Last day of July 2017. Time goes by fast. I am thinking of what I hope August will bring. And I am thinking that it will be about connection and meeting new people along the path. I wish you a lovely August and may there be new friendships on your own road. 

Two things that make for a fun combo: leaves found on a walk and a can of spray paint! This weekend, check out how you can use the shape of something found to create an abstract piece of art. I love the speckles of the spray pain over and around these organic shapes of the leaves. And at the same time, the negative space created by the leaves adds so much interest to the whole artwork. Test it out!

Summer is well underway. I am in love with all of this sunshine and warmth and evenings with friends spent chatting and relaxing. And of course, I am in love with capturing the creative goodness of our lives in my textiles. I do what I do because I believe in bringing smiles to people's lives and because unique fashion accessories, such as handcrafted scarves, make one stand out and experience their days with an open heart and mind. 

Speaking of evenings with friends ... Not too long ago, I got to spend a few hours with my friends Ruth and Lana. They offered to model my scarves and I thought I would share these photos as they capture beautiful why I do what I do. It's indeed all about smiles and approaching life with curiosity. 

Ruth is such a sweetie. Lovely lady who makes outstanding jewelry and is up for any creative adventure. It seems she was born with curiosity imprinted in her heart. She is wearing my Salt-y Watercolor scarf in blue. First, it's styled in a loose knot. Second, the infinity scarf is draped over in one big circle really letting the print stand out. Ruth is just striking! 

My friend Lana picked my Strength Lives Within Me scarf and I styled it doubled-over. When you wear the scarf this way, you get a little bit of volume (but not too much) and a lovely layering of the pattern. Lana combined the scarf with a simple black tank top, so appropriate for the summer. And indeed, strength lives within this young woman. 

I hope your summer is spent doing what you love and with people you enjoy. It's just such a lovely time of the year. And evidently, it's also a good time to incorporate a colorful scarf into your wardrobe so you can stand out and honor your own uniqueness. 

When I first approached this peaceful spot at the Japanese-style garden at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC, I focused on the blooms. Their vibrant pink contrasted so well with the nearby green leaves. Then, I noticed the little turtle popping its head out of the water and the whole scene took on even more charm. May this week bring you the loveliest of surprises! 

I designed a scarf with an empowering message. The print consists of repeats of the sound wave of the words "F**k It!". Why? Because I believe in the power of words and in the power of textiles that tell stories of our lives. 

Here is the message that comes with the scarf on a small note card: "Pardon my French but ... F**k It! What is all this about you may ask? Well, on a serious note, fear has stopped me from new experiences many times in my life. I am no longer interested in a fearful lifestyle. On a fashionable note, I recorded a sound wave of the words "F**k It!" and turned the visual of the recording into an empowering pattern design in this bright scarf. Now, every time fear may poke its head out, you have a stylish reminder to go forward and not to hold back. Life is worth the courage we have in our hearts!"

I designed this scarf for myself first - it's message of not letting fear stop me in my creative, and any other for that matter, endeavors, has helped me experience new things in life. And then, I noticed how much others appreciated the message so here we go now with this scarf in a variety of colors! Because we are unique as individuals and our clothing should reflect this uniqueness. 

I originally created this scarf print in a combo of magenta and light pink. But not everybody is into these colors so then there was burgundy red and then came navy blue. So much fun! I love hearing from all of you and helping you create something truly remarkable for your closet and life. See below what Patricia of The Hungry Zebra has to say about her scarf. ​

I use flowers as inspiration for my textile design. I would even say they are my favorite source of ideas. Nature is pretty spectacular and there is always something interesting to see. So, may this week bring you moments spent in nature as I bet those moments will bring you joy and a sense of wonderment. 

This photograph is part of a black-and-white photography exhibition called "En Blanc et Noi" organized by the Chesapeake Art Center. The photo is on display at Gallery 90 at the Hospice of the Chesapeake in Pasadena, MD, until September 1, 2017. 

