a outra mafalda

You can see that this week the theme around here is the Oscars. It doesn't mean that I'm not thinking about other things... This week have been an hectic one. I've been finishing a part of project started long time ago. It's nice to see something things come to an end and starting new stages.

As for my professional life I'm also about to start on another stage of my professional life. Emotionally the last days have been hectic. A lot of things might change in the near future. I can't lie that I'm scared, but the change is necessary. I'm on the verge of becoming a 26 year old, and though I have a face of a teenage girl, those years are long gone. I can't help myself to feel that I was more mature, focused and goal oriented 10 years ago than now. But it was easier to be that way on that time. I had a purpose- study, have good grades to go to the university. And I already knew which one I wanted to go and what I wanted to study. I had a plan and I was working on it. In the middle of university the question of what's next was imposing and I found I didn't have a clear answer. I didn't have a security net any-more. I took me some years to realise it was ok this situation, that I still had to work to build, find and pursue my dreams. That it was ok to be insecure, and that was also ok to change the dreams that I had. It wasn't a failure found out that you didn't accomplish your previous dream, just because your dreams have changed.
Is this to be grown up? It's nothing like the movies, but when in need for an escape for this reality movies and books are good way to do it.

I come to accept that I like the life I have, I also like the path I'm currently taking. I think it's the right one for me. More important, I feel that it's the right one for me. It's not like the movies, for sure, but I don't mind at all. It's mine and I'm happy with it!

This hasn't happen for awhile, I was going to talk about the Oscars and ended in a retrospective of my past and current life. You can see what I have to say about the Oscars this year in the Nuts for Paper blog. It's all for now, see you next week!
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Esta semana parece que só falo sobre os Óscares. Mas na verdade é apenas um pequeno escape, porque tenho passado bastante tempo a pensar noutras coisas. Esta semana foi bastante agitada. Estive a terminar uma etapa de um projecto que se prolonga já há algum tempo. É bom fechar certos capítulos e começar novos.

A nível profissional estou prestes a começar um novo capítulo. Muitas mudanças podem-se registar brevemente. Não posso esconder que estou um pouco assustada, mas a mudança é mais do que necessária. Estou prestes a fazer 26 anos, e apesar de ter cara de menina, esses anos há muito que desapareceram. Não deixo de sentir que há 10 anos atrás era mais madura, focada e orientada para cumprir objectivos. Mas também era mais fácil de o ser na altura, visto que tinha um objectivo e planos para seguir. Queria ir a universidade X, tirar design. Era só uma questão de trabalhar nesse sentido. A meio de universidade as dúvidas sobre o que fazer a seguir começaram a atormentar-me a cabeça. E descobri que não tinha uma resposta certa. Já não tinha a minha de rede de segurança. Demorei alguns anos a perceber que era uma situação normal, e que tinha que continuar a trabalhar para encontrar e construir os meus sonhos. Que não faz mal sentirmos inseguranças, e que também não faz mal mudarmos os nossos sonhos. Se nós crescesmos, é perfeitamente normal que os nossos sonhos crescem e mudem como nós.
É isto que é ser adulto? Não é nada como nos filmes, no entanto os filmes e os livros são excelentes para quando se quer escapar à realidade.

Sabem o que descobri recentemente? Que aceito a vida que tenho, e que até gosto bastante dela. Gosto deste caminho que escolhi. Acho que é o caminho certo para mim. Sinto que é o caminho certo. Não é como os filmes, de certeza, mas isso não me interessa. É o meu caminho e estou satisfeita com ele!!

Algo assim não me acontecia à algum tempo, eu ia falar dos Óscares e acabei por fazer uma pequena retrospensão sobre a minha vida. Se quiserem ler sobre o que escrevi sobre os Óscares podem sempre espreitar no blog da Nuts for Paper. Por agora é tudo, até para a semana!

You are probably thinking something like put we're still in the winter, and next is spring, why are you already making things about fall/autumn?

