Once Upon My Island

Flawless Pin Up

2013-04-28T09:26:00.000-04:00

The Hand of the Artisan Women Ready to Wear- Bottega Veneta

2013-03-25T21:06:00.003-04:00

"Take My Picture" by Garage Magazine

2013-03-14T13:30:00.000-04:00

In case you're not in the fashion bubble, there's a storm brewing between journalists/fashion critics and bloggers about the spectacles outside the Fashion Weeks venues by bloggers and "peacocks." I really don't care but I am waiting for the dust to settle. In this business, no one is short on opinions ...

NINA SIMONE - "The Time Is Now" (RARE TRACK)

2013-02-22T21:03:00.001-05:00

Track previously unreleased in the US released by Nina Simone's estate in honor of her 80th birthday.
Session: Home recording, Mount Vernon, 1966.
"(Track was featured on "Hidden Treasures" album, a limited edition Dutch only 2000-count pressing which was included in David Brun-Lambert's biography of Nina Simone. However, overall this recording has been unavailable to the masses.)"

via Afropunk

g'nite

Ear Candy - Stacy Barthe - P.S. I Love You

2013-02-19T17:47:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn Native and singer songwriter, Stacy Barthe. Enjoy.

Love Is In The Air (cough)

2013-02-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

JILL SCOTT - HE LOVES ME LYRICS

Writer(s): PELZER, KEITH ISAIHA/SCOTT, JILL H

You love me especially different every time

You keep me on my feet happily excited

By your cologne, your hands, your smile, your intelligence

You woo me, you court me, you tease me, you please me

You school me, give me some things to think about

Ignite me, you invite me, you co-write me, you love me, you like me

You incite me to chorus, ooh

Ooh...

You love me especially different every time

You keep me on my feet happily excited

By your cologne, your hands, your smile, your intelligence

You woo me, you court me, you tease me, you please me

You school me, give me things to think about

Invite me, you ignite me, co-write me, you love me, you like me

Incite me to chorus

You're different and special

You're different and special in every way imaginable

You love me from my hair follicles to my toenails

You got me feeling like the breeze, easy and free and lovely and new

Oh when you touch me I just can't control it

When you touch me, I just can't hold it

The emotion inside of me, I can feel it

Grammy's Tribute to Bob Marley

2013-02-11T13:17:00.004-05:00

nice tribute

Bruno Mars, Sting, Rihanna & Ziggy Marley... by IdolxMuzic

....could have been deeper though.

CINEMA & BEACHWEAR - 21 minutes and 32 seconds of Swimwear In The Movies

2013-02-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

A while ago, I posted the trailer for this Mari Moda short on swimwear in the movie industry through out the years. Clearly this is done from a Euro perspective because I can name a few movies and videos with iconic swimwear. I really love the bit with Elizabeth Taylor "Suddenly Last Summer" around 6:28 minutes into it. That and Goldeneye was worth it for me. What movie and scene would you add to this compilation?

Sidebar: Sorry about the lack of posts but I'm deep in production and so many other things associated with the business. Web site soft launch is at the top of the list. Stay tuned and thank you for your continued support.

Love ....Le Sigh

2013-02-04T07:31:00.001-05:00

via If It's Hip

I think February is one of my favorite months. It's short, ambitious in hope of love. Enjoy.

Happy New Year

2013-02-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

In 2013

Let your dreams be bigger than your fears.

Your actions louder than your words

and your faith stronger than your feelings.

Happy New Year, From Team Golden I

Walk Good

2012-12-21T21:43:00.001-05:00

As we say in our country, "walk good."

(travel safely)

Jamaica House at the 2012 London Olympics (video)

2012-10-30T08:36:00.000-04:00

Just a long video marketing video publicizing Jamaica House from the Olympics this summer in London.

Paris Is Burning AGAIN - October 31st in Paris

2012-10-25T05:08:00.000-04:00

October 31st VOGUING BALL AT LA MENAGERIE DE VERRE

For the second time, dansers Cecilia Bengolea and François Chaignaud were organizing their Voguing ball at la Menagerie de Verre, giving Carte Blanche to some Voguing dansers around Paris.

