Agave

We stumbled upon this incredible grove of agave while driving through back roads in Mexico. What struck me as being so beautiful about this plant, was that even though it is covered with spikes and thorns, it throws its "arms" up to the sky like the most delicate ballerina.

Vase of Herbs

It's so lovely to go out to the garden in the morning with shears in hand and collect sprigs of fragrant herbs to bring inside. By placing them in a vase with water on my kitchen counter, they are not only readily available to toss into the dinner pot but also perfume the room with a delicate spicy scent.

Saturdays are great day to...

experience something new!

The Closet Project, figure 8

The art closet houses many journals. These pages were created while I was on vacation with my niece and nephew. What I love so much about keeping journals is that just by opening one up, I am immediately transported back to a wonderfully lazy summer's day.

Ring Pillow

Weddings are filled with so many traditions, but do you ever wonder where they come from? The custom of bearing the wedding bands on a pillow originated in ancient Egypt. Back then, wedding jewels were displayed on rare ornamental pillows. The practice remained alive throughout Medieval Europe and lives on to this day.

The whisper of white...

Winds of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is situated 26 ½ miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. At 84 square miles in size, it’s the second largest of the 8 Channel Islands.

The wind blows here with such frequency and voracity, that it has driven past inhabitants insane.

I found this island to be incredibly beautiful and austere. Yes, the wind was constant. At times it would gently blow and cause the tall grass to tickle my arms as I walked along and just as quickly it would gust up sending my pinhole camera and tripod crashing down in the middle of an exposure.

But I found that the wind only adds to the mysterious aura of this desolate place. There are so few places on earth where it is so quiet, the many voices of the wind can still be heard.

Blueberries

A study in blue and white.

Rancho del Cielo

I know blogs are all about showing your latest and freshest work, but I couldn't resist dipping into the archives and sharing this wonderfully summery and colorful wedding with you.

Shea and Justin were married at one of our favorite venues, Rancho del Cielo in Malibu. Their wedding was infused with tons of vibrant and whimsical touches. It was an utter delight to photograph.

What I found so lovely about this wedding was that even though it was very posh and grand, there were so many adaptable ideas for a backyard BBQ or birthday party. For instance, what could be easier than throwing on a boldly patterned tablecloth made from fabric purchased at your local fabric store and complementing it with a bouquet of zinnias and marigolds from the supermarket? Simple elements elevated to superstar status was the name of the game at this wedding and it's a great rule of thumb for any kind of entertaining.

Being from the south, Shea wanted to bring some down home flavor to the party, so mint juleps were passed all around. I love the idea of serving a signature cocktail at a party, especially if it's from an old family recipe like these were.

It's so inspiring to see couples infuse their wedding celebrations with such unique, personal touches. It always makes for such a memorable evening.

www.ranchodelcielomalibu.com

Be Playful

Planning a wedding can easily consume your life. There are so many details to attend to, so many people to please, lists to check and recheck. On the day of, let go of everything...enjoy each other. Be playful.

Persistence of Memory

Memory is a funny thing. Why do our childhood memories remain with us so clearly? Why is that one can be at a complete loss in remembering the particulars of a recent event but some innocuous sighting can send one’s mind whirling back decades to a long ago world?

I happened to catch a glimpse of a little girl wearing a red hair ribbon on the street the other day and in an instant, I was transported to my childhood home. So vivid was my memory, I could hear hairbrush bristles slipping through my hair and could feel the tightness on my scalp as the elastic band snapped into place around my ponytail. I could sense my mother standing behind me, her perfume mingling with her morning cup of coffee as she tied up my hair. I could see my blue and green book bag hanging on a hook by the front door, waiting to be snatched and dragged up the school bus steps. This entire scene in all its clarity played itself out in mere seconds. In the time it took for me to walk past that little girl with a red ribbon tied around her ponytail, I had relived that long ago morning with such clarity, it was as if it had happened minutes ago. But because memory is such a funny thing, it faded away just as quickly as it had arrived.

Tomato Tart

I’m normally not a huge fan of tomatoes but when summer rolls around and the heirlooms hit the farmer’s market, I go gaga bananas for them! It could be that I’m more taken by their dazzling colors and shapes than anything else but regardless of the reason, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate them into our summer alfresco meals.

