Porch Plants >>>

Over the past few weeks Ive slowly been working on building up my plants.  I wanted to do a huge full blown garden this year... but we are having to hold off b/c of finances.  Which is fine really, its been nice to buy 2 or 3 small plants every now and then and slowly build the back yard.  It honestly will probably be better for me that way instead of jumping into a huge lot to take care of.  This will kind of ween me into the process of learning each plant really well.  Ive already successfully killed both plants my mother in law gave us as house warming gifts.  Makes me so so sad.  I made the mistake twice of taking them from inside to outside and they both died within a day... (sorry mom). Im wildly excited about the succulent in the 2nd photo b/c once it really starts growing all of those spikes will hang down long over the pot!  Its going to be so beautiful.  James mom has a plant similar to this and I admire it everytime we go over there.

As you can see above Ive started decorating the trees in the backyard.  Im not done, but Im having fun with the process.  And will be using them in my photography too, cant wait!  And my sweet Violet has been enjoying this spring weather so much.  

Today's agenda is to get lots of work done early b/c Im going to be visiting with my family this evening!  So excited to see everyone.  A very dear to me great uncle will be there that I havent seen in a few years!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 Skyline Fever has new goodies in the shop, including the much anticipated new flowerchild dresses!

Only a few days left to snag a sponsor spot on the blog for May!  This is the first month in a very very long time that my X Large spot is still currently available.  See my sponsor page for details.

PEACE,

Laura

Threads - Earthy Butterfly >>>

 Just popping in with a super comfy spring outfit post.  I got this darling little vintage crochet top in the mail c/o Suds In The Bucket the other day.  I kind of cant get enough of the color brown.  It really is one of my very favorite colors.  I paired with a Skyline Fever butterfly tank.  This one was a mess that I kept... I get all the 'oops' shirts!  I patched up these shorts a few years ago and still just love them.  I used some sentimental deer fabric that was my moms.  I love that every piece of this outfit was handmade or vintage.  And Ive been enjoying this amazing weather lately!  Soaking it up before it gets blistering hot outside.

 <<< outfit details >>>

crochet top // c/o suds in the bucket

butterfly tank // skyline fever

shorts // upcycled

shoes // thrifted from poor pitiful pearl

necklaces // roots & feathers + talk to the trees

earring // root & feathers

bracelet // spiral drift

PEACE,

Laura

Instagram Love - Selfies >>>

Just a few of my favorite selfie shots from my camera the past week or so. It still amazes me how much I love simple phone shots.  Most of these were from the day I wore this.  I love the photo of me and James's feet.  The pic of the bathing suit top... that was my mom's bathing suit.  She made it when she was younger than me.  I wish it had bottoms.  Its a bit too small for me to wear out but I love wearing it when Im at home or sunbathing.  Its the prettiest bathing suit top Ive ever seen in my entire life.  I dont think one out there could top this for me.  And Im ridiculously grateful that its still around for me to have.  I think about these things when I want to let go of certain clothes I no longer wear.  I have a pile for my hope chest in hopes that my one day daughter would one day think its cool enough to wear.  I can hear it now... her saying 'oh my god, I cant believe my mom still has this stuff from 2012... who wears these kinds of things???'... ha ha!

I get alot of people asking me what filters I use for my phone shots... I almost always use the Bettie XL lens with the Ina's 1935 film.  When I find something I love that feels like me, I tend to stick with it.  I should probably explore more filters and such, but I always go back to this.  My eyes... love it.

The last two images:  The left one is prints I got made from my recent Oh My Mama photoshoot.  I cant wait to figure out how and where I want to hang them on my walls.  The right one was my little splurges I came home with from the grocery store.  Zooey looked so beautiful in the photoshoot in Marie Claire's may issue.  I dont really buy alot of magazines, just every now and then when I love the cover spread.  The only magazine I get on a monthly basis is Dwell. 

