Christmas cards have been sent out. Those I don’t have a lot of contact with received a letter included or hand-written note with our recent highlights. And here they are:

12/7/25 we held Ray’s private invitation book launch at Capital Books on K, in Sacramento. I booked the Flamingo Lounge on the second floor. A cute, intimate room with large picture windows overlooking K Street. Ray read from volume one of Love at Third Sight. We also offered our guests Prosecco, finger sandwiches and cookies. We had a great turnout and Ray and I were very happy with the event, the location and the staff of the bookstore were very helpful and accommodating. Some photos:

Yesterday we had the annual Christmas Party for our neighborhood. We rent a hall and there were about a hundred people there. It was great to catch up with those we only see occasionally on our walks. Also got to spend time with Donna and Jackie who I haven’t seen since our art show at our house in September. There was a raffle as well as Mexican food and plenty of Prosecco. Ray and I did well this year and both won prizes:

This past September the Verge Arts Center held their annual art exhibit inhouse and artists opened their homes on two weekends. We participated this year and hosted in our back garden several local artists.

Follow us on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/martathelegend/ and https://www.instagram.com/raybrankline/

and on FB:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057861271124

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009287921769

About Post Author

Designer Marta

Pioneer type, fascinated by the latest and greatest developments in technology, web design and database management. I initiated the popularity of the bellydance movement in Germany way back in the 1970s through the guidance of my mentor and better half, Hans Hilberath. Performed throughout Europe and the Middle East, which greatly expanded my cultural sophistication. Worked with many talented artists, learned languages and developed many survival skills! Lots of highs and many lows. My insight: set goals and keep moving forward.

costumes4dance@gmail.com

http://www.martathelegend.com

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The post Closing of 2025 appeared first on Designer Marta.

I was a professional belly dancer for 25 years, traveling around the globe.

https://designer-marta.blogspot.com/2025/01/how-my-dance-career-went-from-hobby-to.html

About Post Author

Designer Marta

Pioneer type, fascinated by the latest and greatest developments in technology, web design and database management. I initiated the popularity of the bellydance movement in Germany way back in the 1970s through the guidance of my mentor and better half, Hans Hilberath. Performed throughout Europe and the Middle East, which greatly expanded my cultural sophistication. Worked with many talented artists, learned languages and developed many survival skills! Lots of highs and many lows. My insight: set goals and keep moving forward.

costumes4dance@gmail.com

http://www.martathelegend.com

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The post A little bit about me appeared first on Designer Marta.

Hi creative persons! 

I have taken the leap and purchased a lace-making machine. It will take about a month for it to be delivered, which is actually great so I have plenty of time to rearrange my workshop to accommodate the rather large, heavy, beastie! I am so excited!

I have also decided to start calling the room a workshop rather than a studio now that there will be an industrial grade machine in residence. This is in addition to the 8-thread serger, the Brother embroidery machine, my German Pfaff which I have had since 1994 and is running on a transformer because it is 220V, and the Janome sewing maching.

About Post Author

Designer Marta

Pioneer type, fascinated by the latest and greatest developments in technology, web design and database management. I initiated the popularity of the bellydance movement in Germany way back in the 1970s through the guidance of my mentor and better half, Hans Hilberath. Performed throughout Europe and the Middle East, which greatly expanded my cultural sophistication. Worked with many talented artists, learned languages and developed many survival skills! Lots of highs and many lows. My insight: set goals and keep moving forward.

costumes4dance@gmail.com

http://www.martathelegend.com

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The post Studio to Workshop appeared first on Designer Marta.

1/28/2022

It is interesting how when young, we are often not aware of our talents. Of course not, only exposure to doing and trying different things makes us aware that we are good at something or that something comes easy for us. I believe everyone is born with multiple natural talents. Discovering them and developing them is our job in this life.

I was just having my regular fortnightly massage, which is my ‘me’ time. This time is so valuable for thinking through and reviewing recent happenings, reflecting on old memories, planning, dreaming. Yes, dreaming! I actually fell asleep today and was dreaming. I awoke to realize I was on the massage table and was quite surprised that I had fallen asleep. Galina and I had a laugh about it. It seems odd that people fall asleep while someone else is touching them. But Galina assured me that it happens from time to time. Any how, it is during this quiet, me, time that I reflect and develop my self-awareness. I critique how I may have handled people or a situation. And today I was thinking about how when I was younger I was just busy living and not always reflecting on how situations affected or changed my perspective about my life and myself.

Last night, Ray and I watched a film with Daniel Day Lewis called Phantom Thread. The heroine poisoned the hero to make him vulnerable so that she could care for him. It made me think of Michael and how he so tenderly cared for me when I had severe vertigo. He kissed me so tenderly, like at no other time in our relationship. It made me think that he needed to care for someone. That was what made him whole. So that was most likely why he did all the cooking and cleaning. Not because he was a control freak. It just made him look like a control freak. But actually, it was because he needed to care for his partner. I may have misunderstood his motives. I thought he was taking such good care of me to support my efforts to work full time and study accounting and database management. But it was much more than that. I am seeing the time we spent together in a slightly different light, with a different perspective. I am learning. I like that!

About Post Author

Designer Marta

Pioneer type, fascinated by the latest and greatest developments in technology, web design and database management. I initiated the popularity of the bellydance movement in Germany way back in the 1970s through the guidance of my mentor and better half, Hans Hilberath. Performed throughout Europe and the Middle East, which greatly expanded my cultural sophistication. Worked with many talented artists, learned languages and developed many survival skills! Lots of highs and many lows. My insight: set goals and keep moving forward.

costumes4dance@gmail.com

http://www.martathelegend.com

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