This event inspired by New York club culture in the 80s happened on the 12th of October and was covered by Mexican photorapher and film director David J Romero. As the 31st of October night is approaching he had fun making a very halloween version of the party.

via ASVOFF

I would suggest watching Paris Is Burniing first before going to this event. For more background on this see here. Things like this warms my heart to see that it still continues.

CINEMA & BEACHWEAR @ Premiering at Cannes in November

2012-10-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

via MarediModa

TRAILER of the CINEMA&BEACHWEAR video: A journey through the history of cinema and fashion combined. A personal tribute by MarediModa, the international beachwear fabrics show, to the evolution of the swimwear in the movies. The full video will be presented in Cannes: November 6-7-8, 2012. Soon on youtube

www.maredimoda.com

Can you name all the movies in this trailer? I know I can't. lol

My First Editorial Spread - Bridal Tribe Fall 2012

2012-10-19T18:13:00.002-04:00

Bridal Tribe Fall 2012

I am proud to say that my "Eyelet Bridal Piece"has been featured on the cover AND in "Bridal Tribe" magazine. I'm so excited on so many levels but mostly because it's my FIRST TIME! I don't ever want to take these achievements for granted, I appreciate every opportunity to spread the love.

A little background on that piece that's featured. I went shopping at the famous Mood fabric store here in New York City (you know, the one featured on Project Runway) and as any one that sews will tell you, you can end up with a whole lot of "great" fabric that you never end up sewing. I've been keeping an eye on my collection so that it doesn't get out of control and I end up being the "fabric lady" instead of the "cat lady." :-)

So, I see this eyelet fabric peeking out of thousands of fabrics and of course the sales guy had to say the magic words. "Oh, that's an Oscar remnant, you want to see?" :-/ I bought the whole roll, with no plan of what to do with it beyond just having an "Oscar remnant." At home I laid it out to "bond" with it. I loved how the eyelets were shaped differently and all lined up so it gave it a graduated look that needed be highlighted and not disrupt the pattern. In the bonding experience I created a profile of the type of bride that would appreciate an eyelet wedding dress. (Listen, I do not design for the traditional girl, the more off beat the better)

Let me hash out my CSI moment here:

Not a fussy bride
Small and intimate wedding
Destination Bride
Comfort without sacrificing style
Off Beat Bride

The final product ended up being a strapless column design with two pockets to stash your gloss or that special vow. I've left the hem raw edged so that the future owner can hem it to her liking. I want to say thank you to the editor that saw the dress peeking out in my studio and asked to shoot it. It will be also be available for sale in her shop. The Fall edition of Bridal Tribe can be purchased for $4.95. Also, thank you to Total City Girl that came through in a pinch to shoot and the rest of the team.

Have a great weekend.

Documentary: "Free Swim" Can you swim?

2012-09-26T10:18:00.000-04:00

Free Swim is a one hour documentary about the paradox of coastal people not knowing how to swim. Taking place on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas we follow a group of kids as they overcome their fears, gain confidence and reconnect with their environment by learning to swim in open waters. With fresh memories of a friend drowning and the conflicts of growing tourism, for these kids it's not just about floating, but gaining new skills for their future.

I really don't remember how this ended up on my radar but I was chuckling with some friends about why there aren't more Jamaicans competing in swimming and diving in the Olympics. We are surrounded by water.... you know, we are an island. We have kids who dive from cliffs for FUN and we do know how to swim, for the most part. Although I have not seen this film yet, it is more the rule than the exception that a lot of island people do not know how to swim. Luckily, going to the beach was a pretty normal thing for my family. We would pack up the car with all the kids, sitting on laps and making room wherever we could for another butt then it was off to a local beach. However, it was not until I was accepted to a new school that ruled the winning blocks competitively that I thought about it competitively. There was just one problem .. I did not know how to swim that well. My mother sent me to the local YMCA for classes but my skinny arms were no match for the other kids in the pool but I did become a better swimmer and diver. Thanks mom!

