Photo shoot

Final project before Lexi headed out: a photo shoot of all of the recently finished samples for our catalog and other publicity materials. Our model: Maria Paz, my once gangly 13-year-old host sister now a beautiful 17-year-old who had been diligently watching and mastering the skills taught by Tyra in America's Next Top Model over the years. Super convenient.

The shoot began around 11:00 in the garden below the apartment, and we were taking photos straight through until around 2:30 (with a brief break for lemon pie). That left us an hour-and-a-half to upload all 3 gigs of photos onto my computer then onto two flash drives for Lexi to take back to the States, pack all of the samples and anything else that would fit into Lexi's suitcases, feed her some lunch, then get her to the airport by 4:00 for her flight home. Final verdict on our timeline: doable and ultimately successful, but definitely not recommended.

Above, our slipper-clad designer makes some final adjustments on the Adela...

Paz, Lexi and Andrea, who had come to see the finished product and help with loose threads and stress levels pose together after the shoot...

and me, freed from photographer duties, with hermanita and Andrea.