My new junk journal
Just realizing it s been more than 3 years since my last post! Oh my…. so many new adventures up and downs..the truth is all the social media network become too much for me at one point…i took one big step backwards continued creating at my own pace in my studio really grow and improve as an artist decorated two flats in the north of portugal continued the profound and deep journey with Byron Katie the work started here in lisbon a new regressive therapy course that is very challenging …and of course continue my job as a flight attendant with Air France while dreaming of becoming a full time artist!
Happy New Year 2016
Happy New Year Find time to create it s a challenge in my day to day life seems there are always more important stuff to accomplish! Notice that I have those crazy thoughts “I need to be there for the others” if I take time for me it s selfish(you should be available, present blabla….for the other) so my goal for 2016 is simply to Love myself a little more… What s yours? xo xo
Notebooks to cherish
LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal LIFE PRINCIPLE #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES THINGS #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal ENCOURAGE YOUR HOPES NOT YOUR FEARS #notebook # agenda # hippie …
TALISMAN NECKLACES…
HOPE YOU LIKE I DO MADE OUT OF PASSION AND LOVE #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # SUCCESS #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # BE WILD #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # ALIVE …
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Published in HAPPY MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED Below is FB link where you can find the talisman necklaces and bracelets. https://www.facebook.com/alexcastroferreirascrapbooking Universe is friendly THANK YOU
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
When a man loves a woman…
Latest album ordered by a beautiful woman for her wedding. At first the album was her special heart gift for her husband to be but i sense when creating why not make it a surprise for them both? So they had their wedding in the midst of the forest(how cool is that?) along with their three children, family and friendsand in the next morning they opened the album which celebrates their mutual love. Here is just a glimpse of it of course as the fotos are private… Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice week end xo
Momento Mágico…
Recebi este mail lindo e queria partihar. (Sorry for those who don’t speak portuguese, received this magic mail from a client and was touched to tears. Beautiful written…someone with a true soul) Olá Alexandra!Conheci o seu trabalho há uns dois anos através do seu marido.Explico-lhe como se passou:Era Dezembro e fazia frio. Andava a divagar pelo Chiado aquele sitio que nao esquecemos pela luz e vida incrível, aquele lugar que nos trás algumas lembranças e memórias de infância, aquele Chiado que está sempre diferente a cada momento, que nos transporta para fora de nós e nos faz sentir livres por sermos quem somos.Andava a divagar depois de uma fim de semana romântico em que celebrávamos,como sempre, os anos do S, deambulava pelas ruas olhando para tudo e para nada.Mas de repente parei porque nao consegui andar mais.Parei numa pequena banca com coisas lindas, cheias de história e histórias. Fiquei vidrada.Reparei que pertencia a um Homem com ar distinto e afável e por isso perguntei:“É o senhor que faz?”Ao que me respondeu com um sorriso eterno nos olhos: “Nao, é a minha …
A woman in love
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On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
A man in Love…
My last album is most of the time my favorite one! I have sold quite a few lately which is good of course but realize that i have some trouble with it. I know that my clients will cherish and appreciate them but still…i miss those who are gone forever. I know that my fellow artists have the same feeling…A customer was telling me that what she liked about my work was that it convey a fragility and force at the same time. She loved the authenticity of my work understanding how family and being connected was the backbone of it and yet there is still space for the unknown and my private garden, she was confinding. Wow thank you! I had wings that day, the sky seemed unlimited…I want to hold those good feelings and thoughts Heading to Washington DC and… to Paper Source in Georgetown. Have a good week Enjoy Have fun Open up XO
Being in Love…
If I could have just one wish,I would wish to wake up everydayto the sound of your breath on my neck,the warmth of your lips on my cheek,the touch of your fingers on my skin,and the feel of your heart beating with mine…Knowing that I could never find that feelingwith anyone other than you. Hope you like my new album! Dedicated to the lovers of the world… Those who’ve just fall in love and others like myself who are married with a prince for a couple of years Xo
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
When a man loves a woman…
Latest album ordered by a beautiful woman for her wedding. At first the album was her special heart gift for her husband to be but i sense when creating why not make it a surprise for them both? So they had their wedding in the midst of the forest(how cool is that?) along with their three children, family and friendsand in the next morning they opened the album which celebrates their mutual love. Here is just a glimpse of it of course as the fotos are private… Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice week end xo
Momento Mágico…
Recebi este mail lindo e queria partihar. (Sorry for those who don’t speak portuguese, received this magic mail from a client and was touched to tears. Beautiful written…someone with a true soul) Olá Alexandra!Conheci o seu trabalho há uns dois anos através do seu marido.Explico-lhe como se passou:Era Dezembro e fazia frio. Andava a divagar pelo Chiado aquele sitio que nao esquecemos pela luz e vida incrível, aquele lugar que nos trás algumas lembranças e memórias de infância, aquele Chiado que está sempre diferente a cada momento, que nos transporta para fora de nós e nos faz sentir livres por sermos quem somos.Andava a divagar depois de uma fim de semana romântico em que celebrávamos,como sempre, os anos do S, deambulava pelas ruas olhando para tudo e para nada.Mas de repente parei porque nao consegui andar mais.Parei numa pequena banca com coisas lindas, cheias de história e histórias. Fiquei vidrada.Reparei que pertencia a um Homem com ar distinto e afável e por isso perguntei:“É o senhor que faz?”Ao que me respondeu com um sorriso eterno nos olhos: “Nao, é a minha …
A woman in love
# scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
On trust…
I haven’t blog for a while…which is not a good thing say the experts! One must write a page at least once a week…I am not a professional blogger and won’t become one because the web world is not what thrives me…so the issue here is accepting the fact that maybe my blog will not be highly ranked on google. My inner voice keep whispering, don’t push yourself too much things will come in an easy and smooth way, and you know what? I will do just that… cool myself and trust God that he will take me where i should be. I realize over the years that one of the most difficult things we human have to deal with is … TO JUST LET GO TO TRUST How difficult is to trust When to act When to remain quiet How can we let go something that we want so much? How? Advices are most welcome! Have a good week Feel blessed Thank you XO
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
Momento Mágico…
Recebi este mail lindo e queria partihar. (Sorry for those who don’t speak portuguese, received this magic mail from a client and was touched to tears. Beautiful written…someone with a true soul) Olá Alexandra!Conheci o seu trabalho há uns dois anos através do seu marido.Explico-lhe como se passou:Era Dezembro e fazia frio. Andava a divagar pelo Chiado aquele sitio que nao esquecemos pela luz e vida incrível, aquele lugar que nos trás algumas lembranças e memórias de infância, aquele Chiado que está sempre diferente a cada momento, que nos transporta para fora de nós e nos faz sentir livres por sermos quem somos.Andava a divagar depois de uma fim de semana romântico em que celebrávamos,como sempre, os anos do S, deambulava pelas ruas olhando para tudo e para nada.Mas de repente parei porque nao consegui andar mais.Parei numa pequena banca com coisas lindas, cheias de história e histórias. Fiquei vidrada.Reparei que pertencia a um Homem com ar distinto e afável e por isso perguntei:“É o senhor que faz?”Ao que me respondeu com um sorriso eterno nos olhos: “Nao, é a minha …
A woman in love
# scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
On trust…
I haven’t blog for a while…which is not a good thing say the experts! One must write a page at least once a week…I am not a professional blogger and won’t become one because the web world is not what thrives me…so the issue here is accepting the fact that maybe my blog will not be highly ranked on google. My inner voice keep whispering, don’t push yourself too much things will come in an easy and smooth way, and you know what? I will do just that… cool myself and trust God that he will take me where i should be. I realize over the years that one of the most difficult things we human have to deal with is … TO JUST LET GO TO TRUST How difficult is to trust When to act When to remain quiet How can we let go something that we want so much? How? Advices are most welcome! Have a good week Feel blessed Thank you XO
A man in Love…
My last album is most of the time my favorite one! I have sold quite a few lately which is good of course but realize that i have some trouble with it. I know that my clients will cherish and appreciate them but still…i miss those who are gone forever. I know that my fellow artists have the same feeling…A customer was telling me that what she liked about my work was that it convey a fragility and force at the same time. She loved the authenticity of my work understanding how family and being connected was the backbone of it and yet there is still space for the unknown and my private garden, she was confinding. Wow thank you! I had wings that day, the sky seemed unlimited…I want to hold those good feelings and thoughts Heading to Washington DC and… to Paper Source in Georgetown. Have a good week Enjoy Have fun Open up XO
Being in Love…
If I could have just one wish,I would wish to wake up everydayto the sound of your breath on my neck,the warmth of your lips on my cheek,the touch of your fingers on my skin,and the feel of your heart beating with mine…Knowing that I could never find that feelingwith anyone other than you. Hope you like my new album! Dedicated to the lovers of the world… Those who’ve just fall in love and others like myself who are married with a prince for a couple of years Xo
Happy Birthday Maman
My mom is truly a rare and unique soul. My mom is on the giving My mom is connected with her heart My mom is always present and available for those who need help My mom is wisdom My mom is compassion My mom is authenticity My mom is generosity My mom is happiness My mom is joy My mom is energy My mom is intuition My mom is beauty My mom is an old soul My mom is my best friend My mom is the backbone of my life I want to tell her that she’s done a great “mom job” no matter her doubts… je t aime maman
What are you needs?
I have been doing some journaling but in a random way as i’m completely out of time…can’t wait for my next holidays! Last week was one to forget as in the same day i get a fine, my husband’s three month new Mac went off and an old lady didn’t respect the stop sign and run into my car! My back is going through rough turbulences desesperately asking for a good massage… Yesterday i was caught while driving speaking on my cell…and a miracle did happen as the officer didn’t charge me. I felt at that moment that i was indeed highly protected. I need to rest I need silence I need beach sea and sun I need to come home… What are your needs? What do you wish for? Have a good week Xo
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
TALISMAN NECKLACES…
HOPE YOU LIKE I DO MADE OUT OF PASSION AND LOVE #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # SUCCESS #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # BE WILD #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # ALIVE …
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
Life is good…
It’s 7h30 in the morning and i’m already wake up…thanks to my special teacher katie Kendrick! I’m completely addict to her faces having a notebook with me all the time and practicing practicing… She’s a wonderful creative inspiring teacher giving us a tons of tecnhiques with an open heart that i don’t get to see often. I was out of my comfort zone and still am but it’s like she granted us with a green light…go girls unleash your creativity. I would love to add to my albums painting as well. I’m really into the mixed media gathering in one piece all sorts of techniques and materials. Above for example I sewed into an old paper a coco leave that i brought from Brazil… This album is on progress…let’s see what comes out of it. I am always wondering when looking at old pictures where they happy? This woman, did she loved the man she married? Was he caring devoted to her?What were her dreams? Her vision of the world? Was she an open minded? Did she give enough? I …
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
I love my life
After 3 days at “Festas de carcavelos” time to relax! Sunny weather here in beautiful Lisbon heading to the beach… The three days were great, very well organized, very good crafting with laughs and good humor. I was next to an artist who makes his own tee shirt each being different and unusual. What i like about him apart from his art is him being so available to share insights informations. Sergio is definitely on the giving an authentic soul which as we know tends to be rare on big cities! Check his site www.id-wear-com I do love being in contact with the public. I am fortunate that they apreciate, recognize my work and my creativity. Now is time to go back to my studio as i am running out of necklaces, notebooks, kits and albums. A special thanks to Frederica who happens to be a stewardess like me who is not only beautiful inside in and out and was the one organizing this event. Check is site too at www.cultodaimagem.com Through my art i meet wonderful souls. I am …
Thoughts…
“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” – Robert Francis Kennedy “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” — Frank Outlaw. Love it…given yesterday by a friend had to share it with you Have a good week Xo
Be blessed
I am still in Seoul going back and forward to Tokyo and have to say that i don’t know anymore where i live! A lot as been said about the tragedy in Japan and how it will affect the world for the months to come. Being an empathic person i can only imagine how difficult it must be to reconstruct, to readjust, to regain composure when nothing seems rights when the pain and the agony is so overwhelming. I deeply admired the strength and the courage of the japanese. Nothing comes out, they keep everything within not to embarass the others. They will no doubt rebuilt and become stronger. As we say in french “je leur tire mon chapeau”( i am in awe) See you in Lisbon… Have a joyful week Remember to give and receive Be blessed Xo
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
Momento Mágico…
Recebi este mail lindo e queria partihar. (Sorry for those who don’t speak portuguese, received this magic mail from a client and was touched to tears. Beautiful written…someone with a true soul) Olá Alexandra!Conheci o seu trabalho há uns dois anos através do seu marido.Explico-lhe como se passou:Era Dezembro e fazia frio. Andava a divagar pelo Chiado aquele sitio que nao esquecemos pela luz e vida incrível, aquele lugar que nos trás algumas lembranças e memórias de infância, aquele Chiado que está sempre diferente a cada momento, que nos transporta para fora de nós e nos faz sentir livres por sermos quem somos.Andava a divagar depois de uma fim de semana romântico em que celebrávamos,como sempre, os anos do S, deambulava pelas ruas olhando para tudo e para nada.Mas de repente parei porque nao consegui andar mais.Parei numa pequena banca com coisas lindas, cheias de história e histórias. Fiquei vidrada.Reparei que pertencia a um Homem com ar distinto e afável e por isso perguntei:“É o senhor que faz?”Ao que me respondeu com um sorriso eterno nos olhos: “Nao, é a minha …
A woman in love
# scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book
A gift from the heart
What to offer for christmas? I like to offer something special that was made out of love and tenderness… My husband loved it! He’s always a big fan of my work..inside i add his father watch, love letters that we usually send to each other, a small bible, earth from sacred Machu Picchu… Heading to the north of Portugal as i have been invited to present my work to a talk show “praça de alegria”so very enthusiastic about it… Will tell you more afterwards. Have a good week Be blessed xo
Obrigado… Merci…Thank you
My stock is becoming thinner! THANK YOU for your trust, confidence and…good taste! Just arrived yesterday from Bangkok pretty exausted as always and was talking with one of my colleagues who ask me if i had bought gifts for christmas in the “mecque” of shopping! Well no i replied because i create what i offer so they are heart gifts! I sense that my clients recognize that, my art being one very emotional and personal which maybe explains the major success we’re having despite the crisis here in Portugal. THANK YOU MERCI OBRIGADO GRACIAS GRAZIE DANKE… Have a nice week Remember to laugh, dance, smile, hug
Yes I can
Love my new spoons…there are more in my studio but the weather was cloudy this morning and i had to rush to take my flight…who is more than 3 hours delayed but still i will manage to arrive in Paris tonight Tomorrow heading to one of the few towns where i would love to live for a year…you name it New York but then Shanghai appeals to me and Rio de Janeiro as well. Different energy different people but i love to mingled and wouldn’t mind settle for a while and discover the “real”town not the tourist one. If i had to pick one then it would be Port Towsend. There’s the amazing mountains views, the beaches, the art galleries, the fabulous mixed-media workshops, Artfest, Artifiberfest, the fisherman’s all this in a small wonderful little town. No crowded plenty of fresh air 2010 is ending 2011 new resolutions GROW LOVE GIVE CREATE RECEIVE FORGIVE LEARN BELIEVE BE HAPPY ACCEPT UNDERSTAND EXERCISE MEDITATE DANCE LAUGH COMUNICATE ACHIEVE LISTEN 2011 wishes Be inspired Create Visit Rome Learn how to take good …
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Notebooks to cherish
LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal LIFE PRINCIPLE #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES THINGS #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal ENCOURAGE YOUR HOPES NOT YOUR FEARS #notebook # agenda # hippie …
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
On trust…
I haven’t blog for a while…which is not a good thing say the experts! One must write a page at least once a week…I am not a professional blogger and won’t become one because the web world is not what thrives me…so the issue here is accepting the fact that maybe my blog will not be highly ranked on google. My inner voice keep whispering, don’t push yourself too much things will come in an easy and smooth way, and you know what? I will do just that… cool myself and trust God that he will take me where i should be. I realize over the years that one of the most difficult things we human have to deal with is … TO JUST LET GO TO TRUST How difficult is to trust When to act When to remain quiet How can we let go something that we want so much? How? Advices are most welcome! Have a good week Feel blessed Thank you XO
A man in Love…
My last album is most of the time my favorite one! I have sold quite a few lately which is good of course but realize that i have some trouble with it. I know that my clients will cherish and appreciate them but still…i miss those who are gone forever. I know that my fellow artists have the same feeling…A customer was telling me that what she liked about my work was that it convey a fragility and force at the same time. She loved the authenticity of my work understanding how family and being connected was the backbone of it and yet there is still space for the unknown and my private garden, she was confinding. Wow thank you! I had wings that day, the sky seemed unlimited…I want to hold those good feelings and thoughts Heading to Washington DC and… to Paper Source in Georgetown. Have a good week Enjoy Have fun Open up XO
What are you needs?
I have been doing some journaling but in a random way as i’m completely out of time…can’t wait for my next holidays! Last week was one to forget as in the same day i get a fine, my husband’s three month new Mac went off and an old lady didn’t respect the stop sign and run into my car! My back is going through rough turbulences desesperately asking for a good massage… Yesterday i was caught while driving speaking on my cell…and a miracle did happen as the officer didn’t charge me. I felt at that moment that i was indeed highly protected. I need to rest I need silence I need beach sea and sun I need to come home… What are your needs? What do you wish for? Have a good week Xo
On tolerance…
Where do you come from? A simple and direct question…I come from Portugal by my father and France by my mother.I am proud of either country which i guess is certainly your case too? I witnessed a friend who is from Algeria hide it because she didn’t want to create bad vibes in a dinner! They were americans, brazilians, french citizens … all drinking caipirinhas savouring the moment. How come being a muslim is something that you have to silence? I felt in my heart all the pain, sadness, anger she carries within her, trapped and locked crying for release. The drawings above represent a step towards tolerance because they are inexperienced sketches. I prefer to post what i consider being my “good” work but it’s a kind of tribute to this friend, aventuring myself out of my comfort zone which are altered books. Don’t be afraid of others judgements or rejection they will always exist but be proud of who you are no matter what. Have a good week I will continue practicing over and over… XO
Work in progress…
My cat Frimousse or “mousse a pala” as a close friend calls him seems to like my new albums! The covers are most of the times what inspires me first then i add the inside pages. The typing letters above “AMO” mean I LOVE in portuguese. I struggle every day with my need of independency and my need of being in couple. I find it hard sometimes to be there…present and available. I find it hard to deal with his problems mine others… My life as certainly yours is composed of beautiful sunshine days and of heavy storms…not to say wild tornados! How to cope with it? Drink a caipirinha…fly away…meditate? For now i will choose meditation it’s safer! Have a good week PS: I’m reading a very intimate book from Daniel Meurois Givaudan (check out his website www.meurois-givaudan.com) called “le testament des trois Marie “. The legend said that Marie Salomé, Marie- Jacobée and Marie- Madalena were Jesus closest disciples. Many years has passed since the exil, they met again in Camargue at “Saintes-Marie-de-la-mer and open up their hearts …
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
What are your strengths?
