Reflection

Pinch me. Was this a dream? As I sit looking out my window in Yakima, WA, I remember with wonder my last three months in London and Europe. This chapter of my life has written the most exciting stories and drawn the most colorful pictures.

I am SO blessed and cannot feel more gratitude for having been gifted this experience. From chopping off my hair to clubbing and underground music to modeling on two London runways to making life-long friends and to visiting 6 countries, I feel as though my time was lived to its fullest.

My next six or so blog posts will be dedicated to my final three weeks in Europe.

My to-be-missed friend Stefanie on my last day in London

Post Past Due

Forgive me for my lack of posts these past few weeks!  I have been BUSY with finals, packing, and fitting in time with new-found friends.  I am currently traveling.  So far I have been to Berlin and Florence.  I am now in Venice and will soon be departing for Madrid and the Canary Islands.  I don't have steady access to the internet or time to write thoughtful posts, so please check back at the end of March for complete details of the AIU fashion show and my adventures in Europe.

Blessings to you this day!

Here is a little sample of the fashion show...

Garment Inpsired by Swimming (further details to follow)

What a fabulous experience to walk this design down the runway!

*Picture by Sara Zoe O'Halloran

And a picture of Zoe, Carly, and I in our travels...

Traveling Trio Wearing Venetian Masks

Mood Boards: A Preview for my Final Designs

Finals have now arrived as I enter into my last week at AIU London. Here is a preview to the designs I will complete over the weekend...

This mood board was created at the beginning of the term (As we were assigned to design a garment based on sport.):

“Let us throw off everything that hinders…

and let us RUN with perseverance the RACE marked out for us.”

The second mood board tells the story of my conceptual design:

DIVE IN

Stay tuned for images of the garments as I wear them down the runway on March 9th.

Sprinkle It Like Diamonds

Take this silver lining

Keep it in your own

Sweet head
And SHINE it when the night is

Burning red

Shine it in the twilight

Shine it on the cold, cold ground

Shine it till these walls

Come tumbling down

We were born with our eyes wide open

So alive with wild hope now

Can you tell me why

Time after time they drag you down

Down in the darkest deep

Fools and their madness all around

Know that the light don't sleep

Step into the silence

Take it in your own

Two hands

And sprinkle it like diamonds

All across these lands

Blaze it in the morning

Wear it like an iron skin

Only things worth living for are

Innocence and magic, amen

We were born with our eyes wide open

So alive with wild hope now

Can you tell me why

Time after time they drag you down

Down in the darkest deep

Fools and their madness all around

Know that the light don't sleep

Bonnie Raitte’s song “Silver Lining” has been a favorite on my i-pod lately. The words are beautiful and so true!

It was the soundtrack to my day last Tuesday as I meandered to class in the sun. I stopped at a local tea shop for some rose-tip tea and continued on my way through the usual route within Regent’s Park.

Exquisite Landscape of Regent’s Park

My favorite flower peaking through the darkness of winter’s sleeping vegetation

This week has been a whirlwind of homework and stress. This incredible experience is coming to a close as homework and a to-do list piles up to uncomfortable levels. How do I balance enjoyment of my last week in London with homework and packing?

These girls keep me on my toes—making sure I keep focused on fun…I’m going to miss their energy and friendship.

Finishing with a bang! (me sewing my final garment…plastic?...yes!..it’s extremely hard to sew on)

...

London has encouraged me to live with eyes wide open. There is so much to take in. In return, as I increase my character, I aim to sprinkle hope and love "like diamonds all across the land". How will I do this? I don’t know, but I look forward to seeing the next chapter in my life unfold.