Life at Random

A little post for the randomness of my week in photos...

My garden is looking amazing with all of this lovely rain we have been having here. I havent had to water all week! I am growing carrots for the first time, and I just couldnt help but pick one the other day just to look at it, and OMG am I glad I did! Look at how absolutely adorable that carrot is!!! Made my moment for sure!


I love watching Violet on the porch. She loves this chair so much, we pretty much named it Violet's chair. She could just sit in it forever and watch things going on outside. Alot of times I will look out the window and she will have her little paws up on the arm rest, crossed, with her chin resting on them, its the cutest thing ever! Well SHE is the cutest thing ever... She sleeps inside every night, and the second she wakes up, or we wake up I should say, she runs to the door so she can go on the porch and sit in her chair :)

My fridge at the current moment.

Sat on the porch or a bit the other day when it was raining and red a bit of my Leonard Cohen poetry book, and then was inspired to write some more myself in my beautiful book below. I love Leonard Cohen, he is such an odd, inspiring artist who passionately writes about deep intense love that exists only in his head... Amazing what an artist loneliness can make of a person.



I got a pretty new dress at goodwill and upcycled it just a bit. Now its not just pretty, it beautiful and worthy of a date, I do believe.

Probably my favorite thing from the past few weeks is that James has been playing guitar almost everyday. This makes my heart so incredibly happy. And I give credit to awesome friends who passed on a new guitar and ones that have inspired him to play more. Im very excited for him and Jonny to play more together.

And we have been doing alot of hula hooping, and yes, James has joined in on the fun, and he is so funny when he does it. He has all kinds of moves... he has a 'michael jackson' move, a 'home alone' move, an 'elvis' move... Im sure there is more Im forgetting about. He cracks me up everytime he picks up the hoop!

Ha ha, check out this one...

And yes, I hula hoop in my mumu at night, lol. I got this pink nightgown at walmart and james just about freaked when he realized I was serious about buying it. It was so funny. He was so embarassed that I was buying a mumu. Although, I dont really think it is one, but he calls it one... I happen to think its quite adorable... ha ha.

And I had a little visit with Shelley and got to play a bit with Isabel and Xavier. The two most precious babies in the whole entire world. They have a HUGE place in my heart.

Just look at this boy! Ridiculously cute.

And now, more rain... Its been everyday. I really hope it clears up a bit while Katelyn is here... Speaking of, my friend Katelyn is driving all the way from Louisianna to come stay with me! I am so excited to meet her and her beautiful little girl. We are going to have so much fun together!

Time to get my post on! A few new dresses in the shop tonite!

PEACE,
Laura

Birthday PHotos!!!

Birthday Photos!!!! (finally)

All of these photos be me or my friend Jennifer (Jen Jen), so I will put jen jen under the ones that she took. Check out her livejournal to see some amazing photography work. She is currently working on her second round of 365, which blows me away, I could only accomplish one week! Let alone 2 years!!! Amazing girl she is...

Jen Jen's livejournal

Here is a pic she captured of my in my dress!!!

(jen jen)

Started off the party with some good old Willie Nelson on vinyl, a must!

These tables clothes are the ones I made for my wedding.

She most beautiful cake my best friend Shelley made for me. I told her I wanted something light and summery, and she nailed it with a yummy lemon cake. Check out the beautiful way the put the lemons on the side. love it! And she wrote Happy Birthday to me in Italian, b/c she said lemon reminds her of when my mom went to Italy and came home raving about the lemon trees! So sweet, she really is an amazing friend!

Here she is with her little boy! Im so glad he came for just a bit.

Xavier enjoying a cracker :)

Renea looked so beautiful in the pillow case top she made! Love her!

Alyssa! This girl is so cute, I love her. James calls her Living Dead Girl b/c she is a mortician, lol! So funny.

Shelley! She radiates beauty. I am so glad her and Dominic got to stay later this year! Her mom watched the babies!!!

my cutie James :)

Jen Jen, the readheaded dreadie :)

She broke out the guitar! And I loved her nail polish, I got some yesterday just like it :)

Jen's pic of my dress from the back! We broke out the hula hoop and it was a hit! Everyone tried it and had alot of fun with it all nite.

Here is Alyssa with it. She and Jen are going to get one, or we might make some when Katelyn comes to texas! Eeeek, I cant wait!

Johnny was a natural. It was so fun watching everyone try it.

My plate of food before the burgers and cake!

All the boys gathered around where James was grilling.

James grilled for the first time! He grilled aldolph burgers, grilled mushrooms, asparagus, red bell pepper, zucchinni, yellow squash... it was all so yum, I was so proud!

We so enjoyed using our grill. I think we might grill homeade pizzas on it tonite! (if it doesnt rain)

There are more photos on my facebook if you are my friend on there. If you want to be, please send me a convo letting me know who you are, I dont add people if I dont know where they are from on there :)

Family and Friends :)

This has been an event filled weekend so far! Picture Heavy!!! I could have uploaded a million more, but I tried to keep it concise.

