It’s one of my favorite times of year . . . right up there with the first hint of Fall and the end of day light savings time–peonies are back in season! You can now easily find inexpensive armfuls of these fragile, fragrant blooms in a variety of colors.  Plan to buy them as tightly [...]

The door to the world is the heart. -Sister Corita Kent Photo by Elizabeth Messina

Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Photo by Elizabeth Messina

In honor of Earth Day tomorrow, all week we have been featuring green ideas and environmentally friendly Santa Barbara resources. Today I simply want to bring you a little nature inspiration – Santa Barbara Style. A moment to ponder a few little gifts from the sea and how they inspire us:  A shard of glass [...]

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~e.e. cummings Photo by Elizabeth Messina

During the second half of March, some seriously amazing Santa Barbara talent was brought into the national limelight once again. Congratulations to all of our Santa Barbara friends on their impressive  features. March 17 Jose Villa and Laura Hooper Calligraphy on Style Me Pretty . . . and later that same day on Style Me [...]

We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another. ~Luciano de Crescenzo Photograph by Elizabeth Messina

It’s been awhile since our last round-up of the National Blogs featuring great Santa Barbara wedding style. Congratulations to all of our talented Santa Barbara friends on their beautiful features!  Be sure to follow the links to check out the full posts – you don’t want to miss one gorgeous bit of this inspiration. Enjoy! [...]

Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words.  They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning.  ~Lydia M. Child Photograph by Elizabeth Messina

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart. -Helen Keller Photo by Elizabeth Messina