A Quick Round Up

Time together

Learning to fish

View from the boat.

Enjoying a walk with the horses

4th of July Parade....

Camp fire

Daily Horseback riding

Sitting on the veranda

Loving those sweet horses

Relaxing ....

A wonderful vacation was had by all

It is So Peaceful Here

Still guessing where I am? 

This is what helped people settle here.

The where I spend part of the day

Isn't she pretty?

One of the most wonderful elements of the ranch.

A calming view.

Dinner Time at The Ranch

This City Girl Has Found Paridise

Guess where I am ?  More photos to follow... 

The Feminine Touch for your phone

We girls do love our pink.

This pink version of spring is available

to personalize your phone or your computer.

Who wants that boring metal... show the world you are a girl

and you love girly things.

Click on to Skin it

and see more of my designs for your computer or phone...time to girly up...

PS.  One of my viewers just wrote asking how this works. First you go to www.skinit.com/dianebronstein .  There you will see this design and 6 others I have created. Pick out the one you like and then pick out the exact model phone or computer you have.  Then Skin it will send you the skin, which is a beautiful product made by 3M that is very easy to apply to your phone or computer, it took me under a minute.  This product looks wonderful on and is very durable, but if you tire of it or want to change it you just peel it off and there is no residue,  

It looks so great.  If you get one send me a picture of you using it and I will post it and your blog if you have one here.  One more note a phone skin is about $12 and a computer skin is about $24 ... a great way to make your own personal statement and an easy way to find your phone in your purse.

Floating thru life...

I am working on a few different projects right now ... and they are so fun.  But I keep running into these lovely creatures called orchids... I must do a project with them.  They seem to float thru the air and thru life.  These photos have not been properly cropped etc.  but I had to share them.

Random shots taken on safari

One of my favorite things to do is to teach people how to take 

beautiful photos... photos that are not only worthy of our memories but 

worthy of a frame and a place of honor in homes.

Here are just some random photos of places we have done this.

Coffee Houses... my favorite stop in every neighborhood

I can't wait for my morning cup of coffee.. not for the caffeine ... for the people watching .....

So where ever I travel I always stop by local coffee houses, to see the community that makes up the neighborhood.

This weekend my friend and I were in Venice and made a fabulous discovery

 Venice Coffeebar on 1331 Abbot Kinney.  It was only a few days old and already drawing a crowd.To get to this gem you walk down this lovely corridor sandwiched between 2 stores and lined with wonderful seating while plants and the open sky are above.

Of course the coffee is fabulous and artsy.

So much to see... cool coffee things everywhere..

The layout is fabulous,  the Barista's are placed in four corners so there is pleanty of room to walk around and see the circuses no matter where you order.

I bought my husband this lovely coffee maker for Father's Day... 

hope he doesn't look at the blog and find out.

Did I say how cool.... Venice  cool.... the entry and seating is..

More cool seating............

And look at that glass ceiling ...

Very cool cieling

A wonderful cup of coffee,  a great gift for my husband for Father's day,  cool design and fun people everywhere.. what a great place.   And I found out that Intelligentisia Coffee (that is the company name) has several in Chicago, can't wait to try it when I am in Chicago this summer.

Twice in One Week

I can not get enough of the California coast.. a few days ago it was Santa Monica  and the farmers market with my friends and my lovely husband. Then husband wanted to play a little poker at the local Palm Springs Spa Casino this Sunday so one of my artsy friends from Chicago and I decide the Ocean was the place to be. First a trip to Agape in LA and then Venice Beach for people watching, food, beads and cool shoping.... still one of the most creative areas around.
Of course a walk on the palisades in Santa Monica to just be in awe of how lucky we are are to live on this beautiful planet... we must all start taking better care.
Then we decided to go to Pasidena , oh my I never drove thru the beautiful neighborhoods there before. It is just like Brothers and Sisters... I could not believe how lovely... it reminded me of home, Chicago.

You know I love coffee shops... more about this one tomorrow.

And then there is the Fluer  de le.... so beautiful

Do I go Shabby Chic  or Modern?

I love it all but I do lean modern...

but those beautiful old dishes...

Forget it all let's talk a walk on the ocean.

The Palm Springs Garden

I know it is a desert but this is a backyard in Palm Springs... There are times I truly can not stand the desert, the heat, the dry air.... I am a Chicago girl... how did I end up here?  But something very strange is going on... it is June and it is only in the 80's ?  We even bring sweaters when we go out at night ... what has happened here.  I usually drive my husband nuts by now because the heat is too much to endure. He must be so relieved.  

