A dreamy world: at the beach

Cats in the sun I

Cats in the sun II

I'm here

The photographers

Tennis player

In line for ice-cream

Estoril Craft Fair

A very popular summer event around here is the Craft Fair held in Estoril for the last 48 years, yep you've read correctly. I don't know a lot of administrative details, just that it takes place from June 29 until August 28, each evening from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. You can learn about Portuguese traditional crafts as well as cuisine + see & buy (more or less) handmade items in a range from designer jewelry and let's say wool clothing to ceramics and paintings.



What I like about Portuguese traditional arts is the generous use of the color blue (cobalt) as you can see:



Although there were a lot of cute things, I can't say I was impressed much nor inspired. I guess it was the atmosphere, or better yet people's attitude. How come?

Hiding in our booths on a chair in the back or behind the counter isn't exactly the best marketing option. So are not smiling and not saying hello. No matter how tough times are, I believe we should be the first to speak about our work be it through words or body language. We may create + sell the cutest felt plush, customers won't be interested if we look like we're guarding them with a gloomy face.

I understand how a bad day or even a bad year feels like. But if I can't make it (and also not fake it) I prefer to think of other solutions, ultimately postponing my attendance.

We should probably think of ourselves as customers too and ask: what would draw my attention? What would make me want to know more about an item? What would make me buy it?



I was nevertheless amazed by miniature houses + furniture + settings, gosh, I was glad I hadn't seen them when I was younger. You can see a bit in these two photos, for example that scissors in the sewing kit next to the girl (photo above) was about 5 millimeters. Everything was so charming that I almost wanted to live in those settings.

The lowest price for a miniature room was about €70.


I also liked the wood crafts, especially chairs, drawers, trays, boxes and toys. They're great because they're noble and safe. Plus you can paint and decorate them in your own style.

The price for a small wooden box was €3, €7 for a small chair, €15 for a horse etc.



How about you, what would you hope for when you visit a craft fair? How about when you participate as an artist? I would love to share more with you, as the subject is so rich and ever open for improvement.

Estoril Fair was nice, even though I felt like saying: and now people... one more time with feeling!

Summer mood

I've been planning to go to the beach for over a week now, a week that's been so hot, too hot to stay outside in the sun (and I've finally finished some drawing + t-shirt + planning world domination® work). So today was the big day... I packed my backpack since last night with all the beach gear I needed like sunscreen, towel, notebook, book and camera + an excellent summer/easy mood... And guess what. It wasn't sunny! It was still hot, but a bit dreary as the sun seemed to be playing hide and seek with the clouds.
I thought that if I wasn't going to get a sun tan, I would act like a beach bum girl anyway so I began by breathing in that unique smell of salty seaside + sun lotion scent. I didn't want to travel far so I chose São Pedro beach which is rather small inside a charming bay.



There were a lot of families with kids and I was thinking it would be loads of fun to play on the beach with my kid, after all, the best seaside holidays of my life so far were together with my mom. Oh, sweet memories... I've texted her to say I was dreaming of a future holiday somewhere on the beach. The sun had been starting to show more and more, but I had to go get lunch so I left thinking the day was worth it even if the weather hadn't been too shiny.
Waking up on a summer morning, opening the window and letting the cool breeze in, having a quick breakfast + kisses, music (always music), seeing couples sharing earphones on the beach, colored umbrellas, sand running from under my feet on the shore, children building sand castles, remembering past escapades while seeking for the undefined horizon line, as simple as these things appear to be, I'm thankful I've seen and lived them all today.

One more free card

Right click. Save. Send (to the cutie you like). Start a conversation. The end. The beginning!

A walk in sunny Belém.

27°C today... perfect weather to walk around and smile to the world (not mentioning eating the delicious Pastéis... and strawberries). So Belém is a district of Lisbon and it's another good place to relax like almost everything around here, where the main attraction is that time stands still.

If I ruled the world by kittenwear featuring wrap bracelets

I don't have a lot of things to say about it, maybe visiting for the first time was better, maybe I just had a void where my brain was supposed to be, but anyway don't miss it if you are around! One funny thing: there was this cool building complex called Centre for the Unknown... as it was rather late and it appeared to be closed, I walked around to find what it was all about, surprise, I found no clues, none at all so it was actually a centre for the unknown!!! (silly me, thinking it would be a metaphor or something).

