

Now, we are going, VIRAL !!!

A surprise Pink Pick came in,

even though she was having fun at a water park in North Carolina!

She STILL had TIME for the family Pick Off !!!

When we doubted the Nixon's...

They DID NOT FAIL,

but "blew" us away with a Triple Single!

Unbelievable!

But the Best And Final,

was the very late entry from the

I CANT MISS OUT ON THIS EPIC PICK,

from Baird,

and that was IT.

Whew!!

A Fantastic Day of Family "Picking" from all around the Nation :)

All because of One little Girl.

Savanna...you are our Thanksgiving "Pick" for starting the most fun of the day!

So, as promised.

I lost all decorum with this unseemly posting and have undoubtedly lost your respect,

but one thing that our family had today was.....

So Much Fun!

What I learned today was...when you cant physically be together..

you can still Pick Together, with the ones that you love...even if from afar.

And as Devo once said...

Now Pick It

Into Shape

Shape It Up

Get Straight

Go Forward

Move Ahead

Try to Detect It

Its Not Too Late

To Pick It

Into Shape

Shape It Up

Get Straight

Go Forward

Move Ahead

Try to Detect It

Its Not Too Late

To Pick It

Well, Pick it Good

Please forgive my silliness :)

...and I hope that you all had as wonderful a Thanksgiving, as I did !

Best, Laura

ps. I will now add some serious pictures in attempt

to gain back your respect, that I have most surely lost :)

Makes you just want to...Pick it, right? ;)

They, Are Who I Am Thankful For.... Hastypearl

2015-11-25T19:02:00.001-08:00

They, Are Who I Am Thankful For.....

A mostly no words posting...except to say,

near or far,

these people...

my family....

they fill me up :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !

I Am ThankFull :)

Best...Laura aka hastypearl

My Uphill Slog With The Mysteries Of Product Photography ! Hastypearl

2015-11-24T18:47:00.001-08:00

My Uphill Slog With The Mysteries Of Product Photography !

Hastypearl

WARNING !

I am going to be Graphic in this blog posting.

I am going to post images that WILL offend you.

Your should start by covering 99% of your field of vision,

only allowing yourself to see 1% if the first 4 images.

Ha!

Got 'cha !

No, there is No Explicit imagery here,

just some really scary bad photography !

I say all of that just to let you see where I started.

Leading up to my hastypearl Esty shop opening in 2012,

I knew Nothing about photography.

I could point and shoot, and share the pics with my family.

That was it.

I learned pretty quick, that what I knew how to do,

and what I was seeing on Etsy, was faaaaar apart.

I didn't know anyone that knew the answers.

I didn't have a clue how to change what I was doing.

I wish that I could say that it happened easily and fast,

but for me, it didn't.

I tried everything that I could think of,

and these pics were about as good as it got.

eeew...

arggggh...

One thing that I DID know how to do, was to ask for help.

Over time, I learned where to watch "how to" videos,

but without the equipment, I was still going around in circles.

So, I started asking some internet friends about their camera equipment

and I made my first DSLR purchase.

It was a starter camera for sure,

but I knew what I saw it turning out for some Etsy friends

and that was good enough for me.

It came with a kit lens and I added a macro lens.

Not expensive...at all.

My BIL knew of my trials, and generously gave me PhotoShop Elements 6,

which by the time that I got it,

it was already obsolete...but it was MY obsolete !

I couldn't have been happier!

He gave me a few how to's...a very few...and the rest I had to figure out.

Again, back to the internet to read and find videos to help.

Then, one fine and wonderful day,

two sweet ladies came to the rescue when I asked for their help.

One, told me about a book called,

Understanding Exposure

How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

by Bryan Peterson

I'm not sure how many times I have read that book,

but I have read through and taken extensive notes, TWICE.

I later found that much of what is in this book,

is taught in videos on his School of Photography.

Frankly, I was glad that I had read the book, before I watched the videos.

Another friend, told me about CreativeLive.com .

This website has fantastic online classes,

for Photo & Video and a whole range of other studies.

Those two real suggestions helped me Get On The Road.

Finally, I had on my wish list to buy some lights for my "studio".

Don't misunderstand.

My photography studio is a piece of white rolled watercolor paper,

clipped to some drapes, with a table in front.

Again, when I asked the question,

do I most likely need a different lens or more light?

The answer was, more light is always the fix.

So, I went to our only real camera store,

Camera Exchange, in San Antonio and bought my first real lights.

I bought the Erin Manning Home Studio Lighting Kit

Westcott Basics.

While I never thought that I would spend what I have spent on photography,

what I have purchased, is very moderately priced,

and way less than many individuals spend on shoes and handbags in a year.

;)

Still, I dreamed of having someone come to my home,

and show me step by step, what they would do with one of my images,

to get it ready for an Etsy listing.

A month ago, that Finally Happened !!

There is a Socially Excepted Limit,

to how many exclamation marks to use,

so just picture that I used One Million in that last sentence :)

That means that...3three3 LONNNNG years after I opened my Hastypearl Etsy shop,

I got THE piece of info that I had dreamed of.

On Photoshop, it is called the Level's bar, with the Histogram.

It was Right under my nose, the Whole Time.

When my friend showed me,

she used a phrase that I had murmured to myself so many times...

She said,

slide this bar,

and it will "look like you have removed a film off of the image".

That is exactly what I needed !

When I put everything that I had learned together...

I heard the Angels Sing a New Song...

Their song was...

Hallelujah, Laura's pictures just Got Better,

so Maybe we will stop having to see HER TRULY BAD Ones !!!

Yes, a Heavenly Chorus :)

Again, the audacity of Me telling you about photography,

when there are SO many much more capable, than I.

It is equal to me telling you how to fly a spaceship,

or change a transmission,

or rob a bank ;)

But, I just wanted desperately to know how to improve my pics,

for so long,

that I wanted to share what I have learned.

I have SOOOOO much more to learn,

but the best part about it is...I Love Learning !

While I would have loved to have known these steps MUCH earlier...

They Came When They Came, and I can live with that.

We are all on some kind of learning curve.

Its what keeps us fresh, stretching, reaching.

Lets remind each other to keep at it !

Its one of Life's Greatest Joys :)

What has been Your biggest learning curve ?