Today I sat out in my beautiful back yard and had to capture this for all of you to see... is this really the desert?  As most of you know I am a painter and a photographer but very seldom do I look in my own back yard for inspiration... I think it is time to start noticing where I am planted...

Santa Monica's Farmers Market

What makes Wednesdays so much fun in Santa Monica.... the Farmers Market...

There is something so wonderful about spending time at a Farmers Market no matter where it is.

It just seems that people who go there, both sellers and buyers, take such pride in what each group is doing.  When I was young my parents lived in Europe and going to the Farmers Market in the town square in Pirmasens Germany was one of my favorite memories.  Another great memory was the Brachen (Bread) man coming down our street delivering fresh bread every day...I can still see my Mom making her selections with such care... oh my.

What is that quote ? " Home is where when we are young we can't wait to leave, and when we grow up that is where we would love to go back to."

Chicago Architectural Tour.... with Camera in Hand

Apartment Windows

Elegant Home Windows

Lincoln Park Windows

Restaurant Windows

Bucktown Windows

Store Windows

Store Windows at Night

Airplane Windows

De Paul Neighborhood Windows

Take-Out Windows - from my new favorite restaurant 

Minnies on Halsted

Suburban Window Views

Kitchen Windows

Suburban Window 

Lake View Windows

Lake View Windows

   Chicago Windows

Come explore the wonders of Chicago with me this summer 

on a Photo Safari of Chicago

Chicago... a great place to learn Creative Photography

Chicago has numerous boat tours ... great for learning the art of photography

Chicago is one of those towns 

where great shopping meets great architecture

And when the suburbanites decide it is time to move back into the city

the housing opportunities are endless

Chicago's  Mayor Daley,

has made the river area booming with shops and parks.

The street above the bridge is Michigan Ave. also called the Magnificent Mile

because of it's wonderful architecture, restaurants, and stores.

And when you are thru shopping on Michigan Ave. you just take a little walk down this bridge

and enjoy the views of the river and Lake Michigan. 

Chicago is an old city with beautiful old buildings... above is a skylight

in an old factory that is now a garden shop.  My photo safaris are full of old 

gems like this.

And of course there is the "L" tracks.... that is one of the many reasons I love this city...

no need for a car... ever.... no parking... no driving... yea!

So come with me on a wonderful photo safari of Chicago.... classes taking place this July and August... go to STOPandSMILE@mac.com

Learn Creative Photography while seeing Chicago

Chicago River Tour

Bucktown Neighbor in Chicago this Spring

Fashion is always part of Chicago... learn how to photograph your favorite frocks

Bucktown home garden

As many of you know I just got back from a quick trip to Chicago and I will be conducting photography classes there for those who want to learn how to take more creative photos.

There will be specific area classes and all levels are welcome.  Please contact me for more information at stopandsmile@mac.com or go to www.Photojourneysworldwide.com

Over the next few days I will be showing more photos of Chicago neighborhoods taken a few weeks ago.

Book a class for you and your friends... what a great way to see Chicago and learn a new hobby.

Paris: Made by Hand

Do you love Paris?  What would it be like to wake up everyday and be inspired by this beautiful city?  Pia Jane Bijkerk has written Paris: Made by Hand. 

Pia is extremely qualified to write such a book for she is a stylist who is internationally known and has worked for everyone from Vogue Entertaining  and Travel and Real Simple  to Saatchi and Saachi, Thommy Hilfiger and Philips.  
Pia lives in Paris, Sidney, and on a houseboat in Amsterdam.  

Paris: Made by Hand is Pia's first book but you can keep up with her on a daily basis thru her blog. The book  is for lovers of all things handmade, the chic and unique and of course Paris.  In this book Pia takes you off the tourist streets of this incredible city in search of Parisian Handmade treasures.  She has been collecting these special addresses in her stylist's little black book over the past couple of years and now with great delight she is sharing them with al of us in Paris: Made by Hand.

You can order the book at The Little Bookroom webpage or Amazon.com

Little Photos of Little Things

Went back to my old town... Highland Park Illinois

The photos of are little things that make it special...

A branch leaning on an old door.

A walk on the beach in South Deere Park with my daughter and cousin

Signs of spring at the local garden shop

The gazebo that sits on the edge of the cliff overlooking Lake Michigan..

that is where I will be painting this summer with my cousin.

