Battenburg Lace

This lovely dress gracing the cover of Vogue Paris ~ would be the perfect compliment to this vintage Battenburg lace parasol I picked up at a thrift store!!

love

gazing at this unbridled LOVE always brings a smile to my face!

unfathomable

I am just left speechless at this horrific tragedy that devastated so many areas in Japan yesterday, praying the experts will find a way to contain the nuclear plants that were compromised during the earthquake.

Birthday girl!

Today I get to celebrate my Mom's 72nd Birthday with her! She has been such a constant source of inspiration and admiration for me all these years! Thanks for everything Mom!

emotional rescue

I haven't felt like posting anything the past couple days because my heart has felt so heavy. Things just don't feel right in my gut and I can't seem to find my way out from under this blanket of sadness.

the mermaid and the dragonfly

Last week I had the opportunity to do an underwater photo shoot with the talented Laguna Beach artist, Roark Gourley. It took me a while to get my "sea~legs" so to say, but now I'm hooked and can't wait to work with him and his talented wife Michelle again! See more Liquescent works @ http://archive.roarkgourley.com

They made the whole process so much fun and the final images are each so surprising they seem to take on an ethereal quality! http://archive.roarkgourley.com

spring blooms

My Mom is visiting this week from New York, and one of our favorite things to do when she is here is visit Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. So after breakfast we ventured over and I snapped a few glorious blooms that caught my eye!
 This place is by and far my favorite nursery!  http://www.rogersgardens.com

Outdoor color~splash!

Flowers are not the only way to add COLOR to your garden! Checkout these gorgeous outdoor benches in knock-out colors by Richardson Allen. These pieces are built completely by hand, with solid mahogany and finished using an eight layer spray process of marine epoxy ~ basically these pieces will last longer than you will! See their complete line @ http://www.richardsonallen.com

The Richardson Allen ~ Hot Lips Lutyens ~ Mahogany in Hot Pink Marine Epoxy

The Richardson Allen ~ XXX Curve ~ Mahogany in Mint Julip Marine Epoxy

The Richardson Allen ~ Dangerous Curves ~ Mahogany in Canary Yellow Marine Epoxy

http://www.richardsonallen.com

The Mad Hatter

One of my favorite collections is my hat collection. Not only are there so many super fun hats out there to collect in fun shapes, sizes and colors ~ but they are a truely practical item to collect. I wear my hats on a regular basis.  For me, nothing really "tops-off" an outfit like a good hat! Here are a few favorites!
If anyone wants information on the above hats ~ leave me a comment and I give you details (due to a slight hangover, I'm feeling a tad lazy this morning!) xxx kisses ~ Annie

Evergreen

All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green 

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

These green shoes from Nine West, have breathed new life into my closet! Now this old green silk crepe dress (that I used to call my fairy dress ~ see water lilies) paired with a 3/4 sleeve suit jacket from Bebe, and a purse I received from my fiance, has a whole new life!  "Ageless and evergreen!"

beach pebble bath

My friend Kim Kelly, the talented designer/builder just completed a gorgeous remodel of a small bath in a Laguna beach bungalow. She asked me to come and photograph it for her portfolio and I was so impressed with how much style and character she was able to infuse into this tiny space. Her client, James Gruden (brother of the renown football coach Jon "Chucky" Gruden), asked her to create a clean updated look that brought the beach inside. I think she nailed it!

The ocean and beach pebbles were Kim's main inspirations. She chose to use glass and mirror to represent the water, and took a literal interpretation of beach pebbles for the flooring - right into the shower! Kim has incredible attention to detail and over sees every aspect of the project! Now it's onto the Master Bathroom!

the last TANGO in paris . . .

I bopped over to my dear friend Jennifer Becker's house yesterday (camera in bag) so I could snaps some shots of her SPECKtacular jewelry line Tango! Jen's style is utterly unique and so is her collection! Here are a few of my favorites!

Jen started her jewelry line ~ Tango, while she was living in Paris a few years back. Out shopping one day she came across some antique sequins and beads,  purchased a selection, brought them back to her flat and began making cuffs! And that was her . . . Last Tango in Paris!
(Note the gorgeous clasps with her logo - she carves these by hand and has them cast in silver & gold!) 

Jen uses a mixture of gemstones, gold beads, custom fittings, sequins and crystal beads.

These earrings are to-die-for!

Jen is a serious mix master and always puts together the unexpected in marvelous combinations! To see her complete line and purchase pieces, go to http://tangodesignonline.com

"You say tomato, I say tomahto"

However you say it, this sparkling tomato dress by Couture Couture, is delicious!
Dress ~ Couture Couture, Scarf ~ Salvatore Ferragamo, Shoes ~ Guess, Jewelry from my collection

Garden Angels

Last summer I did a photo shoot with my dear friend Yavanna and her son Jasper, in this dreamy tropical garden.  With such a serene setting and lovely muses to work with, it felt like an afternoon in heaven (if my memory serves me correctly!)


 . . . . btw ~ I am referring to my memories from heaven ;}