Well because I was challenge to. Recently I created another cover for Nuts for Paper planner with autumn theme. I've also been thinking that I would be fun to create more botanical patterns. I've always been a fan of some flower patterns, and I'm thinking it might be fun to create a few of my own making.


This time it's a fall and leaves themed pattern. But next time? Who knows? It might something more spring time. We will see. See you next time!

Usually for these type  of sketches I'll find inspiration online, through the blogs and websites I scroll.
One thing I've really missded was to draw people in street style.


Of course my new babbies, aka my new Copic markers also we're a plus on going back drawing. Between those, poscas and watercolours I can actually make some really nice things.


For Nuts for Paper we had a custom order for a plannwe autumnal elements. After I had the line art for the digital versions I had this urge of painting them.


Recently I've also found out that drawing trees and trunks is quite relaxing. Now I laugh at my old self for so many years avoid drawing trees. "- You see now, it's not that hard! You just have to keep drawing them."

I was trying to get in to this year's Carnival theme in my hometown. I'm happy with the result of pattern, but still not in the mood for Carnival. Oh well, maybe next year.

What do you think about these patterns?

*Did you notice I've been using a lot a pink lately? And it's not even my favourite colour at all!

It's not a secret that I like (and like here mean love) food. So I was very excited when the oportunity to create this pattern came.

The original artwork was for a pattern from a planner for a Nuts for Paper custom order, You will be able to see it this week's Thursday Bits. The cover is illustration portrait of too cute rats.
In conversation with the future owner of that planner we decide for the back cover would be fun to have a pattern. There is this common knowledge of the relationship between rats and cheese, so the cheese would have to be there, but if you ever had a rat you know that most of the time you feed it with raw green leaves vegetables (like spinach) and grains. We decide to go with cheese and spinach.

Can you guess why I was thrilled with this? Because I also love cheese and spinach, it's one of those things I wouldn't mind eat all days for the rest of my life.

And this is the 4th pattern in the 52 Week Challenge Pattern Design that I'm doing this year.




Other Patterns in the Challenge can be checked in the INDEX

Since last year I'm a participating member of Torres Toastmasters.
Toastmasters if you don't know it's an international organization where people can develop public speaking and leadership skills. Since last year there is a club in my hometown and I'm part of it.

As a designer and illustrator I've been creating a few posters now and then for the club.
Today I would like to share two of them.


The first one is the most recent I've created. It's Carnival and Love related, because in the 16th we are going to have a special session about both things.
I confess that I've struggled a lot to do this poster. I think it shows a bit. I'm not feeling particular in the carnival mood, neither in a romantic mood. But oh well, I've figured that two masked figures with hearts would to the fix... for now.


Back in September we've done another special event, this time about grape harvest and the art of wine producing. Since it was an outdoor event I try to give a look like it was a picnic. I actually had a lot of fun creating all the little details of this poster. Although I've struggled a little with the ammount of text it was necessary to held.


And finally the third poster is Torres Vedras related, it has our iconic castle and course our famous dessert bean pastries. It's the regular and also the image of the club, and where we announce the dates of our events.

They are all very different and fun to explore.
I hope you like them!

#3 Week of the 52 Pattern Challenge

If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen some horse drawing I've done recently (I will share them very soon here too). I wanted to create something different from what I usually do.
So I started to play with colours and patterns. Then it crossed my mind one portuguese children song that I use to sing all the time about a little horse made of paper on a carousel and also one phrase that I've see very often on tumblr - Always be yourself. Unless you can be a unicorn. Then always be a unicorn.
Yes my mind have misterious ways of working sometimes.

Instead of a regular carousel, I've created a mobile carousel with pink unicorns (because for some sort of reason I think the unicorns can be pink... I mean they are so awesome that they can be in any colour they wish!).

After that I've played a little bit more with colours and contrast, and choose three versions to share.
What's your thoughts about it?





and of course here is the unicorn!


