The Closet Project, figure 5

I love keys - the older and rustier the better.

The Argentine gentleman, who sold me these keys at the San Telmo flea market, explained that they had once opened the doors to a haunted villa in the countryside. At least that’s what I think he was trying to say. My Spanish is remedial at best but I’m pretty sure the swaying of his body and the “Wooo” sound emanating from his “O” shaped mouth indicated some sort of spectral reference.

In any case, I fell in love with their gorgeous reddish brown color and shape.

Go to the ends of the earth...

"I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love"
~Adele

Love Fox Vintage

If it’s Wednesday, then it must be time for another one of my Happy Places so without further ado, let me introduce you to Love Fox Vintage.

There is no shortage of vintage clothing stores in Ventura but none is as charming as Love Fox Vintage.

Located in the Historic El Jardin Patio, this little gem is brimming with lovely clothes, shoes and accessories.

Each piece in Love Fox Vintage is lovingly selected by co-owners Faith Mickler and Benicia Smith. These very stylish friends have brought Ventura a chic, updated approach to vintage couture. It’s obvious Faith and Benicia love clothes, in fact I’ll sometimes drop by just to see what they are wearing, but they are also wonderfully gifted at displaying their wares. Everything is arranged so artfully and with such imagination. Stepping through the door feels more like a visit to a sartorial friend’s apartment in Paris than a jaunt to a local clothing store.

The next time you find yourself in downtown Ventura, pop into Love Fox Vintage. Pick up a little something and make yourself happy!

Historic El Jardin Patio
451 East Main St. #3
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 648-6612

Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm
Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday noon-6pm

www.lovefoxvintage.com

Charity Engagement Shootout, the Results

Participating in this Charity Engagement Shootout was what I would imagine an intense round of speed dating to be like. Imagine only having a total of 15 minutes to photograph and win over a couple you have never met before.

In this instance there was no wooing period where client and photographer exchange pleasantries via email. None of the usual, “I think your images are dreamy!” or “Your wedding sounds like heaven to shoot!” No busting out your cute outfit that’s sure to impress or lovingly presenting a portfolio that’s as sweet as a box of chocolates. No Siree, no time for that here. Each couple was paired up with a handful of photographers based on availability and price. After a quarter hour, everyone moved onto other prospects. Talk about a short “honeymoon”. As we looked down the beach we would see the couple we just photographed in front of another photographer’s lens. It felt a little like cheating, except not only were all parties in on it but they wanted it caught on film too.

Larry and I photographed three really fun, adorable couples. We worked really hard to ensure that each of them had a unique experience with us. We brought several props but didn’t use the same ones twice and even tried to shoot in different areas of the beach. Even though this was a vastly different situation than our usual engagement sittings, it was really important for us to try to tell their love story through our images and capture each individual personality just like we normally do with all of our clients.

At the end of the day, we emptied the sand out of our shoes, and headed home feeling good about not only raising money for Let me Sail, but knowing we faced a challenging situation head on and created photographs that we are proud of.

To find out more about Let me Sail, click on the link below.

If you would like to see more images from these sessions, go to our Facebook page and while you’re there, become a fan!

www.letmesail.org

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

The tune of a carousel, the clanging of a roller-coaster car climbing upward, the swoosh and screams trailing at its descent, barkers promising prizes. These sounds immediately transport me back to my favorite childhood place, the fairground. No other location could offer up such excitement. From the food carts selling cotton candy to the tent waiting to unveil the most horrifying of freaks, the fairground was so far removed from my normal life; it might as well have been like traveling to the moon.

While driving through northern California last week, I felt the old pull of the fairground and made a detour to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. The day was foggy and the colors muted but the sounds were the same. Even the cotton candy was as sticky and sweet as I remembered.

A Daring Adventure

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing".
~ Helen Keller

Have a tranquil day.

Family Fun in Downtown Los Angeles

What’s it like to direct a director? Were there script revisions and meetings with agents and publicists? Did our two leading ladies demand rare orchids and only yellow jellybeans in their trailer? Not a chance. This Hollywood family could not have been any more down to earth or charming.

Jody and Randy are the producer and director respectively of many movies, the two most recent being “Bottle Shock” and “Nobel Son”. They both have a keen visual sense and know exactly what works in front of a camera. This could have been an intimidating situation for us to find ourselves in as photographers but instead the whole family embraced being the stars of the show and took direction from us beautifully.

Being such long time clients, we wanted to do something extra special for them so while I was photographing the stills, Larry donned his director’s cap and shot some video. We surprised Randy with the video slide show you see here for Father’s Day.

At the end of the day, despite being a little soggy from playing in the fountain, we packed up satisfied knowing that we had it “in the can”. Randy however, couldn’t resist slipping into director mode and called, “It’s a wrap”!

The Wedding Band

The wedding band, a perfect circle with no beginning or end is traditionally worn on the third finger of the left hand. It is said that the arteries ending in that finger lead directly to the heart.