Do you know what are your strengths? or like most of us you are trying to improve your weaknesses? I have just discovered this excellent book “strengths finder 2.0” by Tom Rath where he explains just that. How in the occidental and even in the oriental world our education is based on improving our weaknesses, how the enterprises nowadays run endless workshops on “how to improve yourself” in areas where we lack talent! Some of the attendees will have success because of their natural talents with or without workshops but most of us will strive for it. So this book relates to our natural talents, there’s this online test in the language of your choice and the result is in english about 2mn later or within weeks by mail in your own language. Natural talents i kept repeating it because though i sense it by now (i m more than 40 remember!) i wouldn’t have told you they are talents! They are 34 themes that the Gallup organization have come out with and they verified over and over that people have …
Cadeaux de Noel
Tomorrow another market “Craft and design”, the forecast is a cloudy but sunny day with temperatures around 13C which is ok considering the wave of low temperature in europe at the moment. I still have plenty of unfinished albums at my studio but running out of time to complete them so i will relax today as everything is ready to pack, must be my german side! I can say that the previous year was a determinant one for me despite my tiredness i manage to create a lot. With insight 2010 was a determinant year for me: I am proud of me I love myself inside in an out I am an artist I was able to create I have a place to create I have plenty of new ideas I am truly blessed I love my life I accept the up and downs I engulfed into them I love my albums I love my spoons I love notebooks I love my necklaces I love my art world I love being alive I love my nests I love the …
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
On tolerance…
Where do you come from? A simple and direct question…I come from Portugal by my father and France by my mother.I am proud of either country which i guess is certainly your case too? I witnessed a friend who is from Algeria hide it because she didn’t want to create bad vibes in a dinner! They were americans, brazilians, french citizens … all drinking caipirinhas savouring the moment. How come being a muslim is something that you have to silence? I felt in my heart all the pain, sadness, anger she carries within her, trapped and locked crying for release. The drawings above represent a step towards tolerance because they are inexperienced sketches. I prefer to post what i consider being my “good” work but it’s a kind of tribute to this friend, aventuring myself out of my comfort zone which are altered books. Don’t be afraid of others judgements or rejection they will always exist but be proud of who you are no matter what. Have a good week I will continue practicing over and over… XO
A gift from the heart
What to offer for christmas? I like to offer something special that was made out of love and tenderness… My husband loved it! He’s always a big fan of my work..inside i add his father watch, love letters that we usually send to each other, a small bible, earth from sacred Machu Picchu… Heading to the north of Portugal as i have been invited to present my work to a talk show “praça de alegria”so very enthusiastic about it… Will tell you more afterwards. Have a good week Be blessed xo
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
Being impatient…
I am very far from home and longing to come back. Last night i watch all over again Katie Kendrick awesome videos about collage and painting and i’m rather impatient to be in my studio. I love her way of teaching and sharing. I have to overcome the nagging fear of not being capable then, last night i was surfing and come accross Lynn Whipple blog. I knew her work already but haven’t seen her tutorials videos nor her 100 bad paintings as she call them. There’s the 8 steps video which is not only fun but inspiring where she acurately describes the process of creating with all our doubts, fears, wanting to gave up blabla but in the end we just have to keep on trying because creating is what makes us feeling whole. We practice and practice and sometimes it seems that everything flows and then again we feel stuck. It’s really an ongoing process, to know that it happens with all of us who have this need to create feels reassuring and comforting. I think she called …
Human fragility
I realize how easy it is to fly to ” the land of victims” we all do it once in a while, some more than others but eventually it feels good to be the victim “poor me”. I have just made a difficult flight, the crew were great, half of us went dancing till dawn which feels so good and then everything fell apart as one of us was robbed. She went frantic and completely out of control which in itself was rather scary. We felt completely powerless at first then our anger started to grow up as we realize that all her catastrophes ( cancer, broken teeth, death in her family….) was an invention and we felt cheated! She threaten us about suicide, that life was not worth living…i can tell you it was quite complicated to handle and the hours went on and on we were exausted so in the end we had to call for a doctor. Now that it passed i realize how much pain and despair she must carry within her to invent so many …
Be blessed
I am still in Seoul going back and forward to Tokyo and have to say that i don’t know anymore where i live! A lot as been said about the tragedy in Japan and how it will affect the world for the months to come. Being an empathic person i can only imagine how difficult it must be to reconstruct, to readjust, to regain composure when nothing seems rights when the pain and the agony is so overwhelming. I deeply admired the strength and the courage of the japanese. Nothing comes out, they keep everything within not to embarass the others. They will no doubt rebuilt and become stronger. As we say in french “je leur tire mon chapeau”( i am in awe) See you in Lisbon… Have a joyful week Remember to give and receive Be blessed Xo
Cadeaux de Noel
Tomorrow another market “Craft and design”, the forecast is a cloudy but sunny day with temperatures around 13C which is ok considering the wave of low temperature in europe at the moment. I still have plenty of unfinished albums at my studio but running out of time to complete them so i will relax today as everything is ready to pack, must be my german side! I can say that the previous year was a determinant one for me despite my tiredness i manage to create a lot. With insight 2010 was a determinant year for me: I am proud of me I love myself inside in an out I am an artist I was able to create I have a place to create I have plenty of new ideas I am truly blessed I love my life I accept the up and downs I engulfed into them I love my albums I love my spoons I love notebooks I love my necklaces I love my art world I love being alive I love my nests I love the …
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
MISSING ARTFEST
Nina s Class….she is such a beautiful artist inside in and out. I simply love her work, her style, her humor and her authenticity. i am blessed we all are to attend her classes and gosh she is so fun……… and Misty Mawn…also so delicate, seems so fragile and yet so strong.I love her work too, such a talent I am a big fan, her portraits always touch me in a deepest way. Her class was very, very challenging for me but I definetely enjoyed it and will have more in the future It s time to say goodbye to ARTFEST 2009 , difficult as normal life has already catch me up but I just have to close my eyes and there I am again in the morning waiting for breakfast lingering buy the beach admiring the amazing vue sharing with Amanda(up at 6am as me) our dreams our goals and then the excitement before the class, seeing again Nina and her extraordinary charisma that reminds me so much of my own mom and then sharing again with my roommates …
ARTFEST GIRLS 2009
I am truly blessed to have been part of Artfest girls.It was a fantastic experience! My roommates are the best one can have; Michelle your margaritas are awesome bring more next year! I will bring some french and portuguese wine… Nikki “ravey-ioli” I loved your beautiful story of your grandpa, what an example. Cherryl “cheese chips” thank you so much for the lovely banners, we had fun in Nina´s class and give me your address so I can mail you vintage french papers…It was so cool sharing the bedroom with you Girls I wasn´t the only one speaking while sleeping!!! didn´t figure out who it was… Thank you Jo, you were my guardian angel! you gave me such inspiring ideas…unmounting a clock! that´s great. we will meet hopefully in september in Paris. Amanda you are a beautiful person inside in and out, your bracelet and your flowers were great(yes….they are)My husband just bought me a GPS I immediately thought of you!!! Adeola you are fun and never had the chance to thank you for having wait for me at the …
ARTFEST 2009
Finally, I arrive home exausted but so fulfilled…It was such an amazing incredible experience! I will come next year, that´s for sure. I simply love it from the registration, Teesha and Tracy wonderful organization, everything so well prepared, explained, it just flows… This is dorm 202…the place to be Thank you Teesha and Tracy you guys are simply wonderful…you provide us the very best
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
On trust…
I haven’t blog for a while…which is not a good thing say the experts! One must write a page at least once a week…I am not a professional blogger and won’t become one because the web world is not what thrives me…so the issue here is accepting the fact that maybe my blog will not be highly ranked on google. My inner voice keep whispering, don’t push yourself too much things will come in an easy and smooth way, and you know what? I will do just that… cool myself and trust God that he will take me where i should be. I realize over the years that one of the most difficult things we human have to deal with is … TO JUST LET GO TO TRUST How difficult is to trust When to act When to remain quiet How can we let go something that we want so much? How? Advices are most welcome! Have a good week Feel blessed Thank you XO
A man in Love…
My last album is most of the time my favorite one! I have sold quite a few lately which is good of course but realize that i have some trouble with it. I know that my clients will cherish and appreciate them but still…i miss those who are gone forever. I know that my fellow artists have the same feeling…A customer was telling me that what she liked about my work was that it convey a fragility and force at the same time. She loved the authenticity of my work understanding how family and being connected was the backbone of it and yet there is still space for the unknown and my private garden, she was confinding. Wow thank you! I had wings that day, the sky seemed unlimited…I want to hold those good feelings and thoughts Heading to Washington DC and… to Paper Source in Georgetown. Have a good week Enjoy Have fun Open up XO
Being in Love…
If I could have just one wish,I would wish to wake up everydayto the sound of your breath on my neck,the warmth of your lips on my cheek,the touch of your fingers on my skin,and the feel of your heart beating with mine…Knowing that I could never find that feelingwith anyone other than you. Hope you like my new album! Dedicated to the lovers of the world… Those who’ve just fall in love and others like myself who are married with a prince for a couple of years Xo
Human fragility
I realize how easy it is to fly to ” the land of victims” we all do it once in a while, some more than others but eventually it feels good to be the victim “poor me”. I have just made a difficult flight, the crew were great, half of us went dancing till dawn which feels so good and then everything fell apart as one of us was robbed. She went frantic and completely out of control which in itself was rather scary. We felt completely powerless at first then our anger started to grow up as we realize that all her catastrophes ( cancer, broken teeth, death in her family….) was an invention and we felt cheated! She threaten us about suicide, that life was not worth living…i can tell you it was quite complicated to handle and the hours went on and on we were exausted so in the end we had to call for a doctor. Now that it passed i realize how much pain and despair she must carry within her to invent so many …
What are your strengths?
Do you know what are your strengths? or like most of us you are trying to improve your weaknesses? I have just discovered this excellent book “strengths finder 2.0” by Tom Rath where he explains just that. How in the occidental and even in the oriental world our education is based on improving our weaknesses, how the enterprises nowadays run endless workshops on “how to improve yourself” in areas where we lack talent! Some of the attendees will have success because of their natural talents with or without workshops but most of us will strive for it. So this book relates to our natural talents, there’s this online test in the language of your choice and the result is in english about 2mn later or within weeks by mail in your own language. Natural talents i kept repeating it because though i sense it by now (i m more than 40 remember!) i wouldn’t have told you they are talents! They are 34 themes that the Gallup organization have come out with and they verified over and over that people have …
A working girl…
I realized over the months that i’m struggling to keep up with my blog. I feel that i have lost my voice and have turn it into something politically correct! The true is that i am not a full time artist, dreams to be though, but in the meantime my life consists mainly in traveling around the world. In a month, I fly to 3 countries like Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok, multiply by 11 months plus the holidays it sounds crazy how i can still find energy to create something in my studio! The truth is that i am pretty exausted and can only imagine my friends who have kids because they cannot rest at all. So my blog till now wanted to related more about my art than the rest of my life and that’s where the problems arise! I am a working girl who dreams to become an artists! Like thousands of girls outhere who struggled to keep up with a passion despite the lack of time. So from now on i will post about my …
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
Homesick…
I have been in Paris for 4 days heading to Rio de Janeiro tonight both are extraordinary cities but still I miss my husband. I miss his smile, his touch, his kisses, his tenderness and passion …after 9 years of marriage i should be more independent but i am not and don’t plan to be. All my female friends are the same i guess it runs on our genes then for the fortunates ones came the unconditional love for their children but i acknowledge everyday how women’s life are bound to their man. A friend was telling me that she should be more assertive, that she should have more rules…which i replied that a woman in love function with her heart not her mental. Nothing prevails the emotion of being connected, being united, feeling whole. I will drink a caipirinha to love Have a good week end xo
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Published in HAPPY MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED Below is FB link where you can find the talisman necklaces and bracelets. https://www.facebook.com/alexcastroferreirascrapbooking Universe is friendly THANK YOU
Spring necklaces
HOPE YOU LIKE THEM… I DO MAKE THEM YOURS… HAVE A GOOD WEEK Be blessed Check this instructive blog who gives you all the tools about how to improve your intuition Psychotherapist Sylviane JUNG http://lescheminsdelintuition.com xo xo xo
Online shop…Etsy
Eureka! I have open my Etsy shop come and visit me… I choose the banner above for my shop so i’ll know my grandmother and mother will keep an eye on me and will certainly show me the way with their inner intuition and wisdom. Hope you’ll like it. My first choice is the Once upon a time album who is very unique and special. I want to thank my artfriend Catherine Whalen Mitchel who deeply encouraged me to go for it! I know i have a true connection with the United States and my artfriends. A new adventure begins…I am very enthusiastic about it. Wish me luck Have a good week Xo
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Beautiful Nest
Look what my husband found this week-end in the woods…it’s the most beautiful and touching gift I received in ages. I have this thing about nest surely in a psychological nevel there’s a meaning…not very difficult to guess as I long to be a mother Decided to put them aside 2 little sculptures I’ve made and are very found of. Voilà!!! I am rereading “one more step can change your life, the kaizen way” from Robert Maurer. This small book as truly changed my husband’s life there’s a before and after! Each step at a time one is evolving and the path seems easier. Love it Ok back to work in my studio, there’s one nest left and I’ve got a project where he will be perfect. Enjoy create… share be Happy
On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
Bon anniversaire Papa
Parabéns Pai…7o anos Je suis fière d être ta fille je sais pouvoir toujours compter sur toi.Tu me l’as prouvé si souvent, toujours présent disponible,attentif. Pai deste-me o valor da vida, o respeito pelo outros, o desejo de lutar de nunca desistir,de ser sempre honesta. Ando pelo mundo consciente das minhas raizes, da minha excelente educação, da confianca em mim que me transmitistes, do orgulho que sempre tiveste por mim. Je t aime Papa tout simplement
A working girl…
I realized over the months that i’m struggling to keep up with my blog. I feel that i have lost my voice and have turn it into something politically correct! The true is that i am not a full time artist, dreams to be though, but in the meantime my life consists mainly in traveling around the world. In a month, I fly to 3 countries like Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok, multiply by 11 months plus the holidays it sounds crazy how i can still find energy to create something in my studio! The truth is that i am pretty exausted and can only imagine my friends who have kids because they cannot rest at all. So my blog till now wanted to related more about my art than the rest of my life and that’s where the problems arise! I am a working girl who dreams to become an artists! Like thousands of girls outhere who struggled to keep up with a passion despite the lack of time. So from now on i will post about my …
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
When a man loves a woman…
Latest album ordered by a beautiful woman for her wedding. At first the album was her special heart gift for her husband to be but i sense when creating why not make it a surprise for them both? So they had their wedding in the midst of the forest(how cool is that?) along with their three children, family and friendsand in the next morning they opened the album which celebrates their mutual love. Here is just a glimpse of it of course as the fotos are private… Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice week end xo
Momento Mágico…
Recebi este mail lindo e queria partihar. (Sorry for those who don’t speak portuguese, received this magic mail from a client and was touched to tears. Beautiful written…someone with a true soul) Olá Alexandra!Conheci o seu trabalho há uns dois anos através do seu marido.Explico-lhe como se passou:Era Dezembro e fazia frio. Andava a divagar pelo Chiado aquele sitio que nao esquecemos pela luz e vida incrível, aquele lugar que nos trás algumas lembranças e memórias de infância, aquele Chiado que está sempre diferente a cada momento, que nos transporta para fora de nós e nos faz sentir livres por sermos quem somos.Andava a divagar depois de uma fim de semana romântico em que celebrávamos,como sempre, os anos do S, deambulava pelas ruas olhando para tudo e para nada.Mas de repente parei porque nao consegui andar mais.Parei numa pequena banca com coisas lindas, cheias de história e histórias. Fiquei vidrada.Reparei que pertencia a um Homem com ar distinto e afável e por isso perguntei:“É o senhor que faz?”Ao que me respondeu com um sorriso eterno nos olhos: “Nao, é a minha …
A woman in love
# scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
When a man loves a woman…
