Vila do Conde

PT

Nem sempre é preciso fazer praia para aproveitar a proximidade do mar. Por vezes, basta simplesmente passear ao longo do areal, mesmo que à cota da cidade, observando o bronze de quem tem os pés na areia e os molha nas ondas do mar. Às vezes, quando olho só de longe, fico com vontade de também eu tirar as sandálias e sentir os pés enterrar na areia enquanto caminham até à água para dar um mergulho... mas nem sempre. Ontem, bastou o passeio, para o qual a visita à Feira Nacional de Artesanato (FNA) serviu de bom pretexto.

A FNA, essa, por si só, vale bem a visita!

Ainda vão a tempo, se puderem dar um salto até Vila do Conde, até dia 10 de Agosto. Vejam tudo sobre a Feira aqui.

EN

It's not always necessary to go to the beach to enjoy the proximity of the sea. Sometimes it's enough to simply stroll along the beach, even though in the city walk, watching the tan of those who have their feet in the sand and water them in the ocean waves. Sometimes when I observe from afar, I feel like taking off my sandals too and let my feet bury in the sand, while walking to the water for a swim... but not always. Yesterday, the walk was enough, for which the visit to the National Handicraft Fair (FNA) served as a good excuse. 

The FNA, by itself, is well worth the visit! 

If you happen to be around Vila do Conde for some reason, don't miss it, until August 10. See all about the Fair here.

FNA Vila do Conde

>> Welcome The August Break



FNA, para visitar em Vila do Conde, até dia 11 de Agosto.

EN
FNA (National Handicraft Fair), to visit in Vila do Conde, until August 11th.

{the interview series} Ricardo Rodrigues

>> for the art and lifestyle lovers

>> check here all the past interviews and follow us on facebook too!

São heróis de bolso, animais amigáveis, personagens de contos de fadas e histórias de encantar. Ricardo Rodrigues cria em papel e em pano um universo feito a pensar nos mais novos, mas que delicia também os mais velhos... senão vejam!

EN

There are pocket heroes, friendly animals, fairy tale characters and enchanting stories. Ricardo Rodrigues creates in paper and fabric an universe built thinking in the younger people, but that also delights the older ones... have a look!

Ricardo Rodrigues

blog | shop

Tell us...

1. who is Ricardo Rodrigues?

 A designer, a illustrator, a doll maker, a dreamer...

2. have you become what you wanted to be when you grew up?

 I did many of the things I dreamed of but still some to accomplish.

3. what inspires you to create?

 I must say, almost everything. I am a very visual person. I enjoy seeing beautiful things.

Share with us...

4. your artistic media of choice.

I don’t have just one. I don’t like doing the same thing over and over. I love switching materials. I love my bic black pen for drawing, fabrics and accessories for making dolls, acrylic paint for painting wood, and so on…

5. the favorite corner of your workspace.

I am starting to build a work space now, because I never had one. I always worked at home, on the sofa or the kitchen table and that’s all right for me.

6. a day at work.

I work as a designer for an environmental company, so it´s like a 9 to 6 day job. At the end of the day and on weekends I “work for me” as I like to say. On Saturdays I open my little store on the afternoon which is called BE LIGHT – Ideias Luminosas and where I show and sell some of mine and other artists work.

7. a business tip.

Work, work, work and have fun with it.

8. an advice to your younger you.

Stop trying to control everything.

9. a plan to the future.

Just dedicate myself to the kind of work I like to do.

Let us know...

10. a personality that influences you.

I don’t have one in particular. I am very eclectic, so I am influenced by many visions.

11. a book you think everyone should read.

At least one of Saramago’s books and one of Fernando Pessoa’s Poems.

12. an unforgetable movie.

So many… Recently, Life of Pi.

13. a music that couldn't miss in the perfect playlist.

O Estrangeiro from Caetano Veloso.

It´s a strange music that fascinates me and I never get tired of it.

14. a city to fall in love with.

Lisbon and so many others. Cities Fascinate me.

15. a favorite food and drink.

Traditional Portuguese food, sushi, Italian food, Indian food… I love food.

The drink depends on the food. I love natural fruit juice.

16. a guilty pleasure.

Sweats! Love them but shouldn´t eat so many.

Senhor de Matosinhos

A seguir ao São João, a Festa dedicada ao Senhor de Matosinhos, a decorrer no Município com o mesmo nome, é das feiras e romarias mais conhecidas e concorridas à volta da cidade do Porto.

