Hi World!

It's been a bit, I know.


I used to love this blog because it allowed me to visit myself in the past... It let me look back at my silliness and dreamy photographs whenever I forget the things I've done or the life I've lived apart from the immediate things I feel TODAY or the weeks surrounding today.
So, I've been thinking I'd like to get back to some semblance of that time before when I created a life outline of sorts. Even small bits of things are still enough to help spark my memory into remembering thoughts, ideas and moments that get lost in my cluttered and explorative mind. Though, I know blogging isn't particularly holding on very well through the influx of immediate gratification apps and with the tiny attention spans we've all got now but I think I'll do this for me! And for anyone who is a fan and who wants to see MORE because i always produce SO MUCH imagery and it just hides without the time to share it in the correct context.

I'm rambling and I think it's a good sign. I also have had a hard time blogging because I havent known what to SAY to you all or even to myself. I've been miserable this year with this freaking breakup and trying to hear my own heart over a mass of sad confusion and anxiety sounds that surround an extremely unpredictable future. While simultaneously pushing everyone away and pulling people close and freaking everyone and myself out the whole time. Alas, I am not totally sure I am healed today or that the weight is gone from me but I can say that right this very moment, I feel fine. And honestly, one day at a time of feeling fine or a MASSIVE step from weeks of being a puddle of grief in mourning.

So here I am with all my terrible writing and run-on sentences, bad punctuation but some skill at giving my readers insight to the very thoughts I am having as I sit here in the studio needing to be working on other projects but deciding it's time to SHARE something. With myself and with you.

Hello 26!

welp. it's happened. i'm aging and now i'm older. i'm working a (currently) weirdly heavy and wild life thats wonderful and i have some scars to show from it. i also am beginning to peak around the corners of my present to see question marks around my future. it's awkward and scary and exciting. yesterday was my day. i slept late and let myself feel no guilt for it. i made myself a HUGE breakfast consisting of eggs bacon a smoothie bowl avocado, coffee and juice. all of my favorite breakfast foods on one giant plate in my bed with the windows open. i wandered around in soft pj's and took photos because that's something i love to do. Chelsea swung by for a bit to sit on my bed and chat for a while. I napped in the sun spots on my bed like a cat. i went to the studio when the sun was highest to spend time in my work and play haven. shipped orders, bought myself flowers and ice cream. listened to my current audio book then walked to an indian dinner with my funny friend Liz. It was a very good day to me. I felt a LOT of love from the internet which was very needed. i thought back on this year and some of its challenges. im not one to name a year of life 'good' or 'bad'.. how can anyone generalize and entire year? i'd rather associate emotions and adventures and learning moments with an age. 25 was mostly happy, then very sad. i felt very strong and then very weak. i took many trips and met many lovely people and learned about my limits and how important it is that i give myself space from painful things and treat myself well (this is an ongoing learning moment). i learned a bit about asking for help and figured out that sometimes, it's better to trust someone with your needs then to try and carry them by yourself until you are worn out.

i've been getting letters every so often from friends with deeply sentimental encouragements. life has been so overwhelming for me for so long it's been difficult to express intense love or appreciation for small treasures like friendly love letters and words of comfort. i am so grateful for all the love you BABES send to me regularly. (i borrowed these hellebores from the universe on a late walk home last night) Hellebores are said to provide protection and a vase of hellebore brought into a room will drive away an unpleasant atmosphere and replace it with tranquility.

i love spending time in my room. it's feeling very new and personal these days. i use it for inspiration, relaxation, rehabilitation and intimate conversation. I bought the blue vase from a shop in Baltimore on 36th ave.. I have forgotten it's name. The globe amaranth flowers are dried and were purchased from an absolutely treasured store called Roxanne's Dried Flowers in the strip district of Pittsburgh. If you are ever passing through, I encourage a visit. More on that later...


Angel (made this LOVELY birthday print) & Renee sent me a package that I opened on my day. It had some sweet cards, a necklace, perfume, a candle and two bundle of homemade lavender shortbread cookies made just for me! grateful for girls like them <3 Check out Renee's recipe on her amazing BLOG.


another something that made me smile.. I remember moving here and wondering if I would ever be apart of the community or apart of AltDaily in some kind of way. I am grateful for the power behind the machine and am so happy they feel the same <3<3
Lastly, the past few months i began a self portrait project.. I've always wanted to make work in a self realm but didn't because of fear of misinterpretation. Now i know i have nothing to lose and should do what i want so I have. The process has been very therapeutic and kind to me. Im exploring different painful emotions as well as sensual ones. Sometimes i try to play a character, other times i present my current emotional status or explore feelings i wish i had.



Cheers to a year completed and welcome to a new turn of the tides. i *think* im ready to take on it's challenges. <3

Hello NEW STUDIO

WELP. Since I'm rarely around these parts, this is probably just a mess of new information.. BUT life has been crazy and busy and pretty good and I moved my studio (It used to be right next door to the shop) to a new location! I am located now about 6 mins away from the store now. SO. Im sure you're confused as to what exactly I need a studio for. WELLLL, so much. I've been using about a 6x6 ft space over the course of the past year to create and resin my phone cases.. of which I just made my 500th SALE on my online shop! Besides those bad boys, I also design and create cases for one other shop.. Mooreaseal.com The orders I get from them are pretty intense. They help me pay for help at the shop so I can work full time on the cases and our social media outlets. It's been the wildest ride ever and I'm pretty sure I am still in shock that something was picked up like this. It's a blessing and I actually love making them and designing them and touching flowers all of the time.