Latest album ordered by a beautiful woman for her wedding. At first the album was her special heart gift for her husband to be but i sense when creating why not make it a surprise for them both? So they had their wedding in the midst of the forest(how cool is that?) along with their three children, family and friendsand in the next morning they opened the album which celebrates their mutual love. Here is just a glimpse of it of course as the fotos are private… Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice week end xo
Momento Mágico…
Recebi este mail lindo e queria partihar. (Sorry for those who don’t speak portuguese, received this magic mail from a client and was touched to tears. Beautiful written…someone with a true soul) Olá Alexandra!Conheci o seu trabalho há uns dois anos através do seu marido.Explico-lhe como se passou:Era Dezembro e fazia frio. Andava a divagar pelo Chiado aquele sitio que nao esquecemos pela luz e vida incrível, aquele lugar que nos trás algumas lembranças e memórias de infância, aquele Chiado que está sempre diferente a cada momento, que nos transporta para fora de nós e nos faz sentir livres por sermos quem somos.Andava a divagar depois de uma fim de semana romântico em que celebrávamos,como sempre, os anos do S, deambulava pelas ruas olhando para tudo e para nada.Mas de repente parei porque nao consegui andar mais.Parei numa pequena banca com coisas lindas, cheias de história e histórias. Fiquei vidrada.Reparei que pertencia a um Homem com ar distinto e afável e por isso perguntei:“É o senhor que faz?”Ao que me respondeu com um sorriso eterno nos olhos: “Nao, é a minha …
A woman in love
# scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book # scrapbook #scrapbooking # altered book # mixed media book
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
Life is good…
It’s 7h30 in the morning and i’m already wake up…thanks to my special teacher katie Kendrick! I’m completely addict to her faces having a notebook with me all the time and practicing practicing… She’s a wonderful creative inspiring teacher giving us a tons of tecnhiques with an open heart that i don’t get to see often. I was out of my comfort zone and still am but it’s like she granted us with a green light…go girls unleash your creativity. I would love to add to my albums painting as well. I’m really into the mixed media gathering in one piece all sorts of techniques and materials. Above for example I sewed into an old paper a coco leave that i brought from Brazil… This album is on progress…let’s see what comes out of it. I am always wondering when looking at old pictures where they happy? This woman, did she loved the man she married? Was he caring devoted to her?What were her dreams? Her vision of the world? Was she an open minded? Did she give enough? I …
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
Work in progress…
My cat Frimousse or “mousse a pala” as a close friend calls him seems to like my new albums! The covers are most of the times what inspires me first then i add the inside pages. The typing letters above “AMO” mean I LOVE in portuguese. I struggle every day with my need of independency and my need of being in couple. I find it hard sometimes to be there…present and available. I find it hard to deal with his problems mine others… My life as certainly yours is composed of beautiful sunshine days and of heavy storms…not to say wild tornados! How to cope with it? Drink a caipirinha…fly away…meditate? For now i will choose meditation it’s safer! Have a good week PS: I’m reading a very intimate book from Daniel Meurois Givaudan (check out his website www.meurois-givaudan.com) called “le testament des trois Marie “. The legend said that Marie Salomé, Marie- Jacobée and Marie- Madalena were Jesus closest disciples. Many years has passed since the exil, they met again in Camargue at “Saintes-Marie-de-la-mer and open up their hearts …
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
My Shanghai
I have read quite a few books about Shanghai…and my imagination flew to those flamboyant and cosmopolite days back in the 19th century so it turned out a huge disapointment to see that most of the olds districts had just been erased but i guess to an arquitect is the place to be! The soul and the taste of Shanghai where the beauty of the women were known throughout the world along with huge parties does not long exist…now what prevails is well …is not something that i like that much! So whenever i go to Shanghai i run to the fabric market where about anything can be made out in 24h and then my steps lead me to Dongtai market if you are into “old” things” then to Xitiandi with is good and fancy restaurants. Unfortunately, comunication is quite ackward because is rare to find a chinese who speaks english so when you are lost, which will happen sooner or later is best if you have anticipated with the names written in chinese otherwise it turn out a living …
My Shanghai
I have read quite a few books about Shanghai…and my imagination flew to those flamboyant and cosmopolite days back in the 19th century so it turned out a huge disapointment to see that most of the olds districts had just been erased but i guess to an arquitect is the place to be! The soul and the taste of Shanghai where the beauty of the women were known throughout the world along with huge parties does not long exist…now what prevails is well …is not something that i like that much! So whenever i go to Shanghai i run to the fabric market where about anything can be made out in 24h and then my steps lead me to Dongtai market if you are into “old” things” then to Xitiandi with is good and fancy restaurants. Unfortunately, comunication is quite ackward because is rare to find a chinese who speaks english so when you are lost, which will happen sooner or later is best if you have anticipated with the names written in chinese otherwise it turn out a living …
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
Enjoy your Christmas…
I love Chrismas! This year though, with all the buzz of the open markets i didn’t have time to make my usual christmas decoration which usually goes on for several days… but it’s ok as i have learned in 2011 to just let go, not an easy target but one that in the end will bring you peace of mind! The most important thing that i have learned this past year is to FEEL BLESSED, truly blessed! I realize how lucky i am to be alive, to be in good health, to have a bed where i can sleep and a warm home, to have food in my fridge, to have a job, to have heart friends, to be able to create, to have a studio full of vintage stuff…..and most of all TO LOVE AND BE LOVED. I don’t take anything for granted, I cherish my family and my friends and hope that I give enough. My endless questioning about who I am, what is my mission will never cease i guess but now i wake up everyday …
Talisman necklaces
DANCE as though no one is watching you LOVE as though you have never been hurt before SING as though no one can hear you LIVE as though heaven is on earth…
When a man loves a woman…
Latest album ordered by a beautiful woman for her wedding. At first the album was her special heart gift for her husband to be but i sense when creating why not make it a surprise for them both? So they had their wedding in the midst of the forest(how cool is that?) along with their three children, family and friendsand in the next morning they opened the album which celebrates their mutual love. Here is just a glimpse of it of course as the fotos are private… Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice week end xo
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
Being impatient…
I am very far from home and longing to come back. Last night i watch all over again Katie Kendrick awesome videos about collage and painting and i’m rather impatient to be in my studio. I love her way of teaching and sharing. I have to overcome the nagging fear of not being capable then, last night i was surfing and come accross Lynn Whipple blog. I knew her work already but haven’t seen her tutorials videos nor her 100 bad paintings as she call them. There’s the 8 steps video which is not only fun but inspiring where she acurately describes the process of creating with all our doubts, fears, wanting to gave up blabla but in the end we just have to keep on trying because creating is what makes us feeling whole. We practice and practice and sometimes it seems that everything flows and then again we feel stuck. It’s really an ongoing process, to know that it happens with all of us who have this need to create feels reassuring and comforting. I think she called …
Man’s search for meaning
I have not been creating lately and am ok with it. I have been flying a lot, preparing my next holidays for july and just relaxing whenever i get the chance! I have read a lot though and recommend you this powerful biography from Jim Fergus “Marie Blanche” who has written too “a thousand women” both wonderful and poignant stories. If you are into old fairy tales about “Merlin l’enchanteur” read “le lit d’aliénor” from Mireille Calmel superb too then i reread from Dr Viktor E. Frankl “Man’s search for meaning”. A book not to be missed and to offer to the ones you like. How Dr Frankl managed to survive from a concentration camp alive and still be able to live a fullfiling life till his nineties. He created the logotherapy on the base that if we as humans find a meaning in our lives we can survive to anything. A book that makes reconsider your own life. Have a nice week Heading to Douala Xo
On pleasure
This album brings back excellent memories since it was started at Artfest 2009. I am rearranging all my photos, classifying and organizing and of course i can see the path that i made in these 2 years. I remember the pleasure and desinvolture i had, so it’s time to get back in track as i like to say. At the beguining it was only for fun now as people are getting more found of my work it do not want the comercial side to take over. It’s not that easy to accomplish will I sell this album? Is it overpriced? I hear a thousand advices you should do this and that…..But in the end it’s all about pleasure and feeling whole at least it is for me and i want it to remain like that otherwise it will become more and more stressful. The power of money and greed are fast to arrive….my ego as well! This album was made out of love since I offered it to my husband and as his own place in our living room. My …
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
When a man loves a woman…
Latest album ordered by a beautiful woman for her wedding. At first the album was her special heart gift for her husband to be but i sense when creating why not make it a surprise for them both? So they had their wedding in the midst of the forest(how cool is that?) along with their three children, family and friendsand in the next morning they opened the album which celebrates their mutual love. Here is just a glimpse of it of course as the fotos are private… Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice week end xo
Make a wish…
I love the idea of recycling and have been doing some visual journals for some time now. The difficult part i often hear is where to start? I came up with this idea after many requests, to put some of my stuff into the journals and then the buyer will continue and make it her/his own. I forgot to take the pictures of those i already sold but i still have one left for the moment so here it goes! The goal of the journal is to have fun! Feel free to scribble, draw, paint, glue, cut, write….unlimited list. I love the idea of a magic journal where one can write down and collage our dreams and projects and feel confident that it will happen in the future. I wish i have a… I wish i am… I wish i can… BE INSPIRED HAVE FUN MAKE A WISH BE HAPPY BE BLESSED XO
About Hope…
It seems that i have only questions without answers those days. In this moment of huge crise in Portugal what can we do to help one another, to give support, to listen and still be positive? The state is cutting everywhere, people struggle to remain afloat but it becomes more and more challenging each day to just survive. Some go to the beach to regain energy, i do whenever i can but i like to gather down my thoughts, my dreams in my “make a wish journals”too. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice( the vein of gold, a journey to your creative heart) to write down every single day with no exception 3 pages who will help you to become more centered, balanced and alert. Easy to say when it seems there is no way out, when you found only close doors ahead of you. No need to reply doors will open one day, have to be patient blabla bla… And ye,t you soon realise that human beings have unlimited resources within them after moments of complete despair HOPE arise again …
On compassion…
Sorry guys…been rather lazy on blogging lately! This album was a special order from a woman in love. What is there other than being in love? Love for your man, your woman, your kids, your pets, your friends(should have put the friends before the pets but one is never deceived by pets!) Love is what we all seek, yet it can be hard and challenging but in the end is what we’ll take with us. Just open randomly the Dalai’s Lama book ” the art of happiness”quoting… In generating compassion, you start by recognizing that you do not want suffering and that you have a right to have happiness. This can be verified or validated by your own experience. So… let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or in a very unfortunate situation. Try to relate that to yourself, thinking, “that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness and suffering than i do”. Then, try to allow your natural response to arise- a natural …
On trust…
I haven’t blog for a while…which is not a good thing say the experts! One must write a page at least once a week…I am not a professional blogger and won’t become one because the web world is not what thrives me…so the issue here is accepting the fact that maybe my blog will not be highly ranked on google. My inner voice keep whispering, don’t push yourself too much things will come in an easy and smooth way, and you know what? I will do just that… cool myself and trust God that he will take me where i should be. I realize over the years that one of the most difficult things we human have to deal with is … TO JUST LET GO TO TRUST How difficult is to trust When to act When to remain quiet How can we let go something that we want so much? How? Advices are most welcome! Have a good week Feel blessed Thank you XO
A man in Love…
My last album is most of the time my favorite one! I have sold quite a few lately which is good of course but realize that i have some trouble with it. I know that my clients will cherish and appreciate them but still…i miss those who are gone forever. I know that my fellow artists have the same feeling…A customer was telling me that what she liked about my work was that it convey a fragility and force at the same time. She loved the authenticity of my work understanding how family and being connected was the backbone of it and yet there is still space for the unknown and my private garden, she was confinding. Wow thank you! I had wings that day, the sky seemed unlimited…I want to hold those good feelings and thoughts Heading to Washington DC and… to Paper Source in Georgetown. Have a good week Enjoy Have fun Open up XO
Enjoy your Christmas…
I love Chrismas! This year though, with all the buzz of the open markets i didn’t have time to make my usual christmas decoration which usually goes on for several days… but it’s ok as i have learned in 2011 to just let go, not an easy target but one that in the end will bring you peace of mind! The most important thing that i have learned this past year is to FEEL BLESSED, truly blessed! I realize how lucky i am to be alive, to be in good health, to have a bed where i can sleep and a warm home, to have food in my fridge, to have a job, to have heart friends, to be able to create, to have a studio full of vintage stuff…..and most of all TO LOVE AND BE LOVED. I don’t take anything for granted, I cherish my family and my friends and hope that I give enough. My endless questioning about who I am, what is my mission will never cease i guess but now i wake up everyday …
Feeling grateful
Feeling grateful that this album is sold Feeling grateful that my creativity is recognized Feeling grateful to be able to create Feeling grateful to have a studio where i can create Feeling grateful for all the support i have Universe is friendly xo
Men of honour
Hello world…I have been very quiet in the the net these last months. I traveled to India to Easter islands and those trips were quite remarquable and fulfilling. I needed time out of the studio recharging the batteries searching questioning myself…a lot! What it is that i create? What is the purpose? One of my clients told me recently that my art comes from the heart and it makes him feel connected with his beloved when he offered her one of my albums. It was an unique and special gift one that she will remembered and treasured. I felt quite empowered. How priceless is that for an artist? Tears come to my eyes and…THANK YOU was my answer. THANK YOU for the trust THANK YOU for the feedback THANK YOU for the connection HAVE FUN ENJOY XOXOXO
CRAFT AND DESIGN Christmas 2010
Perfect day no clouds spring temperature lovely time spent in jardim da Estrela along with my husband, mother and special friend Alex. Last week was another story with cold and rainy weather but still the public showed up, christmas is at the door! I must say that i am running out of spoons which is cool because i loved them and am happy that people find the idea amusing and fashionable. I was blessed last saturday with the meeting of an old (we have known each other since kindergarden) and dear friend that i haven’t seen for quite a while, can’t remember why life as set us apart, probably just that… Life! Last time she was single and now she is married with two beautiful sons, i met only the youngest who looks so much like her. That’s the kind of gift I receive with profound gratitude, can’t wait to be with her again. We are born on the 4th of august in Lisbon in 1969 same hospital! How cool is that? We used to have the same bad temper…i …
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Valentine’s day
Did you have an Happy Valentine’s day? Did you dance and look yourselves in the eyes thinking that i’m truly blessed? I deeply love this man I deeply love this woman Why? What makes you love one another? What makes you stay together all over the years? …… TO LOVE AND BE LOVED xo
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
Work in progress…
My cat Frimousse or “mousse a pala” as a close friend calls him seems to like my new albums! The covers are most of the times what inspires me first then i add the inside pages. The typing letters above “AMO” mean I LOVE in portuguese. I struggle every day with my need of independency and my need of being in couple. I find it hard sometimes to be there…present and available. I find it hard to deal with his problems mine others… My life as certainly yours is composed of beautiful sunshine days and of heavy storms…not to say wild tornados! How to cope with it? Drink a caipirinha…fly away…meditate? For now i will choose meditation it’s safer! Have a good week PS: I’m reading a very intimate book from Daniel Meurois Givaudan (check out his website www.meurois-givaudan.com) called “le testament des trois Marie “. The legend said that Marie Salomé, Marie- Jacobée and Marie- Madalena were Jesus closest disciples. Many years has passed since the exil, they met again in Camargue at “Saintes-Marie-de-la-mer and open up their hearts …
Create your notebook
I have once in a while to rearrange my own filofax, keeping some scrap papers thowing others. Well not exactling throwing keeping them aside in my overfilled studios as a friend was telling me last night! How can you work with so much stuff around? That’s my point everything really depends on your vision of your world as i feel that i don’t have much material comparing to my heart friends in the US and of course it applies for everything in Life. Some will see the bright side others the dark side no matter what they have. My studio feels comforting, reassuring, cosy but for her as she suffers from asthma it’s to much papers, tissues, hair cat…as for me i crave for more! Creating my handmade journal is always something very relaxing and a way of knowing what i have been doing last year. As i rewrite in new papers what were my goals, my sales, what i create, what courses i had etc… and what i would like for the year to come it’s a way of …
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Where is my love?