Durante cerca de 3 semanas, uma série de celebrações e actividades animam as ruas em volta da Igreja do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, obra de Nasoni, que se enfeita de flores para a ocasião.

No Domingo foi dia de procissão e na próxima 3F é o feriado municipal, mas a festa prolonga-se até dia 2 de Junho. Não podem faltar uma visita à Feira de Artesanato, uma corrida no carrossel, um jogo de matraquilhos e um prato de farturas a acompanhar!

EN

After São João, the Feast dedicated to Senhor de Matosinhos  happening in the city with the same name, is one of the most famous and crowded popular fairs around the city of Porto.

For about three weeks, a series of celebrations and activities enliven the streets around the church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, Nasoni's work, which is adorned with flowers for the occasion.

Last Sunday was the day of procession and next Tuesday is the municipal holiday, but the party lasts until June 2nd. You can't miss a visit to the Craft Fair, a run on the carousel, a game of table football and a dish of farturas (a popular Portuguese sweet)!

letter from... Manuela

Conheci a Manuela há uns meses atrás através da net, quando ela me escreveu dizendo que se cruzara com a revista italiana da IKEA Family Live onde aparecia o artigo sobre a minha casa. Ela já seguia o meu blog, ofereceu-se para me enviar o exemplar e desde aí que temos mantido contacto e trocado algumas interessantes dicas sobre artes e crafts.

A Manuela é uma portuguesa a viver em Antuérpia - uma cidade que muito gostaria de visitar um dia! - e para além de ter um grande prazer em partilhar com outros criativos aquilo que sabe e aquilo de que gosta, também ela cria acessórios e objectos em que reinam a imaginação e a reutilização, através do projecto Ik en Blik.

Desta vez a Manuela voltou a encher-me de mimos e fez chegar ao meu correio uma caixinha de surpresas! Entre o perfume de um saboroso chá, vieram também materiais para eu explorar no meu trabalho, palavras amigas e detalhes deliciosos... obrigada Manuela!

EN

I met Manuela a few months ago through the web, when she wrote me saying she'd found an Italian version of IKEA Family Live magazine featuring my home. She already followed my blog, offered to send me a copy and since then we've been in contact, exchanging interesting tips on arts and crafts.

Manuela is a Portuguese living in Antwerp - a city I'd love to visit one day! - and besides having a great pleasure sharing with other creatives things that she knows and loves, she also creates accessories and objects in which imagination and reuse reigns, in her project Ik en Blik.

This time Manuela decided to fill me with treats again and sent me a lovely surprise box!

Among the perfume of a flavored tea, arrived some materials to explore in my work, friendly words and delicious details... thank you Manuela!

{the interview series} Trincar Uvas + giveaway

>> for the art and lifestyle lovers
>> check here all the past interviews and follow us on facebook too!

Hoje estou à conversa com uma criadora portuguesa que vive na Holanda: a Joana Pedroso.

A responsável pela marca Trincar Uvas cria belos acessórios que gostam de brincar com a linha de algodão, a cor e a geometria - e o resultado é delicioso!

>> E como se não bastasse brindar-nos com a beleza das suas criações, a Joana ainda decidiu oferecer uma delas ao meu leitor mais sortudo - leiam a entrevista até ao fim para saber como participar neste fantástico giveaway!

EN

Today I'm chatting with a Portuguese crafter living in The Netherlands: Joana Pedroso.

The creative mind behind Trincar Uvas creates beautiful accessories that love to play with cotton thread, color and geometry - and the result is delicious!

>> And as if wasn't enough showing us the beauty of her creations, Joana also decided to offer one of them to the luckiest of my readers - read the interview until the end to find out how to participate in this fantastic giveaway!

Joana Pedroso | Trincar Uvas

site | shop | facebook

Tell us...
1. who is Joana Pedroso?
I grew up in a little village in the coast of Portugal and 5 years ago I moved to the Netherlands where I've fallen in love. Somedays I work as a paper restorer and in others days I give room to my creativity. I am the happiest amongst nature, friends and art.

2. have you become what you wanted to be when you grew up?
Since I was a kid I've been always changing my mind on what I wanted to ''be''. I remember spending hours going through a list of degrees deciding what I wanted to study. I found out about a course that was called Conservation and Restoration and it sounded great - lots of manual work and it was connected to Art and History. But now, after spending 5 years studying it and 5 more years working, I've come to realize what I really want to ''be'' is an independent creative crafter/artist. I used to cringe at the idea of owning my own business - I only thought of the headaches and responsibilities, but now I can only smile at the idea of spending all of my time on my own work.