Leave your answer in the Post a Comment section below !

We can cheer each other on :)

Best,

Laura

ps...these last images, are some angels that I will be listing on Hastypearl Etsy.

Come on by and see whats new in the shop :)

Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Hastypearl

2015-11-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Pull Up !!

Hastypearl

Do you remember seeing those old movies, where there is a diving airplane,

headed to it's certain doom,

and the pilot is pulling on the steering wheel

(sorry pilots, I don't know what they are really called ;)

and the co-pilot is saying for his life...

Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Pull Up !!

..as if the pilot didn't already Know that he needed to Pull Up! :)

Well, that's what came to my mind this morning,

concerning an event that I had with an out of state, online friend,

this past week.

Things like it, can happen so easily

and get crazy so fast!

It all started, with me asking her a question.

She later explained that she had read my question on her phone screen

and didn't really get the gist of it, and misunderstood what I had said.

Boy, after I heard that...I totally understood.

Humans, trying to navigate through friendships with only

the use of texting/convos/emails...

leads to craziness!!

Things get misunderstood and lots of time

can get wasted, trying to explain.

I thought about it this morning, and thought...how is it that two people,

that really like each other,

and have communicated as much as we have,

still haven't heard each others voices ?

I plan to change that, soon.

What I just said sounds so incredibly weird,

but we've all experienced it whether through FB or

some other social networking.

If two people find their way to each other,

and enjoy each other for years, its not rocket science to pick up a phone,

and call each other :)

So, why the Pull Up title, to this posting?

This morning, I wrote her an...

I've got to "Pull Up" on this back and "forthing" of emails,

or we are in danger of hitting the ground going a million miles an hour,

and that's going to LEAVE A MARK !

There are always moments in relationships,

that if we are sensitive and really alert to what is going on,

that one of us better Pull Up !!

So, I wrote her to tell her that I was done with each of us trying

to explain our points and reminded her of how much

I really care for her,

...the many reasons that we are friends,

and how much I want that to continue.

I'm hopeful for an upward turn,

just like in the movies,

where we swoop back up to the sky and soar

off into the horizon, together.

I'm pretty sure that we can and will!

I don't think that I've been this personal on this blog before,

and I wouldn't have done it except that I think this

topic isn't MY topic,

but rather a TOPIC and solution for all of us !

No shame in it for any of us.

Just part of learning how to navigate

in our New World of Technology !

Been there, anyone ? ;)

I've also posted below,

pics of some of my new Collage Covered Notebook listings.

These are available on Hastypearl.

They are fantastic Gifts !

I LOVE having them to take notes in,

my grocery list, a quick sketch or even a topic idea for this blog.

They are a perfect size, to slip in your bag,

leave in your car, or next to your PC.

Please take a look at them, here,

and see if they will check a box for your gift list.

You've heard it before...

but, everyone loves to receive something one of a kind :)

part of a front cover

inside pencil/pen pouch

front and back covers

front cover

Stack 'o Notebooks :)

Its a Beautiful Sunday morning, here,

where our fall color is Finally starting !

Hoping that your day is special and full of Wonder :)

Best...Laura

Please sign up to receive an email, telling you that I have posted on this blog !

You can do that on the right side ----> :)

New Possiblilites ! Hastypearl

2015-11-21T05:13:00.000-08:00

New Possibilities !

Hastypearl

This posting may look a lot like my last.

The image is the same, but there is a New Message!

I was delighted, after showing you four

Mixed Media Collage Etsy Hastypearl listings,

that one of them Sold !

OK. Not really delighted, but rather...

Ecstatic!

It is a Terrific RUSH,

to know that something that came from your own heart and hand,

has Moved Someone enough to hit the buy button,

and want to look at it, everyday :)

So, maybe you remember the one...

It is titled,

you, me, us...

Below, is its picture.

A VERTICAL oriented piece.

I wrote to tell its buyer, how pleased that I was that she had purchased it,

and that I would deliver it to her home, as she lives nearby.

She said, "Great !

We can walk around the house, and see where it should go.

I could hang it or maybe put it on a shelf...

could it be placed, HORIZONTAL ?"

I thought.

No.

I Made it to hang, Vertical.

Thennnnn,

I remembered that within that last blog post, I clearly said...

I don't tell my buyer My story,

because I want them to have their OWN story!

Hmmm...already, I must Walk the Talk?

I knew the piece well enough, that I turned it horizontal in my mind...

and I realized...

It Would Look Fantastic Horizontal,

and that Way, it would tell Her story, too !

I present to you...

you, me, us...

Horizontal!

And Why Not ? :)

Lots of lessons here.

The greatest is, that we keep our minds Open to New Possibilities,

and to hearing stories in more than one way.

We can all have a Different View, and still all of them are, Good !

Do you sometimes catch yourself thinking, that Your voice is always the best ?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day...

either, Vertically OR Horizontally ! :)

Best...Laura aka hastypearl

...to see the three other pieces that I posted about, click here !

Mixed Media Collage Hastypearl

2015-11-19T06:05:00.001-08:00

Mixed Media Collage

Hastypearl

I. Love. To. Collage. :)

I told the story a while back,

about taking a ton of paper to Colorado during one of our last visits.

For me, Colorado means...No Cooking.

No Cleaning.

Few Responsibilities.

Etc.

On the Flip side it DOES Mean...

Yes, to Exploring.

Yes, to Photography.

Yes, to Art.

So, my favorite thing to do, when I first arrive,

is I set up a great Drafting Table that the previous owner of our home, left,

a nice lamp for light,

and a small radio set to KSNO...get it?...Sno :)

Then, I spread my supplies out, that I have bit by bit,

sent up in USPS flat rate boxes and

I CREATE!!!

Well, back to my story.

I first cut out my basic 4"x 4", 5" x 7 ", 8" x 10 " and 10 " x 14 " watercolor paper.

Then, as they say...I Let The Fur Fly !

When I do multiples like this,

its wonderful, to see a series of themes,

similar colors, style and even philosophy take shape.

My life experiences certainly speak up.

Songs that I hear, speak up.

Dreams that I have, speak up.

Everything at that moment...Can Speak !