I miss my husband! He’s away for a week doing a raisin cure. Eating only raisin is a wonderful way to detoxinate your body every year but it take’s nonetheless courage which Luis has plenty of. He’s one of those special man with an enormous heart. His friends know how reliable and generous he is. I know that my love is always present available caring tender protective towards me. I miss him… I want it back home… It feels strange to be at home without him as usually i’m the one packing! His smell is everywhere, his strong presence, his love for me in the notes that i keep by my bedtable… Tell your love how much you love him the way he combs his hair the way he smiles his way of dancing his favorite food what make him laugh Have a good week Xo
My Shanghai
I have read quite a few books about Shanghai…and my imagination flew to those flamboyant and cosmopolite days back in the 19th century so it turned out a huge disapointment to see that most of the olds districts had just been erased but i guess to an arquitect is the place to be! The soul and the taste of Shanghai where the beauty of the women were known throughout the world along with huge parties does not long exist…now what prevails is well …is not something that i like that much! So whenever i go to Shanghai i run to the fabric market where about anything can be made out in 24h and then my steps lead me to Dongtai market if you are into “old” things” then to Xitiandi with is good and fancy restaurants. Unfortunately, comunication is quite ackward because is rare to find a chinese who speaks english so when you are lost, which will happen sooner or later is best if you have anticipated with the names written in chinese otherwise it turn out a living …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Valentine’s day
Did you have an Happy Valentine’s day? Did you dance and look yourselves in the eyes thinking that i’m truly blessed? I deeply love this man I deeply love this woman Why? What makes you love one another? What makes you stay together all over the years? …… TO LOVE AND BE LOVED xo
Treasure heart album
Just finished my Secret album that i am very found of. Don’t know for you but my last work is always my favorite…till the next one. I am preparing my Etsy Shop trying to understand how it works and am receiving everyday their newsletter which is quite interesting. They are very structured and helpful. Questions they suggested us to answer: Why are you doing what you do? Why do you pursue it? Why do you think you can succeed? What do you want to be known for, talked about?…Now is your turn to do the homeworks! I am “dating” Etsy shop for over a year now but haven’t sense is the right time yet to plunge, maybe because i’m afraid of the extra work and how will i manage it all? But as time passes by i’m getting more and more excited with the whole idea… they are very challenging which i love I realized that i value family above all things, within our family we are deeply loved, encouraged and stimulated and my treasure hearts albums are just that …
Presentes de Natal…
I am really enjoying being in my studio, savouring each moment, creating the albums above that i would like to receive for christmas! I will not decorate either my home or my mom’s this year as i haven’t last year, time is short between work and the studio and i need at least a full week to decorate both houses in a very american way with almost every corner full of angels, candles etc…. it has always been pure excitement so i come up with this crazy idea (if my mother is ok? ) i will decorate the christmas tree in january and store them in her the garage, we will be ready for 2011! In the meantime, she and her friends will do the honours this years again! By the end of october, i start thinking in cool gifts to offer and now that i’m creating them the question, will they like it, will they treasure it, arises. It so easy to offer another scarf or perfume for aunt Lili the same sweater for Dad…know the feeling searching for …
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Presentes de Natal…
I am really enjoying being in my studio, savouring each moment, creating the albums above that i would like to receive for christmas! I will not decorate either my home or my mom’s this year as i haven’t last year, time is short between work and the studio and i need at least a full week to decorate both houses in a very american way with almost every corner full of angels, candles etc…. it has always been pure excitement so i come up with this crazy idea (if my mother is ok? ) i will decorate the christmas tree in january and store them in her the garage, we will be ready for 2011! In the meantime, she and her friends will do the honours this years again! By the end of october, i start thinking in cool gifts to offer and now that i’m creating them the question, will they like it, will they treasure it, arises. It so easy to offer another scarf or perfume for aunt Lili the same sweater for Dad…know the feeling searching for …
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
Facebook fan page
www.facebook.com/alexcastroferreirascrapbooking Check out my new facebook fan page…with all my albums, neckalces, bracelets and vintage spoons. Hope you like it. Feel free to give me advices and tips XO remember to have fun…
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
Sleepless night in Seoul
It’s 2am here in Seoul 17h in Lisbon needless to say that i cannot sleep so what is there to do in the middle of the night in an unknown city? Reading Surfing in the net Listening to my favorite french radio FIP Eat chineses noodlles Trying to sleep… Waiting for 6am sharp for the breakfast Check also the site www.strengthsfinder.com buy the book it’s worth it! Reading a little more… Trying to sleep nan….. Meditating! Definitely not seeing the news on CNN as is the fast way to get depressed I should have bring some chocolates… Have a good week-end HAVE FUN XO
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
Anos da Jeanete
Foi uma festa lindíssima, vieram os amigos de uma vida.Não pude estar presente, tive muita pena mas lembrei-me de criar este album com as gavetas como prenda para a aniversariante.È complicado ofereçer uma prenda quando se jà tem tudo(mais um creme? um perfume?…)prefiro hoge em dia realizar um “scrap”.Como a filha Tisha estava a preparar tambem uma sessão de fotos, foi complicado conseguir as fotos mas lá consegui em 2 dias (com algum strechch)!!! porque ofereçer depois da festa de anos perde a graça. Sei que a Jeanete adorou, que bom……..foi feito com muita amizade e carinho.Tenho muita admiração pela mulher do meu sogro, pela sua força, coragem e positivismo perante as dificuldades da vida. è sem dúvida uma mulher de armas, cheia de vida e de alegria parabéns jeanete obrigado pela sua amizade Enjoy, create… be happy Life is short
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Heart spoons…
A good way of giving new life to old spoons! Add any photos of the ones you love along with their nicknames some resin…and voilà! One of my christmas gifts for mom who certainly like yours got everything!!! Have a good week end Remember to dance laugh share hug kiss… xo
A gift from the heart
What to offer for christmas? I like to offer something special that was made out of love and tenderness… My husband loved it! He’s always a big fan of my work..inside i add his father watch, love letters that we usually send to each other, a small bible, earth from sacred Machu Picchu… Heading to the north of Portugal as i have been invited to present my work to a talk show “praça de alegria”so very enthusiastic about it… Will tell you more afterwards. Have a good week Be blessed xo
My Shanghai
I have read quite a few books about Shanghai…and my imagination flew to those flamboyant and cosmopolite days back in the 19th century so it turned out a huge disapointment to see that most of the olds districts had just been erased but i guess to an arquitect is the place to be! The soul and the taste of Shanghai where the beauty of the women were known throughout the world along with huge parties does not long exist…now what prevails is well …is not something that i like that much! So whenever i go to Shanghai i run to the fabric market where about anything can be made out in 24h and then my steps lead me to Dongtai market if you are into “old” things” then to Xitiandi with is good and fancy restaurants. Unfortunately, comunication is quite ackward because is rare to find a chinese who speaks english so when you are lost, which will happen sooner or later is best if you have anticipated with the names written in chinese otherwise it turn out a living …
Obrigado… Merci…Thank you
My stock is becoming thinner! THANK YOU for your trust, confidence and…good taste! Just arrived yesterday from Bangkok pretty exausted as always and was talking with one of my colleagues who ask me if i had bought gifts for christmas in the “mecque” of shopping! Well no i replied because i create what i offer so they are heart gifts! I sense that my clients recognize that, my art being one very emotional and personal which maybe explains the major success we’re having despite the crisis here in Portugal. THANK YOU MERCI OBRIGADO GRACIAS GRAZIE DANKE… Have a nice week Remember to laugh, dance, smile, hug
Life is good…
It’s 7h30 in the morning and i’m already wake up…thanks to my special teacher katie Kendrick! I’m completely addict to her faces having a notebook with me all the time and practicing practicing… She’s a wonderful creative inspiring teacher giving us a tons of tecnhiques with an open heart that i don’t get to see often. I was out of my comfort zone and still am but it’s like she granted us with a green light…go girls unleash your creativity. I would love to add to my albums painting as well. I’m really into the mixed media gathering in one piece all sorts of techniques and materials. Above for example I sewed into an old paper a coco leave that i brought from Brazil… This album is on progress…let’s see what comes out of it. I am always wondering when looking at old pictures where they happy? This woman, did she loved the man she married? Was he caring devoted to her?What were her dreams? Her vision of the world? Was she an open minded? Did she give enough? I …
I love my life
After 3 days at “Festas de carcavelos” time to relax! Sunny weather here in beautiful Lisbon heading to the beach… The three days were great, very well organized, very good crafting with laughs and good humor. I was next to an artist who makes his own tee shirt each being different and unusual. What i like about him apart from his art is him being so available to share insights informations. Sergio is definitely on the giving an authentic soul which as we know tends to be rare on big cities! Check his site www.id-wear-com I do love being in contact with the public. I am fortunate that they apreciate, recognize my work and my creativity. Now is time to go back to my studio as i am running out of necklaces, notebooks, kits and albums. A special thanks to Frederica who happens to be a stewardess like me who is not only beautiful inside in and out and was the one organizing this event. Check is site too at www.cultodaimagem.com Through my art i meet wonderful souls. I am …
Thank you
This week end was a blessed one, i had another Craft and design market, the weather was perfect, the public awesome. I met this french grandma who married a portuguese like my mom from the same city, Vila Nova de Famalicao, how peculiar! I met this young mom of two who had a flush of emotion when opening my scrapbook albums, she had tears popping in! How cool… Plenty of friends and friends of friends come along… I feel truly blessed. Last week i had all this exams that we woman definitely have to take past 40 mostly due to a pain in my right breast, so there’s no need to tell you that i was scare while waiting for the results. Everything is ok but it made me realize that i could have been the other way round. How do yo react when you are ill? Do you keep it to yourself and fight alone the disease? or do you share it? I am a very private person when dealing with my intimacy and it cross my mind that if …
Sleepless night in Seoul
It’s 2am here in Seoul 17h in Lisbon needless to say that i cannot sleep so what is there to do in the middle of the night in an unknown city? Reading Surfing in the net Listening to my favorite french radio FIP Eat chineses noodlles Trying to sleep… Waiting for 6am sharp for the breakfast Check also the site www.strengthsfinder.com buy the book it’s worth it! Reading a little more… Trying to sleep nan….. Meditating! Definitely not seeing the news on CNN as is the fast way to get depressed I should have bring some chocolates… Have a good week-end HAVE FUN XO
Treasure heart album
Just finished my Secret album that i am very found of. Don’t know for you but my last work is always my favorite…till the next one. I am preparing my Etsy Shop trying to understand how it works and am receiving everyday their newsletter which is quite interesting. They are very structured and helpful. Questions they suggested us to answer: Why are you doing what you do? Why do you pursue it? Why do you think you can succeed? What do you want to be known for, talked about?…Now is your turn to do the homeworks! I am “dating” Etsy shop for over a year now but haven’t sense is the right time yet to plunge, maybe because i’m afraid of the extra work and how will i manage it all? But as time passes by i’m getting more and more excited with the whole idea… they are very challenging which i love I realized that i value family above all things, within our family we are deeply loved, encouraged and stimulated and my treasure hearts albums are just that …
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Life is good…
It’s 7h30 in the morning and i’m already wake up…thanks to my special teacher katie Kendrick! I’m completely addict to her faces having a notebook with me all the time and practicing practicing… She’s a wonderful creative inspiring teacher giving us a tons of tecnhiques with an open heart that i don’t get to see often. I was out of my comfort zone and still am but it’s like she granted us with a green light…go girls unleash your creativity. I would love to add to my albums painting as well. I’m really into the mixed media gathering in one piece all sorts of techniques and materials. Above for example I sewed into an old paper a coco leave that i brought from Brazil… This album is on progress…let’s see what comes out of it. I am always wondering when looking at old pictures where they happy? This woman, did she loved the man she married? Was he caring devoted to her?What were her dreams? Her vision of the world? Was she an open minded? Did she give enough? I …
On trust
a I was just telling a friend that whatever i tell to others is always “the mirror effect” that means it can applied to me. This week-end was a huge step for me as I let my husband run the fair and just popped in around 2pm, letting him decorate and sell my craft in his own way. I am proud of me because trying to control everything means that i fail to trust Life. I trust him and the results were awesome being Luis an excellent seller. I used to say he can sell machine guns to nuns if he’s in the mood! Another step on my ongoing therapy process and one that will bring me utter happiness. Have a good week I feel good the jet lag stayed in Shanghai… xo
Presentes de Natal…
I am really enjoying being in my studio, savouring each moment, creating the albums above that i would like to receive for christmas! I will not decorate either my home or my mom’s this year as i haven’t last year, time is short between work and the studio and i need at least a full week to decorate both houses in a very american way with almost every corner full of angels, candles etc…. it has always been pure excitement so i come up with this crazy idea (if my mother is ok? ) i will decorate the christmas tree in january and store them in her the garage, we will be ready for 2011! In the meantime, she and her friends will do the honours this years again! By the end of october, i start thinking in cool gifts to offer and now that i’m creating them the question, will they like it, will they treasure it, arises. It so easy to offer another scarf or perfume for aunt Lili the same sweater for Dad…know the feeling searching for …
My Shanghai
I have read quite a few books about Shanghai…and my imagination flew to those flamboyant and cosmopolite days back in the 19th century so it turned out a huge disapointment to see that most of the olds districts had just been erased but i guess to an arquitect is the place to be! The soul and the taste of Shanghai where the beauty of the women were known throughout the world along with huge parties does not long exist…now what prevails is well …is not something that i like that much! So whenever i go to Shanghai i run to the fabric market where about anything can be made out in 24h and then my steps lead me to Dongtai market if you are into “old” things” then to Xitiandi with is good and fancy restaurants. Unfortunately, comunication is quite ackward because is rare to find a chinese who speaks english so when you are lost, which will happen sooner or later is best if you have anticipated with the names written in chinese otherwise it turn out a living …
ARTFEST GIRLS 2009
I am truly blessed to have been part of Artfest girls.It was a fantastic experience! My roommates are the best one can have; Michelle your margaritas are awesome bring more next year! I will bring some french and portuguese wine… Nikki “ravey-ioli” I loved your beautiful story of your grandpa, what an example. Cherryl “cheese chips” thank you so much for the lovely banners, we had fun in Nina´s class and give me your address so I can mail you vintage french papers…It was so cool sharing the bedroom with you Girls I wasn´t the only one speaking while sleeping!!! didn´t figure out who it was… Thank you Jo, you were my guardian angel! you gave me such inspiring ideas…unmounting a clock! that´s great. we will meet hopefully in september in Paris. Amanda you are a beautiful person inside in and out, your bracelet and your flowers were great(yes….they are)My husband just bought me a GPS I immediately thought of you!!! Adeola you are fun and never had the chance to thank you for having wait for me at the …
Beautiful Nest
Look what my husband found this week-end in the woods…it’s the most beautiful and touching gift I received in ages. I have this thing about nest surely in a psychological nevel there’s a meaning…not very difficult to guess as I long to be a mother Decided to put them aside 2 little sculptures I’ve made and are very found of. Voilà!!! I am rereading “one more step can change your life, the kaizen way” from Robert Maurer. This small book as truly changed my husband’s life there’s a before and after! Each step at a time one is evolving and the path seems easier. Love it Ok back to work in my studio, there’s one nest left and I’ve got a project where he will be perfect. Enjoy create… share be Happy
My new junk journal
Just realizing it s been more than 3 years since my last post! Oh my…. so many new adventures up and downs..the truth is all the social media network become too much for me at one point…i took one big step backwards continued creating at my own pace in my studio really grow and improve as an artist decorated two flats in the north of portugal continued the profound and deep journey with Byron Katie the work started here in lisbon a new regressive therapy course that is very challenging …and of course continue my job as a flight attendant with Air France while dreaming of becoming a full time artist!
Happy Valentine’s day
Are you in Love? Do you wish to be in Love? Do you take Love for granted? If you close your eyes what would be your perfect love day? Do you feel loved? Do you forgive? … Have a blessed day with your love and for the single ones nurture yourself. SING LAUGH MAKE LOVE GIVE A HUG HAVE FUN …. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
Happy New Year 2013
I wish you to have the strengh to find yourselves I wish you to have the courage to change what goes wrong in your lives I wish you to take care of yourselves I wish you to make decisions that will make you grow I wish you to love yourselves Well…I will try to apply those to myself! We know that we must respect ourselves and yet fail to do it. The other day, I was very enthusiastic about starting a new diet on the first of january then i realize it will certainly not happen that way…as it hadn’t for the previous years! Where will I take my compensation when I’m frustrated, in anger, exausted, depressed, or simply celebrating? Does anyone have the answer to that? Life is a struggle and most of the time we don’t want to do or go…but yet we do it out of duty. We need to pay our bills. We need to go on. Every one has his on path mine last year was a challenging one, work and work was the summary …
A tribute to motherwood…
There isn’t a single day that i don’t remember my beloved grand mother who left us more than 20 years ago. The pain has diminish of course but not the longing… My husband’s mother passed away and i cannot begin to imagine his pain. Here is a portuguese poem(sorry for those who don’t understand but it means the world to my husband as it was written by his mom) Se me amas, não chores! ” Se conhecesses o mistério imensoDo céu onde agora vivoEste horizonte sem fim,Esta luz, que tudo reveste e penetra,Não chorarias se me amas!Estou já absorvido, no encanto de Deus,Na Sua beleza sem fim…Lembra-te dos bons momentos Que vivemos juntosE verás que a saudade também é presença.Quando estiveres triste, infeliz, chama-meE Eu irei ajudar-te e consolar-teE verás como é bom ter um amigodo outro lado.E quando chegar também a tua vez,Não chorem os que ficam,Porque não será um adeus,Mas simplesmente um até à vista,E Eu estarei lá para te receber…”
Happy birthday …to me!
It’s been a long way, heavy turbulences now and then but in the end it’s worth it! Life is not easy, is all about experiences integrating and assimilate them so one can grow. I learn to feel blessed for what i have and not for what i think i should have! I still have a lot of issues to outcome… who doesn’t? I can say today I love myself with my qualities and my flaws My life is a sucessful one full of love friendship hard work creativity dreams I am blessed I am grateful THANK YOU MERCI OBRIGADO GRACIAS DANKE …
Ask and you’ll be given…
Good morning everyone… I am definitely not inspired this morning been trying to take some good pictures…not able to make them as i imagine…so frustration arises pretty soon. Fortunately, i have found a good teacher and know that something positive will come out of it… I am nevertheless frustrated as I want things to speed up a little…and they have their own rhythm. I have just finished this book about a man who remembers being a free spirit, choosing his parents and the mission he had to accomplish on earth. He’s life has been challenging and fulfilling. I was deeply touched by his authenticity and generosity and wish i could meet him. He’s here to help those who are in pain, making contact with loved ones who departed, healing, giving hope, connecting… I want to ask him if my beloved grand mother is happy, is the love of her life with her? I want to ask him what is my purpose on earth if not to have children? I want to ask him if I’m in the good track as …
I love Feng Shui
I have been very quiet in the blog world but a lot has been happening in my Life! Positive things…I unleash my woman power…Wow! Sounds good as i’m writing it…Let me explain…First of all do you believe in Feng Shui? I was very reticent as our occidentals homes were definitely not built in this chinese ancient art but as i’m curious i open up…well the result was that in the Feng Shui magic square the number 2 which stands for the woman, the feminity, the relationship were a friend’s bedroom…which is about to be occupied by my husband’s daughter Sarah. Do you get the picture? She would be the woman of the house… she would rule our lives… I have been flirting with this room for a number of years, as the light is fabulous but a little tinier than my former studio ( we crafter do need space! ) There were always something that prevented that room to be finished and over the years my frustration grew but the task of swapping it all seemed enormous…yet again I do …
Open your heart
Enjoy your day Open your heart Make a wish… I want my inner child to remember that I am always with her, that she can rely on me. I will protect her I will cherish her and most of all… I will listen even if she whispering What is yours telling you? Xo
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
2011…you go girl!