3. what inspires you to create?
There is this little bug inside of me that whispers new ideas from time to time. There is also this other bug that makes me want to do things with my hands. I don't know where they come from but I just do what they say!

Share with us...
4. your artistic media of choice.
I definitely have a strong connection with textiles - I love their texture, diversity and versatility and the warmth they give to any project.

5. the favorite corner of your workspace.
My workspace is a corner and i love all of it!

6. a day at work.
I don't really a have a routine. If I am feeling creative I'll spend a whole day (sometimes a week) making new pieces. On the days I am feeling patient I photograph new items, post them on Etsy, etc. Other days I might spend the whole day procrastinating behind my computer... it really depends on my mood!

7. a business tip.
I'm not so business savvy yet...

8. an advice to your younger you.
It's the one I still give to myself everyday: Don't worry!

9. a plan to the future.
Moving to the south and having a big garden.

Let us know…
10. a personality that influences you.
Anybody that stays true to himself.

11. a book you think everyone should read.
L' Ecume des Jours from Boris Vian.

12. an unforgetable movie.
Buffalo 66.

13. a city to fall in love with.
Lisbon.

14. a favorite food and drink.
Grilled Sea Bream and fresh passion fruit juice - yummie!!

15. a guilty pleasure.
Jelly Beans.

giveaway time!

Joana is offering to one of my readers this beautiful tribal inspired necklace, evaluated in $30.

Just look at its photo and drool...

So... what do you have to do?

+ just leave a comment bellow!

+ you can have an extra chance to win by becoming a facebook fan of {the interview series}...

+ ... and you can have a second extra chance to win by becoming a facebook fan of Trincar Uvas.

Please, don't forget to let me know if you're a fan in your comment bellow so it can count for the giveaway, otherwise I will miss it.

The lucky winner will be announced on wednesday, May 1st, and contacted by email, so don't forget to also leave your name and contact. Good luck!

UPDATE: 
We had 41 comments and 90 entries in this giveaway.
random.org decided that the lucky winner is the number 5... congratulations nanouke! I'll be contacting you soon, I'm sure you'll love your prize!
Thank you so much to all participants and new followers - not only for participating, but also for your kind words about the interview series and Joana's work!

{the interview series} ALLE Studio

>> for the art and lifestyle lovers
>> check here all the past interviews and follow us on facebook too!

Esta semana trago-vos uma ilustradora e crafter italiana que gosta de experimentar e aplicar o seu trabalho a vários suportes. Lisa Vassalle começou por estudar design, mas encontrou no desenho a sua verdadeira paixão e decidiu criar o ALLE Studio para lhe dar asas. Leiam mais sobre ela e fiquem a conhecer melhr o seu trabalho!

_

This week I bring you an Italian illustrator and crafter that enjoys experimenting and applying her work to many different media. Lisa Vassalle started to study design, but found in drawing her true biggest passion and decided to create ALLE Studio to give it wings. Read more about her and get to know her work!

Lisa Vassalle | ALLE studio

Italy

site |  blog | shop | pinterest | facebook | mixpod

1. Let’s pretend we don’t know each other and I’ve never heard about Lisa Vassalle. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in a small Tuscan town between the sea and the mountains. I studied product design and graphic art. It was a long time before I could find my way. Now, I'm illustrator and crafter.

2. You studied Graphic Art and Product Design and now work as a freelance illustrator and crafter. How and when was this creative passion born?

I studied design with a lot of passion, but I didn't feel completely at ease. I have drawn since I was a kid, but always was afraid of not being good enough to make this work. But I feel good when drawing, I feel alive. So, I decided to practice with rigor every day to refine my style.

3. What made you create ALLE Studio and why is it called like that?

I created ALLE studio when I opened my shop online. I needed four letters, so I wrote the last letters of my last name and I liked the combination with my logo very much!

4. In your illustrations you combine geometry and some intriguing human characters - how are these compositions born? What inspires you? Share your creative process with us.

In fact, I'm leaving geometrics. I feel the need to sweeten my characters and bring them to life in new scenarios that are delicate and fabulous. Below is a taste.

 

5. Which mediums do you enjoy using in your illustration work, both physical and digital ones? Why?

I feel the need to touch the soul of paper. Feel alive. For this reason, I’ve decided to abandon digital art to return to graphite, pencil, watercolor, tubes of paint. Every day I will work hard, experimenting with my new approach to illustration.