One thing that I did at the Redstone Labor Day Art Show this year,

was intentionally NOT tell my customers the art pieces' stories.

They are after all, MY story and don't have any business worming

their way into someone else's lives :)

I like to leave that up to the viewer.

Again...what ended up happening to these pieces on that trip was...

I got all of the compositions laid out,

probably three days before we were to head home...

but I hadn't taken into account,

that they ALL HAD TO BE GLUED DOWN, BEFORE I LEFT!!!!

EEEEEK!

So, I went white knuckle nose to the ground, and glued almost 40 pieces,

with just enough time to have them dry and to be

packed in my luggage to bring home !

I think I was a little Too relaxed and without a plan and it was a Close Call !

My recommendation to you...

Don'tEverDoThat !

So, here are some of the 10 " x 14 " pieces that I created on that trip.

They are all mounted on beautiful birch cradle boards, with black edges.

(I've recently blogged about that process if you would like to learn)

They have saw tooth hangers making them ready to hang,

or I often lean my art on a shelf, against our books, or even on a mantle or console,

They certainly can still be professionally framed.

I like to give my customers options.

This first piece is called, Reclamation.

Below, is a close up of my handmade watercolor papers,

vintage fibers with a little stitch,

the stain patterns left on a tea bag,

all built on a vintage journal page, #45.

This next piece is called, Neighbors.

Named after another old poem.

I've NEVER been able to recreate that amazing Teal color since

this piece of handmade watercolor rice paper.

You would think if you did it once, you could do it again.

It is my quest...to keep trying, because it is SO striking.

There are lots of subtle metallic's on that same sheet of paper.

Stitch, and vintage trim, a vintage telegram fragment

and black and white, mark making paper.

The image, two down, shows the profile of the black edged cradle board.

This next piece is called, The Roots.

I used a very old botanical book page,

and circled the words in metallic gold thread,

The roots,

followed by more random circled words...

...established a position and in particular abundance.

Then, I stitched a tree above and below the earth.

And I also included a paper fragment with the words...

...coming home.

Lastly, the piece that I titled...

you, me, us

You can see the fragment with those words covered by the sheer gold paper.

The colors on my handmade watercolor paper, run from greens to salmon.

It takes layer upon layer of colors, to get this much coverage.

Sometimes, I just can stop!

Every new color that I add, makes it even more beautiful.

There is another word fragment...

I am always on the look and listen out, for beautiful phrases.

This one says...

...and how we used to lay under the tree, gazing upwards...

Who hasn't done that in their lives?

If you haven't...you Must!

And maybe you will do it With someone...

...you, me, us

Relationships like that, are woven together.

Weaving's in my art are always symbolic and seemed so for this piece.

My customers tell me that they can look at my art over and over,

See new things.

Find new meanings.

Its a way for me to tell a story.

An open ended story.

One that doesn't have a right or a wrong.

Its just up to the viewer, to fill it in for themselves.

So, it has been a while, since I had posted my hastypearl art.

These four 10 " x 14 " pieces are listed at $140. each

I hope that you enjoyed seeing it and maybe could see it working its way into your lives :)

These pieces are all listed in my Etsy Hastypearl shop.

Please take a look at more images of them, and the other listings that I have.

You can go there by tapping here !

I'm so glad that you stopped by.

I'd love for you to sign up to receive an email,

(you can find that box on the right side column)

letting you know when I next post.

I hope you will :)

See you again, soon?

Enjoy these wonderful days !

Best...Laura

Man, "She Really Gets Me" Hastypearl

2015-11-18T06:01:00.003-08:00

Man, "She Really Gets Me"

Hastypearl

I thought about writing about Gifting.

You know, about giving someone just the right, Thing.

The holidays are inching closer, and to be sure, there will be lots of

fruitcakes, ties and ugly sweaters

exchanged, after all !

History has proven that its just the way it is:)

But that's not really the topic that I was thinking about.

More specifically...

This last week, I hosted an art workshop in my home.

Each time, I enjoy giving a gift to the artist that I host.

Usually something that I made, and I really want it to be Special.

I love making and selling Mixed Media Angels on hastypearl,

so I gave her one.

What she then Gave to me, completely blew me away!

You see...

She knows me.

She knows important things about me.

What she gave me was so, so, so...Not a fruitcake !

She nailed her gift to me...

because, "She Really Gets Me".

It touched me so much...

On the second day into the workshop, I was very surprised that as soon

as one of the attendees walked into the house, she handed me a bag.

It was Unexpected and I had no idea what was inside.

When I opened the bag and pulled out her Gift to me, I got chills.

How, after only being together for such a short while,

had she so PEGGED me so right, in her selection?

She had an incredible Intuition about me...and when I hugged her I thought....

Man, "She Really Gets Me".

How are some people so Intuitive?

So Perceptive?

I think its actually, a Gift.

Like, writing, or conducting, or dance.

Its an Inner Intellect.

Its about being able to reach in and connect with someone, right away.

Its a beautiful thing.

I don't think that it's an Exclusive Gift, just enjoyed by a select few,

but rather, I think its available to everyone, if we want it.

The other quite remarkable thing about those two moments...

I had to ask myself...

Would you be as generous as these two,

to give either of these two gifts to someone else?

That's how Perfect they were to me.

I'm not sure.

I think I'm generous, but there are things, that are I want to hold on to,

that I don't think I would be able to give away.

If you asked me...would you love to give someone Chills,

by what you do, give, or say, to them.

Of course, I would say, Yes!

Then, would I give Anything?

I'll have to think about that.

It was a great experience all around for me,

and obviously something that is still

rolling around in my mind.

Either way, I want to slow down, recognize the

Beauty, Strengths and Heart of others and be ready and

willing to Give, when I'm supposed to,

because I know that it means so much to me,

when others extend that to me.

During the upcoming Best Time of the year for Giving,

we will all have an opportunity to practice giving,

and if we believe that it is

better to Give than to receive,

we can !

I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes...

In a world where factions are doing evil things for their causes,

and a time where we don't feel we are equipped to stop it...

we always have the power to Give...

quote...

The best investment I know of is Charity:

You get your principal back immediately

and you draw a dividend every time you think of it.

Josh Billings (Henry Winkler Shaw)

I'm so happy that you stopped by for a little visit with hastypearl.