I can hardly believe that the month of April is almost behind us.  How does time do that?  Ive been feeling alot more balanced that I did a few weeks ago.  I feel like Im doing a decent job of balancing my work life with my social life, along with little doses of things just for me.  Playing outside in my garden being one of them.  I noticed some little buggy had a late night snack on my first bell pepper last night!!  My nanna suggested spraying some soapy water on them to keep the bugs off, so Im going to try that.  This spring has sprung on a plethora of these weird looking grasshoppers, and even though I havent seen them lurking in my garden during the day, Im sure one of them was the culprit.  

Hopefully within the next day or so well get some new stuff in the shop.  I have a collection of new feather earrings and necklaces sitting on my desk for a few weeks now.  As well as James new stuff for Skyline Fever.  Some good ones!  Soon soon.  Still working on wholesale orders behind the scenes, but Im starting to see the finish line!!!  Although that usually just means another race is about to begin :)  Also... I am getting closer and closer to being able to talk about a project Im working on behind the scenes that has me soooo very excited!  I cant wait for it to all come together.  My fingers are crossed that my vision will come through on this one. 

PEACE,

Laura

Crazy Jane Knits Giveaway >>>

 My name is Heather Fantello and I live in the Pacific Northwest. I have been knitting/crocheting for 7 years. I like to dabble in many things such as drawing, painting, photography, belly dancing, yoga, pottery, baking, blogging, and making jewelry. I'm a mother to a little girl (Gracey "crazy" Jane) and we have a pet guinea pig. :) In my free time I try to get outdoors, garden, and crochet with my love. Yes... my boyfriend can crochet <3

One lucky winner will receive a cowl from Crazy Jane Knits in ANY COLOR of your choice!

TO ENTER:

visit her shop and tell me your favorite item

*if you buy something from her shop, let me know and youll get extra entries!*

EXTRA ENTRIES:

share this on twitter

share this on facebook

share this on your blog

To get 25% off your entire order in her shop this month, enter the code 'violetbella' at checkout!

(please leave your email address with your comment)

I know its spring & summertime for many of you right now, so be thinking ahead for the next chilly season we come into!  If cowls aren't your thing, she has some adorable simple headbands in her shop and they are only $5!!!  

PEACE,

Laura

Lace & Dreams - Art Photoshoot >>>

The other day I walked into my bathroom I was instantly inspired by the filtered light coming through the window, as well as the grime built up on my shower. Yes, I get excited when I see built up soap suds on glass. Im a little bit weird like that. So I snapped a few shots to play with and Im so glad I did. I love how lucid and dreamy they came out. I love the way the lace top looked in these shots.  In the third image, I superimposed one of my last lookbook shots with it.  

Perspective:  a new reason to be okay with a not so perfectly clean house... it makes good art!

Like this top?  See in my last outfit post, and get 15% off of it, or anything else from Lulu's.com with a coupon code, good through monday, the 23rd.

PEACE,

Laura

Threads - Lulu's.com Doily Top >>>

This is positively one of my alltime favorite outfits, and going to be my go-to outfit this season.  Lulu's.com sent me a few items to review and this beautiful O'Doily Rules! Beige Sweater Top is one of them.  Can I just say I am IN LOVE with this top.  To be honest, so much that Ive worn it 3 days in a row!  I love that even though its considered a sweater, its still very lightweight and open, so I can still wear it when its pretty warm outside.  A great piece for seasonal transitions.  I wore it out last night to see some live music, with some bell jeans and boots, it was so cute!  Im pretty much over the moon with this piece.

 Im SUPER excited to give every one of my readers a special code to get 15% off your entire order at Lulu's.com.  Just enter VIOLETBELLA at checkout.  It is case sensitive.  And is only good for the next 3 days... 4/21 - 4/23!  You can even still get this top!  And.... my favorite dress they are currently selling is this one.  If you get something, let me know, Id love to join in on the fun!!!

<<< outfit details >>>

top // Lulu's.com

tank // forever21

shorts // old jeans cut to shorts

bangles // handmade

necklace // roots and feathers

shoes // thrifted

PEACE,
Laura