Several days at the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge in Belize was definitely not enough but my friend and I had to leave to go to our next destination: the Almond Beach Resort near Hopkins on the Caribbean Sea. What a beautiful place! 

The resort is small and feels personal. One can spend a day at the beach - no people around. Or, one can join other vacationers at the dining room and bar for some socializing. There are many activities - my friend and I ended up on the night river/lagoon boat ride. No pictures from that adventure - way too dark! But well worth it. 

So, enjoy the photos below and here are some notable moments from my time at the beach ... 

- Early morning on the beach - just water, sky, and sounds 

- Ocean waves seem rhythmic and on schedule, yet completely unpredictable

- The sound of water when one swims underwater 

- Watching sunrise while resting a hammock

- Kayaking and observing birds bobbing up and down on waves, just a few feet away  

- Footprints in the sand disappearing as the water rolls over them


You know a trip is good when you forget all about your everyday life and are, at the same time, deeply moved by your experiences from the travels. My vacation in Belize was one of these trips!

Framed walkway. Art gallery in New York City. November, 2014.

I took a little break from blogging last week. Reason? A fabulous trip to Belize! 

I love traveling and you have read about many a place I visited and that I would recommend for you to add to your travel destinations. And Belize took my breath away - I will write several blogs about the various aspects of the trip. Stick around and check back in in the upcoming weeks!

First stop - the rain forest! Nature is definitely a focus of my travels - the flowers, the trees, the mountains, the lowlands ... Take a look at the lush colors of the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge where my friend and I stayed. We visited another location but about I will tell you about that one later ...

I spent a lot of time roaming the grounds, breathing in the warm air and enjoying the views. Here are some notable moments ... 

- Observed an orange tree for so long that it is now imprinted in my heart - a precious image to remember

- Climbed a mountain through rain forest to arrive at an open space and have my breath taken away by the beauty of the landscape

- Sat by the river and watched it go by peacefully, elegantly, with purpose yet no purpose 

- Watched a dragon fly and it's reflection in the water - a lovely dance in the air that got altered by the motion of the river

Belize is breathtakingly beautiful - the rain forest is so rich with textures and colors! I definitely encourage you to plan a trip there. I bet you will experience many memorable moments yourself!

Fashion photography is an important aspect of the fashion industry. Designers present their work through photography - they collaborate with known photographers to best display their work and to tell the story of their fashion philosophy.

While browsing through fashion magazines, I often search for photography editorials - they go beyond just presenting one's collection. The editors and creative directors, such as Grace Coddington of Vogue, come up with stories to tell through fashion. I very much enjoy these. Here is why ...

Mood is one of the most essential elements in a fashion collection. Yes, the clothes are important but mood is driven by the collection's inspiration and theme. The collection can be playful or dark or really anything a fashion designer intends to communication. And fashion editorials are all about mood! Take a look below and you will immediately be able to distinguish the mood of each photo. Mood (ambiance) is achieved through the color scheme, the model's expression, garments presented ... 

I also very much enjoy new ways of fashion styling - fashion is about commenting on the culture we live in but also about pushing clothing forward into the future. It is about coming up with innovative combinations that will ultimately alter how people think of fashion. Styling is achieved through make up and color/pattern combinations. Creative editors often showcase new ways of wearing a garment. 

Alexander McQueen (as seen below) was the master of pushing both mood and styling in the photography of his creative work. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty is a wonderful book - it makes for a great present! And it is all about fashion photography. 

When you have a minute, browse fashion photography online - you will come across some wonderful gems. Check out more details about these photos and other ones on my Pinterest board. 

You know you wear something so comfortable when you feel like you are wearing PJs ... And this dress is all that! So so comfortable. No zipper, no buttons. Just a pull over that is dressy enough and really the perfect little black dress for any occasion.

I enjoy altering standard patterns and in this dress, I opened both the front and the back to add fabric and volume. Once I folded the expanded pattern back together, I ended up with pleats around the neckline. As I move, the pleats move too giving the dress a nice visual appeal. Plus, I don't really need any accessories to feel put together! The pleats act as such a lovely 'necklace'!

I inserted a panel around the waist to suggest a belt and to create a transition between the more voluminous top and a more streamlined bottom. The skirt of the dress is A-line - it sits nicely around the waist and hips but widens to allow for a comfortable movement of the legs. 

And while I often wear this dress without anything around my neck, I do enjoy a variety of shoes. Animal print pumps, red flats, black boots - whatever I feel like wearing on my feet, this dress can handle!

Do you have a dress that you love for its comfort and for this versatility?

Street art. Lisbon, Portugal. August, 2014. 

The Cone Collection the Baltimore Museum of Art is world famous. People are drawn to this exceptional set of about 3,000 objects gathered by the Cone sisters. The highlight is a group of 500 works by Matisse, considered the largest and most significant in the world. The sisters also acquired masterpieces by Cézanne, Gauguin, and van Gogh, as well as a mixture of jewelry, textiles, and furniture. 