You know that I love that you do...:)

Best...Laura

~*Please sign up in the box in the right column,

to receive an email when I post on this blog!*~

Community of the Like Minded Earth Notes Texas Workshop with Leslie Marsh Hastypearl

2015-11-14T09:33:00.001-08:00

Community of the Like Minded

Earth Notes Texas Workshop with Leslie Marsh

Hastypearl

Every now and then, we experience something that is, More.

More, than we expected.

Even when our expectations are High...they can still be exceeded.

I recently hosted one of those events.

I already knew Leslie Marsh from hosting her in a previous event,

so I already knew something great would happen. :)

For me then, it was all about seeing what would happen with the workshop attendees.

I wasn't disappointed.

The weather reports promised rain, which we had a little of,

but our last day,

the sun broke through and we couldn't have ordered a more perfect day.

My Texas garden Celebrates this time of year.

It Gives and Gives and Gives.

Yes, I can press its leaves and flowers,

and I can even capture it in photographs...

but now, I can save it with the most amazing transaction.

Heat, water, paper, fabric.

The beauty is coaxed out of the living and transferred Forever.

Its a surprising treasure...every time.

It's an art that has been practiced since the dawn of man.

Now, because of Leslie's generous sharing,

another room full of women can do it, too.

I'm so glad that I learned it from one of the most

congenial, selfless persons I've ever met.

Thank you, Leslie.

Our garage is now home base for art workshops.

What a happy thing to have.

I've been to workshops, in huge venues, where almost never a word

was spoken between the attendees.

Not in this garage!

There's chatter and sharing.

It reminds me of the old days when women gathered on the porch to snap beans

or quilt their squares.

Something very permanent, eternal, transpires.

Fellowship.

Its a safe place where discussions of the divisions of politics,

controversies and conflicts are unwelcomed...

instead,

conversations of life and discovery about

WHO WE REALLY ARE,

takes place.

The Community blanket was spread, where we shared leaves from

our backyards, from all across the US.

Joy!

Building.

Process.

It doesn't happen Every time.

But it DID This time.

It looks like we were told what to wear for our class picture!

I think this is the Best Class Pic I've Ever Seen :)

...to This group of ladies...Vicki, Elissa, Jeanne,

Linda, Michelle, Carol, Mary Ann, Deryn, Diane and Leslie...

You are the Best!

Everyone has gone home.

But all I have to do,

is take a deep breath and

breathe in the aroma that still lingers on my dyed papers and fabrics,

and it all Comes Back to me.

Whatever it takes, for you to find a Community of the Like Minded,

I recommend you taking the time to do it.

It's a Building kind of thing.

A Restoring kind of thing.

I'm so Glad that you stopped by hastypearl !

I love seeing where you All come from to read these entries about my life.

Its an unbelievable honor...

If you would like to get a little note telling you when I post,

please sign up in the box provided in the right column !

Enjoy these lovely days...Fall here and Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

What a wonderful World :)

Laura aka hastypearl

Leslie Marsh

How To Install Grommets and Eyelets in 5 Easy Steps Hastypearl

2015-10-30T16:50:00.001-07:00

How To Install Grommets and Eyelets in 5 Easy Steps

Hastypearl

I started laughing while downloading these images,

thinking about the teacher on

Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Only instead it sounded like this...

Anyone? Anyone?

Who knows how to Install a Grommet or Eyelet?

Actually, its kind of a fun thing to do,

and its almost always for a fun project when I do it!

Its really simple and will give you a nice finished look.

The only difference in the word Grommet and Eyelet,

is that an Eyelet is smaller.

Otherwise, they are both installed the same way.

* Eyelets come in two parts.

The top usually has a longer stem on it,

and the back, has a larger hole, and slips over the stem.

There are really only two things that can go wrong,

so it doesn't hurt to practice on a scrap, first.

One, you can accidentally reverse the two pieces,

and two, if you don't hold the eyelet tool straight,

it can make the front a little wonky.

Again, just practice and you'll be fine !

* These are the two tool pieces.

One is the anvil, and the other is a stem that you hit.

I'll show you what the pieces look like without paper or fabric first,

so it will be easier to see.

1. The first step is to cut a hole in your fabric or paper,

the same size as the openings of the eyelet.

I use a hole punch or one of my pointed razors.

Use scissors or even a pencil.

2. In the picture below, place the kit anvil on something flat.

I use a Vintage Anvil that I bought for $5 at an estate sale.

I couldn't be without it. I use it for all kinds of things.

If you don't have an anvil, you can use a rock, or your sidewalk.

Use your imagination.

3. Place the front piece face down on the kit anvil

and the long stem through the paper or fabric.

4. Then, place the back piece over that long stem.

It will look like the image below.

I did this WITHOUT my paper,

just so that you could see what it would look like.

5. Then, you line up the tool stem, on top of the back piece,

and pound it lightly with your hammer.

It really only takes a few light taps.

If you did everything right, it will look like the image below

where I actually did the steps WITH the paper project.

So, this time WITH the project...

The image below, shows the long stem of the eyelet front

coming up through the art piece.

I then slipped the back piece, over the long stem.

This time, with the front piece pushed through the paper

in the image below, is ready to hammer.

Use the tool, to lightly tap the back piece onto the front piece.

Try to keep it straight up and down,

so that the front isn't flatter on one side than the other.

Flip it over, and it will look like the image below.

Sometimes, the anvil will still be attached,

but its really easy to unstick.

This is what it will look like on the back.

No more raggedy or frayed edges.

Depending on what size Grommets or Eyelets you get,

you can use them for belt making,

shower curtains, cafe curtains, tote bags,

pillows, bookmaking and like I have done here,

for hanging Mixed Media Projects.

There are also other tools for installing Grommets and Eyelets,

like the Cropadile.

I like these little inexpensive kits, better.

When you run out of Eyelets,

you can just buy replacements.

You can find them at art box stores,

and fabric stores in the notions department.

So, Ferris,

if you had known that you were going to learn how to install an Eyelet,

you might have gone to school that day that you missed :)

For those of you that haven't done this before,

I hope this helps and that you try it very soon!

If you do, let me see what you made, OK?