6. You take your illustrations to the next level, creating wearable objects such as necklaces or tote bags, which I specially love. Do you have ideas for new applications for the future?

I would like to create books and small books painted by me.

7. What is creating for you: a profession, a passion, a necessity, a life style or a hobby?

All these things, but first of all it is a necessity...

8. Your online presence lets the whole world know about your work. What means do you use to promote it?

I use my blog, Pinterest, facebook, tumbr, cargo colletive…

9. Would you share with us a regular day at work?

I wake up at 8:30, I eat a yogurt. After breakfast I answer the mail, I turn a good music and I start my work up to an indefinite time!

10. Would you give us a glimpse of your working space? Describe it and tell us what you love most about it.

My work space is in a small house in the garden of my house, sometimes it's ordered and others untidy but very stimulating. I love my studio!

11. Share your passions and hobbies with us.

I love traveling, walking, reading, drawing and eating olives!

12. You live in the town of Viareggio in beautiful Tuscany, Italy. Tell us about what you love most in the place where you live. Would you like to live anywhere else one day?

In my town I love the sea, the forest and the possibility to reach the mountains in just 30 minutes! I like the quiet and relaxed life. I love to walk by the sea or in the woods.

I lived in London for a while. Big cities are very exciting but I couldn’t live there forever!

13. If you could live in any historical era of your choice, what would it be? Why?

1920, between femininity and charleston.

14. What advices would you give to someone who would also like to become an illustrator?

I can't give much advice because I'm only at the beginning, but I think that practicing every day, reading up, trying new ideas, attending workshops and believing in what you're doing are ideal recipes to become an illustrator...

15. What are your plans for the future? And your most unrealistic dreams?

I'm working to enrich my portfolio. I would like to illustrate my fairy tale and… find a publisher! Soon I will publish an online journal where I talk about all the experiences that I'm living in the illustration's world, tips and tutorials!

Now a quick question and answer game so we can find a bit more about you and your tastes!

Tell us one:

book: Sophie's world, by Jostein Gaarder (it's magic!!)

music: Red Russian

movie: Amelie

personality/artist: Joanna Concejo

color: grey, white and green

object: cup

animal: parrot, dog and monkey

drink: water and wine

food: olives, cheese and salami

season of the year: autumn

travel destination: Finland and Ireland

piece of clothing: length skirt

secret: talking to myself!

Thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us, Lisa!

FNA - 34ª Feira Nacional de Artesanato | Vila do Conde

Ontem foi o primeiro dia da 34ª edição da FNA - Feira Nacional de Artesanato, a decorrer até ao próximo dia 7 de Agosto, em Vila do Conde.

A FNA é uma feira conceituada a nível nacional e conta já com muitos anos de existência. Ocupa uma zona ajardinada no centro da cidade, o que torna a visita ainda mais agradável. São cerca de duas centenas de artesãos para conhecer, muitos deles a partilhar com o público, não só a sua arte, mas a sua técnica, através de demonstrações ao vivo.
Desde as artes mais tradicionais às reinterpretações mais contemporâneas, podemos aqui visitar um pouco de tudo, artística e geograficamente falando. Foi um prazer!

E depois do passeio pela Feira, passeamos também junto à praia e ao rio Ave, pela marginal de Vila do Conde, acabando com um jantar num restaurante simpático já perto do Mosteiro de Santa Clara.

Por aqui, este foi o primeiro fim-de-semana desde há algum tempo com cores e temperaturas de Verão (embora o vento ainda não nos tenha abandonado)... espero que também o tenham aproveitado bem!

Podem ver todas as fotos aqui.


Yesterday was the first day of the 34th edition of FNA - Feira Nacional de Artesanato (National Handicraft Fair), which runs until next August 7, in Vila do Conde.

The FNA is a highly regarded national handicraft fair and already counts with many years of existence. It occupies a landscaped area in the city center, which makes the visit even more enjoyable. Here you have the opportunity to meet about two hundred artisans, many of them sharing their skills with the public, through live demonstrations.
From traditional arts to more contemporary interpretations, we can see a little of everything, artistically and geographically speaking. It was a pleasure!

And after touring around the Fair, we also had a walk along the beach and the Ave River, along the marginal of Vila do Conde, ending with a dinner at a nice restaurant near the Monastery of Santa Clara.

Around here, this was the first weekend for some time with color and summer temperatures (although the hard wind is still with us)... I hope you've also enjoyed it!

You can see all the photos here.