Me and my love from a few days ago. I cant remember where we were going now... but it was the first time in a while I snapped a pic of us on the way out the door, I usually try to do this. Im silly, I know...


Me and my bestie, Shelley, on our way to go see her sister's art show in Uvalde. It was a lot of fun and Im so glad I got to spend that time with Shelley. Between me working Violet Bella, and her raising two kids, our time is limited these days. We chatted non stop the whole way there and they whole way home.

And I officially decided that her and I are the perfect pair for best friends.

Yesterday morning was her son Xavier's first birthday party. It was soooo much fun. They just got a new pool so all of the kids swam and had a blast. I think it was the best bday party yet!

This is her daughter Isabel, whom I am utterly in love with. She is the most beautiful little girl I know.

And I love her little smile. She has quite a few different smiles, usually they are all silly.

Momma and the big boy!

i love his lips :)

and i thought this pic of his little hand was just precious.

ha ha, his zoo hat!

and this is my favorite pic of the whole day, omg i love it! he had such a good time.

and this is Elijah, an old friends newest little one.

me and Xavier :)

Then, last night we went to my nanna's house. My brother flew home to be here for father's day. So we had an impromptu spagetti dinner. My nanna's spagetti is my favorite. i could eat my weight in it.

And to my surprise when I looked out the window I saw this big birthday banner and realized they were also doing a little bday thing for me! (my bday is next friday) and nanna and sabe got me a new grill! i couldnt believe. Sabe overheard me talking to my dad the last time we were there about how i wanted a grill but wasnt sure if i could get one... and got sneaky on me and got one! I am so excited. My aunts and cousins also got me everything I need for it, the tongs and spatulas, a lighter, lighter fluid and even a bag of coals! I can now say that I got a bag of coals for my birthday, how awesome is that!!! I love it, it is just the one I wanted! I am allllll ready for my party now!

bag 'o' coals :)

my brother :)

and his little one who learned to use the doggy door!

i played my cousin emily a game of chicken foot. she loves this game and wants to play it everytime we are over there!

me and james :)

kiss kiss.

me and my nanna. i love her so much, my favorite woman alive. for real. i look up to her so much.

and this was what the amazing sky was doing on our drive home. too bad we were still in the city!

Happy Fathers Day to anyone who is a daddy :)

PEACE AND LOVE,
Laura

Renegade in Austin

Yesterday was a wonderful day... I got to go to the renegade craft fair in austin, and get more work done on my tattoo!

The festival was amazing, just like I imagined. Tons of handmade crafters and artisans all doing the same thing I am...(in the sense of being a handmade artist)

I met some amazing people, and it really brought this whole online world of mine into a real glimpse of reality and community. It was a wonderful, down to earth feeling. There is something about being completely surrounded by like minded people your age. Ive been doing craft fairs all of my life with my parents, and it wasnt until this fair, that I have felt completely at home and in my own element. It was a huge breath of fresh air.

I was so excited to meet Elsie from RVA, and James from Bleubird Vintage in person. Two of my favorite and most respect girls in the online world. I have been following both of them for a very long time, actually Ive followed Bluebird Vintage wayyyy before I even started my own business and got involved with this amazing online community.

Let me just tell you that they are both just as stunningly beautiful and sweet natured in person as they are online. It was a pleasure to meet them and see their set up face to face. I wish I had more money in my pocket to walk away with more goodies, but I got a really cute RVA leaf headband!


(carrying baby bird)
I also got to meet the amazing people behind Maryink, one of my longtime favorite tee shirt artists on etsy. They were the most down to earth, real and friendly people... We talked for a while about having your own business and about screen printing shirts, etc. It was so wonderful to meet them and know that such genuine love is going into their products. I walked away with this adorable tulip shirt, which i love. They were out of my favorite, so I may be ordering it soon.
In other news, my friend Katelyn is on a trip to Cali with her little one Leena, to shoot a wedding. I was almost going to be going with her, but financially it was not a feesible time. I know she will do amazingly though! Ill miss chatting with her everyday while she is gone...
But look at her suitcase!!! It is full of Violet Bella, (yes 3 tops right there in front), Pennythreads purse, and of course, her O Bella Naturals soap!!! I just thought this was awesome!
And here is one of my favorite dresses I made last week, and sold to beautiful Jamie... check her out below in some very cool photos... she is becoming quite the amazing little photographer, and I cant wait until she comes out with her own shop!



Also, I finally got a www.violetbella.com!!!! So go check it out, it is very simple right now, and not quite so cute, but it is easy to navigate between clothing, jewelry, and art!

And for my tattoo, I thought I was going to finish yesterday, and again it took way too long, and I realized I had not fully visioned it just the way I want it, so I got the peacock feathers for now, and Ill go back again soon to work some more on it! Its already starting to scab, so I might wait a bit for photos...

XOXO

Peace,
Laura