In this week's Creativity Boost, I am pondering the idea of looking around the world and seeing how difference is made. I snapped this photo on a morning walk. I focused on the path under my feet. The best moment occurred, though, when I looked up and captured this little bird doing its thing: making the repetitive pattern of the electric lines much more interesting. 

Ok, this blog post is a total tearjerker for me. Why? Because I got to help a dear friend celebrate her mother's birthday with one of the most unique scarves I have ever designed. Just read on and you will see ... 

My friend grew up on a farm with a lovely orchard. And I visited this farm and this orchard on a few occasions. A truly beautiful place in the mountains; stunning views and fresh air. My friend's mom is a sweetheart. She is kind and adorable and makes the best peach pie I ever had. So, when her birthday came up, my friend asked me to help out. She send me a few photos from the farm and as I sifted through them, I recalled just the nicest of memories. To capture this home in its fullness, I decided to use a photo of the orchard as a pattern piece for my textile design that would later transform into an infinity scarf. I believe the photo below captures everything that this place means to my friend and to her mom. It's the sunshine. It's the richness and ever-so-present giving nature of an orchard. It's the work they put into it. 

I picked a section of the photo and tested out a few way to change the color scheme to make it pop once it became a print on a fabric. I honored the rich greens and blues but added a touch of the sweetest of pinks. When I was finished, I just could not wait to get the printed textile! When it arrived, I was so excited. The scarf is a token of a full life and a celebrate of a person and my friend's mom, a women who has worked hard in that orchard to reap its fruits. The scarf is both a gentle reminder of home and a striking fashion statement. You can pretty much see the leaves on the trees and feel the warmth of the air. And once the scarf rests around my friend's mom's neck, it highlights her face and the pink just adds the most amazing pop of color.  

Isn't this just the best experience to have? I got to collaborate with a dear friend and used all of my skills as a textile designer to capture her home and to celebrate her wonderful mom. Not much can top this. I am so grateful. A beloved home is indeed a truly wonderful inspiration for a unique design. 

Update as of July 29, 2017: My friend's mom now has her new scarf and this is what she said about it ... "My daughter gave me this lovely scarf for my birthday. I knew immediately that it was a design by her friend, Martina. When I discovered that the inspiration for the scarf came from a picture of my orchard I was delighted. Martina is a very talented artist and a very good friend."

New week, new opportunities. On Saturday I hiked at Great Falls, MD, and snapped this photo of the lovely view. I thought of all of the opportunities we get to broaden our views, to see the bigger picture. So, this week, may there be many moments of spectacular views and mind-expanding experiences!

For this week's Creativity Boost, look for the reflections you see around you. I love water and water is just the perfect medium to reflect what is happening around it: trees along a river, clouds roaming the sky ... Here is a photo I snapped at Tangier Island in Virginia last month. These are pilings at a local marina that reflect themselves on the water's surface and add such lovely shapes and textures to the environment. Enjoy your search!

I have had the privilege to work with Yenifer Ubiera, a fellow Academy of Art University student and a fashion stylist on the rise. Seriously, this woman is a force when it comes to fashion and remarkable wardrobe styling. She is an artist whose passion for self-expression caught attention of many companies and magazines in New York City and all around the world.
 
Yenifer styled several of my RADOST handcrafted infinity scarves and I just fell in love with her ideas. So modern and colorful! Today, I am sharing an interview with Yenifer. Read about her thoughts on fashion and collaboration with fellow artists.
 
What is your styling philosophy? Why does fashion styling matter to you?
 
What matters to me in styling is self-expression and my interpretation of a certain editorial. In general, style is not about putting pieces together and making them look better. It is more about creating a totally different impression that you ever thought could exist. Most of the time, stylists are minimalists and love clear looks. I am totally the opposite.  I am spontaneous and a totally color person, so perhaps my philosophy is to break the old rules in styling and make the impossible, possible.

Do you too find hiking and strolling through parks enriching and relaxing? And doesn't it get even better if you come across an unexpected stream? May this week bring you many lovely moments and a surprise or two!

Gambrill State Park, Frederick, MD, May 2017  
Photo credit: Martina Sestakova