I can hardly believe 2011 is drawing to a close! Its been a busy year full of changes and some really fun design projects. And speaking of changes… Santa Barbara Chic will be looking very different here soon, I’m working away getting everything ready and I’m hoping it will be done in the next few months.

And as I look back at 2011, I’m particularly proud of getting my home featured on Design*Sponge and a 5 page spread in You & Your Wedding Day magazine. But mostly, I was so honored to design my sweet sister’s wedding in London… I hope to show photos soon…

Here’s to a busy and bright 2012!

Even more “outtakes” this time of the vintage dresses used in the shoot. This dress I bought at a local thrift store for…. $25. I bought the gloves at the same store also for only… $20. The hat is mine, and is usually my hat for the Pasadena Flea. Here I wrapped it in peach tulle as inspired by Pollyanna…

I love this photo, she looks like such an elegant lady from 1910. The bouquet she’s holding is made from vintage millinery pieces and was made by my design partner in crime, Tricia Fountaine. Its actually for sale right here.

Tricia prop styled this picnic vignette… I love how the parasol frames the model’s face.

And I brought in Ms. Kaeley, the golden retriever. She actually just walked on set and sat down in the perfect spot.

For the final shot of the day, we went out to a dilapated stable at Rancho Dos Pueblos. The dress is super old (I’m guessing real 1910) and is Tricia’s. Its super tiny, the model, even as little as she is, barely shimmied into it.

 I love this photo, gorgeous dapple-y light and the details of the dress are stunning…

This shot was completely an accident, it just happened that a horse was being fed next to where we shooting, so we took full advantage of the rustic fence and gorgeous light…

There are so many gorgeous images that Kirsten of Beaux Arts Photographie shot for the Tea Time Editorial that I had to share them. The lovely Hannah of Monique Lhuillier was kind enough to let me borrow two amazing dresses, truly a Rachel Zoe ” I die” kind of moment.

This stunner is “Giada” from the Spring 2011. The beading details on this dress is insane in person.

The second dress was “Winter” from fall 2010. I was very happy to get this dress, it was part of the first Monique Lhuillier bridal show I’d ever attended in 2009. Here it is styled with a simple chain necklace and punched metal earrings, all from 33 Jewels.

We styled it a couple of different ways, here it is with a black hat and layered bohemian jewelry.

I love these Egyptian necklaces…

And of course, my dog, Mira, had to get in the picture.

And here she is again running with model, Eva St. Denis, around Rancho Dos Pueblos’ huge magnolia tree… Big thank you to Monique Lhuillier for letting us borrow these stunning wedding dresses!

The tea time shoot I designed & produced with Tricia Fountaine is up on Ruffled! Go check it out here.

Set in one of the old green house at Dos Pueblos, my inspiration was 1910 England.

We brought the story to life with a wardrobe mix of vintage dresses and some insane Monique Lhuillier wedding gowns.

It was so much fun to design… Enjoy!

Special thanks to the incredible vendor team: