3.31.2011

New Early Sponsor Love...


I just couldnt wait.  I am so excited about all of my lovely sponsors for April.  I am so happy I opened this up to the public.  I could not have asked for a better collection of amazing people to kick it off.  And can you believe how beautiful all of their buttons look together!  It was meant to be!

Let's go show these guys some love early, give a click to all of these amazing girls who are supporting Violet Bella!  Lots of features coming from these lovelies throughout the month!

PEACE,
Laura

3.30.2011

Phase One: Packing

First of all, thank you so much for all of the sweet love and prayers for my husband on my last post.  It means so much to us.  He is feeling better & was back at work today.  I experienced a bit of his life today by waking up at 4 am to take him to work, and instead of going back to bed, I just came home and started my work day.  By 9:30 I was eating lunch and already had a million things done!  It was crazy.  I crashed and burned after picking him up and we napped on the couch for a bit.  Something that he does most days and I see why!  Well see how long I can keep this up :)  He is not suppose to drive for 6 months after having a seizure, but I think that is a bit long... Weve never gone that long with me driving him, so well just play it by ear.

And here is phase one of our moving adventure...

PACKING!!!

I have allowed myself to let go of my sad feelings attached to never seeing this house cute again.  We will be swimming in boxes and empty shelves for the next few weeks and its only going to get worse by the day.  But... it will be so worth it!




Now that we know we are getting the house, I can really get serious with packing away anything that is not necessary to live.  Luckily since James works at a grocery store, we can bring home tons of awesome packing boxes!!!

I think I need to go to bed early tonite.

PEACE,
Laura

3.29.2011

So Much Life Happening Around Me....

THE WEEKEND...

This past weekend I spent 3 days with the women of my family.  We had a little 'girls only' getaway at Lake McQueeny.  It was much needed time spent close to my family, and much need time away from the computer and my work.  I really really needed the break.  I laughed harder than I have in a long time.  My family is so much fun when we all get together like that, they really know how to make you laugh.

We spent time sitting around each other just talking, we sat down at the dock and laid out a bit, we went to Gruene and ate at the Grismill, and we walked around New Braunsfels and went into some antique shops.  I found an amazing antique shop that I could have spent about 1,000 bucks in on things for our house, loved it!  I know where to go when I want a little fun vintage something...

And amazing things happened in our family away from us as well.  My brother came into union with his 3 year old son again and we could not be happier for him.  My heart is with him so much right now.


We came home a bit early on monday b/c I got a call at 4 in the am from James.  He had a seizure and called me right after and he was still so disoriented.  He didnt even know where I was or why I was gone.  Scared the crap out of me to be so far away and not be there for him.  Luckily he has the most amazing parents in the world and they headed straight over to the house at 4 in the morning.  And stayed with him until I got there.  James had busted himself up pretty bad and had to get 5 stitches in his chin.  This is the 4th one he has had since weve been married.  I absolutely hate that he has to live with this, and it scares me to no end b/c it can happen anytime anywhere.  Needless to say, I was not happy until I was home to see him.  Ill be waking up super early in the am (4 o'clock) to be taking him to work for a while, and picking him up.  Our schedule is going to change up a bit!

After all of this, I finally checked my emails and such, and we found out that we got the house!  Our loan was approved.  So, this means we get the keys to our new house on the 11th of April!!!  I cant believe it is really really happening!  So, throughout the month of april you will be seeing the beginning of our new home journey!  Along with tons of amazing new sponsors with lots of things to share!  Definitely going to be a good month!

Good Evening!

PEACE,
Laura

3.27.2011

Self Portrait Soul Searching

Lately I have been missing my personal photography work.  Allowing myself to be creative and open with my self portraiture has been one of my biggest soulful artistic outlets Ive ever involved myself in.  And it has been quite some time since I have done any, due to always being so busy with Violet Bella.  Im not complaining, Im truly honored to be that busy, but I do miss creating these works for myself.  It puts me in another state of mind when I create passionately with my camera.  I have always felt like I could convey certain emotions through a photograph that maybe I couldnt in real life with simple words.

Here are just a few of my personal favorites.  I have way too many to post them all, and this is quite a photo overload in itself.  Many of you have probably seen most or all of these, but Im sure some of you have never seen any of them.
























To anyone who creates crafts or art, is there a certain something you love to do just for yourself that brings a soulful connection to you?  Id love to hear!