Between Christmas and New Eve time stands still, there are always a lot of joy and gratitude in the air. It’s a moment of peace where families and friends get together, share, exchange, bounds become more profound each year. It’s a moment to remember with tenderness the ones that are no longer but will remain forever in our hearts. It’s a time of rest where the worries lay aside, where we take good resolutions hoping that this year maybe we can keep some of them…..for a month at least! December is a blessed month for me, preparing with love and care the presents, forseeing their happiness, knowing that mom is cooking delicious meals that i won’t find anywhere in the world. It’s a moment to remember those who are alone or like this year who have their flights cancelled and couldn’t make it to their destination. It’s a moment to make amend. I cherish the dream that next year will be better that the crisis will pass that abundance will return that we have learned the lessons out of it. …
Joyeux Noel
Wish you all a very good christmas Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments Meet you in 2011 Peace Love Happiness XO
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
ARTFEST GIRLS 2009
I am truly blessed to have been part of Artfest girls.It was a fantastic experience! My roommates are the best one can have; Michelle your margaritas are awesome bring more next year! I will bring some french and portuguese wine… Nikki “ravey-ioli” I loved your beautiful story of your grandpa, what an example. Cherryl “cheese chips” thank you so much for the lovely banners, we had fun in Nina´s class and give me your address so I can mail you vintage french papers…It was so cool sharing the bedroom with you Girls I wasn´t the only one speaking while sleeping!!! didn´t figure out who it was… Thank you Jo, you were my guardian angel! you gave me such inspiring ideas…unmounting a clock! that´s great. we will meet hopefully in september in Paris. Amanda you are a beautiful person inside in and out, your bracelet and your flowers were great(yes….they are)My husband just bought me a GPS I immediately thought of you!!! Adeola you are fun and never had the chance to thank you for having wait for me at the …
Yes I can
Love my new spoons…there are more in my studio but the weather was cloudy this morning and i had to rush to take my flight…who is more than 3 hours delayed but still i will manage to arrive in Paris tonight Tomorrow heading to one of the few towns where i would love to live for a year…you name it New York but then Shanghai appeals to me and Rio de Janeiro as well. Different energy different people but i love to mingled and wouldn’t mind settle for a while and discover the “real”town not the tourist one. If i had to pick one then it would be Port Towsend. There’s the amazing mountains views, the beaches, the art galleries, the fabulous mixed-media workshops, Artfest, Artifiberfest, the fisherman’s all this in a small wonderful little town. No crowded plenty of fresh air 2010 is ending 2011 new resolutions GROW LOVE GIVE CREATE RECEIVE FORGIVE LEARN BELIEVE BE HAPPY ACCEPT UNDERSTAND EXERCISE MEDITATE DANCE LAUGH COMUNICATE ACHIEVE LISTEN 2011 wishes Be inspired Create Visit Rome Learn how to take good …
Presentes de Natal…
I am really enjoying being in my studio, savouring each moment, creating the albums above that i would like to receive for christmas! I will not decorate either my home or my mom’s this year as i haven’t last year, time is short between work and the studio and i need at least a full week to decorate both houses in a very american way with almost every corner full of angels, candles etc…. it has always been pure excitement so i come up with this crazy idea (if my mother is ok? ) i will decorate the christmas tree in january and store them in her the garage, we will be ready for 2011! In the meantime, she and her friends will do the honours this years again! By the end of october, i start thinking in cool gifts to offer and now that i’m creating them the question, will they like it, will they treasure it, arises. It so easy to offer another scarf or perfume for aunt Lili the same sweater for Dad…know the feeling searching for …
Presentes de Natal…
I am really enjoying being in my studio, savouring each moment, creating the albums above that i would like to receive for christmas! I will not decorate either my home or my mom’s this year as i haven’t last year, time is short between work and the studio and i need at least a full week to decorate both houses in a very american way with almost every corner full of angels, candles etc…. it has always been pure excitement so i come up with this crazy idea (if my mother is ok? ) i will decorate the christmas tree in january and store them in her the garage, we will be ready for 2011! In the meantime, she and her friends will do the honours this years again! By the end of october, i start thinking in cool gifts to offer and now that i’m creating them the question, will they like it, will they treasure it, arises. It so easy to offer another scarf or perfume for aunt Lili the same sweater for Dad…know the feeling searching for …
Beautiful Nest
Look what my husband found this week-end in the woods…it’s the most beautiful and touching gift I received in ages. I have this thing about nest surely in a psychological nevel there’s a meaning…not very difficult to guess as I long to be a mother Decided to put them aside 2 little sculptures I’ve made and are very found of. Voilà!!! I am rereading “one more step can change your life, the kaizen way” from Robert Maurer. This small book as truly changed my husband’s life there’s a before and after! Each step at a time one is evolving and the path seems easier. Love it Ok back to work in my studio, there’s one nest left and I’ve got a project where he will be perfect. Enjoy create… share be Happy
Missing my studio
My mother gave me this wise advice, why don’t you write in a notepad every day before sleeping all the blessings of the day? So I did. I’am truly blessed for beeing alive,in good health, to fly to Miami with this wonderful crew, to have wi fi and my Mac in my bedroom so I can stay in touch with my world, thanks to Somerset who send me my favourites magazines to the hotel, thanks…. thanks I tend to forget but my mom always put me in the right track which is another blessing! Tend to be worried will I have time to create and stay with family and friends and……..everything has a purpose my goal is really to let go…Let the universe, God or whatever you want to call it do his job and trying not to control(more accurate to say the illusion of controling) Tomorrow I’ll be back in my studio where I feel so protected and therefore HAPPY Enjoy…create share
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Beautiful Nest
Look what my husband found this week-end in the woods…it’s the most beautiful and touching gift I received in ages. I have this thing about nest surely in a psychological nevel there’s a meaning…not very difficult to guess as I long to be a mother Decided to put them aside 2 little sculptures I’ve made and are very found of. Voilà!!! I am rereading “one more step can change your life, the kaizen way” from Robert Maurer. This small book as truly changed my husband’s life there’s a before and after! Each step at a time one is evolving and the path seems easier. Love it Ok back to work in my studio, there’s one nest left and I’ve got a project where he will be perfect. Enjoy create… share be Happy
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Keep loving yourself…
An artist friend suggested me that I should give another dimension to my craft so it could become art. She’s a talented and gifted artist and sees me like a crafter. It left me unbalanced… as I am an admirer of her work then I replied that what really excites and fulfill me is creating my life albums. She was suggesting that i should add them into huge canvas and kept saying it would give them a dimension….Why does one give any advice that is not asked? What is the hidden purpose? Why humans tend to compare over and over? I am that lucky that in my world of crafters i don’t sense “bad vibes” only encoragements and positive attitudes.I sense that she lives in a world of fierce competition which is definitely not mine and thanks God i know myself well enough not to be blocked in the future trying to give …a dimension of my work but one has to be aware as Julia Cameron point out in her extraordinary book “the vein of gold, a journey to …
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
CRAFT AND DESIGN Christmas 2010
Perfect day no clouds spring temperature lovely time spent in jardim da Estrela along with my husband, mother and special friend Alex. Last week was another story with cold and rainy weather but still the public showed up, christmas is at the door! I must say that i am running out of spoons which is cool because i loved them and am happy that people find the idea amusing and fashionable. I was blessed last saturday with the meeting of an old (we have known each other since kindergarden) and dear friend that i haven’t seen for quite a while, can’t remember why life as set us apart, probably just that… Life! Last time she was single and now she is married with two beautiful sons, i met only the youngest who looks so much like her. That’s the kind of gift I receive with profound gratitude, can’t wait to be with her again. We are born on the 4th of august in Lisbon in 1969 same hospital! How cool is that? We used to have the same bad temper…i …
Spring necklaces
HOPE YOU LIKE THEM… I DO MAKE THEM YOURS… HAVE A GOOD WEEK Be blessed Check this instructive blog who gives you all the tools about how to improve your intuition Psychotherapist Sylviane JUNG http://lescheminsdelintuition.com xo xo xo
Talisman necklaces
DANCE as though no one is watching you LOVE as though you have never been hurt before SING as though no one can hear you LIVE as though heaven is on earth…
Published in HAPPY MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED Below is FB link where you can find the talisman necklaces and bracelets. https://www.facebook.com/alexcastroferreirascrapbooking Universe is friendly THANK YOU
What are you needs?
I have been doing some journaling but in a random way as i’m completely out of time…can’t wait for my next holidays! Last week was one to forget as in the same day i get a fine, my husband’s three month new Mac went off and an old lady didn’t respect the stop sign and run into my car! My back is going through rough turbulences desesperately asking for a good massage… Yesterday i was caught while driving speaking on my cell…and a miracle did happen as the officer didn’t charge me. I felt at that moment that i was indeed highly protected. I need to rest I need silence I need beach sea and sun I need to come home… What are your needs? What do you wish for? Have a good week Xo
On tolerance…
Where do you come from? A simple and direct question…I come from Portugal by my father and France by my mother.I am proud of either country which i guess is certainly your case too? I witnessed a friend who is from Algeria hide it because she didn’t want to create bad vibes in a dinner! They were americans, brazilians, french citizens … all drinking caipirinhas savouring the moment. How come being a muslim is something that you have to silence? I felt in my heart all the pain, sadness, anger she carries within her, trapped and locked crying for release. The drawings above represent a step towards tolerance because they are inexperienced sketches. I prefer to post what i consider being my “good” work but it’s a kind of tribute to this friend, aventuring myself out of my comfort zone which are altered books. Don’t be afraid of others judgements or rejection they will always exist but be proud of who you are no matter what. Have a good week I will continue practicing over and over… XO
sweet memories
Foi um dos primeiros livros de scrap que realizei. Simples, com alguns dos meus tecidos azuis preferidos………e claro a minha garrafa fetiche O meu marido Luis adora escrever-me “des mots doux” que eu gardo religiosamente e que utilizo bastante nos meus trabalhos Esta foto foi tirada com o meu cão Pimba, pastor alemão lindo criado pela guarda nacional republicana,”cantava”, dormia no meu quarto, partilhavá-mos as bolachas maria as escondidas, quando o meu irmão Stephane lhe puxava os pêlos(de 5 em 5 mn!) foi sempre meigo nunca rosnou Pode-se dizer que o meu pai conseguiu captar os meus primeiros passos…é uma das minhas fotos preferidas de bébé. Estou numa fase de transição, tenho que saber utilisar o meu novo laptop mac book que é bastante mais fácil de manejo do que o pc, mas mesmo assim há muita coisa nova para integrar. Sei que estão todos ansiosos para realisar o meu workshop…está quase! Be happy enjoy create……..life is short
Keep loving yourself…
An artist friend suggested me that I should give another dimension to my craft so it could become art. She’s a talented and gifted artist and sees me like a crafter. It left me unbalanced… as I am an admirer of her work then I replied that what really excites and fulfill me is creating my life albums. She was suggesting that i should add them into huge canvas and kept saying it would give them a dimension….Why does one give any advice that is not asked? What is the hidden purpose? Why humans tend to compare over and over? I am that lucky that in my world of crafters i don’t sense “bad vibes” only encoragements and positive attitudes.I sense that she lives in a world of fierce competition which is definitely not mine and thanks God i know myself well enough not to be blocked in the future trying to give …a dimension of my work but one has to be aware as Julia Cameron point out in her extraordinary book “the vein of gold, a journey to …
Being impatient…
I am very far from home and longing to come back. Last night i watch all over again Katie Kendrick awesome videos about collage and painting and i’m rather impatient to be in my studio. I love her way of teaching and sharing. I have to overcome the nagging fear of not being capable then, last night i was surfing and come accross Lynn Whipple blog. I knew her work already but haven’t seen her tutorials videos nor her 100 bad paintings as she call them. There’s the 8 steps video which is not only fun but inspiring where she acurately describes the process of creating with all our doubts, fears, wanting to gave up blabla but in the end we just have to keep on trying because creating is what makes us feeling whole. We practice and practice and sometimes it seems that everything flows and then again we feel stuck. It’s really an ongoing process, to know that it happens with all of us who have this need to create feels reassuring and comforting. I think she called …
I love my bed…
Arrived from Mumbai this morning … with the sense of longing and wanting to come back soon. Either you like or dislike India i don’t get to see much in between…Just finished this superb book by Javier Moro the non authorized biography of Sonia Gandhi. What an extraordinary destiny! This italian woman coudn’t envisioned the life that was ahead of her when she falled in love with Rajiv Gandhi back in the sixties. She was eighteen and fought for her love against the will of her father who wasn’t that happy to have her daughter to depart from distant India even to married a prince. The book is superbly written and we get to see both the life of Sonia and Rajiv and the one of Indira Gandhi. Not to be missed… Check also on Katie Kendrick’s blog joyouslybecoming.typepad.com her new mixed media video. I absolutely love it, can’t wait for tomorrow to try her methods. She is so talented i am very blessed to know her. Have a good week-end I will plenty of ideas popping in…. Xo
Work in progress…
My cat Frimousse or “mousse a pala” as a close friend calls him seems to like my new albums! The covers are most of the times what inspires me first then i add the inside pages. The typing letters above “AMO” mean I LOVE in portuguese. I struggle every day with my need of independency and my need of being in couple. I find it hard sometimes to be there…present and available. I find it hard to deal with his problems mine others… My life as certainly yours is composed of beautiful sunshine days and of heavy storms…not to say wild tornados! How to cope with it? Drink a caipirinha…fly away…meditate? For now i will choose meditation it’s safer! Have a good week PS: I’m reading a very intimate book from Daniel Meurois Givaudan (check out his website www.meurois-givaudan.com) called “le testament des trois Marie “. The legend said that Marie Salomé, Marie- Jacobée and Marie- Madalena were Jesus closest disciples. Many years has passed since the exil, they met again in Camargue at “Saintes-Marie-de-la-mer and open up their hearts …
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
Joyeux Noel
Wish you all a very good christmas Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments Meet you in 2011 Peace Love Happiness XO
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Life is not a destination but a journey…
How appropriate it seems…it’s 8pm in Miami and 1 am in Lisbon…I don t know for how long I don’t sleep lost track of it feeling a bit lost… Last week a lady from an health center told me rather indignate “how come you ve got 2 passport one french and another portuguese? that’s not normal you should have one! Well that’s not an option for me as my mother is french and my father is portuguese. I was born in Lisbon and went to a french school all my life and am used for a long time now to read in english and I do enjoy it (big fan of Barnes and Nobles) My first draft will always be in french and I do work in a french company but on the other hand as I live in Lisbon I was told to write my blog in portuguese which maked sense at the time but why not choosing english so everyone will understand? and most of it I’ll be happy…I am feeling a little confused at the moment, trying …
Keep loving yourself…
An artist friend suggested me that I should give another dimension to my craft so it could become art. She’s a talented and gifted artist and sees me like a crafter. It left me unbalanced… as I am an admirer of her work then I replied that what really excites and fulfill me is creating my life albums. She was suggesting that i should add them into huge canvas and kept saying it would give them a dimension….Why does one give any advice that is not asked? What is the hidden purpose? Why humans tend to compare over and over? I am that lucky that in my world of crafters i don’t sense “bad vibes” only encoragements and positive attitudes.I sense that she lives in a world of fierce competition which is definitely not mine and thanks God i know myself well enough not to be blocked in the future trying to give …a dimension of my work but one has to be aware as Julia Cameron point out in her extraordinary book “the vein of gold, a journey to …
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
Where is my love?
I miss my husband! He’s away for a week doing a raisin cure. Eating only raisin is a wonderful way to detoxinate your body every year but it take’s nonetheless courage which Luis has plenty of. He’s one of those special man with an enormous heart. His friends know how reliable and generous he is. I know that my love is always present available caring tender protective towards me. I miss him… I want it back home… It feels strange to be at home without him as usually i’m the one packing! His smell is everywhere, his strong presence, his love for me in the notes that i keep by my bedtable… Tell your love how much you love him the way he combs his hair the way he smiles his way of dancing his favorite food what make him laugh Have a good week Xo
Sleepless night in Seoul
It’s 2am here in Seoul 17h in Lisbon needless to say that i cannot sleep so what is there to do in the middle of the night in an unknown city? Reading Surfing in the net Listening to my favorite french radio FIP Eat chineses noodlles Trying to sleep… Waiting for 6am sharp for the breakfast Check also the site www.strengthsfinder.com buy the book it’s worth it! Reading a little more… Trying to sleep nan….. Meditating! Definitely not seeing the news on CNN as is the fast way to get depressed I should have bring some chocolates… Have a good week-end HAVE FUN XO
Treasure heart album
Just finished my Secret album that i am very found of. Don’t know for you but my last work is always my favorite…till the next one. I am preparing my Etsy Shop trying to understand how it works and am receiving everyday their newsletter which is quite interesting. They are very structured and helpful. Questions they suggested us to answer: Why are you doing what you do? Why do you pursue it? Why do you think you can succeed? What do you want to be known for, talked about?…Now is your turn to do the homeworks! I am “dating” Etsy shop for over a year now but haven’t sense is the right time yet to plunge, maybe because i’m afraid of the extra work and how will i manage it all? But as time passes by i’m getting more and more excited with the whole idea… they are very challenging which i love I realized that i value family above all things, within our family we are deeply loved, encouraged and stimulated and my treasure hearts albums are just that …
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
CRAFT AND DESIGN Christmas 2010
Perfect day no clouds spring temperature lovely time spent in jardim da Estrela along with my husband, mother and special friend Alex. Last week was another story with cold and rainy weather but still the public showed up, christmas is at the door! I must say that i am running out of spoons which is cool because i loved them and am happy that people find the idea amusing and fashionable. I was blessed last saturday with the meeting of an old (we have known each other since kindergarden) and dear friend that i haven’t seen for quite a while, can’t remember why life as set us apart, probably just that… Life! Last time she was single and now she is married with two beautiful sons, i met only the youngest who looks so much like her. That’s the kind of gift I receive with profound gratitude, can’t wait to be with her again. We are born on the 4th of august in Lisbon in 1969 same hospital! How cool is that? We used to have the same bad temper…i …
Life is not a destination but a journey…
How appropriate it seems…it’s 8pm in Miami and 1 am in Lisbon…I don t know for how long I don’t sleep lost track of it feeling a bit lost… Last week a lady from an health center told me rather indignate “how come you ve got 2 passport one french and another portuguese? that’s not normal you should have one! Well that’s not an option for me as my mother is french and my father is portuguese. I was born in Lisbon and went to a french school all my life and am used for a long time now to read in english and I do enjoy it (big fan of Barnes and Nobles) My first draft will always be in french and I do work in a french company but on the other hand as I live in Lisbon I was told to write my blog in portuguese which maked sense at the time but why not choosing english so everyone will understand? and most of it I’ll be happy…I am feeling a little confused at the moment, trying …
Heart spoons…
A good way of giving new life to old spoons! Add any photos of the ones you love along with their nicknames some resin…and voilà! One of my christmas gifts for mom who certainly like yours got everything!!! Have a good week end Remember to dance laugh share hug kiss… xo
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
Happy New Year 2016
Happy New Year Find time to create it s a challenge in my day to day life seems there are always more important stuff to accomplish! Notice that I have those crazy thoughts “I need to be there for the others” if I take time for me it s selfish(you should be available, present blabla….for the other) so my goal for 2016 is simply to Love myself a little more… What s yours? xo xo
Being in Love…
If I could have just one wish,I would wish to wake up everydayto the sound of your breath on my neck,the warmth of your lips on my cheek,the touch of your fingers on my skin,and the feel of your heart beating with mine…Knowing that I could never find that feelingwith anyone other than you. Hope you like my new album! Dedicated to the lovers of the world… Those who’ve just fall in love and others like myself who are married with a prince for a couple of years Xo
On friendship
I had this wonderful lunch with two inspired friends… It seems that i know them for ages which is certainly the case if you believe in multiple lives as I do. We were eager to know more about each others creativity and world. Just happy to be together a sheer moment of pleasure… Friendship is rare to find and when it ends it tears you apart like a love relationship, sometimes even more. I had my share of disappointments and disillutions as we all have and it hurts like hell! Sometimes, i even put my pride aside and give it another shot but it’s useless something broken will remain broken!My mom tells me that a friendship that ends was never one in the first place, how wise. I do hope that my heart friends will stay forever in my life. Have a good week end Heading to snowy Paris then New york. Youpiiii Barnes and Noble here i come… xo
Obrigado… Merci…Thank you
My stock is becoming thinner! THANK YOU for your trust, confidence and…good taste! Just arrived yesterday from Bangkok pretty exausted as always and was talking with one of my colleagues who ask me if i had bought gifts for christmas in the “mecque” of shopping! Well no i replied because i create what i offer so they are heart gifts! I sense that my clients recognize that, my art being one very emotional and personal which maybe explains the major success we’re having despite the crisis here in Portugal. THANK YOU MERCI OBRIGADO GRACIAS GRAZIE DANKE… Have a nice week Remember to laugh, dance, smile, hug
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
Create your notebook
I have once in a while to rearrange my own filofax, keeping some scrap papers thowing others. Well not exactling throwing keeping them aside in my overfilled studios as a friend was telling me last night! How can you work with so much stuff around? That’s my point everything really depends on your vision of your world as i feel that i don’t have much material comparing to my heart friends in the US and of course it applies for everything in Life. Some will see the bright side others the dark side no matter what they have. My studio feels comforting, reassuring, cosy but for her as she suffers from asthma it’s to much papers, tissues, hair cat…as for me i crave for more! Creating my handmade journal is always something very relaxing and a way of knowing what i have been doing last year. As i rewrite in new papers what were my goals, my sales, what i create, what courses i had etc… and what i would like for the year to come it’s a way of …
On struggling
Hope you had a nice week end? Mine was unsettling…I am doing Katie’s Kendrick online class on mixed media which is absolutely great but very unfamiliar for me. One of her students share on our yahoo group that she feels scared to just let go which was odd because it was just plain paper. I do feel exactly the same way it’s only watercolour paper not that expensive and that’s part of the deal we have to make mistakes! I have this crazy idea that painting is not for everyone so of course I struggle but I do enjoy the journey. My faces look like an alien not friendly at all so i will not post them for now. I keep remember one of my dearest friend who is now more than eighties who started painting when she retired at the age of 65 who wanted to give up at every single class she attend but she didn’t and I kept reminding her advice, step after step you will make progresses. I am definitely out of my comfort zone but …
About love
In the end it is always what prevails… The love for a man The love for our children The love for our parents The love for our friends and one that we tend to forget The love for OURSELVES My deepest wish is to grow old with my man. Know every wrinkle of his face Know every scar inside in and out Know what makes him cry Know what make him laugh To look back and be proud of what we have accomplished together. The road is not an easy one, every couple experiences up and downs but i believe that LOVE transcends it all. Love is what moves the world Love is what we all seek and fortunately GOD blesses everyone at any given time. Be blessed Have a good week end XO
Homesick…
I have been in Paris for 4 days heading to Rio de Janeiro tonight both are extraordinary cities but still I miss my husband. I miss his smile, his touch, his kisses, his tenderness and passion …after 9 years of marriage i should be more independent but i am not and don’t plan to be. All my female friends are the same i guess it runs on our genes then for the fortunates ones came the unconditional love for their children but i acknowledge everyday how women’s life are bound to their man. A friend was telling me that she should be more assertive, that she should have more rules…which i replied that a woman in love function with her heart not her mental. Nothing prevails the emotion of being connected, being united, feeling whole. I will drink a caipirinha to love Have a good week end xo
Treasure heart album
Just finished my Secret album that i am very found of. Don’t know for you but my last work is always my favorite…till the next one. I am preparing my Etsy Shop trying to understand how it works and am receiving everyday their newsletter which is quite interesting. They are very structured and helpful. Questions they suggested us to answer: Why are you doing what you do? Why do you pursue it? Why do you think you can succeed? What do you want to be known for, talked about?…Now is your turn to do the homeworks! I am “dating” Etsy shop for over a year now but haven’t sense is the right time yet to plunge, maybe because i’m afraid of the extra work and how will i manage it all? But as time passes by i’m getting more and more excited with the whole idea… they are very challenging which i love I realized that i value family above all things, within our family we are deeply loved, encouraged and stimulated and my treasure hearts albums are just that …
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Being impatient…
I am very far from home and longing to come back. Last night i watch all over again Katie Kendrick awesome videos about collage and painting and i’m rather impatient to be in my studio. I love her way of teaching and sharing. I have to overcome the nagging fear of not being capable then, last night i was surfing and come accross Lynn Whipple blog. I knew her work already but haven’t seen her tutorials videos nor her 100 bad paintings as she call them. There’s the 8 steps video which is not only fun but inspiring where she acurately describes the process of creating with all our doubts, fears, wanting to gave up blabla but in the end we just have to keep on trying because creating is what makes us feeling whole. We practice and practice and sometimes it seems that everything flows and then again we feel stuck. It’s really an ongoing process, to know that it happens with all of us who have this need to create feels reassuring and comforting. I think she called …
You and I deserve the very best…
Yesterday, was cleaning day in the studio which is a good way of rediscover all the material i left apart but mostly it clears my head. New ideas, new projects a “nouvel élan” in the beginning of the year comes up. I was rearranging some old photos and surprise myself thinking ” I was cute in my twenties and thirties” How come i didn’t realize that at the time! I felt too fat too short too….not intelligent not clever enough bla bla bla….Is it something that we have to experienced? All of us? because I see it in a daily basis, beautiful and clever young women disliking themselves, hating either their nose their chin whatever crosses their mind! My point is that with aging we all have our griefs and wounds but could we have avoided some rough experiences, had we loved ourselves? I deeply believe that in the years to come a new awareness on the importance of the mind will prevail. I read this amazing book by Lynne Mc Taggart called The Field” she has been researching medicine …
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Mail art ……….