This tomato tart is a favorite at our house. I got the recipe ages ago from a Williams-Sonoma catalog and I would love to share it with you.

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
½ tsp. salt, plus more, to taste
10 Tbs. (1 ¼ sticks) chilled unsalted butter, diced
2 Tbs. ice water
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
8 plum (or 3-4 heirloom) tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeded
8 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
½ cup slivered fresh basil leaves

Using an electric mixer with a flat beater, mix flour and ½ tsp. salt on low speed, 15 sec. Add butter; mix to form pea-sized crumbs, 30-40 sec. Add water 1 Tbs. at a time; mix just until dough comes together. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Shape into a 5” disk. Wrap tightly; refrigerate at least 1 hr. Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to fit a 9” round tart pan. Press dough into pan, trim to ½” around rim and fold in overhang. Press to make sides thicker than bottom; refrigerate 10 min. In a nonstick sauté pan over medium heat, warm 1/3 cup oil. Add garlic; sauté until fragrant, 1 min. Add salt, pepper and tomatoes, sliced side down until golden, 4-5 min. Brush pastry with 1 Tbs. oil; top with cheese, basil and tomatoes. Drizzle with pan juices; season with salt and pepper. Bake until crust is golden, about 1 hr. Serves 4.

The Closet Project, figure 7

It has been such a lovely summer. We’ve had so many different types of birds choose our garden in which to build their nests this year. The last baby finch in the nest on our patio tested his wings and flew over our heads just last week while Larry and I were having breakfast. I always feel a little sad once all the babies are gone. I miss their insistent chirps for food and watching the conscientious parents flitter back and forth during feeding time.

I wanted to commemorate the last of the finches somehow and remembered that Larry had given me an abandoned nest he found last spring while pruning our camellia trees. It didn’t take long for me to find it in the infamous art closet. So here I present my photographic love letter to all of the sweet birds who found our little garden to be the perfect place to start their families.

The Reluctant Gardener

Our latest tintype.

The Shell Shop

I inherited my love of seashells from my father. When I was a little girl, he would sit me down and carefully present the latest acquisition from his collection to me like it was a precious jewel. He taught me that each tiny shell contained a wondrous world of pattern and color. Hearing the Latin phylum names roll easily off his tongue was utterly spellbinding. He was so vivid and artful in his description of the undersea world.

Even though he has been collecting seashells for the better part of 30 years and has amassed a world-class collection, he still can’t resist the lure of a great shell shop. Which brings me to one of my happiest of Happy Places – The Shell Shop, in Morro Bay.

Every time my father visits me in California, we make a pilgrimage to this pantheon of marine mollusks. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for the big colorful shells displayed in the open bins in the middle of the shop but my father will hone in on the rare and sublime, tucked away on a top shelf, behind glass.

Just like when I was little, he’ll hold out his hand and sitting there will be a perfect murex with the most marvelous coloring. He’ll take such joy in pointing out what makes it special and I take such joy knowing that because of him my eyes have been opened to the wonders of the natural world.

www.theshellshop.net

590 Embarcadero
Morro Bay, CA 93442
805-772-8014
Hours vary. Call the shop for details.

Gift Registry Etiquette

We have had a photographic gift registry in place in our studio for over a decade and over the years we have been asked many times about various etiquette issues pertaining to the registry. I thought it might be helpful to do a post about this subject. I did a little research online and would like to share what I found on Giftypedia.

The old saying, “you can’t please everyone,” fits the scenario of gift registry etiquette. If you are still wavering on whether or not to use a gift registry, below are some hints to help you stay within the guidelines of gift registry etiquette and avoid becoming the offending party:

~ Limit yourself to two stores when registering so your guests won’t have to go store to store when deciding on a gift. Consider an online registry where gifts from different stores can be shown on one registry and purchased online for your giver’s shopping convenience.
~ Don’t register at stores that do not sell products that relate to your occasion. A bridal registry should be limited to stores that sell household items, whereas a birthday registry can include any store that reflects the person’s interests.
~ Don’t register for everything you may possibly ever want – stick to the basics that make sense for the present.
~ Keep in mind that the registry is a list of suggestions. Don’t expect your guests to use the registry, as some may prefer to give something that they think you will like.
~ Don’t include gift registry information in your invitation. Even though gifts may be expected, including them in your invitation appears demanding.
~ If you are already established and creating a wedding registry, avoid registering for overly extravagant items because you already have the basics.
~ If choosing a gift from a gift registry, consider adding a little something extra to go along with the gift that reflects your relationship to the recipient.
Deciding whether or not to use a gift registry may depend on the situation. For a close friend, you may opt for a more personal gift, whereas for an acquaintance, a gift registry may be a godsend. Remember, no one is required to use a gift registry or even give a gift for that matter. If you are one who takes pride in finding the perfect gift, a gift registry can be used for ideas and inspiration without having to purchase from the list. And, if you have an idea for a gift that you think the recipient would truly love, go for it! Never feel obligated to purchase from a registry – it has been created for your convenience if you desire to use it.