PEACE,
Laura

3.26.2011

Crafting In The Sun

As you are reading this, hopefully I am either sitting by a lake, laughing with my nanna and aunt, or doing something fun and relaxing... and hopefully James is at home cuddling with one of our furry babies...

It has been so gorgeous outside lately... and most of the work I do requires me to be indoors.  I am usually sitting at a desk or computer right next to a window where I can only view how gorgeous it is.  So the other day when I needed to make some headbands, it was the perfect excuse for me and Bella to make a pallet outside and soak up some sun and bird chirping.  Bella thoroughly enjoys these moments.  She rolls around in the dirt and eats grass.


I braided up some sweet jewel toned headbands for a custom order, and a few for the shop (not pictured)... and this sweet yarn one for a very special little baby who recently entered the world.

Enjoy your weekend!

PEACE,
Laura

3.25.2011

New Pretties & Shop Announement

The past week or so my shop has had an overload of new pretties arrive.  Spring has completely inspired me in my jewelry.  Many of the earrings are just color variations on some of my classic styles, and oh so perfect for spring!

ANNOUNCEMENT:
I will be away from my shop until Tuesday, so any orders placed after NOON today, will not be processed until Tuesday.  You can still send me convos and place orders, but I will not be able to answer or ship until Tuesday, sorry for any inconvenience!


I also finally got a new jumper made!  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in jewelry I feel like Im not even a clothing designer anymore.  I promise, once we get settled in the new place and I have a real space to sew, you will see more of these babies!  This one has amazing super wide vintage fringe trim on the bottom that you will not see on another one!

Also, ONE MORE LITTLE REMINDER... if you want a sponsor ad on my blog for the month of April, click here, and email me.  I wont be able to respond until tuesday, but I promise there will be spots available and I will get back to you asap.

I am going on a family 'women's retreat', with all of the women in my wonderful family!  I hope to really honestly relax, get a tan, read, breathe, laugh & become renewed...  Lord knows I need it!  And I simply need family time too.  It will be all around good and healing.  Meanwhile, James will be holding down the fort with all of the babies, so go show him some love in Skyline Fever while Im gone!

(Im gonna try to squeeze in a few scheduled posts for while Im away, so you can still check back for pretties :)

PEACE,
Laura

3.24.2011

Daily Outfit - Dressing on a Budget

I was able to get out of the house once this week, to go grocery shopping, ha ha!  Ill take any excuse I can to throw together a cute outfit!

For the past year or so, my husband and I have been saving our pennies to buy a home... Which is happening right around the corner!  But one thing this does mean, I have not clothes shopped in just about that long!  Seriously, I have only bought one shirt here, or one dress there, every great once in a while.  If it hadnt been for all of the amazing Poor Pitiful Pearl trades throughout this last year, I probably would have cried, ha ha.  I love clothes.  I always have.  In junior high and high school, I was always the 'odd' dressed girl, but I feel like I was always creative with my wardrobe, some people just didn't understand it.  As I have grown older, my fashion has matured a great deal.  I no longer wear cut-off sweat pant mini skirts with striped knee highs, combat boots along with crazy black makeup all over my face :)  I love how fashion is a thing you grow with, as you grow.

I know I always made my mother so happy when it came time for the new school year and clothes shopping.  I 'ONLY' wanted to shop at Goodwill.  I did NOT want her to take me to a department store.  I pretty much had my mind set against those from an early age.  So, while all my friends were spend $60 on one pair of jeans, I got a whole wardrobe for that!  And it wasnt anything you would see on anyone else.  In a way, I am still very much like that.  Although now, I love to incorporate lovely things from places like Target or amazing online shops like Ruche, when I can afford it or allow myself to.  This belt below is from Ruche, and its been one of the best $10 ive ever spent, it goes with soooo much and is super comfy!

The Outfit:
shirt from Old Navy (really a long tunic, just tucked in)
*ive had this shirt for about 8 years, and its still awesome*
belt from Ruche
skirt from goodwill
shoes from Target (sale rack)
all jewelry is Violet Bella



Okay girls, do I not have the cutest boy ever???  Let's boost his ego a bit with some honesty :)

Bella loves to hang out on the porch while I take photos.

Had to share... I love it when avocados have huge center seeds.  I think its really cute, I dont know why.

Only a few days left to become a sponsor of Violet Bella for April, click here for details.

PEACE,
Laura