THREADS - BLACK GREY & BROWN + GIVEAWAY WINNERS

James and I had a shopping date last week.  Every year we usually go one day to the outdoor mall in San Antonio to just walk around and maybe do a bit of holiday shopping.  Every year we become a bit more distasteful towards this tradition as it ends up not being as fun as it used to be... I think its time to create a new holiday shopping tradition.  We didn't even get our yearly ornament at Anthropologie this time b/c they just didn't excite us.  Maybe next year well start a holiday thrift shop tradition or something more low key and homey to us.  But it was still nice to spend the day together.  This was the day after our night on the town in our home town, from my orange and plum threads post.  Two dates in a row is not bad!

Outfit details: tshirt - sevenly // over shirt + hat - f21 // pants - hand ombre dyed // boots - vintage // necklace + bracelet - spiral drift

On a different note, this morning I was reading some of my astrology overviews and came across an interesting snippit.  It was on one of my long term affected aspects, and one that is just about to end.  It spanned from Oct 12, 2012 to Dec 17th, 2012.  It couldn't be more true to what I have been experiencing during these dates, now that I think back on it.  This is why I love astrology so much.

"You will likely go through a process of realigning your self-concept during this period of time, possibly as a result of the reexamination of old wounds.  Early childhood episodes that in some way were damaging to your self-concept may be up for a second look, and new experiences related to these early episodes may help them to appear in a new and better light.  These issues could be related to your father or another significant mentor figure from your past.  These figures can be an important part of our ego structure as we go through life.  The reason such painful issues are reemerging in conciousness is for the purpose of healing these issues and finally moving beyond them.  You may find when you have gone through this process that you feel yourself coming into a broader view of your existence.  Changes that bring to light new facets of your self-image are good for you in the long run and serve to strengthen your true inner self-confidence, as a more well-rounded view of your life as a whole is revealed to you."

"With Chiron transiting in conjunction, square or opposition to your Ascendant, you will go through a potentially painful process of re-aligning your self-concept, possibly as a result of re-examination of old wounds.  Chiron is called 'the wounded healer' because it represents the archtype of imperfection and loss which when integrated leads to compassion and understanding of other's suffering, and provide the ability to serve as a helper and healer for others.  You have a great deal of compassion and empathy for other people during this period, and may choose to launch yourself into the helping professions, such as a counselor or massage therapist, or you may experience a powerful meeting, in which such a healing presence comes into your life during this period of time.  Early childhood episodes that in some way were damaging to your self-concept may also come back to haunt you at this time.  If so, it is good to make the effort to connect yourself consciously with any painful events that may be buried in your unconscious, so that these will no longer have so much power over you."

Wow, powerful stuff, and exactly what Ive been going through.  It's always amazing to read something like this after going through it, such an affirmation.  Even though I have already pulled my birth chart more than once, I just bought a custom one from Aquarius Nation, as a little gift to myself.  I can't wait to get it and pour over the pages.  As long as I can remember, this has been close to my heart.  Well, I think junior high was the pinpoint start of it when a friend's mother gave me a book, I was hooked.  I just feel so deeply connected to it. 

And on another completely unrelated note, you must check out the Macrame DIY Plant Hanger from Christi Jay that was posted on The Bohemian Collective yesterday.  Its a good one!

ANNOUNEMENT:
Apothecary Class - Joanne
Cultivating Balance - Akaliene & The Vintage Gypsy

Congrats!!!  Please email me at violet_bella (at) hotmail (dot) com to claim your spot!

 
I can't stop listening to Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks album.  Repeat for 3 days now.
If You See Her, Say Hello by Bob Dylan on Grooveshark
 
 
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THREADS - AUTUMN OWL

 <<< outfit details >>>
shorts // f21
tights // target
boots // blowfish shoes
left earring // sea of wild
right earrings // roots and feathers
copper + triangle ring // jade stone
crescent moon ring // laurel hill
buffalo ring // maiedae (discontinued)
necklace // violet bella

This is what I wore to Thanksgiving at my Nanna's.  My favorite color palette in the world, Autumn.  When I got this sweater in the mail I knew I wanted to wait to wear it on Thanksgiving.  I love how 70's it is, reminds me of an embroidered pillow.  And its just the right shade of green.  Im excited its tights weather!  Although Ive poked holes in almost all of my cute tights already.  I can hardly wear a pair of tights without poking holes in them... anyone else have this problem?  And I usually do it the first time I wear them, and most often, within the first hour.  Maybe I need to go back and embrace my 90's teenage self who loved tights only if they had holes in them.  (Ever+mi.crush carries my Violet Bella jewelry!  You can find it here).

We had a really nice thanksgiving gathering at my Nanna's house.  I love that I have a loving family who doesn't fight and can just be with each other.  It was very laid back with lots of really good food.  So much to be thankful for.  Of course it was a pretty bittersweet day for me, as all holidays are now without my mom and dad.  But I kept them close to my heart, like I always do.  I'm always reminded by someone in my family how much I resemble my mom, and that makes me happy.  I need to take a photo of us side by side for you guys to see!

I know its kind of been outfit post and giveaway central around this blog lately.  As fun as those things are, I am yearning for some good time to blog more heart to heart.  This season just keeps me so busy.  I'm planning on changing some things up here on the blog at the beginning of the new year.  I will no longer be doing as many individual giveaways, and doing just a small handful a month in big groups.  (kind of like I use to).  I'm also hoping to change up the layout of the blog in general as well.  Lot's of regrouping, brainstorming, letting go and simplifying.  It's what I need. 