Anyone? Anyone? :)

I've been listing new items at Etsy Hastypearl.

I hope that you will pop over and see whats new.

Its not too early, to be thinking about your Holiday shopping :)

Avoid the rush!

I'll send your purchase right to your door.

For Multiple purchases, I will combine your shipping.

It Always saves you money to buy multiples at one place.

Often, additional pieces will ship either free or almost free.

I always refund any overages right back to you.

Enjoy these wonderful days!

:) Laura aka hastypearl

A Peculiar Trip Hastypearl

2015-10-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

A Peculiar Trip

Hastypearl

As you know, we have a second home in Redstone, Colorado.

Its been a dream of ours for our whole adult lives.

I cant think of a trip, literally since the mid 70's that I wasn't Euphoric

about every moment we were there.

For me, it has always been...Remarkable!

We spent 9 days there recently for what would be our last trip of 2015.

This trip held no early plans,

and following a very busy last trip up for an Art Show that I participated in,

to be honest, I was really just looking forward to chilling and relaxing.

I mentioned on FB, that I would give a report on our trip.

The wheels seemed to come off right from the start.

Really, not any more than a large percent of travelers

can testify to in modern traveling,

but it was a challenging trip up.

Period.

To shorten the story significantly...it just went downhill from there.

The details aren't really important,

although we humans really do Love to tell and hear details :)

What was way more important to me

...was the Peace that I had during the downward spiral.

Yes, we can Practice it in our personal walks,

but its really about what happens Inside of each of us,

at those times.

Maybe you aren't even aware of how Peaceful you are,

because at the time,

you are really in the Middle of Gods focused Grace on you...

like the pebble that hits in the circle of the waters ripples.

But when people begin to speak back to you,

that you sure seem to be at Peace about things,

you Know in your heart, that its True.

At tough times, we have a decision to make...

Am I going to Collapse?...

Or with my (endless) dose of Grace,

am I going to Push through the "assignment against me",

as a friend recently put it.

I'm not saying that I get it right every time,

but I know that the Spirit of Peace is available to me,

if I'll take it.

As I was downloading and editing these typical Colorado Fall images,

I confess, that for the first time,

similar shots that have been covered over with Euphoria,

are this time, colored by a tinged memory of Challenge.

There are soooo many lessons to be learned,

just from that last sentence.

Still, they represent a time that I KNEW that even with the things

that were happening to us...

God Was Still In Control.

Regardless of yours and my circumstances...

THAT wont Ever Change.

The scripture below, is often reserved for funerals,

to encourage us when we lose a loved one...

but I'd much rather use it for the Living,

as it is also speaks of an option for Confidence,

in Challenging times...

Romans 8:38

...And I am Convinced that Nothing can Ever separate us from God's love.

Neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow---

not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.

Words of life for Confidence

...even in Challenging times!

Thanks for stopping by.

You know that I love that you do:)

xo Laura

Somerset Studio Said, YES! Hastypearl

2015-10-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Somerset Studio Said, Yes!

Hastypearl

About a year ago, I had a conversation with two amazing

and much more experienced ladies in the art world.

I already had it on my "To Do" dream list, but when they said,

"Start submitting your work to publications",

I knew it was the conformation that I needed.

My photography skills were severely lacking, but frankly,

there is ALWAYS going to be some skill that is lacking.

We just have to do the best that we can.

Besides, Designers/Photography Editors can fix big messes :)

This time, I wouldnt even have to worry about that,

because this particular magazine actually had you

send OUT your art piece.

OK. Even better!

I'm no expert, but if you are interested in submitting art,

every magazine, has dates and guidelines for specific calls,

usually in the back of the issue,

or you can go to their websites and all of the details will be available, there.

This particular call that I submitted to,

requested a bit of a Gothic feel.

I knew just the piece!

It was already finished and ready to go.

I packed it up and shipped it out.

Then...I Waited.

MANY months went by, and then this.....:)

I'm NOT going to lie.

I was thrilled!

Out of all of the possible imaginable scenarios, this was a great way to end.

It was so much fun, to see my piece, snuggled right up to great art.

It was curated beautifully and looked so right.

I guess if there were ANY piece that I have ever created that I would say best represents me,

it would be This One.

I've got this crazy interest in the early 1900's, or better said,

the High Victorian Era.

Not so much the pastel and ruffly kind of Victorian.

THIS kind of Victorian.

I thought that I found this image from The Graphics Fairy, but it turns out...no.

Still, Karen's site is FULL of fantastic images that she shares.

I have always thought her to be very generous in the images that

she makes available to the public.

Who would think of a strong Victorian woman,

when most women during those days, weren't considered to be that.

We know however, that women have always had to be strong.

Women run the world in so many essential ways.

So, all of my favorite found objects came out to play.

I love layering and layering.

I love to build pieces that the eye keeps moving around and around.

It keeps things fresh with the observer, always finding new things to look at.

Most of the items used were seriously Victorian.

From the exquisite tatted lace, to the gold trim and of course...the buttons.

Please...see to it that I am buried in Fantastic Buttons ! :)

(This piece is available at my Hastypearl Etsy shop!)

So, this is a simple story of Trying.

Trying.

We don't have anything to lose if we try and we hear no.

That just means that we try, Again!

Having art published in a magazine, may not be Your Thing,

but I know that you have One.

Whatever that big dream is, that you've had hidden in your pocket...TRY.

We are all in the same boat.

Successes and Disappointments even come to your Hero's.

We don't see the background events where they were told No,

but they've heard it.

They are no different than us.

I hope that this posting encourages you to take that Next Step

in an area that's special to You!

And when you do...I hope that you will let me know what happens... :)

As Always, thanks so much, for stopping by...

Laura

p.s. if you would like to receive an email that I have posted on this blog,

please sign up in the box on the right side of this page.

I hope that you will..:)

Intro to Encaustics Hastypearl

2015-10-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

Intro to Encaustics

Hastypearl

I have a Confession to make.

Its not a bad thing, its just a way that I function.

I tend to learn something, and stay in it for a Long while.

When something new or at least new to Me comes along, I resist.

Encaustics is an example.

When I first started hearing about encaustics,

I thought, oh, its ANOTHER new direction and it

would take a ton of new equipment,

I dont WANT new equipment,

where will I store it...blah blah blah.