With the slipping on of a wedding band, a couple displays to the world a physical symbol of their commitment to each other.

I've noticed after many a ceremony, the groom twisting his band around his finger or bending and flexing the hand where his ring now presides. In fact, I noticed my husband doing this very thing on our wedding day. While these actions may be perceived as signs of nervousness or even regret by the more cynical reader, the opposite seems true to me. I think there is a point in each groom's mind when he realizes a wedding is not about picking out invitations or hiring the right band and I believe that moment comes when he looks down at his left hand and sees the gleaming new ring on his finger.

In that simple piece of jewelry, every promise he's made to his bride in the past, and every wish he has for their future is made manifest. And it's likely he's just become aware of those arteries leading to his heart.

I am beautiful because you love me

"Do you love me because I'm beautiful, or am I beautiful because you love me"?
~ Oscar Hammerstein

Berries & Curd

There are so many things I love about summer: the longer days, the constant chirping of birds in our garden, flowers blooming riotously all around and of course, lots of delicious produce.

With such a sumptuous overabundance of berries available at farmer’s markets right now, it’s hard not to indulge. Whenever I want to guild the lily, I serve them with good quality lemon curd. This dish always makes my friends and family happy and I love it because to me, it’s a little bit of summer on a plate.

The Closet Project, figure 4

This beautiful feather (I think it's a hawk's) was found in a neighbor's garden. Knowing my penchant for collecting this sort of thing, it was gifted to me and now holds pride of place in my art closet.

The Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs

It’s time for me to introduce you to another one of my Happy Places, but first I have a question for you…what do you get when you take a 1965 Westward Ho Hotel, turn it on its ear, keep the funky, kitschy vibe alive but also create a space that is tranquil and bohemian? The answer can only be the Ace Hotel Palm Springs.

Larry and I had been dying to stay here for the longest time and when we received an invitation from Catering Sales Manager, Hilary Gluch, to attend their open house, we didn’t think twice about packing up mid-week and heading off to the desert.

Pulling up to the hotel immediately brought me back to my childhood. I saw many swooping rooflines and macramé festooned windows on our family road trips but that is where the similarities end. Inside, the rooms have a homey camp vibe and are outfitted with amenities you’d never expect such as a walking stick and caftans. Larry just about did a back flip when he discovered his very own turntable and selection of LPs by the bed.

One of my favorite things about the Ace is the varied and interesting artwork featured pretty much everywhere. I couldn’t bear to part with any of the printed material such as the map to our room or the parking tag for our windshield.

We had planned on doing some sightseeing in the city during our visit but found ourselves enjoying adult Sno Cones poolside by day and cozying up to our private fire pit every night. Other than taking a bike ride on the Cruisers provided for hotel guests, we never left the grounds.

For those of you planning your wedding or family reunion, you must check out the Ace. I promise you won’t find a more unique space and I can vouch for how attentive and helpful the staff is.

The Ace Hotel Palm Springs is a very Happy Place indeed.

www.acehotel.com/palmsprings

Wind & Veil

Of all the wonderful moments that happen on a wedding day, none is more magical than when wind meets veil.

Ruby Beach

Whenever I’m trudging along on vacation dragging my 4x5” camera and tripod, there will invariably be a point where I’ll ask myself, “why can’t you leave the cameras at home and just enjoy yourself like a normal person”? I have to admit there have been many occasions when carrying this rather cumbersome load has been not only an exercise of my forearms but also of futility. But on this day, the long hike from the parking lot down to Ruby Beach proved to be fruitful.

It had been raining since we arrived in Washington but we decided to not let bad weather stop us from exploring the coast. Just as we reached the shore, the rain stopped and the clouds started to dance for us. There is no time more magical than the moment between the end of a storm and the coming of the sun. Every time I look at the series of photographs I made that afternoon, I am immediately transported back.

On those occasions when I consider leaving my cameras at home, I’ll think back on days like this, pack up all the gear and trudge on.

The Trio

"The virtue of the camera is not the power it has to transform the photographer into an artist, but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking."
~Brooks Atkinson

The Closet Project, figure 3

Full disclosure time…when I bought these pencils in a flea market in Buenos Aires, I had every intention of giving them to my little niece, Celine. She inherited the art bug from her mother and me and we've spent countless hours hunched over her kitchen table sketching and painting together.

Whenever I travel, I'm always on the lookout for interesting art supplies to bring back for her. Over the years she has scored coloring books from Mexico and very elegant watercolors from Paris but for some reason, I just never got around to giving her these pencils. I think it's because they are just about the prettiest thing in an art closet where pretty is kind of scarce and desperately needed. I guess I'll just hang onto them for now. Hmm…I can always save them for her kids.

Diva Decor

I thought I would share with you another one of my Happy Places. It’s a place that really appeals to my inner diva and it’s called appropriately enough, Diva Décor.

