Prague in the Czech Republic is my hometown. I spent 20 years there and now that I live in the United States, I treasure my yearly August trips back home. I love history, art, and architecture and Prague does not seize to amaze me. There is so much to see and so much to learn! August is always a time of great exploration. And of course, I always have my camera handy.

I often write about travel as it inspires my work as textile designer. I love colors and textures and travel takes me places that drive new fabric ideas. This time, however, I want to step back and instead of details, I want to share with you the beauty of standing back and observing. And the panorama function of my phone allows for just that!

Below you will see panorama view of Prague from different spots. As I explore Prague, I make sure to climb hills and look out towers and take a peek from up above. I bet you do the same as you travel around the world. There is something about a bird's perspective on life ... So, let's take a look. 

View from Prague Castle gardens: greenery mixed with church spires highlighted by puffy clouds as they move through the sky ​

When you travel to Prague, I urge you to climb up above the city in different areas so that you get to breathe the city in. Prague is so lovely and it indeed has a special place in my heart. I bet it will have it in yours too!

Square silk multicolor scarf by fashion house led by Donatella Versace. 

Ooh, I love pillows! I mean who wouldn't, right? Fun ones on sofas to rest on while hanging out with family and friends ... Sturdy ones for our beds to facilitate good sleep ... Pillows are so good for us. But there is one kind of pillow that may just be even more special. And that's a pillow that commemorates a great occasion in a life of a loved one. Hence, let's chat about bat/bar mitzvah pillows! 

​I started with a customized t-shirt. I cut it up! I cut out the mitzvah logo to use on the front of the pillow. Working with Jenna - the bat mitzvah girl - and her mom, we selected the pillow stuffer size (24 x 24) and the fabric to use to sew the cover (100 % cotton). All elements in place, I cut up the pattern pieces and reinforced the front with interfacing (an iron-on layer to make sure the pillow wouldn't cave in under the pressure of the pens as the event attendees wrote their messages). 

In addition to being a great keepsake, this pillow has other great features. Its size allows for a lot of personalized messages on both front and the blank back. There is no zipper and thus no tugging and no getting stuck in surrounding objects, such as blankets. 

I was so excited when everything was done and I got to hold the final product of my work. And then I got a text message from Jenna's mom, which summarizes it all!

Picturesque sunset. Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.

Photo taken in September 2015. Credit: Martina Sestakova. 

Fun textile prints at the 2016 fashion show by Rei Kawakubo. 

I can get a little obsessive - ok, a lot - about taking photos of nature. In particular, in the Fall you will find me wandering my neighborhood in search for the most colorful leaf. Hundreds of photos later, my phone is full ... 

Here is a photo of a lovely foliage that has just stuck to my mind and I kept thinking about it over and over. What to do with it? What to create? I played around with the image and ended up with a lovely abstract textile pattern - it bursts with energy and color and your eye is constantly drawn into its ever-changing beauty. ​

And once something works, it needs to be used in a variety of ways. Here we go with a lovely collection of scarves and throw pillows for your home. Check out the full Foliage Collection in my shop and treat yourself!

My Foliage College scarf (long version) is available at the gift shop at the Smithsonian American Art and National Portrait Gallery. If you are in Washington D.C., stop by and check it out!

Miuccia Prada showcases amazing textiles - inspired by 19th century fabrics - in her 2015 fashion collection. 

New York City is the place to be when it comes to fashion and innovation in the field. During a recent trip, I visited two exhibitions: "Manus x Machina" at the Metropolican Museum of Art and "Uniformity" at the Museum at FIT. They both in some ways explore the complexity of fashion and how we as individuals express and regulate our public image through what we wear. Let's take a look at "Uniformity" in more detail. 

Uniforms are fascinating to me. I love constant change and never-ending influx of new ideas and emotions that come with these. This liveliness is what drives my textile design work. Uniforms, on the other hand, are about static image-something that never changes. They feel constricting to me - on many different levels. Yet, there are all around us and most of us have worn a uniform at some point or another. 

This exhibition focuses on four areas: military, work, school, and sports. There is a video on show that discusses uniforms for airlines highlighting the importance of uniforms and companies and their branding and messaging. Uniforms at work, for instance, pull the employees together and transfer a company's public image through these employees. In sports, a team wearing the same colors gains confidence from the camaraderie and support while, at the same time, suggests to other teams that there is competition taking place. 

A great aspect of the fashion industry is the constant search for innovation and new ideas. I very much appreciated clothing at this exhibition that questioned the role of the uniform. For instance, there have been designers using certain elements of the uniform and putting them out on the runways. Moschino took the company logo and put it onto their clothing the same way a food chain might. Or, we saw dresses with numbers resembling sports team jerseys. The combinations are endless! So, if you have a chance, go see this interesting fashion exhibition!

"Uniformity" will be on show at the Fashion & Textile History Gallery at the Museum at FIT in New York City until November 19, 2016. Make your way there! 

Cross the bridge. Adventure awaits on the other side. Wye Island, MD.  

Photo taken in July 2016. Credit: Martina Sestakova. ​

Fabulous prints seen at a Spring/Summer 2014 runway show by Vivienne Westwood. 

I am so grateful to be able to go out on a sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay whenever I feel like it. So many adventures! So many places to explore! You can see from my blogs that I love to travel. I draw inspiration from all kinds of sources, sailing being one of them. 

There is something special about the nautical life: fresh air, rolling waves, striking sunsets. And nautical fashion! Yay, I just love the always-in-style combination of blue, red, and white. And since I am a textile and accessories designer, I just had to create something with a nautical touch to share my love this this lifestyle. 

Learning about the lovely nooks and crannies of the Chesapeake Bay inspired me to create a collection of scarves and a collection of pillows. First, let's take a look at my scarf designs. 

What one stroke of watercolor in blue can do! Just one stroke. But I did not stop there; I explored how I could take one stroke and layer it and position it so that I would end up with multiple ideas. As you can see below, I created a set of three scarves. They work well together; yet they are unique in their pattern. 

As for the pillow collection, I went with the symbols of the boating life: knot, anchor, and wheel. They are drawn by hand in white and black and stand out against the background, which is a close up of a watercolor painting I drew. There is so much drama in these pillows! I enjoy the texture, the depth, and the variety of shades of blue. 

I am confident that sailing and being out on the water will continue to be my creative inspiration. If you like what you see and are as in love with water as I am, sail over to my online shop and treat yourself!