Other Patterns in the Challenge can be checked in the INDEX

Before sharing another pattern (this week's pattern) I have something yet to share.
In the first days of January I've done a special gift for a friend of my grandma. Both of them like a lot lace, embroidery and knitting things. This friend is always bringing and showing new and old projects to my grandma. Recently she showed us both some really old based drawings based on lace projects that we're from her mother. As her birthday was approaching, me and grandma gathered up and though about creating a pillow with an illustration inspired in those old drawings that we have been shown.



Since there was no much time to actually draw and paint the pillow, I didn't do any sketch and jump into the final artwork.
Started to lightly sketch the fabric with pencil, as soon I was satisfied with the drawing I started the painting process. Everything was painted with acrylics, fabric acrylics and fabric medium, and it was finished with fabric black marker.


Unfortunately there was no chance to take a photo to the final pillow, but still, here are a few details of the final illustration.


A little bit different from what I've been doing, but quite refreshing, at least for me. What's you're thoughts on the final illustration?

I still don't have words or a way to react to what happened yesterday in France.
But to me it only made sense this week pattern to be this #jesuischarlie
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Ainda não tenho palavras ou reações ao que se passou ontem em França.
Mas para mim a única coisa que fazia sentido esta semana como padrão é isto.

#2 Week - 52 Challenge Pattern Design

provably not one of my best works, but one of the most emotional.

Last year I decided to try the 365 challenge. Around mid May I gave up counting drawings. I'm pretty sure I've made 365 drawing/illustrations (or even more). It was a good thing to actually count them for awhile and know that I was on the right track.

This year I was undecided if trying again the 365 challenge or making something else. But today I've made my mind.

Every year has 52 weeks, the challenge I want to make is 52 weeks Pattern Design Challenge.
As you probably know in Nuts for Paper I'm always creating patterns. Sometimes it's a challenge to make them work. But I rarely create patterns just for myself.

The challenge is set and the first one is already here and it's already a favourite - because of cactus!
Cactus and succulents have been a trend in the past couple years, but for me it's long time love relationship because either at my parents house or my grandparents there was always loads of different cactus and succulents. And though when I was little I fell over twice over them (the ones with pointy spines - ouch) I still like them a lot. Recently I've been trying to incorporate more cactus in my drawings. So this kind of pattern is perfect for me. (I even make it my computer background!)

Let me know in the comments what do you think about this project and themes for next weeks!
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O ano passado tentei o desafio dos 365 desenhos, sem grandes regras e temas. A meio de Maio deixei de contar desenhos, e quando me dei conta estava quase 100 desenhos atrasada e acabei por desistir. Mas tenho a certeza que fiz 365 desenhos/ilustrações diferentes, senão mais. Foi bom contá-los durante um tempo e ter a noção que todos os pequenos desenhos e esboços contam. Aliás penso que nem tinha a noção de quantos desenhos fazia.

Este ano estava indecisa se tentava repetir o desafio de 365 desenhos ou se fazia algo diferente. Mas hoje decidi-me!

Todos os anos têm 52 semanas. Já tenho visto vários desafios semanais em vez de diários. Por isso decidi experimentar. O desafio é criar 52 padrões diferentes ao longo do ano. Como devem saber na Nuts for Paper estou sempre a criar novos padrões, mas raramente o faço para mim.

O desafio está lançado e o primeiro está feito, e já é um favorito, simplesmente porque têm cactos!
Os cactos e as suculentas estão na "moda" já à um par de anos, mas para mim são uma paixão muito antiga! Desde pequena que estou sempre rodeada de cactos, seja em casa dos meus pais ou na casa dos meus avós. E apesar de vários acidentes com os mesmos (mesmo com aqueles cheios de picos que se enfiam na pele e não se vêm mas doem e bastante!) continuo a gostar muito deles. Mais recentemente tenho tentado incorporar desenhos de cactos nas minhas ilustrações. Por isso este padrão é perfeito para mim. (é tão perfeito que é o meu fundo do computador e capa no facebook!)

Deixem as vossas opiniões nos comentários sobre este desafio e sugestões de temas para  as próximas semanas!

#1 Week - Pattern Design Challenge - Potted Cactus