Porque não personalizar os nossos postais? Embora utilize bastante os mails para comunicar com os meus amigos, gosto de lhes enviar de vez em quando cartas feitas por mim e sabe tão bem receber outra coisa no correio do que contas para pagar…! Be Happy Create Enjoy…Life is short
Work in progress…
My cat Frimousse or “mousse a pala” as a close friend calls him seems to like my new albums! The covers are most of the times what inspires me first then i add the inside pages. The typing letters above “AMO” mean I LOVE in portuguese. I struggle every day with my need of independency and my need of being in couple. I find it hard sometimes to be there…present and available. I find it hard to deal with his problems mine others… My life as certainly yours is composed of beautiful sunshine days and of heavy storms…not to say wild tornados! How to cope with it? Drink a caipirinha…fly away…meditate? For now i will choose meditation it’s safer! Have a good week PS: I’m reading a very intimate book from Daniel Meurois Givaudan (check out his website www.meurois-givaudan.com) called “le testament des trois Marie “. The legend said that Marie Salomé, Marie- Jacobée and Marie- Madalena were Jesus closest disciples. Many years has passed since the exil, they met again in Camargue at “Saintes-Marie-de-la-mer and open up their hearts …
Work in progress…
My cat Frimousse or “mousse a pala” as a close friend calls him seems to like my new albums! The covers are most of the times what inspires me first then i add the inside pages. The typing letters above “AMO” mean I LOVE in portuguese. I struggle every day with my need of independency and my need of being in couple. I find it hard sometimes to be there…present and available. I find it hard to deal with his problems mine others… My life as certainly yours is composed of beautiful sunshine days and of heavy storms…not to say wild tornados! How to cope with it? Drink a caipirinha…fly away…meditate? For now i will choose meditation it’s safer! Have a good week PS: I’m reading a very intimate book from Daniel Meurois Givaudan (check out his website www.meurois-givaudan.com) called “le testament des trois Marie “. The legend said that Marie Salomé, Marie- Jacobée and Marie- Madalena were Jesus closest disciples. Many years has passed since the exil, they met again in Camargue at “Saintes-Marie-de-la-mer and open up their hearts …
Homesick…
I have been in Paris for 4 days heading to Rio de Janeiro tonight both are extraordinary cities but still I miss my husband. I miss his smile, his touch, his kisses, his tenderness and passion …after 9 years of marriage i should be more independent but i am not and don’t plan to be. All my female friends are the same i guess it runs on our genes then for the fortunates ones came the unconditional love for their children but i acknowledge everyday how women’s life are bound to their man. A friend was telling me that she should be more assertive, that she should have more rules…which i replied that a woman in love function with her heart not her mental. Nothing prevails the emotion of being connected, being united, feeling whole. I will drink a caipirinha to love Have a good week end xo
You and I deserve the very best…
Yesterday, was cleaning day in the studio which is a good way of rediscover all the material i left apart but mostly it clears my head. New ideas, new projects a “nouvel élan” in the beginning of the year comes up. I was rearranging some old photos and surprise myself thinking ” I was cute in my twenties and thirties” How come i didn’t realize that at the time! I felt too fat too short too….not intelligent not clever enough bla bla bla….Is it something that we have to experienced? All of us? because I see it in a daily basis, beautiful and clever young women disliking themselves, hating either their nose their chin whatever crosses their mind! My point is that with aging we all have our griefs and wounds but could we have avoided some rough experiences, had we loved ourselves? I deeply believe that in the years to come a new awareness on the importance of the mind will prevail. I read this amazing book by Lynne Mc Taggart called The Field” she has been researching medicine …
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Life is not a destination but a journey…
How appropriate it seems…it’s 8pm in Miami and 1 am in Lisbon…I don t know for how long I don’t sleep lost track of it feeling a bit lost… Last week a lady from an health center told me rather indignate “how come you ve got 2 passport one french and another portuguese? that’s not normal you should have one! Well that’s not an option for me as my mother is french and my father is portuguese. I was born in Lisbon and went to a french school all my life and am used for a long time now to read in english and I do enjoy it (big fan of Barnes and Nobles) My first draft will always be in french and I do work in a french company but on the other hand as I live in Lisbon I was told to write my blog in portuguese which maked sense at the time but why not choosing english so everyone will understand? and most of it I’ll be happy…I am feeling a little confused at the moment, trying …
On pleasure
This album brings back excellent memories since it was started at Artfest 2009. I am rearranging all my photos, classifying and organizing and of course i can see the path that i made in these 2 years. I remember the pleasure and desinvolture i had, so it’s time to get back in track as i like to say. At the beguining it was only for fun now as people are getting more found of my work it do not want the comercial side to take over. It’s not that easy to accomplish will I sell this album? Is it overpriced? I hear a thousand advices you should do this and that…..But in the end it’s all about pleasure and feeling whole at least it is for me and i want it to remain like that otherwise it will become more and more stressful. The power of money and greed are fast to arrive….my ego as well! This album was made out of love since I offered it to my husband and as his own place in our living room. My …
Wondering….will you be there
I am completely addict to photoshop…love it! There are so many things one can do so i have been playing hope you like it… On my way to Paris i have seen again this extraordinary french film “les petits mouchoirs”de Guillaume Canet and again i was deeply touched. French movie makers from Claude Sautet to Truffaut have this special way in transcending our ordinary lives and make it something unique and worthwhile. Do you remember “les choses de la vie” with Romy Schneider and Yves Montand? This new film from Guillaume Canet is the portrait of a couple of childhood friends who despite one of their best friends being in the hospital still go on vacations… After all he is in coma what difference could it make so they all decide that’s there’s no point in being present just standing next to him and off they go to the bassin d’arcachon(beautiful surf spot). Every character lying to the the others, their egotism coming out, concentrating on their own problems… A superb movie,one that makes you wonder “am i like that …
On love
I am practicing photoshop as you can see and it’s incredible what you can do and undo with a photo. I am still barely walking but i am enjoying the ride…endless possibilities so cool! I love this young couple were they happy did they love each other or did they have to married against their will? I want to believe that they were deeply in love, ahead of their time free spirits maybe artists? Living a life of bohême somewhere in San Francisco, knowing that they were lucky to have one another…. I was speaking with a friend who is facing major issues at the moment in her marriage. I will quote the art of happiness from the Dalai Lama “…a relationship is also a dynamic living system, composed of two organisms interacting in a living environment, it is equally natural and right that the relationship go through stages. In any relationship, there are different dimensions of closeness, physical, emotional, and intellectual. Bodily contact, sharing emotions, thoughts, and exchanging ideas are all legitimate ways of connecting with those we love. …
Thank you
This week end was a blessed one, i had another Craft and design market, the weather was perfect, the public awesome. I met this french grandma who married a portuguese like my mom from the same city, Vila Nova de Famalicao, how peculiar! I met this young mom of two who had a flush of emotion when opening my scrapbook albums, she had tears popping in! How cool… Plenty of friends and friends of friends come along… I feel truly blessed. Last week i had all this exams that we woman definitely have to take past 40 mostly due to a pain in my right breast, so there’s no need to tell you that i was scare while waiting for the results. Everything is ok but it made me realize that i could have been the other way round. How do yo react when you are ill? Do you keep it to yourself and fight alone the disease? or do you share it? I am a very private person when dealing with my intimacy and it cross my mind that if …
drawers are opening
I am in a good shape well maybe not yesterday as i drink too many caipirinhas! That’s the thing with this brazilian drink once you begin it’s quite difficult to stop… but i did enjoy myself and dance with my husband and a dear friend which was great! I was saying that i have recover from the endless flights and have plenty of new items in my atelier, drawers are definitely opening for me. I am back with ideas, projects…. and am planning to have my own site . Come this week-end to jardim da estrela, Craft and Design market with a jazz concert at 17h and plenty of beautiful handmade art. Have fun xo
What are your strengths?
Do you know what are your strengths? or like most of us you are trying to improve your weaknesses? I have just discovered this excellent book “strengths finder 2.0” by Tom Rath where he explains just that. How in the occidental and even in the oriental world our education is based on improving our weaknesses, how the enterprises nowadays run endless workshops on “how to improve yourself” in areas where we lack talent! Some of the attendees will have success because of their natural talents with or without workshops but most of us will strive for it. So this book relates to our natural talents, there’s this online test in the language of your choice and the result is in english about 2mn later or within weeks by mail in your own language. Natural talents i kept repeating it because though i sense it by now (i m more than 40 remember!) i wouldn’t have told you they are talents! They are 34 themes that the Gallup organization have come out with and they verified over and over that people have …
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
Dia dos namorados
Olà a todos Já estamos a 9 de fevereiro… o tempo voa não parei desde janeiro, o blog tem tido férias antecipadas! Criei o meu workshop das casinhas, tive que configurar o meu novo computador…um Mac youpiii!!!!trabalhar também, que é preciso… Vem ai o dia dos namorados, aproveito para lhes mostrar um scrap que realizei para o meu marido. Quando estou no meu atelier, ouvindo música jazz no transistor dos anos 40(no mínimo…), criando um albúm para alguém muito especial… posso dizer que estou em paz. Senti a falta durante muitos anos pela minha profissão(hospedeira) de não ter dias certos para me inscrever num curso de arte e graças ao scrapbooking posso agora criar ao meu ritmo, o que é inestimável. O lado positivo de estar muito tempo fora de portugal é ter a oportunidade de poder participar em workshops que ainda não existem em portugal com artistas fantásticas, como art and soul e artfest ENJOY…BE HAPPY CREATE LIFE IS SHORT…
sweet memories
Foi um dos primeiros livros de scrap que realizei. Simples, com alguns dos meus tecidos azuis preferidos………e claro a minha garrafa fetiche O meu marido Luis adora escrever-me “des mots doux” que eu gardo religiosamente e que utilizo bastante nos meus trabalhos Esta foto foi tirada com o meu cão Pimba, pastor alemão lindo criado pela guarda nacional republicana,”cantava”, dormia no meu quarto, partilhavá-mos as bolachas maria as escondidas, quando o meu irmão Stephane lhe puxava os pêlos(de 5 em 5 mn!) foi sempre meigo nunca rosnou Pode-se dizer que o meu pai conseguiu captar os meus primeiros passos…é uma das minhas fotos preferidas de bébé. Estou numa fase de transição, tenho que saber utilisar o meu novo laptop mac book que é bastante mais fácil de manejo do que o pc, mas mesmo assim há muita coisa nova para integrar. Sei que estão todos ansiosos para realisar o meu workshop…está quase! Be happy enjoy create……..life is short
Mail art ……….
Porque não personalizar os nossos postais? Embora utilize bastante os mails para comunicar com os meus amigos, gosto de lhes enviar de vez em quando cartas feitas por mim e sabe tão bem receber outra coisa no correio do que contas para pagar…! Be Happy Create Enjoy…Life is short
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
Life is good…
It’s 7h30 in the morning and i’m already wake up…thanks to my special teacher katie Kendrick! I’m completely addict to her faces having a notebook with me all the time and practicing practicing… She’s a wonderful creative inspiring teacher giving us a tons of tecnhiques with an open heart that i don’t get to see often. I was out of my comfort zone and still am but it’s like she granted us with a green light…go girls unleash your creativity. I would love to add to my albums painting as well. I’m really into the mixed media gathering in one piece all sorts of techniques and materials. Above for example I sewed into an old paper a coco leave that i brought from Brazil… This album is on progress…let’s see what comes out of it. I am always wondering when looking at old pictures where they happy? This woman, did she loved the man she married? Was he caring devoted to her?What were her dreams? Her vision of the world? Was she an open minded? Did she give enough? I …
Beautiful Nest
Look what my husband found this week-end in the woods…it’s the most beautiful and touching gift I received in ages. I have this thing about nest surely in a psychological nevel there’s a meaning…not very difficult to guess as I long to be a mother Decided to put them aside 2 little sculptures I’ve made and are very found of. Voilà!!! I am rereading “one more step can change your life, the kaizen way” from Robert Maurer. This small book as truly changed my husband’s life there’s a before and after! Each step at a time one is evolving and the path seems easier. Love it Ok back to work in my studio, there’s one nest left and I’ve got a project where he will be perfect. Enjoy create… share be Happy
Talisman necklaces
DANCE as though no one is watching you LOVE as though you have never been hurt before SING as though no one can hear you LIVE as though heaven is on earth…
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
Spring necklaces
HOPE YOU LIKE THEM… I DO MAKE THEM YOURS… HAVE A GOOD WEEK Be blessed Check this instructive blog who gives you all the tools about how to improve your intuition Psychotherapist Sylviane JUNG http://lescheminsdelintuition.com xo xo xo
The purpose of Life
Love my new necklaces… Hope you’ll love them too! My favorite bedtime book is no doubt “the art of happiness” from the Dalai Lama. I usually close my eyes and open it in a random way sensing there will be a deep meaning inside it. Quoting” Sometimes when I meet old friends, it reminds me how quickly time passes: And it makes me wonder if we’ve utilized our time properly or not. Proper utilization of time is so important.While we have this body and especially this amazing human brain, I think every minute is something precious. So, let us reflect on what is truly of value in Life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set priorities on the basis of that. The purpose of life needs to be positive. We weren’t born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, i think we must develop basic good human qualities-warmth, kindness,compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful-HAPPIER”
Christmas presents
This is for you Feira “Craft and Design” 4/5 and 11/12 december jardim da estrela Come and enjoy Looking back L’avenir Dream big
On friendship
I had this wonderful lunch with two inspired friends… It seems that i know them for ages which is certainly the case if you believe in multiple lives as I do. We were eager to know more about each others creativity and world. Just happy to be together a sheer moment of pleasure… Friendship is rare to find and when it ends it tears you apart like a love relationship, sometimes even more. I had my share of disappointments and disillutions as we all have and it hurts like hell! Sometimes, i even put my pride aside and give it another shot but it’s useless something broken will remain broken!My mom tells me that a friendship that ends was never one in the first place, how wise. I do hope that my heart friends will stay forever in my life. Have a good week end Heading to snowy Paris then New york. Youpiiii Barnes and Noble here i come… xo
HAPPY NEW YEAR…2012
It took me a while to integrate the feeling of GRATITUDE. My life as yours without doubt is not easy, more than often we just want to quit and run away but we don’t…Day after day the wheel changes for the best i believe because our experience and our wisdom grows. I am a better person today than i was yesterday. I am more compassionate, tolerant, open minded than i was last year. Today I LOVE MYSELF with all my demons and flaws. I could have choose the path of bitterness or anger because being grateful for what we have instead of what we think we should have is definitely not an easy one! I know what is to love and being loved. I know how to give and receive I know when to listen and when to speak I know that i know nothing…used to said Jean Gabin because despite my wanting some people will love me others don’t some will stay with me forever others only for a dinner but i feel grateful to be able to connect… …
Thoughts…
“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” – Robert Francis Kennedy “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” — Frank Outlaw. Love it…given yesterday by a friend had to share it with you Have a good week Xo
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
2011…you go girl!