We are still having sales in all of our shops, through monday!  Things are selling out fast!!!  If your looking to do some of your holiday shopping with handmade artists and not go fight the hustle in the city, there are so many great deals online this weekend!  Get 20% everything in Roots and Feathers, Violet Bella & Skyline Fever with the code BLACKNUMBERONE at checkout.  (Get an extra 10% off if you leave a note at time of checkout telling me where that code came from).  We will also combine shipping if you order from both shops.  We will refund you when we are shipping the items out.

Today I will be filled up with packaging orders and cleaning my house.  While listening to loud music and drinking tons of lemon water.

Please read my last post to see if you were a giveaway winner!

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THREADS + TATTOOS

 Today's threads post is a combo of the outfit, and showing you my new tattoos!  They are finally all healed up and nice enough to show.

Outfit:  I wore this pretty mustard skirt from Sheinside again.  I just cant get over the color of it, the best shade of mustard!  I layered it with a scarf tank I made a few years back, and my favorite crochet tank from F21. I wear this baby alot!  I thought these boots from BCFootwear complimented this outfit so well.  Uh-mazing shoes!!  And my favorite Spiral Drift necklace.  I'm so in love with Christina's artistry.  She is personally one of my favorite designers out there.

Tattoos:  Finishing this half sleeve has been more than 3 years in the making.  I finally got the gaps filled in and it feels so good!  The new pieces are the feathers, the pink flower on top and the green birdie.  This sleeve is a dedication to my mama.  The quote "Wish I had a river I could skate away on" is from a Joni Mitchell song that she used to sing to me as a baby.  And from an album that her and I shared a love for as I grew older.  We would sing it together all the time.  The Alphonse Mucha woman is a portrait to represent her.  The teacups represent her art.  For 26 years my mom was the originator and designer behind a company called Broken China Jewelry, a jewelry line made from people's family heirloom (broken) china, turning them into pieces they could wear and keep forever.  She was known as the 'china lady'.  I added a little cardinal bird in one of them b/c they remind me of her.  And I quite believe she visits me as one everyday.  The butterfly was really a pretty filler.  But anything from nature or garden reminds me of her, so it fit.  She loved peacock feathers.  When my dad built the statue that is on her grave, there was a place he kept just to put peacock feathers in.  For the new pieces, I had changed my mind a few times this past year on what I wanted.  But Im happy with what I ended up with.  I decided on two feathers together to represent my parents being back together.  After my dad passed away last year, I had several things happen with birds that made me feel like they were reunited.  So this was the most appropriate thing for that.  It's like an eternal talisman of their love.  The pink flower is just a filler.  The bird specifically doesn't have any meaning as far as the color or kind.  I just really wanted a larger bird in this space b/c birds are so significant to me, especially dealing with the loss of my parents.  It feels so good to finally have this piece 'complete'.  It feels right, and in a way, a landmark. 

I think it will be a while, but I have pieces in my mind for the beginning of a space on my body for my dad.  I miss my parents so insanely much right now.  Some days all I want to do is scream as loud as I can big fat cuss words all over the earth.  But then I remind myself that I am okay, and that there is a greater purpose to them not being here.  I'm still trying to learn exactly what that is.  Some days I feel like I know, and I can be so peaceful about it all, and then others, not so much.  I feel like Im about to be stepping over a threshold into a new bigger part of my life, but I keep getting caught in a web of something.  Something keeping me stuck.  I'm learning everyday how to weave this web into something else.  

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THREADS - EMERALD & BLUE

I think I could say at the beginning of every fall outfit post, that I LOVE fall fashion!  This was such a simple outfit, but the colors made it so fun.  These blue velvet skinnies from Threadsence are still some of my all time favorite pants.  And I'm so thrilled I finally have some of boots that fit over my jeans!  These suede boots from Blowfish are some of my new favorites.  They are just the perfect everything, and so so comfy!  I love how they equally compliment pants or a dress/skirt.  This top from F21 is the only emerald piece of clothing I have.  I quite love the color.  It's a very stretchy cozy sweater like material.  My trio of braided leather bracelets are from Flourish Leather.  She has an amazing assortment of colors, and they are so fun to mix and match with different outfits.  (Her shop is closed right now since they just had a new baby!!  Congrats Danielle!)  The necklace is a custom one I made for a mother of four.  I love how it turned out.  She wanted something that gave her a 'warrior' feel and that represented her four children.  I love it so much, I think I'm going to introduce a similar style to the shop!  Oh, and this amazing picnic table... my daddy made it, and painted it rainbow color.  Its fading, but I love it all the more. 

In other news, those of you who follow me on facebook might have seen some changes going on over there.  When I started on facebook, I used my personal account as my business account as well.  It has grown so big, I have found facebook to not be a fun place for me anymore.  So many status updates of people I don't know or connect with, and so much negativity.  I'm finding this is a place I'd like to ween myself from, in many ways.  I have decided to delete most of the people from my personal page, and just keep family and friends I truly connect with.  I'm encouraging everyone to please follow my fanpages, Roots and Feathers & The Bohemian Collective instead.  I'm going to be more active over in those spaces from now on, with more visual updates on what is going on.  I have already deleted a few hundred from my personal page, with a few more to go.  This has been such a push and pull thing to do.  I feel so bad, and hate to dismiss anyone, but its something I just need to do for myself.  But I don't want anyone to miss out on anything, or feel a disconnect with what I'm doing creatively.  So in a way, Im just switching gears with how I operate my business on facebook.  So please follow me over on my fanpages for updates from now on.  Thank you :)

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