The view of a pier out on Lake Michigan from the plane

Once you leave a place that you have called home for most of your life, it is inspiring to go back.

I always saw the beauty of Chicago and the towns around it, but now I feel the need to capture it and share it with all of you.  So you will be seeing more as the days go on.

Let's take a trip to Chicago, My Home Town

Bucktown in Spring

Lake Shore Drive... a different point of view

View from the River

The new fountain that shoots over the river... 

More great shots to come

You Don't Want to Look Like Everyone Else Do You?

    To order click here:   John Lennon  "Imagine" 

      To order click here:  California Life Guard Stand 

                 To order click here:     Surfer Girl l

Make a design statement while using your phone, lap top, or MP3 player... 

If you like these designs you can now have them to custom fit you electronic device.  

The 3 designs below are available for this... just click on this link  and match it with the device of choice... I am partial though these are my designs...  

A new look at the Ocean

What do you think...

Taken it Easy

How about a relaxing weekend in Palm Springs?  Another Leica M8 shot.....

Thanks Leica for letting me borrow your M8 for a day.. it was fun!!!!!! beautiful, and wonderfully easy to use... just your basic settings... just like the old days but using digital technology without having the 50 other gadgets that require reading the manual constantly.  And by the way when I put the Leica photos into Apeture the superiority  of the lens was even more stunning... 

Time to Relax...

Another shot taken with the Leica M8, this one taken during Palm Springs Photo Festival at the Korakia Hotel.

Another Opportunity Awaits

Another photo ... of another adventure with my borrowed M8

There are so many ways to look at flowers...

You can never tire of flowers.... these taken at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.  On the Leica D-Lux

The Artistic Journey Continues

This was taken at the Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs but can you tell what it is?

This was taken just a few feet away... the same lens was used for both shots....

Some faces you just have to photograph

What a great face... had to share it... He looks like he should be walking in a vineyard in Italy instead of having lunch in Palm Springs.... by the way the lunch was at Cheecky's in Palm Springs.... absolutely fabulous

Contemplate

There  was a wonderful Palm Springs Photo Festival here.... got to work with the Leica M8, my what a camera.   Both of these shots were taken with it.  The location is the Korakia Hote l.

Artsy Fartsy

I have been working on many projects lately so I thought I would just post bits and pieces of each one.... Sorry I have been not posting for a while... but I will share with you some of my wonderings
creations and thoughts.... Guess where this photo  was taken?  The Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas

on my Leica D-Lux

Project Runway here we come!

FASHIONISTAS

Orange County Center For Contemporary Art

Photo by Chris Dunker.  

PLASTIC PEOPLE sculpture by Colleen Patterson.

Gerry Stecca painted wooden clothespin dress.

Sculptures of fashion in motion by Renee Weiss Chase.

Graphite on paper by Alan Neider.

Large painting by Bryn McConnell

Single Serving Gown 

created out of trash... by the very talented Shaun Muscolo

This dress was created from shredded paper.

White gown titled Occasion of Wonder made from plastic

by Joan Matison

This past Saturday I attended an inspiring and exciting show at the OCCCA in Santa Ana. The show was juried by Claudia Grau.
Claudia was a was a pioneer on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles in the late 70's. She is noted as one of the top women with personal style in designer Radolph Duke's book: "The Look: Dressing from the Inside Out"
The following is a quote from the catalog for the fashionista exhibit and describes the show best.
Fashion is a seductive powerhouse in contemporary culture, worthy of celebration and critique. From the earliest days of civilization to the present moment, we've been obsessed by decorative creations to adorn and define our beings.

The artists work were varied and a joy to see... the entire vibe of the exhibit was exciting.  If you have a chance please stop by OCCCA in Santa Ana California between now and  April 18, 2009.

I am sorry that the pictures are not the best... some where taken with my iPhone.  Also I was unable to identify all the artists, each and every piece was incredible.

A Very Distinctive Home

One of my favorite stores in Palm Springs is Distinctive Home .  It is ever so lovely... and now one of my photographs is being offered for sale at this incredible store.
Palm Springs is becoming a design center .... with numerous home furnishing stores, surface stores and estate furniture venues it is a decorators dream.

Lucky Escape

Lucky Escape

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Love Sucks | Psycho Chicks & Total Dicks

In less than 3 minutes Shane McCabe, the director and writer of Lucky Escape, tells us a great 
deal about dating.... and when to have patience. Have a great laugh and enjoy this little ditty 
about dating and break ups.