Some notes---
• Thanksgiving is TOMORROW and that means I have to go to the grocery store in a bit which is absolute insanity and I am ridiculous for waiting this long to pick up my itty bitty list.
• Im listening RIGHT now to YES PLEASE by Amy Poehler. She is amazing, listening to audio books has changed my life.
• This is the first year in over 9 YEARS that I will be celebrating the holidays as a single woman. The boy and I broke it off after a time of figuring out that what we wanted for each other had changed to become what we could not be. I've been reluctant to share anything about it. I am still trying to maneuver my way around the emotional life event that has become my normal as of late. BUT. It is something, even when it feels like everything, it is only something. I will be alright. I will get the things I work for and I will love myself entirely though out it.
• I just told you about that and it feels weird.


THANKS FOR LOVING ME. or my phone cases... WHICH EVER YOU LOVE, thank you <3

A few things

Taking a page out of Kelsey Bethune's book...
EATING - loads and loads of soup.
DRINKING - too much coffee!
PRACTICING - folding tiny dresses and playing guitar..
SLEEPING - until 8am every morning. then snuggling alone for another hour in my pillow fortress while sipping cinni coffee.
PLAYING - loads & LOADS of electronic-infused girl jams. Highasakite, Farao, Emilie Nicolas, St Vincent, Tuneyards, Lilah Rose.
FINISHING - re listening to Kresley Cole's arcana chronicles.
WATCHING - sex and the city
WEARING - dark blue, purple, silver, black & grey
COOKING - eggs all the time!
WORKING - every day and every night, sometimes I'm in the studio until 1:30am!
WANTING - to use my time wisely and get as much work done as I can to save up for a trip to Greece in the springtime!

In other news, this week was my baby shop's THIRD birthday!! I am thrilled we made it this far and really excited about the future of WL&L. If you're a follower, I'm having a sale until tomorrow at midnight (Sunday Nov 9th) Save 6$ on all cases by using the code "withlavandcase" at checkout! Enjoy! SHOP HERE.

A week in review

Well, its been a busy week over here in WL&L land. I've been hiding away in the studio and shop, working all diligent like. The spring rain graced us for most of last week, cold and charged. Today was pretty nice, though. I had the day 'off' of shop duty and 'on' studio duty. Something really amazing happened with my cases and I've been slaving over a big project.. I'll share super soon.



Ryan has been helping out around the shop whenever he can. My current project is bigger than I have time for so i've had to 'hire' him for extra work time during the day or else i'll work all morning into the late nights. Which, usually I have no problem with BUT we've been trying to spend time together because of yet ANOTHER big surprise that is coming for him. more later (sorry).




The Ivy is BACK! we couldnt be happier with the loving green tendrils that have popped open and spring out leaves like lovely little hands over the past few weeks. They grow and splay everyday and soon the entire brick will be consumed. This is such a special thing to me. I spend a few minutes looking up at the ivy everyday. It feels like the sweetest gift from nature, encouraging my business and my dreams.. wrapping them in bits of earth.



my sweet mother has been helping out a bit too! Today she took me to lunch and we shared this amazing chocolate strawberry crepe with whipped cream! She is so good to me, I love living by her.

Easter was pretty adorable... as you can see. I dressed up like a glamatron easter egg and wore the wildest tights I could find. We went to my mom's church and ate a big brunch at her house. Two quiches and fruit salad with mimosas and peeps as snacks. I came back to the studio to work more and have been listening to this AMAZING book series. Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Has anyone read it? It kind of changed my life a little this week. I finished the last book in the trilogy this afternoon and I am on FIRE to share it with someone. If you've read it, LEAVE ME COMMENTS. oh also, dogwoods are in bloom (swoon) and miki & andrew & I had a margarita night at the studio on friday before going to see ryan's last show at VA STAGE.

Here is a snippit of my current project. LOVE YALLSZZZZ

sweet on sunday

Thie weekend was slow and sweet. I really appreciate pockets of days that are filled with plans but feel like they move slowly. It is kind of a rarity but this weekend was one of them. Work all day yesterday, then an amazing show (i'll blog THAT later).. Work today, phone case construction, baby photos, band practice and then I treated myself to froyo (mostly toppings). Im listening to a new novel (i finished TWO last week... what?!) It's the City of Bones series... Im into it so far. Anyone read them?

Tonight starts my 'weekend', I'm sitting under so many cozy blankets listening to the book and editing photos. Enjoying just being silent. In a bit i'll head out to hang out downtown with Ryan maybe grab a fancy drink. Tomorrow is nearly filled already.. dont you hate that? days off are never actually DAYS OFF.. they are days that are just for other things. errands, dishes, couch pickup, photo edits, dinner plans... this life is a full one! Hope your weekend was great! <3