THEN,

I recently had 4four4 ladies come to Crystal Neubaurs workshop,

that I hosted here at my house,

that were ALL going to Encausticamp

and I finally let my wheels start turning :)

One of the ladies, later mentioned on FB,

that Michelle Belto, a San Antonio artist that I had wanted to meet,

was going to hold an Intro to Encaustics class

at Southwest School of Art,

in San Antonio.

Boom!

" I test drove the car".

That's my theory for...never test drive a car or you are probably going to Buy it!

Specifically I mean that, I went to SSA's web site and read about Michelle's Class.

You Know what I'm going to say next!

I (BOUGHT the car)...meaning...I signed up for the Class!

Well, I'm happy to say...that I now GET why everyone loves Encaustics.

Michelle was a fantastic teacher.

Her format was indulgent, to say the least.

First, demo time, to show us the steps,

tell us about the product and safety issues with working with hot beeswax.

Then...

she sent us back to our stations to Explore, Create, and Play!

She quietly stayed right there with each of us, Encouraging all the way.

Knowing how fascinated with architecture and buildings I am,

I have to digress and tell you how amazing the entire SSA building and classrooms were.

My husband has a built in square footage skill of walking rooms off with his stride.

I couldn't wait to do that for myself,

just so that I could tell him how HUGE the classrooms were.

This room that the class was held in was !!!!! 3000 sq. ft. !!!!!!

It was a Fantastic space to be in :)

Two of us shared a table, even though there was one table empty.

The tables were so huge,

that there was PLENTY of room for two...

plus it was fun And I made a new friend :)

This picture shows the perspective of the space with three working tables lined up.

More working ladies.

Here is Michelle at the end of the weekend,

doing a little gallery showing of all of our finished pieces.

Its always amazing to me,

to see the versatility and variety of the humans capabilities,

Colors, Styles, Voices.

If there are 10 people, there are going to be 10 wildly different styles.

I LOVE that!

Here I am working on one of my last pieces.

More end of class gallery time.

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

I've said before, that I've had almost NO art training.

I was a theater student in University, and we had our wonderful fair share of time,

designing sets, makeup, costumes, etc,

but with an eventual focus on Learning Differences,

I ended up getting through without ever taking an art class.

Walking down the halls of Southwest School of Art felt

like the halls of Trinity University.

All I had to do was read the names of those massive wonderful rooms

and I knew that I wanted to walk through them and Taste what was inside.

It felt like home.

If felt like sanctuary.

I LOVED the feeling,

It felt like I WOULD be back.

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

All you had to do was walk up and down the halls,

and see the great creations on the walls,

to feel excited about the possibilities!

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

(I'm sorry that I didn't get the artists names for the above pieces)

So, these two are my pieces.

Such yummy colors and products from R&F

that were provided for the students,

to combine with our own papers and ideas.

The sky was the limit!

So, Finally, here's Michelle !

What an honor, to spend three days with such a talented artist,

and thoughtful, vulnerable and provocative woman.

(who by the way, soldiered on and taught even though, her husband was in hospital)

You're another Door Opener for me, Michelle.

We all meet those Important people in our lives, at Just the right time.

I love the Providence of that.

I love the sweet Adventure of Life!

Don't You ? :)

As always dear reader, thanks for stopping by and spending a little time with hastypearl.

...and Enjoy your Adventures, today :)

...oh, and ps...

I bought an electric skillet and griddle this week

and they will store just fine in my studio :)

Where Women Cook Giveaway....And The Winner Is! Hastypearl

2015-09-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Where Women Cook Giveaway

...And The Winner Is!

Hastypearl

Thanks everyone for supporting me with my Second Hastypearl Giveaway!

In celebration of being featured in the Sept/Oct/Nov 2015 issue,

I hosted a Giveaway,

and I extended the fun to Hastypearl's Face Book,

Instagram and

You...my Hastypearl Blogger friends.

I left the time frame open, to like or comment on all venues, for 10ten10 days!

It was fun watching the names roll in and thinking...

oh, I'd Love it if SHE won :)

I literally thought that with Every name!

But, because I promised to be Honest, and because its super fun to

let the random process do the selecting,

I wrote your names on paper.

Cut them out.

Put them in one of my prettiest glasses...

actually, a gift from Tiffany's ;)

...so I took EXCELLENT care of you.....

I put my little fingers, with my fingernails still packing heavenly

Bees Wax from an amazing over the weekend

Michelle Belto Encaustics Workshop...

and.....

...........drummmmmmm roll please......

The Winner is....Jean Thompson!

Not her actual New name, as she is a newly wed...

but she will Always be Jean Thompson to me!

Congrats, Jean!

I'll message you for your address and soon you will

receive a copy of

Where Women Cook.

I know that you will love reading it.

So, thanks everyone that signed up,

and those that just enjoyed me celebrating

a really wonderful event in my life!

I'm still pinching myself and

pretty sure that I will, for a Long Time!!!

I've said thanks a million times already

to Anne Christian Lorys photographer Extraordinaire

and Jo Packham, Amber Demian and Brandy Shay

of Stampington & Company, Somerset Studios.

I'm almost embarrassed to do it again,

but I wouldn't have been in the magazine Without them :)

Dreams Do come true!

Hope one of Yours comes true for YOU today !

...thanks again, guys...

and as always

...I'm so glad that you stopped by for a little visit....

Laura aka hastypearl

Where Women Cook Hastypearl

2015-09-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Where Women Cook

Hastypearl

Can you read that letter below?

Can you imagine getting that letter?

I had no Idea, that a magazine sent such...until it happened :)

It all started sooo long ago, but it is a testimony to encourage you to

Never give up on your Dreams.

I wont tell you the whole long tale of it,

but the Dream would have to have Special and Necessary people in it,

to fulfill it.

It had to have a photographer.

Not Any photographer.

THE Photographer.

It didn't hurt, that I had followed Anne Christian Lorys on her Fiona and Twig blog

and it Sure didn't hurt that she lived only 45 minutes from my house in Texas.

But, would she make her way into my Dream?

Yes, she Would!

We spent ONE CRAZY day together, laughing and cooking and tasting.