Between Christmas and New Eve time stands still, there are always a lot of joy and gratitude in the air. It’s a moment of peace where families and friends get together, share, exchange, bounds become more profound each year. It’s a moment to remember with tenderness the ones that are no longer but will remain forever in our hearts. It’s a time of rest where the worries lay aside, where we take good resolutions hoping that this year maybe we can keep some of them…..for a month at least! December is a blessed month for me, preparing with love and care the presents, forseeing their happiness, knowing that mom is cooking delicious meals that i won’t find anywhere in the world. It’s a moment to remember those who are alone or like this year who have their flights cancelled and couldn’t make it to their destination. It’s a moment to make amend. I cherish the dream that next year will be better that the crisis will pass that abundance will return that we have learned the lessons out of it. …
MISSING ARTFEST
Nina s Class….she is such a beautiful artist inside in and out. I simply love her work, her style, her humor and her authenticity. i am blessed we all are to attend her classes and gosh she is so fun……… and Misty Mawn…also so delicate, seems so fragile and yet so strong.I love her work too, such a talent I am a big fan, her portraits always touch me in a deepest way. Her class was very, very challenging for me but I definetely enjoyed it and will have more in the future It s time to say goodbye to ARTFEST 2009 , difficult as normal life has already catch me up but I just have to close my eyes and there I am again in the morning waiting for breakfast lingering buy the beach admiring the amazing vue sharing with Amanda(up at 6am as me) our dreams our goals and then the excitement before the class, seeing again Nina and her extraordinary charisma that reminds me so much of my own mom and then sharing again with my roommates …
Notebooks to cherish
LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal LIFE PRINCIPLE #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES THINGS #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal ENCOURAGE YOUR HOPES NOT YOUR FEARS #notebook # agenda # hippie …
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Valentine’s day
Did you have an Happy Valentine’s day? Did you dance and look yourselves in the eyes thinking that i’m truly blessed? I deeply love this man I deeply love this woman Why? What makes you love one another? What makes you stay together all over the years? …… TO LOVE AND BE LOVED xo
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
I love my bed…
Arrived from Mumbai this morning … with the sense of longing and wanting to come back soon. Either you like or dislike India i don’t get to see much in between…Just finished this superb book by Javier Moro the non authorized biography of Sonia Gandhi. What an extraordinary destiny! This italian woman coudn’t envisioned the life that was ahead of her when she falled in love with Rajiv Gandhi back in the sixties. She was eighteen and fought for her love against the will of her father who wasn’t that happy to have her daughter to depart from distant India even to married a prince. The book is superbly written and we get to see both the life of Sonia and Rajiv and the one of Indira Gandhi. Not to be missed… Check also on Katie Kendrick’s blog joyouslybecoming.typepad.com her new mixed media video. I absolutely love it, can’t wait for tomorrow to try her methods. She is so talented i am very blessed to know her. Have a good week-end I will plenty of ideas popping in…. Xo
CRAFT AND DESIGN Christmas 2010
Perfect day no clouds spring temperature lovely time spent in jardim da Estrela along with my husband, mother and special friend Alex. Last week was another story with cold and rainy weather but still the public showed up, christmas is at the door! I must say that i am running out of spoons which is cool because i loved them and am happy that people find the idea amusing and fashionable. I was blessed last saturday with the meeting of an old (we have known each other since kindergarden) and dear friend that i haven’t seen for quite a while, can’t remember why life as set us apart, probably just that… Life! Last time she was single and now she is married with two beautiful sons, i met only the youngest who looks so much like her. That’s the kind of gift I receive with profound gratitude, can’t wait to be with her again. We are born on the 4th of august in Lisbon in 1969 same hospital! How cool is that? We used to have the same bad temper…i …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
Valentine’s day
Did you have an Happy Valentine’s day? Did you dance and look yourselves in the eyes thinking that i’m truly blessed? I deeply love this man I deeply love this woman Why? What makes you love one another? What makes you stay together all over the years? …… TO LOVE AND BE LOVED xo
On friendship
I had this wonderful lunch with two inspired friends… It seems that i know them for ages which is certainly the case if you believe in multiple lives as I do. We were eager to know more about each others creativity and world. Just happy to be together a sheer moment of pleasure… Friendship is rare to find and when it ends it tears you apart like a love relationship, sometimes even more. I had my share of disappointments and disillutions as we all have and it hurts like hell! Sometimes, i even put my pride aside and give it another shot but it’s useless something broken will remain broken!My mom tells me that a friendship that ends was never one in the first place, how wise. I do hope that my heart friends will stay forever in my life. Have a good week end Heading to snowy Paris then New york. Youpiiii Barnes and Noble here i come… xo
On trust
a I was just telling a friend that whatever i tell to others is always “the mirror effect” that means it can applied to me. This week-end was a huge step for me as I let my husband run the fair and just popped in around 2pm, letting him decorate and sell my craft in his own way. I am proud of me because trying to control everything means that i fail to trust Life. I trust him and the results were awesome being Luis an excellent seller. I used to say he can sell machine guns to nuns if he’s in the mood! Another step on my ongoing therapy process and one that will bring me utter happiness. Have a good week I feel good the jet lag stayed in Shanghai… xo
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
Create your notebook
I have once in a while to rearrange my own filofax, keeping some scrap papers thowing others. Well not exactling throwing keeping them aside in my overfilled studios as a friend was telling me last night! How can you work with so much stuff around? That’s my point everything really depends on your vision of your world as i feel that i don’t have much material comparing to my heart friends in the US and of course it applies for everything in Life. Some will see the bright side others the dark side no matter what they have. My studio feels comforting, reassuring, cosy but for her as she suffers from asthma it’s to much papers, tissues, hair cat…as for me i crave for more! Creating my handmade journal is always something very relaxing and a way of knowing what i have been doing last year. As i rewrite in new papers what were my goals, my sales, what i create, what courses i had etc… and what i would like for the year to come it’s a way of …
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Where is my love?
I miss my husband! He’s away for a week doing a raisin cure. Eating only raisin is a wonderful way to detoxinate your body every year but it take’s nonetheless courage which Luis has plenty of. He’s one of those special man with an enormous heart. His friends know how reliable and generous he is. I know that my love is always present available caring tender protective towards me. I miss him… I want it back home… It feels strange to be at home without him as usually i’m the one packing! His smell is everywhere, his strong presence, his love for me in the notes that i keep by my bedtable… Tell your love how much you love him the way he combs his hair the way he smiles his way of dancing his favorite food what make him laugh Have a good week Xo
HAPPY NEW YEAR…2012
It took me a while to integrate the feeling of GRATITUDE. My life as yours without doubt is not easy, more than often we just want to quit and run away but we don’t…Day after day the wheel changes for the best i believe because our experience and our wisdom grows. I am a better person today than i was yesterday. I am more compassionate, tolerant, open minded than i was last year. Today I LOVE MYSELF with all my demons and flaws. I could have choose the path of bitterness or anger because being grateful for what we have instead of what we think we should have is definitely not an easy one! I know what is to love and being loved. I know how to give and receive I know when to listen and when to speak I know that i know nothing…used to said Jean Gabin because despite my wanting some people will love me others don’t some will stay with me forever others only for a dinner but i feel grateful to be able to connect… …
On struggling
Hope you had a nice week end? Mine was unsettling…I am doing Katie’s Kendrick online class on mixed media which is absolutely great but very unfamiliar for me. One of her students share on our yahoo group that she feels scared to just let go which was odd because it was just plain paper. I do feel exactly the same way it’s only watercolour paper not that expensive and that’s part of the deal we have to make mistakes! I have this crazy idea that painting is not for everyone so of course I struggle but I do enjoy the journey. My faces look like an alien not friendly at all so i will not post them for now. I keep remember one of my dearest friend who is now more than eighties who started painting when she retired at the age of 65 who wanted to give up at every single class she attend but she didn’t and I kept reminding her advice, step after step you will make progresses. I am definitely out of my comfort zone but …
Wondering….will you be there
I am completely addict to photoshop…love it! There are so many things one can do so i have been playing hope you like it… On my way to Paris i have seen again this extraordinary french film “les petits mouchoirs”de Guillaume Canet and again i was deeply touched. French movie makers from Claude Sautet to Truffaut have this special way in transcending our ordinary lives and make it something unique and worthwhile. Do you remember “les choses de la vie” with Romy Schneider and Yves Montand? This new film from Guillaume Canet is the portrait of a couple of childhood friends who despite one of their best friends being in the hospital still go on vacations… After all he is in coma what difference could it make so they all decide that’s there’s no point in being present just standing next to him and off they go to the bassin d’arcachon(beautiful surf spot). Every character lying to the the others, their egotism coming out, concentrating on their own problems… A superb movie,one that makes you wonder “am i like that …
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Homesick…
I have been in Paris for 4 days heading to Rio de Janeiro tonight both are extraordinary cities but still I miss my husband. I miss his smile, his touch, his kisses, his tenderness and passion …after 9 years of marriage i should be more independent but i am not and don’t plan to be. All my female friends are the same i guess it runs on our genes then for the fortunates ones came the unconditional love for their children but i acknowledge everyday how women’s life are bound to their man. A friend was telling me that she should be more assertive, that she should have more rules…which i replied that a woman in love function with her heart not her mental. Nothing prevails the emotion of being connected, being united, feeling whole. I will drink a caipirinha to love Have a good week end xo
2011…you go girl!
Between Christmas and New Eve time stands still, there are always a lot of joy and gratitude in the air. It’s a moment of peace where families and friends get together, share, exchange, bounds become more profound each year. It’s a moment to remember with tenderness the ones that are no longer but will remain forever in our hearts. It’s a time of rest where the worries lay aside, where we take good resolutions hoping that this year maybe we can keep some of them…..for a month at least! December is a blessed month for me, preparing with love and care the presents, forseeing their happiness, knowing that mom is cooking delicious meals that i won’t find anywhere in the world. It’s a moment to remember those who are alone or like this year who have their flights cancelled and couldn’t make it to their destination. It’s a moment to make amend. I cherish the dream that next year will be better that the crisis will pass that abundance will return that we have learned the lessons out of it. …
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Talisman necklaces
DANCE as though no one is watching you LOVE as though you have never been hurt before SING as though no one can hear you LIVE as though heaven is on earth…
The purpose of Life
Love my new necklaces… Hope you’ll love them too! My favorite bedtime book is no doubt “the art of happiness” from the Dalai Lama. I usually close my eyes and open it in a random way sensing there will be a deep meaning inside it. Quoting” Sometimes when I meet old friends, it reminds me how quickly time passes: And it makes me wonder if we’ve utilized our time properly or not. Proper utilization of time is so important.While we have this body and especially this amazing human brain, I think every minute is something precious. So, let us reflect on what is truly of value in Life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set priorities on the basis of that. The purpose of life needs to be positive. We weren’t born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, i think we must develop basic good human qualities-warmth, kindness,compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful-HAPPIER”
Joyeux Noel
Wish you all a very good christmas Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments Meet you in 2011 Peace Love Happiness XO
One of a kind…
Heading to Paris and tomorrow one of my favorite cities in the world Mumbai …will definitely enjoy the best chicken masala in town then Paris again staying with friends then…..well you don’t really want to know my head is turning already……Will be back in february! See you Remember to dance laugh enjoy Have fun Xo PS: my album page is a text reminding us how each one of us is special and unique
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
MISSING ARTFEST
Nina s Class….she is such a beautiful artist inside in and out. I simply love her work, her style, her humor and her authenticity. i am blessed we all are to attend her classes and gosh she is so fun……… and Misty Mawn…also so delicate, seems so fragile and yet so strong.I love her work too, such a talent I am a big fan, her portraits always touch me in a deepest way. Her class was very, very challenging for me but I definetely enjoyed it and will have more in the future It s time to say goodbye to ARTFEST 2009 , difficult as normal life has already catch me up but I just have to close my eyes and there I am again in the morning waiting for breakfast lingering buy the beach admiring the amazing vue sharing with Amanda(up at 6am as me) our dreams our goals and then the excitement before the class, seeing again Nina and her extraordinary charisma that reminds me so much of my own mom and then sharing again with my roommates …
ARTFEST GIRLS 2009
I am truly blessed to have been part of Artfest girls.It was a fantastic experience! My roommates are the best one can have; Michelle your margaritas are awesome bring more next year! I will bring some french and portuguese wine… Nikki “ravey-ioli” I loved your beautiful story of your grandpa, what an example. Cherryl “cheese chips” thank you so much for the lovely banners, we had fun in Nina´s class and give me your address so I can mail you vintage french papers…It was so cool sharing the bedroom with you Girls I wasn´t the only one speaking while sleeping!!! didn´t figure out who it was… Thank you Jo, you were my guardian angel! you gave me such inspiring ideas…unmounting a clock! that´s great. we will meet hopefully in september in Paris. Amanda you are a beautiful person inside in and out, your bracelet and your flowers were great(yes….they are)My husband just bought me a GPS I immediately thought of you!!! Adeola you are fun and never had the chance to thank you for having wait for me at the …
ARTFEST 2009
Finally, I arrive home exausted but so fulfilled…It was such an amazing incredible experience! I will come next year, that´s for sure. I simply love it from the registration, Teesha and Tracy wonderful organization, everything so well prepared, explained, it just flows… This is dorm 202…the place to be Thank you Teesha and Tracy you guys are simply wonderful…you provide us the very best
My little Big Brother…1975
Bonne Anniversaire Schounard! 36 years time flies indeed…3 years ago i offer him this album with all my heart. My little Big Brother as accomplish a lot already in his Life. He knows what he wants and go for it! He’s not only talented but disciplined, self centered, determined, courageous sensitive intuitive…Maybe a little overprotective towards me! Definitely is a winner and it feels good to have his energy around ! I wish i could be like him when i grow up…. I deeply admired him. When we were little, the first thing Stephane used to do when arriving home was call after me, Tenda where are you? He followed me everywhere imitating me and…i was not very kind to him! I’m 6 years older! Even nowadays sometimes i still argue with him but i know that we deeply loved each other and that we are there for one another always and forever. Je suis fière de t’avoir comme frère Je t’aime Parabens schounard
One of a kind…
Heading to Paris and tomorrow one of my favorite cities in the world Mumbai …will definitely enjoy the best chicken masala in town then Paris again staying with friends then…..well you don’t really want to know my head is turning already……Will be back in february! See you Remember to dance laugh enjoy Have fun Xo PS: my album page is a text reminding us how each one of us is special and unique
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
You and I deserve the very best…
Yesterday, was cleaning day in the studio which is a good way of rediscover all the material i left apart but mostly it clears my head. New ideas, new projects a “nouvel élan” in the beginning of the year comes up. I was rearranging some old photos and surprise myself thinking ” I was cute in my twenties and thirties” How come i didn’t realize that at the time! I felt too fat too short too….not intelligent not clever enough bla bla bla….Is it something that we have to experienced? All of us? because I see it in a daily basis, beautiful and clever young women disliking themselves, hating either their nose their chin whatever crosses their mind! My point is that with aging we all have our griefs and wounds but could we have avoided some rough experiences, had we loved ourselves? I deeply believe that in the years to come a new awareness on the importance of the mind will prevail. I read this amazing book by Lynne Mc Taggart called The Field” she has been researching medicine …
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
Create your notebook
I have once in a while to rearrange my own filofax, keeping some scrap papers thowing others. Well not exactling throwing keeping them aside in my overfilled studios as a friend was telling me last night! How can you work with so much stuff around? That’s my point everything really depends on your vision of your world as i feel that i don’t have much material comparing to my heart friends in the US and of course it applies for everything in Life. Some will see the bright side others the dark side no matter what they have. My studio feels comforting, reassuring, cosy but for her as she suffers from asthma it’s to much papers, tissues, hair cat…as for me i crave for more! Creating my handmade journal is always something very relaxing and a way of knowing what i have been doing last year. As i rewrite in new papers what were my goals, my sales, what i create, what courses i had etc… and what i would like for the year to come it’s a way of …
On trust
a I was just telling a friend that whatever i tell to others is always “the mirror effect” that means it can applied to me. This week-end was a huge step for me as I let my husband run the fair and just popped in around 2pm, letting him decorate and sell my craft in his own way. I am proud of me because trying to control everything means that i fail to trust Life. I trust him and the results were awesome being Luis an excellent seller. I used to say he can sell machine guns to nuns if he’s in the mood! Another step on my ongoing therapy process and one that will bring me utter happiness. Have a good week I feel good the jet lag stayed in Shanghai… xo
On trust
a I was just telling a friend that whatever i tell to others is always “the mirror effect” that means it can applied to me. This week-end was a huge step for me as I let my husband run the fair and just popped in around 2pm, letting him decorate and sell my craft in his own way. I am proud of me because trying to control everything means that i fail to trust Life. I trust him and the results were awesome being Luis an excellent seller. I used to say he can sell machine guns to nuns if he’s in the mood! Another step on my ongoing therapy process and one that will bring me utter happiness. Have a good week I feel good the jet lag stayed in Shanghai… xo
You and I deserve the very best…
Yesterday, was cleaning day in the studio which is a good way of rediscover all the material i left apart but mostly it clears my head. New ideas, new projects a “nouvel élan” in the beginning of the year comes up. I was rearranging some old photos and surprise myself thinking ” I was cute in my twenties and thirties” How come i didn’t realize that at the time! I felt too fat too short too….not intelligent not clever enough bla bla bla….Is it something that we have to experienced? All of us? because I see it in a daily basis, beautiful and clever young women disliking themselves, hating either their nose their chin whatever crosses their mind! My point is that with aging we all have our griefs and wounds but could we have avoided some rough experiences, had we loved ourselves? I deeply believe that in the years to come a new awareness on the importance of the mind will prevail. I read this amazing book by Lynne Mc Taggart called The Field” she has been researching medicine …
Joyeux Noel
Wish you all a very good christmas Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments Meet you in 2011 Peace Love Happiness XO
Life is good…
It’s 7h30 in the morning and i’m already wake up…thanks to my special teacher katie Kendrick! I’m completely addict to her faces having a notebook with me all the time and practicing practicing… She’s a wonderful creative inspiring teacher giving us a tons of tecnhiques with an open heart that i don’t get to see often. I was out of my comfort zone and still am but it’s like she granted us with a green light…go girls unleash your creativity. I would love to add to my albums painting as well. I’m really into the mixed media gathering in one piece all sorts of techniques and materials. Above for example I sewed into an old paper a coco leave that i brought from Brazil… This album is on progress…let’s see what comes out of it. I am always wondering when looking at old pictures where they happy? This woman, did she loved the man she married? Was he caring devoted to her?What were her dreams? Her vision of the world? Was she an open minded? Did she give enough? I …
TALISMAN NECKLACES…
HOPE YOU LIKE I DO MADE OUT OF PASSION AND LOVE #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # SUCCESS #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # BE WILD #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # ALIVE …
Heart spoons…
A good way of giving new life to old spoons! Add any photos of the ones you love along with their nicknames some resin…and voilà! One of my christmas gifts for mom who certainly like yours got everything!!! Have a good week end Remember to dance laugh share hug kiss… xo
Published in HAPPY MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED Below is FB link where you can find the talisman necklaces and bracelets. https://www.facebook.com/alexcastroferreirascrapbooking Universe is friendly THANK YOU
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Online shop…Etsy
Eureka! I have open my Etsy shop come and visit me… I choose the banner above for my shop so i’ll know my grandmother and mother will keep an eye on me and will certainly show me the way with their inner intuition and wisdom. Hope you’ll like it. My first choice is the Once upon a time album who is very unique and special. I want to thank my artfriend Catherine Whalen Mitchel who deeply encouraged me to go for it! I know i have a true connection with the United States and my artfriends. A new adventure begins…I am very enthusiastic about it. Wish me luck Have a good week Xo
Published in HAPPY MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED Below is FB link where you can find the talisman necklaces and bracelets. https://www.facebook.com/alexcastroferreirascrapbooking Universe is friendly THANK YOU
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
Ana em plena criatividade
Ana em plena criatividade, é minha fan numero 1! Desde pequena que cria, recicla, transforma…por isso foi a minha escolha óbvia para estrear o meu workshop das casinhas. Divirtiu-se rimos bastante partilhàmos experiências…3h passa bem rápido Obrigado Ana pelo seu entusiasmo… Enjoy Create…Be happy Life is short
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
On friendship
I had this wonderful lunch with two inspired friends… It seems that i know them for ages which is certainly the case if you believe in multiple lives as I do. We were eager to know more about each others creativity and world. Just happy to be together a sheer moment of pleasure… Friendship is rare to find and when it ends it tears you apart like a love relationship, sometimes even more. I had my share of disappointments and disillutions as we all have and it hurts like hell! Sometimes, i even put my pride aside and give it another shot but it’s useless something broken will remain broken!My mom tells me that a friendship that ends was never one in the first place, how wise. I do hope that my heart friends will stay forever in my life. Have a good week end Heading to snowy Paris then New york. Youpiiii Barnes and Noble here i come… xo
A gift from the heart
What to offer for christmas? I like to offer something special that was made out of love and tenderness… My husband loved it! He’s always a big fan of my work..inside i add his father watch, love letters that we usually send to each other, a small bible, earth from sacred Machu Picchu… Heading to the north of Portugal as i have been invited to present my work to a talk show “praça de alegria”so very enthusiastic about it… Will tell you more afterwards. Have a good week Be blessed xo
On pleasure
This album brings back excellent memories since it was started at Artfest 2009. I am rearranging all my photos, classifying and organizing and of course i can see the path that i made in these 2 years. I remember the pleasure and desinvolture i had, so it’s time to get back in track as i like to say. At the beguining it was only for fun now as people are getting more found of my work it do not want the comercial side to take over. It’s not that easy to accomplish will I sell this album? Is it overpriced? I hear a thousand advices you should do this and that…..But in the end it’s all about pleasure and feeling whole at least it is for me and i want it to remain like that otherwise it will become more and more stressful. The power of money and greed are fast to arrive….my ego as well! This album was made out of love since I offered it to my husband and as his own place in our living room. My …
Wondering….will you be there
I am completely addict to photoshop…love it! There are so many things one can do so i have been playing hope you like it… On my way to Paris i have seen again this extraordinary french film “les petits mouchoirs”de Guillaume Canet and again i was deeply touched. French movie makers from Claude Sautet to Truffaut have this special way in transcending our ordinary lives and make it something unique and worthwhile. Do you remember “les choses de la vie” with Romy Schneider and Yves Montand? This new film from Guillaume Canet is the portrait of a couple of childhood friends who despite one of their best friends being in the hospital still go on vacations… After all he is in coma what difference could it make so they all decide that’s there’s no point in being present just standing next to him and off they go to the bassin d’arcachon(beautiful surf spot). Every character lying to the the others, their egotism coming out, concentrating on their own problems… A superb movie,one that makes you wonder “am i like that …
On love
I am practicing photoshop as you can see and it’s incredible what you can do and undo with a photo. I am still barely walking but i am enjoying the ride…endless possibilities so cool! I love this young couple were they happy did they love each other or did they have to married against their will? I want to believe that they were deeply in love, ahead of their time free spirits maybe artists? Living a life of bohême somewhere in San Francisco, knowing that they were lucky to have one another…. I was speaking with a friend who is facing major issues at the moment in her marriage. I will quote the art of happiness from the Dalai Lama “…a relationship is also a dynamic living system, composed of two organisms interacting in a living environment, it is equally natural and right that the relationship go through stages. In any relationship, there are different dimensions of closeness, physical, emotional, and intellectual. Bodily contact, sharing emotions, thoughts, and exchanging ideas are all legitimate ways of connecting with those we love. …
Thank you
This week end was a blessed one, i had another Craft and design market, the weather was perfect, the public awesome. I met this french grandma who married a portuguese like my mom from the same city, Vila Nova de Famalicao, how peculiar! I met this young mom of two who had a flush of emotion when opening my scrapbook albums, she had tears popping in! How cool… Plenty of friends and friends of friends come along… I feel truly blessed. Last week i had all this exams that we woman definitely have to take past 40 mostly due to a pain in my right breast, so there’s no need to tell you that i was scare while waiting for the results. Everything is ok but it made me realize that i could have been the other way round. How do yo react when you are ill? Do you keep it to yourself and fight alone the disease? or do you share it? I am a very private person when dealing with my intimacy and it cross my mind that if …
What are your strengths?