I have not seen this movie yet but check here for screening locations or better yet, HOST a screening.

Daily Dose of Water - Lagos, Nigeria

2012-09-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

Lagos, Nigeria

Sean Connery vs. Apple: Any questions?

2012-09-21T17:32:00.000-04:00

via LOL Wall

And on that note, have a great weekend.

Ear Candy - Lianne La Havas "Age"

2012-09-18T13:09:00.003-04:00

Lianne La Havas' new video was shot in Los Angeles this spring. It features Lianne on a picnic date with Reggae Pops--an older gentleman known in Los Angeles for going to parties and dancing with people’s girlfriends" via AfroPunk

This goes out to my older man.

Happy Birthday and many more.

Daily Dose of Water - Montauk, NY

2012-09-18T07:14:00.000-04:00

Eric Cantor
'fort pond bay, montauk,' NY
sunset - 8:10pm

via

Salvador Dali designed swimwear?

2012-09-14T18:06:00.002-04:00

I love the expression on his face...Have a great weekend and be safe. Great news is on the horizon.

Indiegogo Spirit Escape Retreat Campaign

2012-09-13T16:11:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we loose focus or direction in our lives and we choose to ignore the decisions we have to make in order to push ourselves forward. Every so often we need to reconnect with the purest things that give us joy and purpose. My friend Kristi and her mother have chosen to do so by giving back to others by opening Spirit Escape Retreat. A retreat to help guide you to where you need to be. Kristi says it is a huge undertaking and even calls herself crazy for even doing this but she doesn't see herself doing anything else.

I personally can't think of any other place in the world to do this but Jamaica but I am biased. Everything about my brand is about recharging the soul and reconnecting to your purpose. As parents, we need to do this for our children and as people we need to do this for ourselves.

Excerpt via Indiegogo:

Personal family trauma touches everyone’s lives in one way or another. The problem is that many people have no outlet...we bottle our stories inside, weighing down our hearts until eventually—they implode. There is a stigma attached to being a family member of an addicted person, an incarcerated person, a troubled teen, or in a struggling marriage and most people don’t feel comfortable letting their true stories out to just anyone. In many cases embarrassment and shame prevail.

When our soul and spirit are allowed the freedom to recharge, when we are given an opportunity to remove ourselves from our immediate lives and let go, even for just a short time, we return to reality a little bit stronger. We can persevere. It can be life altering and I’ve seen it happen.

I encourage you to read through her detailed campaign and donate. I'm always happy when someone finds their calling and even more so when its a calling that gives back. I wish her all the success and I will be monitoring the campaign for it's duration. Please take a moment to retweeet, share it on any social media networks and help her fulfill her dream. GO KRISTI!

Daily Dose Of Water - Seagull 's POV

2012-09-10T08:50:00.000-04:00

French tourist Nathalie Rollandin came across a camera-happy seagull recently. She was visiting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, when she set her GoPro camera down while its was recording. Before she knew it, the camera was being carried away in the mouth of an artsy gull. Once the bird was a safe distance away, it set the camera down and recorded some beautiful footage of itself flying away into the sunset. via

Bloglovin

2012-08-30T11:30:00.002-04:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Asali Yoga & Culinary Retreat in Jamaica

2012-08-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

Asali Yoga & Culinary Retreat

October 27th-November 3rd 2012

Join Yoga Instructor, Erica Robinson and Natural Foods Chef Juliet Masters for the Asali Yoga & Culinary Retreat in beautiful Silver Sands, Jamaica!

Reward and rejuvenate yourself after a long winter. Daily Vinyasa yoga classes and cooking demos will invigorate and inspire you. Yoga classes will focus on breath work, Asana alignment and flow. There will be personal attention given to each student during class and an opportunity for Q&A after. Each day you will enjoy a big breakfast and dinner planned by Chef Juliet and lovingly prepared by trained Jamaican cooks. Light lunch cooking cooking demos offer tastes of local and seasonal cuisine with a focus on culinary wellness.

For more information, email erica@asaliyoga.com or call 646-535-3307

243 West 135th Street Harlem, New York