That very autumn

Here, in Tampa, you can’t catch a glimpse of real autumn. Whether it’s the middle of July or Christmas, things don’t change much around here. You just have to put on a bit warmer jacket, that’s it. I actually saw autumn only once. It was in Philadelphia where my mom took me on a business trip when I was about the age of my daughter. There are memories that take seconds, but stay with you for the rest of your life. This is one of them.

The fairy tale begins

As kids, we see the world differently. Everything seems so full of meaning and a little magical. I remember me and mom walking through the park, all red, orange and yellow like never before. The trees were on fire. Their bright leaves were fluttering in the wind like the flame of a candle when someone opens the door. The wind grew stronger and I was afraid it might blow the trees out. But they kept glowing softly in twilight, without going off and burning down. It was like a small miracle, walking among those tree candles and wondering who could have lit them. This memory still haunts me whenever I flip the calendar to September. And although I’ve been to Philadelphia a couple of times since then, I never saw autumn as colorful and magical as that distant day.

Until recently…

Leonid Afremov is an artist whose pictures are all over the internet. You probably saw them dozens of times without realizing they are all painted by the same person. Bright colors, glowing lights, cheerful images… You can see it all on this website. By the way, you can also buy any canvas artwork online right from your smartphone! I really like this one, it’s called Rain’s Rustle. Guess why :) Right, because it reminds me of my autumn trip to the land of magic trees many years ago. Just look at it:

• The colors are so bright that you can’t take off your eyes!
• This canvas artwork is full of light! It comes from everywhere: the park lamps, their reflections on the wet alley, even the leaves themselves!
• I also like the manner of painting – quick casual strokes are laid side by side until the entire canvas is filled with specks of all shades!
• It’s cold and raining, but the park doesn’t look gloomy. Romance is in the air!
• This isn’t a very good point to mention, but Leonid offers a way to buy canvas art online cheap and fast. I already bought two of his pictures and I only spent half of what I planned!

So if you are looking to decorate your home with a bright sample of canvas art, buy online in Mr. Afremov’s gallery! You won’t regret it!

Weddings, dresses and dreams

Ah, weddings… No matter what they say, it is the most important event in every girl’s life. Most of us start planning our wedding as little kids. Drawings of you and your fiancé walking down the aisle, dreams of your future home, names of your children traced out carefully in your secret diary… Years later, already as a married woman and mother, you will find all this in one of unpacked boxes from your old place and flip through your clumsy notes with a quiet smile. Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect, but getting through it will take all your self-command. There are so many things to take care of – the dress, the hair, the catering, the music, the wedding wows… Much of this stuff will actually be done way behind schedule and you’ll be running late every second. Believe me, I’ve seen it hundreds of times :) If you weren’t married at least once, you can’t even imagine how many hours and nerves are spent on measuring, try-ons and fitting alone! Sometimes I had to stay in the atelier overnight for a last-minute makeover! By the time of your triumphal appearance – the moment you’ve been waiting for all your life – you’ll be a total wreck. That’s when you need to pull it together and make yourself shine even if you are on the verge of fainting. Don’t let anxiety ruin your day! And though there may (and will) be unplanned changes, awkward moments and all sorts of discrepancies, remember: even if your wedding doesn’t go exactly as you fancied, you still have a whole life together to make the rest of your dreams come true! To cheer you up, here is a list of songs for your first dance: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/fashion/weddings/your-first-dance-songs.html?_r=0  Mine was Para Tu Amor by Juanes :)

Hello everyone! :)

I’m Tessa Martinez and I have the best job in the world – sewing wedding dresses :) I never actually studied it. I mean, I had to finish sewing courses, just to get qualified for hiring, but my real school was at home. Our family has been in the tailoring business for generations. My granny, my mom, my aunts and sisters – we all have a way with needles. Long ago, my ancestors came here from Spain in search of a better fate. I wasn’t even born back then. Now we run a small tailor shop in Florida – pretty much local, with just a bunch of customers, but we’re happy with what we have. And although I really enjoyed working with my dear relatives, I felt it was time for me to live my own dreams and try something I always wanted for myself. So I moved to Tampa and found a job at a wedding atelier where I spend my day stitching and lacing someone’s happiness :) I have a daughter called Emilia, a sweet little angel sitting by my side and watching every move of my hand with curious eyes. One day I hope to teach her everything I know and continue our family tradition! So if you ever need a special dress for your special day, you know where to look for us :)