Artist Showcase: Susan Biaggi

California Home + Design recognizes Susan Biaggi in its 2011 CH+D Awards as the top designer in Landscape Design, and it's easy to understand why. How about planning a dinner party with that table? I bet it smells fabulous.

[image: SBiaggi]

Miss Celie's Blues

After Mike's birthday bash on Friday, we're taking it slow tonight. In my case, that involves watching The Color Purple on TV, baking brownies, drinking hot tea and sewing some new pillow cases (fingers crossed on THAT endeavor). Who knows? It's Saturday night. Maybe I'll even read a novel.

In the meantime though, I'm rekindling my high school love affair with this scene between Whoopi and Tata Vega.

That headdress is beyond awesome.

A Treehouse by Bosworth Hoedemaker

Check out some of their other work here. Amazing! I love the clean, simple lines.

[images: Bosworth Hoedemaker]

Vosges Chocolates Turn on the Red Light

Alright. So, once you’ve tasted Vosges Chocolate, it’s impossible to pretend you haven’t. It is the most magnificent chocolate in existence, and it is not only delicious but immorally expensive.

I am in love with its exotic flavors, like Red Fire (hot and spicy - great when paired with a pinot noir or a bubbly rose), Blood Orange Caramel, and Organic Enchanted Mushroom (doesn't that sound interesting?). However, buyer be warned: after the sugar rush, you are quickly reduced to a painful reality known only to the lovelorn, like Sting for his Roxanne. Eight bucks a pop? Sigh.

But seriously, how cute are these little devils? I'm thinking of making a version of the beer and chocolate package for my own cutie-valentine.

[images: Vosges Chocolate, The Addison Stop]

The Stack: Vol. 5

After a holiday season full of careful spending, my self-imposed shopping embargo is begining to lift. My imagination is going absolutely wild for spring stuff! Holy cow. How have I survived this long?

On a not-so-related note:

• Check out Jeffrey Alan Marks Design's work on LA's new TAVERN. Gorgeous! Perhaps he can take me on as his stylish intern? hmmm...
• Here's something I'd never really considered but L-O-V-E: a houseguest survival kit.
• Beautiful, happy chairs at Room & Board

Happy Saturday!

[image: Jeffrey Alan Marks Inc. via La Dolce Vita]

Vivian Maier Discovered

Vivian Maier was a Chicago nanny and amateur street photographer. Due to delinquent payments near the end of her life, the contents of her storage locker, including 10,000 - 20,000 negatives of Chicagoans and their neighborhoods, were sold in an antique auction.

Since discovering the images, new owner John Maloof showcases them through his blog (vivianmaier.blogspot.com) and various gallery exhibits, which have helped generate some major curiosity for the woman on the other side of the lens.

[images: Vivian Maier]

Thomas Jayne: The Finest Rooms in America

Isn't this the ideal nap spot?

[image: taken from The Finest Rooms in America by Thomas Jayne via 1st Dibs]