Diva Décor, located in the Howard Hughes Promenade is a treasure trove of all things girly and lovely. Whenever I’m searching for a great gift for a client or need a cute journal for my travels, I pop in for what I tell myself will be just a minute but before I know it, an hour has passed and I’ve smelled every delicious candle, and tried on tons of sparkly jewelry.

Barbara the owner, stocks a wonderful assortment of wedding accessories too like, elegant garters and ring pillows so pretty you’ll want to display them in your boudoir after the wedding. You see what this place does to me? It’s got me using fancy French words like boudoir!

There are very few places that make me want to sip champagne out of crystal encrusted flutes while lounging on a silk divan wrapped in a feather boa, but Diva Décor does just that.

Phone no. (310) 642-1910
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11am – 7:30pm Sat. 11am – 8pm. Sun. 12pm – 4 pm
Twitter.com/1divadecor

Wherever you go...

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."
~ Confucius

Black Gold Golf Club, Yorba Linda

Anita and Gabriel’s pink and black themed wedding was a perfect reflection of their day – elegant and whimsical.

They were married at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda on a crystal clear day. The view over the golf course was breathtaking. It looked more like the Italian countryside than Orange County.

Gabriel impressed us with his mad putting skills during the groomsmen’s photo session and Anita looked simply stunning as did her bouquet of pink roses and white ranunculus.

Matthew, the groom’s little boy was very dashing in his tuxedo but he didn’t let his fancy suit keep him from indulging in lots of playful antics.

At the end of the evening each guest received one of the best favors I’ve ever seen – a bottle of wine with a personalized label featuring a photograph from the engagement session we photographed at Rideau Winery.

Congratulations Anita & Gabriel! We wish you and Matthew lots of laughter and happiness.

If you would like to see more of Anita & Gabriel click on:
http://blog.isabellawrence.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

www.blackgoldgolf.com/layout9.asp?id=200&page=5391

Paris Carousel, Print of the Month

To me, Paris is the quintessential European city. None other is more romantic, elegant, or beautiful. Turn a corner and the most fabulous lingerie boutique or bakery awaits. The Parisians even manage to make suckling pigs hanging from hooks in the butcher shop window look like fine art.

This carousel was a complete surprise. I came up to street level from the subway and there it was, like something out of the early 1900’s.

I wanted to maintain the illusion of a past time in this photograph and exclude any signs of the modern age. It took a lot of patience and two visits but I did finally manage to click the shutter at precisely the right moment.

This image is our July Print of the Month. For those of you not familiar with our monthly print sale, let me explain. Each month Larry and I take turns offering one of our favorite photographs for sale at a vastly reduced price. These are limited edition museum quality images printed by master printer Robert Cavalli on fiber paper under an enlarger. We have sold photographs like these in galleries for $500 but are making them available to our clients on our site for just $50.

If you would like to purchase this photograph contact the studio or click on the link below. We will only make 30 of these available at this price so seize the day!

www.isabellawrence.com/printom.html

Happy 4th of July!

What better way to start off the 4th of July then with Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast topped with patriotically colored fruit?

This batter is a variation on my father's famous recipe. After decades of pleading and negotiating, he recently revealed it to me and I am so pleased to share it with you.

Combine 2 whole eggs with 3/4 cups of heavy cream.
Stir in 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of good vanilla extract. Add a pinch of salt and whisk until eggs and cream are incorporated. For a delicious variation skip the cinnamon and vanilla and add a teaspoon of Grand Marnier and orange zest. This batter will coat approximately 5 slices of bread.

Speaking of bread, I like something on the sweet side and our local Von's supermarket sells a brand in the bakery section called, Mom's White Bread, Thick Sliced. It's fantastic for this recipe. It has the texture and taste of a Parker House roll but in loaf form.

So, celebrate independence from your diet and enjoy!

Be childlike.

Dust off your bicycle and ride like when you were a child, not for exercise but for the sheer joy of it.

The Closet Project, figure 2

I bought these inkbottles in Albi, France after visiting the Toulouse-Lautrec museum. I was of course familiar with his lithographs of Parisian nightlife but his pen and ink studies were a revelation! He drew a lot of them on what appeared to be brown paper bags. I figured, I’ve got lots of paper bags at home, now all I need is some cool French ink and I’ll be on my way to creating masterpieces too. For some reason when I’m traveling I manage to delude myself with all kinds of crazy thoughts. To think that for even a second I expected to come close to Toulouse’s mastery is laughable. What’s even more laughable (and embarrassing to admit) is that this was no passing thought. It took me a couple of days to find this ink. Needless to say once I got home and unpacked my little bottles, they looked so pretty sitting there under their caps of molten wax, I didn’t have the heart to break the seal. Today they rest in the back of the infamous art closet. Even though I have never used this ink, that trip did inspire me to start painting and while I have yet to create any masterpieces, I have spent many blissful hours on my patio listening to music and unleashing my inner Lautrec.