Blog Exclusive: Viola Pearl 20% Off Sale

As a thank you to all that read, subscribe and comment on my blog, now through Thursday everything in the Viola Pearl Etsy store is 20 percent off! To get the discount, enter the code {BLOGFAN20} while still in your Etsy "cart" before checkout {as seen below}. Please pass along the discount to your friends!

And, if you aren't following the Viola Pearl on Google Friend Connect or by email, please subscribe today!

Win a Viola Pearl Necklace! - closed

Want a free Viola Pearl Mia or Traci necklace? This week, two blogs are offering the opportunity for you to do just that! On the Friends in my Closet blog, Carlie is celebrating her first year anniversary blogging {big congrats!} by giving away a mint green and pink Traci necklace. Click here to enter to win. And, the One House Schoolroom blog is hosting an online event called For the Luck of Liberty and is giving away a lavender and peach Mia necklace. Click here to enter to win.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

Oh So Ladylike

Feeling a little frilly and girly lately. Loving lace, flowers, cameos and anything soft, so I created a roundup of my favorites on Etsy. See all of my picks on my Oh So Ladylike treasury list here.

Americana Fever

Are you liking "Americana Style" as much as I am? I am wanting everything red, white and blue, with a few anchors and seashells thrown in...ohhh nautical Americana. It is a classic look and perfectly patriotic. I love it on this patio from Cost Plus World Market (love the Ikat rug), living room and bedroom! And, with Americana on my brain and the fourth around the corner, I thought I would share some of my red, white and blue picks from my Viola Pearl Etsy store. You can find them all here.

The Traci Necklace

The Holly Friendship Braclet

The Viola Two Tote

The Anchors Away Necklace

The Viola Pillowcase

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

Just in time for the fourth, I created an Americana Traci necklace with royal blue and red, leaving some stones unpainted. It is beautiful on! Also added, a mint green and blue vintage piece (left), with more...mint. Yes, I am loving mint green! Find my jewelry here.

Spotlight on Friendship Bracelets

Even when I was young I was a jewelry addict. I had armfuls of jelly bracelets, then I had to have twist a bead necklaces in every color. Then it was friendship bracelets. Over the past few years it has been fun to see some of those return back to popularity. And, I still LOVE friendship bracelets.

I love that they are lightweight, can be paired with anything and resist sticking to my arm in the 100 degree summer heat and humidity like my other bracelets. I created a whole line for the Viola Pearl Etsy store, adding in everything from spikes to Swarovski. I literally made every bracelet I ever wanted. Luckily, when you make your own jewelry, you can do one for me, one for the store! Thought I would share some of my favorites...

Back in Stock: the Linnea Necklace

Back in the Viola Pearl Etsy store today! See the Tom Binns inspired Linnea Necklace here.

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

Lightweight summer necklaces featuring colorful cords and silver charms. The ideal necklace for lounging at the beach or pool. Super cute when layered with other necklaces...or alone is for a simple chic look. To see more, click here.

Color of the Week: Lime Green

This weekend I worked on screen printing tote bags, which inspired the color of the week. One of the winners of the Viola Pearl tote bag contest picked lime green for her tote...at first I wasn't so sure...but now I am sold (see photo below). And, now I am loving the color! See my line of tote bags here.

Outdoor Table / Rocker / Michael Kors Tote  / Dress 

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

I am SO excited to introduce the Presley Earring set, new in the Viola Pearl Etsy store today. This style of earrings is named after my family and in true Presley style, these earrings are a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll and a whole lot a' glam! They are made with metal and either rhinestones or vintage rhinestone earring pieces.

Check out the Presley earring here.

Viola Pearl Beach Tote Giveaway (CLOSED)

Summer is upon us-time for flip flops, shorts, tank tops and the beach or pool! No better way to kick off the season than with a FREE Viola Pearl tote. The tote is natural-colored cotton and measures 15" wide 16" tall, with 24" drop straps-the perfect size and weight for carrying your summer essentials. I am giving away two totes and letting the winners pick the style and color-so it will be custom hand screen printed just for you!

Here's how you can win:

1. Follow the Viola Pearl blog (via Google Friend Connect on the right hand side of the blog-you can follow using Yahoo, Twitter, Google and others-circled below so you know where to look)

2. Like the Viola Pearl Facebook page

3. Post on the Viola Pearl Facebook page wall which tote you want to win-either Kachina or Viola design (seen below)-and the color you prefer. Colors available are: silver, fluorescent orange, pearlized orange, teal, yellow, magenta, blue, red, fluorescent pink, fluorescent lime green and black. See the colors available in the photo section of my Etsy listing here.

You must do all three for your name to be entered into the contest. If you have already liked the page and/or already following the blog, just make sure you have done all three and you are good!

