One million giraffes.

I've stumbled upon this unique idea recently: two friends made a bet, one said that the other one couldn't collect one million giraffes. Well he actually did it, 440 days later with the help of hundreds of people that sent their artwork worldwide.
I couldn't browse the whole collection, but what I saw was really inspiring: pencil drawings, paintings, collages, giraffes made from beans, of stick tape on a keyboard, the Beatles as giraffes, hands painted as giraffes, sketches with stories, exhibitions.
People of all ages, education and location contributed, making each piece special and the entire collection an amazing proof that we can create great things, even from scrap, just by positively working together.
I wish you have an uplifted new week, feeling limitless creative.
One million giraffes.

CLEARANCE

Here's the big sale as I promised and although it's not a huge collection of discounted items, I think they make a super cool wardrobe for the spring to come. Wear them with jeans or skirts, maybe hot pants and lots of smiles, of course!


Giraffes!, light weight cotton t-shirt with tulle appliques, size M/38. Sold
Life is not a fairytale, cotton maxi t-shirt/dress, size M/38. Sold

Bring it on, lady fit t-shirt with cotton applique, size M/38. Sold
Giraffe and the city, cotton lady fit t-shirt, felt applique, size S/36. Sold

Giraffes and the city, lady fit t-shirt, red cotton, size S/36, felt appliques. Sold
Hug me!, maxi t-shirt/dress, gray cotton,size M/38. Sold

I'm blue, lady fit t-shirt, size L/40, with felt & tulle appliques. Sold
Kitten's got a gun, lady fit, size L/40, with a heart felt brooch on the sleeve. Sold

Drama queen, lady fit t-shirt with a heart felt brooch on the sleeve, size M/38. Sold
I love to dance, maxi t-shirt/dress, tulle bow. Sold

I'm not afraid of dragons, size M/38, lady fit t-shirt with tulle sleeves.
Business mice, pink long t-shirt, size M/38, tulle sleeves. Sold

I heart biking, maxi t-shirt/dress, blue cotton, size M/38.
If I ruled the world, gray cotton t-shirt with cotton appliques. Sold

I forgot to mention that each t-shirt is unique, hand painted and hand crafted. In the absence of a non-virtual store, I can also say the weight of the fabrics and textures vary, but they all feel very soft to the touch.
I hope you find a favorite t-shirt among them and I'm wishing you a lovely day!

Working and playing (How To).

It's 1 a.m. and I got home. I've been working a part-time job for a month now in a supermarket at the bread and cafeteria department. Yep, I bake and arrange cakes, I carry trays and buckets, I make and serve coffee, cut and pack bread, wash and clean the place and many more. It's not as poetic as it may look, as it all has to be standard and technical. I'm working a lot and during these four hours every day I barely find the time to have a glass of water.
I don't wanna cry much though, it's one of those things that I need to do for now, a part of the plan to follow my dreams. I pay attention to people and games they play (as always), I discover, I learn and I am proud of myself that I can get the best out of any experience. A friend of mine said the other day it's a fine line between getting better and getting bitter. Well, I choose the first option and it takes a lot of strength to be able to do that as I need to go on with my head up.
I was saying in the previous post that I need more time daily. Often, I feel that the only things that keep me straight are just a dream, an image or having tea with him on the sofa when we meet at night. I am not alone, I have a wonderful partner who, by the way, works hard too. Being together makes more sense, we clearly look to the future and believe, we enjoy the present even if it's mostly very tiring (when he says he's my blanket so I'll never be cold, I'm ready start the day all over again).
But getting back to tonight, it's already 3 a.m. and I finally finished the How To post. So here goes, enjoy and try to have as much fun as you can, no matter what.
You will need a blank t-shirt (be it new or older, colored or not), pencil, scissors, pieces of fabric (as different as they are), small pieces of thicker fabric, pins, needle & string, a favorite image to repeat (in my case giraffes, surprise, surprise).

Draw the contour of your drawing on each piece of fabric. You can draw different sizes on the different pieces. Patiently cut along the lines (don't worry if the margins are not perfect, perfect is so yesterday's news). Cut as many figures as you want and start arranging them as a composition on the t-shirt.

Carefully pin the pieces on the t-shirt...

... and cut the eyes (or other elements needed) off the thicker fabric. I used felt, but you can always work with leather, eco-leather, oilcloth. Pin them over the figures and begin sewing on the edges. You don't have to be an expert, I think it looks good with any kind of stitch. You can always add bows, lace, or any other personal touches to make your creation unique...

... and remember to have fun!

One day, I will make things differently. Today is the day.

Welcome, Autumn.

It's been raining here for a few days and it looks like autumn has settled on this coast of the Atlantic as well. I am still hoping for some sunny days of a late summer, but for today I put my favorite jeans on, a shirt (and a kitten t-shirt under it, of course) and Marco's dandy scarf over and I went to Cristina's AmorCorvo in Lisbon with the new creations. The t-shirts are all unique, as being done by hand they can never be reproduced exactly the same. Some of the designs are new, some are older and some are upgraded by having wings-like-sleeves.