If you would like to register with us for your next big event click on the link below.
www.isabellawrence.com/gift.html

To find out more about Giftypedia...
www.giftypedia.com

The Julia Margaret Cameron Award

WPGA announced the winners of The Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers and I’m so pleased to have two of my tintypes win an Honorable Mention and one qualify as a Finalist.

Awarded images were juried by photographers: Mary Ellen Mark, Vanessa Winship and Kim Weston; Magnum Photos’ members Alessandra Sanguinetti and Olivia Arthur; Zoom’s Editor in Chief Rosanna Checchi, and the Curator of the San Diego Museum of Photography Carol McCusker.

There were over 4,000 images submitted from photographers representing 45 countries. The overall winners will be featured in ZOOM Magazine. All awardees, including finalists will be published in the Book “The Julia Cameron Award 2010”.

Be sure to visit the WPGA website to read more about this award and to drool and/or be inspired by all of the incredible imagery.

www.thegalaawards.net/announcements/the-julia-margaret-cameron-awardees

One perfect bloom

Even though I adore flowers, my arranging skills are sadly lacking, therefore I’m always looking for simple ways to display them. This perfect miniature rose was practically screaming to be plucked and brought inside.

I had come close to getting rid of this Mason jar about a hundred times but am so glad it never made it into the Goodwill pile. In fact, I may have to pick up a few more, place one perfect bloom in each, and line them down the table at my next dinner party.

Keep what is worth keeping...

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness throw the rest away."
~ Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

The Closet Project, figure 6

Even though the Closet Project was spurned on by Larry’s challenge that I make use of the items in my art closet or relinquish the space to much needed storage, he has frequently fed my addiction for all things papery.

He constantly brings me cool sheets of stamps from his trips to the post office. He’ll place them down casually on the kitchen table and nonchalantly suggest that I might like to incorporate them into a journal or collage. Hasn’t eleven years of marriage taught this man anything? Doesn’t he know that I won’t have the heart to separate the stamps from their snug little perforated homes? Can’t he guess where these beauties will end up?

And so, on the closet’s second shelf, tucked into the left hand corner, sits my stash of stamps. Maybe someday I’ll work up the nerve to place them permanently into an art project but for now I rest smug in the knowledge that as long as Larry has a reason to visit the post office, more will be coming.

In the morning shadow...

"The bride...floating all white...in the morning shadow of trees, her veil flowing with laughter."
~ D.H. Lawrence

San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is a photographer’s dream. Between the stunning architecture, colorful markets and gorgeous citizens, it’s pretty much impossible to make bad pictures here.

Larry and I had such an amazing time wandering through the cobblestone streets. There were so many delightful surprises at every turn. I remember us walking into what appeared to be a small shop from the street but once inside, the structure encircled this marvelous courtyard with an enormous tree in the center. As if on cue, once we approached the tree, hundreds of birds took flight. It all happened so fast, it was as if the leaves of the tree had come to life and flown off into heaven.

San Miguel also attracts lots of interesting people. I’ll never forget Pepe, the bullfighter with the most gentle demeanor and soul. He welcomed us onto his ranch, fed us homemade ice cream and let us play with the kittens he was nursing back to health in his bedroom.

As I’m writing this, I can smell the trumpet vine and hear mariachi – that’s how vividly San Miguel de Allende is imprinted on my mind.

Caitlin & Andrew

What could be more romantic than a walk through the woods with your one true love?
What could be sweeter than stopping for kisses by a trickling river?
What could be lovelier than holding hands through softly swaying grass?
Not a thing.
To see more images from this adorable couple's engagement session, head over to our Facebook page.