Want an extra chance to win? "Share" the Viola Pearl Facebook page with your Facebook friends and encourage them to "Like" Viola Pearl (shown with red arrows pointing to the share location below) and your name will be entered an extra time-that is TWO chances to win!

Enter today (Monday) through Friday at 5 p.m. - the two winners will be announced Saturday. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions at all!

*Please note the giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, drawing facilitated by RandomPicker.com

___________________________________________________________________________________

Edit 5/26/2012: This giveaway is now closed-congratulations Linnea and Heather! http://www.randompicker.com/protocol/6275x14453

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

These two necklaces might be my favorite yet! There are new designs of hand painted necklaces to choose from, painted beautiful pastel and bright spring colors, as well as "Viola" signature pieces including decorative pillowcases and colorful tote bags perfect for the beach, pool or just shopping around town! See these items online now here.

Anchors Away

Striped shirts. Anchors. Rope bracelets. Deck shoes. Nautical style, check! I am sure it's  on your radar because it's everywhere. This time of year makes me want to decorate everything in red, white and blue. These are some of my current nautically-inspired favs: rope bracelet (I have this one and it is year-round cute), striped rope handle tote bag, striped boat-neck t-shirt (only $10 right now and really cute on!!!) and an anchor pillow.

One of my favorite restaurants in Austin, Perla's, has a chic vibe nautical theme. They use beautiful red or blue and white stripes, mixed with yellow, and other sea-themed decor. Love that deck...along with oysters and champagne on a sunny day!

I have even combined my love of anchors with neon, on my vintage fishing lure Anchors Away line of necklaces on Etsy.

Ropes Bracelet / Striped Tote Bag / Striped Shirt / Anchor Pillow / Perla's Swordfish and Booth / Perla's Outside / 

Feather Anchor Neon Necklace

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

Restocked Linnea and Traci hand painted rhinestone necklaces, a variety of hand painted rhinestone earrings, as well as the Ginger necklace, a 1950s vintage hand painted piece. See more here.

Animal Chic

A couple of years ago I purchased three cardboard animal heads from Red in Fredericksburg (pictured above) to use as affordable "art" in my kitchen. These have been incredibly unique conversation pieces-there hasn't been one person that hasn't walked in my house and complimented them! 

And, over the past couple of years, I have seen more animal heads crop up and I am starting to think I might need a new piece for my bedroom. Hey, it's Texas right, so animal heads throughout are acceptable! I especially love the rhino, which is made with vintage French book pages. But the colorful heads, especially the Zebra in pink, are so amazing. Which do you like best? 

Zebra / Rhino / Moose / Deer 

Color of the Week: White

White can feel dressy or beachy. It really is the perfect color, especially this time of year.

I recently bought this West Elm Parsons desk in white and it looks amazing! My room is blue and white with orange accents so it fits in perfectly. Once I get my accessories set and shelving done, I will share a photo.

When wearing white, I have to admit that I get scared walking out of the house-you just never know what is going to happen. Thank goodness for the handy little Shout wipes that fit perfectly in a clutch, because I love white sundresses and white denim. Especially when paired with turquoise earrings.

sofa / necklace / pillow / dress / desk

New in the Viola Pearl Etsy Store

Handpainted 1940's vintage bracelets in turquoise blue, coral orange with yellow and natural stones showing, along with another in lavender, mint green and peach. These colors are my favorites right now! I also have painted rhinestone earrings in coral orange and turquoise blue, as well as yellow, peach and lavender. See my collection of jewelry here.

Color of the Week: Peach

This color is dreamy in all shades.

Images from: dress, shoes, cardigan, skirt, clutch

I Heart San Francisco

My city by the bay. Frisco. San Fran. I lived in San Francisco for a few years before moving to Austin. I don't think I ever stopped being a tourist the whole time I was there. I bought San Francisco snow globes, coffee mugs, took the 49 mile scenic drive more times than I can count...and probably should pay rent to Alcatraz. Sometimes I still get that yearning to see Chinatown and the Bay Bridge out the same window (my living room had the BEST view). So, with my new love of Treasury Lists on Etsy, I created one for San Francisco. Except, these trinkets are more art and less kitsch. Here is my favorite piece that I probably need to have in the near future for my new desk setup:

Here are other items I found that I really liked. I have already purchased the Muni pass wallet. I figure it will be great for when I am carrying an uber small purse! Plus the pass is from when I actually lived out there...so who knows, it could be my old one. You can find the full list here. 

Today's Treasures

On a search for vintage jewelry today I found these gorgeous bracelets from the 40s and 50s. They are in amazing condition and will soon get the Tom Binns inspired treatment for the Viola Pearl Etsy store. I will probably need to keep one for myself though!

My other painted necklaces were purchased new, so I thought it would be fun to mix in vintage. Now the question is...what color do I paint them?! I am thinking pastels like lavender or peach.