Project Sneak Peek >>>

Throughout the week on Instagram I have been sharing little sneak peeks of the project Im working on.  These are very blurry grainy versions of the real deal since they were taken with my ipod of a pic on my computer.   We are looking at releasing the project on wednesday or thursday of this week!  Its been a beautiful thing to watch a little seed of a dream blossom into a big full grown tree full of unique flowers.  The team I have on board with me is truly amazing and I couldn't of done this without all of them!  Its so inspiring to work along side other artisans.  I cant wait to for all of you to see!

PEACE,

Laura

Instagram Love - Life At Random >>>

First, and foremost, Id like to say thank you so much to everyone who sent me such heartfelt comments on my last post about motherhood.  They all really struck a cord within me.  I left a comment, but I thought Id write it out here too just in case... b/c there were quite a few comments about whether or not I should even have kids, or stating its okay to not have them.  I definitely agree that its not something that everyone needs to do.  I know several adult couples who never had kids and are perfectly happy with that choice... but I should of written in that post that we definitely DO want kids... just are scared.  I really just needed to vent my fears outloud I think.  And honestly, it felt good and took a little weight off.  I know most of the fears are natural... and are only amplified by the emotional loss of my mother.  Id love to get over these hurdles and get to a place of peace with it, which is why I wanted to put it out there.  Im about to be embarking on my 30's, and it seems like a pretty nice time to start the process.  I have watched this idea mold and form through our marriage and I can sense that it is near us, which may just be why the fear has really been kicking in this past year.  Again, thank all of you for your supportive words no matter which way we go with our lives!!!  ...Here are a few more random instagram pics from our week.  My username on instagram is lauramazurek.

I did some rearranging to the house again this week.  My studio was becoming so cluttered I didnt want to step foot in there.  I moved a cabinet out and it made all the difference.  But I had to take my huge painting in my office down to do so... so I must find a spot for it now.  I think Im going to put it over my bed... which is where this dream catcher above was.  Sometimes swapping things out can make so much difference. 

A week or two ago we spent some time out on our friend's ranch.  James played guitar like usual.  One of the only times he randomly jams is with these friends, I love it.

I need to get an outfit post next time I wear this dress, its just soooo amazing!

Ive been really enjoying EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey.  Alot of it is good old common sense, and actually how I already run my own business, but its really nice to have affirmation on alot of things.  Plus he has such a simple way of breaking things down and making good sense of things.  I actually find myself craving to read it before bed.  Yep, I read about business before bed, geeezzz im a nerd!

So, I know many of you are big fans of my lovely mustard yellow owl that I found at a garage sale for only $2!!!  (no im not selling him...)  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, b/c I found another one at a garage sale this past weekend for $5!!!  Its even bigger and its brown!!!  I was so excited when I found it buried under a bunch of other stuff.  He was waiting for me!  Its actually so heavy that I cant hang it inside... so he might be my outside watch owl :)

My ever so sweet hubby surprised me with a thistle the other day.  I felt so bad b/c I was on the back porch writing so I didnt hear the door.  But he sat there ringing the doorbell for like 5 minutes so he could surprise me with it!  Obviously it was a joke, and he was so cute when he did give it to me.  He told his friend... "she didnt even put it in water next to the bed!"... ha ha!

My lovely lamp from Atmosphere Lamp Shades.

(get 20% off this month using the code VIOLETBELLA20)

Just a silly pic of me when I was sewing the other day.  I was so involved in what I was doing I didnt want to stop and get the pin cushion, and then I just got kind of silly b/c of it, and had to stop and take a pic!

Okay, so anyone who knows us well, knows that James does not like alot of food.  Basically in short, he likes chicken, pasta and bread.  Yep.  So with alot of sweet talking, and hesitation on his part, I fixed us grilled salmon over pasta for dinner, and HE LOVED IT!!!  I couldnt believe it.  He actually asked for it the next day.  Score!

I layed on my deck for just a minute the other day and looked up at the sky.  I saw this one vulture fly by and took a pic... and then about 50 of them literally danced in a beautiful circle above me across the sky.  It was so magnificent to watch.  Living in the country, I see them everywhere, but Ive never seen them dance the way they did that day.  I was in awe.  Amazing creatures.

PEACE,

Laura

Instagram Love - The Babies >>>

 This ultra adorable photo was taken right after she got caught rooting veggies out of the compost bin.  How can you even get upset at that face???  We are gonna be in for it when we have kids, we are such suckers!

 Bella loves to snuggle up on our tummies at night if we watch a movie or tv.  She is almost always on top of one of us, or on one of the back cushions of the couch if we are there.

 This is one of Violet's favorite spots to lay in the yard, I think b/c of the shade from the tree.  I had to run inside and grab my ipod when I saw her this day, it looked like she was in a little meditation garden!

 The other day I caught Bella in the middle of trying to pounce a butterfly.  Luckily she did not get it!  But I just love watching her in the yard trying to catch bugs... its so so cute.

 Little Nico spent the day by the window the other day chirping with the birdies outside.  I swear they talk to each other!  

 Bella chillin in the shade under the bird bath!  Do think this was convenient shading???  Or an elaborate plan to sneak on some birdies?

 Violet hanging out with me on the deck.  She chills on the deck alot.  She can watch all thats going on from there.  Usually when I walk outside and she is there, her tail starts vigorously wagging and she rolls over for her belly to be rubbed.

 This was a funny moment.  Its kind of hard to tell in this pic, but there were pillows and stuff hanging off the side of the couch, and Bella perched herself up on them.  That whole end of her butt is hanging off the side of the couch, ha ha!

Ha ha!!!  I caught Violet in the middle of a yawn.  I just love this photo.  Can you tell Im a bit crazy about my pets??? Geez...

This is Bella's usual spot if Im on the computer.  And she does all she can to be the center of attention.  She likes to walk back and forth in front of me, over my hands typing, sticking her tail right in my face.  Or like this, roll backwards all cute on top of my keyboard.  Always.

I have TONS of photos to share from my Instagram, but I thought Id do them in sections... I had so many of the babies I devoted one just to them.  Ill be back with more through the week.  If you want to follow me on instagram my name on their is lauramazurek.  I use it almost everyday.  I pretty much think its my favorite social place.  Beats the pants off facebook and twitter, as far as being fun and full of pretty.  Im really kind of tired of facebook, and have been for a while.  Its a love/hate relationship.  Its so easy to get sucked into.  But Ive been trying to ween my time off of there and only post business and blog stuff, with the occasional random post.  I just keep finding myself uneasy after spending time on there.  Between the things people post and the general fact that my time feels wasted and deflated.  Does anyone else feel that way?  

Im working on some really pretty new styles of wall hangings.  Im quite excited about them, and literally want to keep each one I make, which is usually a good sign.  I rearranged and cleaned up my studio a bit the other day and its made all the difference in the world for my creativity and motivation.  It was getting so crowded and disorganized that I didnt even want to walk in the room!  

Speaking of... time to go get lost in there for the day!

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