“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

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.

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, go with all your heart.”
~ Confucius

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:
https://blog.isabellawrence.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

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

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

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!