Much of the time, I didn't even know that she was taking pictures,

she made it so easy.

The Dream, would take additional wonderful ladies like Jo Packham,

Amber Demien and Brandy Shay,

who spend their days encouraging individuals to Cook and Create...

and then making them look beautiful for the Stampington & Company,

Somerset Studios publications,

that we Cant get enough of.

My Dream, had to have Years and Years of eating Fantastic Mexican food,

to make me think of No Other Topic, to write about.

Eating Mexican food for 40 years...Oh, such a burden!

So, because of a Dream coming true,

I thought it a very fitting time, to Celebrate and Give Away

a copy of Where Women Cook,

to someone in my Hastypearl blog family.

Its over 150 blog postings and I hope 150 MORE to come !

The Giveaway time frame will be 10 days (from September 16, 2015)

and Larry will do a scientific drawing,

for a Free Copy of the Sept/Oct/Nov issue of

Where Women Cook.

If you've never read it, you're going to Love it.

Leave a comment here, or on my Hasty Pearl FB page,

so that I can find my way back to you for your address

on announcement day...September 26, 2015 !

If you would like to sign up to receive a notice when I next post on my blog,

you can do so in the blank on the right column.

I say that column is the Mothership for all things...Hasty!

As always, I hope that you have days full of Wonder,

and Thanks so much for stopping by!

Gotta go now...tonight is Mexican Food Night!

:) Best, Laura

One Thing Leads To The Other... Hastypearl

2015-09-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

One Thing Leads To The Other...

Hastypearl

As you well know by now,

half of my heart resides in the Hill Country, in Texas,

and the other half belongs to the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado.

Right away, you can see that I have Great Taste, right? :)

A while back, one of my favorite Art and Business Mentors,

(I have quite a few),

told me to start submitting my art,

and One Thing Would Lead To The Other.

I took her advice.

After all, What Would I Have to Lose?

While I always know that Providence is in control

of everything

that happens in my life,

including the good AND the bad,

I still love watching it play out.

For instance...

A Colorado Home Owners Association reply letter from me

and sent to a neighbor Betty Bradley,

with my Hastypearl Etsy and Blog addresses in the signature,

led her to explore my Etsy shop.

After that,

she asked if I would submit a piece of my Mixed Media Art

to a fund raiser for a ministry, that we have known about for years.

Of course I said, Yes!

I didn't know that she was the President of the Redstone Art Foundation,

that holds an annual Art Show, to raise money for

Art Scholarships for High School students

headed to Art Schools.

She asked me to participate in that Art Show

....my very first Show Ever!

Again, I said, YES!

See?

One Thing Leads To The Other...

I'm sure that you have had similar things happen to you, both large and small.

This past 2015 Labor Day weekend, was when the Redstone Art Show took place.

It wasn't easy long distance preparing, shipping and setting up

...but I am So Glad that I did it.

It has given me a total new respect,

for those of you who do this on a regular basis.

Now I can see what you guys go through :)

It was a wonderful learning curve and I feel so much better for it.

I am thrilled that I have been invited back,

and even asked to make the name tags!

So, while I worked Many hours daily at the Art Show,

I also found time,

to practice shooting in Manual mode with my camera

...another wonderfully steep learning curve!

Lets face it, every where in America is beautiful,

so all you have to do is look around, and snap!

Below, are various photos that my husband took of my space.

The weather was all over the charts,

but the fantastic enclosure that it was held in, was not only charming,

but also very safe for the Art.

At closing time, we enjoyed the great restaurants in the Redstone area,

and as Always, found a few necessary minutes out in nature.

One day at the Art Show, was funny hat day.

I had a hat, but didn't have the Funny!

Larry suggested that I find and attach something that I had made,

so I used my handmade leathery envelopes and lavender filled pouches.

The side benefit was that it smelled great :)

I'm not sure how people Actually took me serious, but I had to get in the game!

Larry took the following pictures of me with my customers.

I was actually Emotional when I downloaded them and saw them for the first time.

Whether they were buyers or not, it gave me such joy,

to expose people, and some for the first time,

to my idea of story telling with Vintage Items.

It was a brand new concept for many.

I told them, that I have a philosophy, that Art doesn't have to be Flat!

And, that there are more kinds of art than Oils and Watercolors

...both of which I love.

I want my Art to reach OUT AT you and beg you to touch it.

I want it to Move.

I want it to flutter in a breeze.

And most of all, I want it to do that Over and Over again.

I have had patrons tell me that they can see something new

in my pieces, every time that they look at it.

High Compliments...the Best !

So, Look at their body language as I help them find their own stories.

If that is all that I came away with, it would have Been Enough.

Makes me soooooo happy!

These Mixed Media Angels, are a few of the pieces that found new homes.

I was Thrilled to learn that the angel above, named Beauty, was featured in

Both the Aspen and Glenwood Springs newspapers.

With so much great art to choose from,

I was Really Honored.

I was surprised when my friend Janette, still wearing her pajamas,

appeared at my door with one of the newspapers one morning !

Beauty, was sold to a customer, that didn't know about the features!

I have another theory that can be Patience Testing.

Maybe you already know about it.

The piece above, was called, Thimble Heart and

was far and away, my most "Favorited" Art item on Hastypearl Etsy.

Way over 1000 people gave me the thumbs up on this piece.

The cost was unbelievably Affordable.

(I have a friend on Etsy that tells me that I should raise my prices:)

So, why hadn't it sold?

Poor SEO? Too much Art on Etsy to choose from? Some other reason?

No.

Here's my theory...

I think its because it was WAITING for its owner.

I've finally learned that Everything that I sell,

has a special owner just waiting to find it

and it makes me Crazy Happy

when I can introduce them !

I had a wonderful time visiting with literally hundreds of people

from the Aspen area and Much farther afield.

I made New friends, which was High on my trips Goals list,

and I visited with others that I had already given my heart to.

Wonderful things happen to ALL of us.

Sometimes, we can believe the lie, that things like "That" just don't happen to me,

but if we live long enough, Things like "That" happen to ALL of us.

For me, this past weekend will be one that I wont Ever Forget.

My Biggest THANKS to All of You that

contributed to my Very Happy Weekend! xo

Thanks as always for stopping by my blog...