And while I am definitely impressed by the amazing art they collected and that is now available for public to admire, I am also equally intrigued by the Cone sisters. I think it is always so interesting to learn about artists but also about the collectors and their motivations for art buying. I recently wrote about Steve Martin's "An Object of Beauty" so this blog is a further exploration of the art world. 

The Cone sisters, Claribel and Etta, of Baltimore, Maryland, were important early 20th century socialites and philanthropists. Claribel taught pathology; Etta was a pianist. Their contributions to the art world started ina1901 when they traveled extensively to Europe on long trips. The sisters enjoyed the company of Gertrude Stein, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. Etta started the collection with her first purchase of painting by Theodore Robinson with the goal to decorate the family home. 

The sisters never married and lived in adjacent apartments in Baltimore. The interiors of the apartments are highlighted at the Cone collection section of the Museum. The sisters, while sharing passion for art, had their own strategies for art collecting. Etta had a lifelong love for Matisse's art. She was interested in small acquisitions to help out up-and-coming artists. Etta was conservative in her purchases, often setting budgets no longer than 10,000 francs for a painting or a group of drawings. By contrast, Claribel was more adventurous; she collected more avant-garde works and was willing to spend larger amounts of money. Their unique attitudes contributed to this outstanding collection of objects. 

Their collecting partnership is just so special. If you have a chance, browse the halls of the Baltimore Museum of Art and delve into the wonderful world of the Cone Collection! 

I love color and animal prints are some of my favorite patterns to work with when it comes to my fashion design work. And I love dresses - they make up most of my wardrobe. They are so versatile - comfortable, yet dressed up - and they can be worn year round. 

So, I combined my two loves in the dress you can see below! I stumbled upon this lovely animal print with vivid magenta dots at a fabric store - I loved the feel of the fabric and as soon as I got home, I started thinking of what do to with it. While I enjoy fitted dresses, I think this pattern is lovely in a more fluid silhouette. So, I ended up with a simple tunic-shaped dress. It can be worn loose without a belt though I think a belt adds a nice touch to the flowy nature of the fabric. 

I like gathers so when belted, the dresses ends up with nice volume around the waist. I inserted sleeves with a box pleat at the shoulder seam. One can barely see it as the print is such a stand out but I always enjoy garments with interesting design elements. Plus, the pleat allows for an easier movement of the arm as it gives move space to the shoulder area. 

Now, when it comes to styling, I think the options are endless! I don't shy away from missing patterns so one could go for an animal print heel. In the summer, I can see this dress with a black sandal; in the winter, riding boots would nicely contrast the fluid silhouette. One can also add a chunky necklace or add some interest with bracelets. 

Winter afternoons and evenings are a great time for sewing, so keep coming back to see more of my projects! 

Afternoon sun. Seneca Creek State Park, Maryland. December, 2014. 

I just finished reading Steve Martin's "An Object of Beauty" (2010). 

As I love art and art history, this contemporary story of the art world was a real pleasure and Martin's writing style and insight made me think about art and what it means to me. Martin tells a story of Lacey Yeager whose ambition is to charm her way up the social ladder of New York City's art scene. As we learn about her professional and personal adventures, we also learn about the world of art auctions, galleries, and art sellers and buyers. 

When I finished the story, I looked Steve Martin up to learn more about his intentions for this story and his own art collecting experience. Here is a lovely video in which Martin summarizes art as a piece that cannot really ever be fully understood. As such, this piece is always intriguing to the viewer. Martin himself collects art and constantly searches for meaning and what makes each painting stand out. 

One lovely aspect of the story is that as you turn the pages, you will come across the art pieces Martin talks about in the story. The visual of the art makes the story come alive (see example above: "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Night Music)" by Dorothea Tanning).

When I see art, I go by feeling. While I may have a modest knowledge of art history, I always find myself going back to the first impression of each art piece I come across. I may love a piece by Picasso while I am completely unimpressed by another piece of his. I don't have a sense of value of art - for me it is all about the feeling art evokes in me. I don't always go for pleasant experience; I value when a piece of art disturbs my common ways of seeing the world around me.  

Martin's view on what is art is reflected in the story as he presents us with many different characters. In contrast to his own belief, he also introduces people whose sole purpose is to "figure a piece of art out" - they believe they know what the artist intended and thus they buy the art piece as a trophy of their accomplishment. Their interpretation may be simplistic or wrong but ultimately they tie their confidence and owning art to this ability. 

If you enjoy art and wish to get a deeper insight into the world of art dealing, reach out for "An Object of Beauty" - you will learn tons! You may even start seeing art in a new way. 

Green dress by Madame Gres. France, 1972.