Boardwalk by kittenwear featuring wooden platform heels

PS. I discovered that people without a good sense of humor are dangerous.

Carcavelos beach.

I wasn't in the best shape today so I made a quick run at the beach, this time the biggest one on the coast. If you are visiting from Lisbon you must know that it's situated between Parede and Oeiras train stops and it's about one km away from the station. The beach is a favorite place for surfers and others that spend quality time here all throughout the year.



If you go all the way at the end of the boardwalk you'll find a very impressive sight: a 16th century fort called Forte de São Julião da Barra, which marks the mouth of river Tejo. It's the biggest marine fortification in the country and it served to protect the river entrance from enemy ships. I hear it's currently the residence of the Ministry of Defense, so same old same old :-)



I hope you find the beach nice and the information useful. Have an excellent week!

Cascais-Estoril boardwalk.

If you visit Portugal this time of year be prepared to be amazed by the flowers: an explosion of colors on a green and blue background is all around. You don't need to visit the botanical gardens to take your share of oxygen and beauty, you can just walk the streets.
And the perfume, oh my, I don't know if it's because I quit smoking (since January) and my senses came back to normal (or maybe it's the pregnancy), but I feel I'm going crazy with these wonderful scents of roses and many many more flowers and trees.



I always loved yellow roses (and yellow flowers in general) and today, while taking a break from walking, I sketched some fabric designs that I will show soon.



So today I walked from Parede to Cascais and I guess there where app. ten km from which four or maybe five where just the actual boardwalk that connects Cascais and Estoril, two very touristic suburbs of Lisbon.





The boardwalk (paredão) twists and turns parallel with the railway and of course, the ocean. If the salty fresh air has caused you an appetite you can brunch, lunch, dinner or just have a snack at one of the many restaurants. They are charming and the service is great, but they're a bit expensive for my budget so I prefer to have a homemade sandwich and fruit in my backpack.



You can lay on one of the small beaches around or get fit and healthy using the outdoor gear available (with instructions). If you feel like exercising even more you can rent (for free) a bicycle from one of the stands in Cascais - you can bike all year on the boardwalk, except when touristic season starts and it becomes forbidden (the place gets very crowded). Oh, before I forget, water sports are available for learning and practicing, especially surfing.



A very good option is to just sit somewhere, maybe on the sand, maybe on a bench along the way, and do nothing. But you have to do it properly: no thinking, no moving, just stop and breathe.

Hope you enjoyed our walk!

Summer dreaming.

The fresh scent of mornings, sparkling tan, reading fashion magazines on the beach, sun dresses loose allover the room, pink kissed nail polish, cats bathing in the sun, late nights out, making new friends and feeling the grass with bare feet, these are a few of my favorite summertime things...


... and these supa dupa dresses from romwe. com became my favorites too, I can't even begin saying how I would wear and accessorize them! By the way, check the chica-bonita shoes too, the collection of gotta-have-them-all leggings and don't-hate-me-cause-I'm-beautiful jewelry.
I've already ordered some cuties and until they get here I'll be dreaming some more of how cool this summer's going to be.
Wishing you a we-are-golden good time!

Later edit: they have a hot campaign on facebook so first off you Like the page, then you begin the hunt for product pictures up to an amazing 90% off! Check out the Finding Coupons and click it to Shop (main page, on the left) - you get even more surprises there!

facebook page

Mix

I discovered these when a lovely lady ordered the three-blue-cats t-shirt, a few days ago. If I remember well I made them for a handmade event and they bring happy feelings: the rush of getting ready for fairs, sunny days in Bucharest with my friends...
I love how mixing painting with sewing looks, it seems I had every detail on the right spot: the dotted bow, the sewn eyes, candy buttons and assorted textile pieces.

Note to self: remember to mix again!

3 x 0,50 m garden

Choose the plants/flowers you hope want to grow. Stare at them for ages dreaming of how you'll wake up feeling their scent this summer.
Clean your garden/pots/space by removing the weeds. I know, all plants are our friends, but unfortunately they don't get along so well with pansies and carnations.


Pretend your arm doesn't hurt where Mr. Cactus stung and contently watch the garden.
Plant the seeds following the instructions - some need to be deeper, some at distance, etc.


Rest. Enjoy the view. Think about your friends and wish they will come over.
Post on your blog about a very relaxing household activity.
Smile!