I couldn't help not to take a shot of the t-shirts hanging next to my name tag as well as the beautiful creations of the talented designers that help making the shop look like a fairytale house.


Lots of kisses to you from... under the umbrella!

New Kittens.

I've been wanting to get kitten designs on some other support than textile, and so I thought of experimenting with ceramics. It's not the first time, I've been working with porcelain and clay in the year of 2002 when I had my first art business together with a partner; our works were of liquid ceramics though, the kind that needs to be cooked in a special oven at high temperature. We used to make a lot of bells and decorate them, pots, vases and even lamps - oh, it was very cool.
Now I experimented with another kind of clay, the one that only needs air to dry and harden. I cut the small pieces (circles and squares), I gave them a smooth touch using my fingers, then I let them dry for 24 hours. After that I polished them, I began painting using acrylic colors and I coated them in transparent varnish in the end for a nicer look and longer duration in time.
They turned out to be brooches and I think they're sweet. I hope you like them too, as they will be your presents whenever you're ordering kitten t-shirts. You can have any design you want, you can even match them with the t-shirts if that's your wish. (If you really really want to have one just like that by itself all you have to do is e-mail at kittenwear@gmail.com and I'll send it over)

It's cold, 5 cm ø clay brooch, metal pin on the back, original design, entirely handmade and unique.

It's OK to be mad, 5 cm ø clay brooch, metal pin on the back, original design, entirely handmade and unique.

Kitten Girl I, 5 cm ø clay brooch, metal pin on the back, sand beads, original design, entirely handmade and unique.

Party Bow Tie, 7 x 3 cm clay brooch, metal pin on the back, original design, entirely handmade and unique.

Kitten Girl II, 5 cm ø clay brooch, metal pin on the back, sand beads, original design, entirely handmade and unique.

Family Portrait, 6 x 6 cm clay brooch, metal pin on the back, felt applique, original design, entirely handmade and unique.

You have a lovely fresh week!

New...

... Well, well, what can they be? :-) Stay tuned for their story: more photos and details to come!

New kittens.

Today I was also a model for the t-shirts that I created. I wasn't too professional, but I enjoyed every minute of it - Viviana was seriously talking the photos as some guys were giggling behind her (I'm sure they liked kitten t-shirts a lot).

So... here's a new kitten in town, hand painted with lace appliques on a cotton t-shirt...

A hand painted green-eyed kitten girl that's looking up to stars...

And two dreamers (shaped as giraffes this time) on an original hand painted & appliques t-shirt.

Well, that's it! I hope you liked my funny faces as well as the new designs - oh, by the way, all t-shirts are customizable - colors and sizes may vary by request.

Have a wonderful new week everyone!

You have rights.

Bully n., def. a person who hurts, frightens, or tyrannizes over those who are smaller or weaker. Willful, conscious desire to hurt another and put him/her under stress; anybody who wants to hurt somebody - and knows it - is then, by definition, a bully. Bullying is a form of abuse. (Tattum & Tattum, 1992)

I guess we are all bullied or being a bully at least once in a lifetime. We've all felt the abusive behavior of a colleague when we were kids, we've all seen our notebooks being thrown away or even got punched or kicked. It may have been a neighbor, brothers or sisters or the bullies may have been even our parents. The thing is we used to hurt others who were less strong than us, turning the frustration into aggression.
So bullying is a vicious circle. One gets bullied and then harasses another, so far so human.
We grow up, become adults and we realize we are still bullied at work (about our ethnicity, for example), people in the public services are treating us unjust or doctors talk down to us; then we tend to take it out on somebody else.

But it's just as human to defend ourselves. We can react and stop our discomforts that we then bring onto others. We can speak aloud anytime, we can set boundaries in relationships, we can say no and we can always choose a way out of the circle. I assure you that you can substitute the feeling of weakness and frustration with autonomy, little by little.
So the giraffes here are reminding us once more that it's OK to react, it's OK to say no, it's OK to stand out and up for our natural and legal rights.

You know...

... when you love a song and it's so great that you think no other greater song would be released?
Well, it happens. Other great songs break through all the time.
But hey, you know what else? We can love and listen to several great songs at the same time. :)
Here.

We recycle.

I have created these wonderful t-shirts for Recolamp, this past week. Their beloved green people that show us how we can take care of our world, the light bulbs and neon tubes which we can recycle, nature and confused giraffe finding out all about living responsible, they are all painted with bio water-based acrylics on organic cotton... a manifesto for a healthier life.

If you want to know more and have a fun time painting with me, you can visit ADfel this week.

It is good to be back, have a lovely week everyone!

Giraffes and the sea...

... loving and proudly wearing the t-shirts!
See the man in the back? No t-shirt, no game! :)

We don't mind the rain.

Simona just sent me this sweet gift as she and her brother took their tees out for a parade. Giraffe looks a bit spaced out but kitten girl is always happy to see everyone!