I'm so glad that you did !

Laura aka Hastypearl

...please check my shop as I will be listing many new pieces of Art and Vintage Parts.

It may seem early, but many pieces that I sold this weekend,

will be gifts for the upcoming seasons!

It gave me great Joy, to hear my buyers say that they couldn't

wait for their loved ones to see their one of a kind, finds!

How Many Plates Can You Spin? Hastypearl

2015-08-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

How Many Plates Can You Spin?

Hastypearl

Most everyone has been to a circus, or has

seen someone spinning plates!

Its a race against time, that the spinner doesn't let one fall and break.

It can be Dizzying for sure, but if done well, the spinner can win.

Observers certainly hold their breath and cheer the spinner on!

Have you ever thought about the phrase as an applicable analogy for your life?

With say Activities being your "spinning plates" ?

There are lots of plate "spinning rules", to consider.

First, are you Inclined to spin or are you more comfortable with an observers amblers pace?

Do you like the thrill of spinning two plates

or being an Experienced spinner

do you want Lots of plates to spin?

Do your plates need to spin quickly,

or do you like the thrill of catching a wobbly plate,

right before it falls?

Do you see someone with less spinning plates than you

and judge them for not having as many?

Do you like to have helpers spin With you or

are you a solitary spinner?

Do you feel guilty if you don't have lots of plates?

Are your plates all one color and size, or are they patterned,

different sizes and chipped?

I'm pretty sure that I could go on forever with these questions!

Its really fun to think about.

Of course, there are no right or wrong answers but in a way,

they are pretty revealing, about who we are.

I am in a time in my life, when my kids are grown and gone.

I am through with most of my Required goals.

From here on out, (and I plan on that "out" being quite a ways a way :),

most of what I do, is really optional pleasures.

For that, I am extremely blessed.

When we are young we think...

I wish I could just have some quiet time, and maybe sleep late.

Be lazy.

Do nothing for a change.

I guess there's really nothing stopping me from doing just that!

However...I'm finding that how I am choosing to live my life,

is exactly the Opposite.

I cant WAIT, to get up every morning and see what the day brings.

I am experiencing an EXPLOSION of creativity,

not only in art made, but also in ideas in general.

Ironically, only ONE thing that has happened to me in the last 5 years,

was actually something that I imagined doing.

The rest, has just Happened!

(or...Providentially Happened)

Occasionally, I will say...

I don't have a good enough Imagination to have

Dreamed Up the things that are happening in my life.

And I think that I have a Great imagination!

Its all actually been quite surprising!

So, back to the original questions that I asked and some of my answers...

I don't spin a lot of plates at a time.

Well, I probably spin more than I credit myself,

but compared to some people...I don't.

I like spinning by myself.

My plates are different sizes and colors,

and chips are NO problem for me.

I think wobbling is fine.

I'm OK with restarting a dropped plate.

I'm not competitive about spinning.

I'm happy for you to have hundreds...or none.

Or, for you to get there long before I do.

I can be hasty(pearl :) about starting to spin a new plate...

I love to try new things.

I mean...

I Really Love to try new things!

I was thinking about this topic while photographing

in the garden this morning.

The morning was cooler...our days are brutally hot right now.

There were some clouds.

It was VERY quiet. Which I love.

I have been spinning the photography plate for what seems

like a very long time now,

but truthfully, its probably not as long as it seems.

Inch by inch, I have learned Just What I Needed to,

to keep me coming back for more.

As I was photographing the garden, I would see weeds.

I would question myself and it sounded something like...

Why are you playing (with your camera)

when you should be pulling these weeds, or pruning?

Apparently, I felt like that the garden plate needed spinning.

The garden plate ALWAYS needs spinning :)

Happily, the questions weren't so compelling to me,

that I was in danger of stopping snapping these pictures!

It was time to for me to relax and let the (gardening) plate go,

so that I could practice shooting in Manual mode,

like I knew I wanted to.

Maybe you are like me...

when you are doing something that you love, you THINK!

When our minds clear, it seems like we can sort through things easily.

Its good to have daily, monthly, yearly and lifelong goals,

but we cant let our goals be what Control us.

Sometimes, we have to grab and stop some of those required plates

and instead, do some things that Feed us.

That bring creative growth to our lives.

I think its actually those special things that we love,

that refuel us and energize us to grab a stick and start those

necessary plates back up again!

I hope that you have wonderful, beautiful, gently spinning plates,

in your life...

that Feed you!

I would love to know what they are!

Thanks for stopping by for a while...

I Hope to see you again, soon.

Laura aka hastypearl

p.s.....if you are in the Redstone/Aspen Colorado area, Sept. 4-7,

I would love to meet you at the Redstone Labor Day Art Show

at the Redstone Inn.

I've heard that the art coming is fantastic!

Its not too early to start filling your gift lists.

Say Ahhhh....and Breathe! Hastypearl

2015-08-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

Say Ahhhh...and Breathe!

Hastypearl

I love my life.

For the most part, I have weeks, that are equally divided with

part required events and part fulfilling events.

Even most of my 'have to's', are nice.

Like, I have to garden...

Or, I have to grocery...

This week was a heavy on the 'have to' list, but all of it was for things that I love.

And, early in the week, two unexpected deadlines appeared, but for totally wonderful things.

So, when you already have a full week, what should you do?

Why, throw on a monster boiling pot and dye fabric, of course!

Yes, I turned the pieces into runners that I can sell at an upcoming Art Show,

or on Hastypearl Etsy,

but I already had plenty of pieces that were ready for both.

But the gathering and fragrances, the ins and outs of the needle,

made it all worthwhile and reminds me of my theory that says

that everything basically always gets done.

Maybe one day, I will tip the scales to where its impossible to

finish and it wont get done, but until then,

I will keep living my lot of easy weeks and full weeks.

So, in case you are wondering...

the recipe was....

Alkaline water

Two iron spikes

Two black walnuts

Cotton fabric wrapped around copper pipes

Vinegar

Rose, eucalyptus, red bud, red oak, artemesia, purple potato vine,

and Mexican plum leaves.

I Hope that you will Ahhhh...and Breathe, through a wonderful weekend :)

xo Laura