Shop update

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O sol está de volta e começo a suspirar pela Primavera… Fiz estas clutches a pensar em dias compridos, alegres e cheios de programas; estão disponíveis aqui. Bom fim-de-semana!
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The sun is back and I’m starting to sigh for Spring… I made these clutches thinking about long, happy, full days; they’re available right here. Happy weekend!


(images: Constança Cabral)

Yay for friendship!

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Hoje foi dia de sessão fotográfica. Pegámos nas clutches novas e fomos explorar um bairro diferente, atentas aos prédios e às portas. Finda a sessão, não resistimos à sujidade deste vidro espelhado. Afinal, não é todos os dias que modelo e criadora passam uma tarde juntas.
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PS. Obrigada por todo o entusiasmo de ontem!
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Today it was photo shooting day. We grabed the new clutches and we headed to a new, unexplored neighbourhood, eyes set on buildings and doors. At the end of the session, we couldn’t resist this mirror’s dirtyness. Let’s face it, both model and creator don’t get to spend a whole afternoon together everyday.
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PS. Thanks so much for yesterday’s enthusiasm!


(images: Constança Cabral)

OMG!

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Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us (yeah, you guessed right, the newest IKEA family magazine arrived today in the mail). I love all the individual details, especially your bedcover and matching pillow as well as the shelves in the kitchen with the cans and plates . And also your blog features some great ideas, hope you don’t mind if i come back on a regular base. Best wishes from Austria, Kathi!
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Obrigada, IKEA e August Media, por considerarem a minha casa digna de revista e por fazerem de mim uma cover girl!
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Thank you so much, IKEA and August Media, for featuring my home and making me a cover girl!

Sew Mama Sew: Tell us about your stash!

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What do you usually sew?
Book covers, bibs, purse organisers, soft furnishings and all kinds of bags.

When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)

Typically ½ yard and one yard. I’ll buy ½ yard if the fabric is expensive, or if it’s a small scale print (which means I’ll use the fabric for little pouches, etc). I’ll buy a full yard if the fabric is on sale, or if it’s a large scale print I love.

Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
On impulse. Always on impulse.

Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?
I always pre-wash. The fabric won’t make it to the cupboard unless it’s washed and ironed. I prefer to do it this way because when I want to start a new project I want the fabric to be immediately available.

Do you iron it?
Yes! But it’s such a chore; there are always some stubborn creases that won’t go away.

How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
By colour: blue, red, pink, yellow & orange, green & brown, grey & black.

Do you have any special folding techniques?
Not at the moment, no, but I really want to try out that ruler technique.

How do you store your fabric?
In a designated cupboard in my sewing room/dining room/office.

What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
I try to balance floral and novelty prints with polka dots and ginghams.

When do you say enough is enough?
I stop when I feel I can’t afford it anymore. I’ll wait some weeks and then I’ll buy again!

What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
I really want to start quilting. I think that will eat up most of my stash…

Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
Here it is!

What’s your definition of the perfect stash? (Consider sharing a picture or two of your stash & storage, or direct us to a pic on Flickr!)
Stash pictures I love: this (great display), this (impressive collection), this (so neat!) and this (great bookcase).

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[questions from Sew, Mama, Sew!; more participants here]
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(image: Constança Cabral)

Em busca de portas :: In the lookout for doors

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Hoje finalmente o sol raiou. Como temi que fosse sol de pouca dura (literalmente), lancei-me, logo de manhã, em busca de portas para fotografar as minhas mais recentes malas. Ando sempre atenta às portas dos prédios e tenho um caderno onde vou escrevendo a sua localização e respectivas cores. Gosto de portas de madeira em prédios até 1920; a partir dessa altura, as portas passam a ser em ferro e, apesar de algumas serem fabulosas, não se prestam tão bem a este tipo de fotografias.
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Today the sun shone at last. I couldn’t afford to miss this chance so I went looking for attractive doors first thing in the morning. I always keep my eyes open for building doors and I have a notebook where I write down my favourites, their colour and location. I prefer wooden doors in buildings up to 1920; from that decade onwards doors tend to be made out of metal and, although some of them look fab, they just don’t work as well for this kind of photos.
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Uma das portas estava aberta e entrei. No átrio, deparei-me com traço antigos, claro, e uns azulejos daqueles que de tão feios se tornam únicos e… uhm… giros. Talvez porque já se tenham passado tantos anos desde o seu fabrico e por serem tão kitsch. O que é certo é que se revelaram o cenário ideal para a mais excessiva das minhas carteiras, feita com um exuberante tecido tradicional chinês que comprei em Nova Iorque. Vim para casa toda contente com tanto potencial ao virar da esquina, e pus as malas na loja.
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One of those doors happend to be open and I stepped inside. In the entryway I stumbled across old features, of course, and tiles so ugly that they are unique and… uhm… cute. Maybe because it’s been a while since they were made and because thay are just so kitsch. Thruth is they were the perfect scenario for shooting my most excessive bag, made with an exuberant traditional Chinese print I bought in NYC. I came home excited with so much potential just around the corner, and I listed the bags in my shop.
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(images: Constança Cabral)

My creative space – take 1

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Esta semana participo no desafio “my creative space”, mostrando os works in progress na minha mesa de corte (= mesa de refeições). Ontem à noite estive a cortar mais clutches e a escolher tecidos para os respectivos forros; hoje espero coser algumas.
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This week is my first attempt at “my creative space”, posting an image of what’s in progress on my cutting table (aka my dining table). Last night I was busy cutting some more clutches and choosing fabrics; today I’m hoping to sew some of them.


(image: Constança Cabral)