Do you know what are your strengths? or like most of us you are trying to improve your weaknesses? I have just discovered this excellent book “strengths finder 2.0” by Tom Rath where he explains just that. How in the occidental and even in the oriental world our education is based on improving our weaknesses, how the enterprises nowadays run endless workshops on “how to improve yourself” in areas where we lack talent! Some of the attendees will have success because of their natural talents with or without workshops but most of us will strive for it. So this book relates to our natural talents, there’s this online test in the language of your choice and the result is in english about 2mn later or within weeks by mail in your own language. Natural talents i kept repeating it because though i sense it by now (i m more than 40 remember!) i wouldn’t have told you they are talents! They are 34 themes that the Gallup organization have come out with and they verified over and over that people have …
Be blessed
I am still in Seoul going back and forward to Tokyo and have to say that i don’t know anymore where i live! A lot as been said about the tragedy in Japan and how it will affect the world for the months to come. Being an empathic person i can only imagine how difficult it must be to reconstruct, to readjust, to regain composure when nothing seems rights when the pain and the agony is so overwhelming. I deeply admired the strength and the courage of the japanese. Nothing comes out, they keep everything within not to embarass the others. They will no doubt rebuilt and become stronger. As we say in french “je leur tire mon chapeau”( i am in awe) See you in Lisbon… Have a joyful week Remember to give and receive Be blessed Xo
Ana em plena criatividade
Ana em plena criatividade, é minha fan numero 1! Desde pequena que cria, recicla, transforma…por isso foi a minha escolha óbvia para estrear o meu workshop das casinhas. Divirtiu-se rimos bastante partilhàmos experiências…3h passa bem rápido Obrigado Ana pelo seu entusiasmo… Enjoy Create…Be happy Life is short
Create your notebook
I have once in a while to rearrange my own filofax, keeping some scrap papers thowing others. Well not exactling throwing keeping them aside in my overfilled studios as a friend was telling me last night! How can you work with so much stuff around? That’s my point everything really depends on your vision of your world as i feel that i don’t have much material comparing to my heart friends in the US and of course it applies for everything in Life. Some will see the bright side others the dark side no matter what they have. My studio feels comforting, reassuring, cosy but for her as she suffers from asthma it’s to much papers, tissues, hair cat…as for me i crave for more! Creating my handmade journal is always something very relaxing and a way of knowing what i have been doing last year. As i rewrite in new papers what were my goals, my sales, what i create, what courses i had etc… and what i would like for the year to come it’s a way of …
drawers are opening
I am in a good shape well maybe not yesterday as i drink too many caipirinhas! That’s the thing with this brazilian drink once you begin it’s quite difficult to stop… but i did enjoy myself and dance with my husband and a dear friend which was great! I was saying that i have recover from the endless flights and have plenty of new items in my atelier, drawers are definitely opening for me. I am back with ideas, projects…. and am planning to have my own site . Come this week-end to jardim da estrela, Craft and Design market with a jazz concert at 17h and plenty of beautiful handmade art. Have fun xo
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
MISSING ARTFEST
Nina s Class….she is such a beautiful artist inside in and out. I simply love her work, her style, her humor and her authenticity. i am blessed we all are to attend her classes and gosh she is so fun……… and Misty Mawn…also so delicate, seems so fragile and yet so strong.I love her work too, such a talent I am a big fan, her portraits always touch me in a deepest way. Her class was very, very challenging for me but I definetely enjoyed it and will have more in the future It s time to say goodbye to ARTFEST 2009 , difficult as normal life has already catch me up but I just have to close my eyes and there I am again in the morning waiting for breakfast lingering buy the beach admiring the amazing vue sharing with Amanda(up at 6am as me) our dreams our goals and then the excitement before the class, seeing again Nina and her extraordinary charisma that reminds me so much of my own mom and then sharing again with my roommates …
ARTFEST 2009
Finally, I arrive home exausted but so fulfilled…It was such an amazing incredible experience! I will come next year, that´s for sure. I simply love it from the registration, Teesha and Tracy wonderful organization, everything so well prepared, explained, it just flows… This is dorm 202…the place to be Thank you Teesha and Tracy you guys are simply wonderful…you provide us the very best
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
Dia dos namorados
Olà a todos Já estamos a 9 de fevereiro… o tempo voa não parei desde janeiro, o blog tem tido férias antecipadas! Criei o meu workshop das casinhas, tive que configurar o meu novo computador…um Mac youpiii!!!!trabalhar também, que é preciso… Vem ai o dia dos namorados, aproveito para lhes mostrar um scrap que realizei para o meu marido. Quando estou no meu atelier, ouvindo música jazz no transistor dos anos 40(no mínimo…), criando um albúm para alguém muito especial… posso dizer que estou em paz. Senti a falta durante muitos anos pela minha profissão(hospedeira) de não ter dias certos para me inscrever num curso de arte e graças ao scrapbooking posso agora criar ao meu ritmo, o que é inestimável. O lado positivo de estar muito tempo fora de portugal é ter a oportunidade de poder participar em workshops que ainda não existem em portugal com artistas fantásticas, como art and soul e artfest ENJOY…BE HAPPY CREATE LIFE IS SHORT…
TALISMAN NECKLACES…
HOPE YOU LIKE I DO MADE OUT OF PASSION AND LOVE #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # SUCCESS #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # BE WILD #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # ALIVE …
My Shanghai
I have read quite a few books about Shanghai…and my imagination flew to those flamboyant and cosmopolite days back in the 19th century so it turned out a huge disapointment to see that most of the olds districts had just been erased but i guess to an arquitect is the place to be! The soul and the taste of Shanghai where the beauty of the women were known throughout the world along with huge parties does not long exist…now what prevails is well …is not something that i like that much! So whenever i go to Shanghai i run to the fabric market where about anything can be made out in 24h and then my steps lead me to Dongtai market if you are into “old” things” then to Xitiandi with is good and fancy restaurants. Unfortunately, comunication is quite ackward because is rare to find a chinese who speaks english so when you are lost, which will happen sooner or later is best if you have anticipated with the names written in chinese otherwise it turn out a living …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
Where is my love?
I miss my husband! He’s away for a week doing a raisin cure. Eating only raisin is a wonderful way to detoxinate your body every year but it take’s nonetheless courage which Luis has plenty of. He’s one of those special man with an enormous heart. His friends know how reliable and generous he is. I know that my love is always present available caring tender protective towards me. I miss him… I want it back home… It feels strange to be at home without him as usually i’m the one packing! His smell is everywhere, his strong presence, his love for me in the notes that i keep by my bedtable… Tell your love how much you love him the way he combs his hair the way he smiles his way of dancing his favorite food what make him laugh Have a good week Xo
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
Heart spoons…
A good way of giving new life to old spoons! Add any photos of the ones you love along with their nicknames some resin…and voilà! One of my christmas gifts for mom who certainly like yours got everything!!! Have a good week end Remember to dance laugh share hug kiss… xo
Yes I can
Love my new spoons…there are more in my studio but the weather was cloudy this morning and i had to rush to take my flight…who is more than 3 hours delayed but still i will manage to arrive in Paris tonight Tomorrow heading to one of the few towns where i would love to live for a year…you name it New York but then Shanghai appeals to me and Rio de Janeiro as well. Different energy different people but i love to mingled and wouldn’t mind settle for a while and discover the “real”town not the tourist one. If i had to pick one then it would be Port Towsend. There’s the amazing mountains views, the beaches, the art galleries, the fabulous mixed-media workshops, Artfest, Artifiberfest, the fisherman’s all this in a small wonderful little town. No crowded plenty of fresh air 2010 is ending 2011 new resolutions GROW LOVE GIVE CREATE RECEIVE FORGIVE LEARN BELIEVE BE HAPPY ACCEPT UNDERSTAND EXERCISE MEDITATE DANCE LAUGH COMUNICATE ACHIEVE LISTEN 2011 wishes Be inspired Create Visit Rome Learn how to take good …
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
Where is my love?
I miss my husband! He’s away for a week doing a raisin cure. Eating only raisin is a wonderful way to detoxinate your body every year but it take’s nonetheless courage which Luis has plenty of. He’s one of those special man with an enormous heart. His friends know how reliable and generous he is. I know that my love is always present available caring tender protective towards me. I miss him… I want it back home… It feels strange to be at home without him as usually i’m the one packing! His smell is everywhere, his strong presence, his love for me in the notes that i keep by my bedtable… Tell your love how much you love him the way he combs his hair the way he smiles his way of dancing his favorite food what make him laugh Have a good week Xo
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
Missing my studio
My mother gave me this wise advice, why don’t you write in a notepad every day before sleeping all the blessings of the day? So I did. I’am truly blessed for beeing alive,in good health, to fly to Miami with this wonderful crew, to have wi fi and my Mac in my bedroom so I can stay in touch with my world, thanks to Somerset who send me my favourites magazines to the hotel, thanks…. thanks I tend to forget but my mom always put me in the right track which is another blessing! Tend to be worried will I have time to create and stay with family and friends and……..everything has a purpose my goal is really to let go…Let the universe, God or whatever you want to call it do his job and trying not to control(more accurate to say the illusion of controling) Tomorrow I’ll be back in my studio where I feel so protected and therefore HAPPY Enjoy…create share
Ana em plena criatividade
Ana em plena criatividade, é minha fan numero 1! Desde pequena que cria, recicla, transforma…por isso foi a minha escolha óbvia para estrear o meu workshop das casinhas. Divirtiu-se rimos bastante partilhàmos experiências…3h passa bem rápido Obrigado Ana pelo seu entusiasmo… Enjoy Create…Be happy Life is short
TALISMAN NECKLACES…
HOPE YOU LIKE I DO MADE OUT OF PASSION AND LOVE #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # SUCCESS #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # BE WILD #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # ALIVE …
A working girl…
I realized over the months that i’m struggling to keep up with my blog. I feel that i have lost my voice and have turn it into something politically correct! The true is that i am not a full time artist, dreams to be though, but in the meantime my life consists mainly in traveling around the world. In a month, I fly to 3 countries like Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok, multiply by 11 months plus the holidays it sounds crazy how i can still find energy to create something in my studio! The truth is that i am pretty exausted and can only imagine my friends who have kids because they cannot rest at all. So my blog till now wanted to related more about my art than the rest of my life and that’s where the problems arise! I am a working girl who dreams to become an artists! Like thousands of girls outhere who struggled to keep up with a passion despite the lack of time. So from now on i will post about my …
You and I deserve the very best…
Yesterday, was cleaning day in the studio which is a good way of rediscover all the material i left apart but mostly it clears my head. New ideas, new projects a “nouvel élan” in the beginning of the year comes up. I was rearranging some old photos and surprise myself thinking ” I was cute in my twenties and thirties” How come i didn’t realize that at the time! I felt too fat too short too….not intelligent not clever enough bla bla bla….Is it something that we have to experienced? All of us? because I see it in a daily basis, beautiful and clever young women disliking themselves, hating either their nose their chin whatever crosses their mind! My point is that with aging we all have our griefs and wounds but could we have avoided some rough experiences, had we loved ourselves? I deeply believe that in the years to come a new awareness on the importance of the mind will prevail. I read this amazing book by Lynne Mc Taggart called The Field” she has been researching medicine …
Keep loving yourself…
An artist friend suggested me that I should give another dimension to my craft so it could become art. She’s a talented and gifted artist and sees me like a crafter. It left me unbalanced… as I am an admirer of her work then I replied that what really excites and fulfill me is creating my life albums. She was suggesting that i should add them into huge canvas and kept saying it would give them a dimension….Why does one give any advice that is not asked? What is the hidden purpose? Why humans tend to compare over and over? I am that lucky that in my world of crafters i don’t sense “bad vibes” only encoragements and positive attitudes.I sense that she lives in a world of fierce competition which is definitely not mine and thanks God i know myself well enough not to be blocked in the future trying to give …a dimension of my work but one has to be aware as Julia Cameron point out in her extraordinary book “the vein of gold, a journey to …
Cadeaux de Noel
Tomorrow another market “Craft and design”, the forecast is a cloudy but sunny day with temperatures around 13C which is ok considering the wave of low temperature in europe at the moment. I still have plenty of unfinished albums at my studio but running out of time to complete them so i will relax today as everything is ready to pack, must be my german side! I can say that the previous year was a determinant one for me despite my tiredness i manage to create a lot. With insight 2010 was a determinant year for me: I am proud of me I love myself inside in an out I am an artist I was able to create I have a place to create I have plenty of new ideas I am truly blessed I love my life I accept the up and downs I engulfed into them I love my albums I love my spoons I love notebooks I love my necklaces I love my art world I love being alive I love my nests I love the …
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
A dream come true
I had this huge dream for years to go to the lost city of the Incas: Macchu Picchu. I yearn for it, some go to Fatima others to Lourdes for me Peru had something that i had to do…sensing that this incredible and magical place possess something unique. And it sure does! I have been in beautiful places around the world but Machu Picchu is a journey in itself. My husband by coincidence(if such exists…) had the same dream so there we went on our own personal pilgrimage. We wake up at 4am took the bus to be among the first to enter and contemplate the sunrise. Wow! it was worth every penny of it! we were that lucky to be there the 7th of july exactly 100 years after the american Hiram Bigham discovered this sanctuary in the middle of the clouds. I was speechless and still feel the incredible energy of the place. We have experienced something unique and the results are yet to be seen… If you have the chance go to Machu Picchu it will be …
Are you open?
Just finished two extraordinaries books “The Help” Kathryn Stockett and “Shanghai girls” Lisa See. Both about discrimination and injustice and how women fight back, never giving up their dreams and their ability to give no matter what. We are transported back in the sixties, Mississipi, how black women cooked, cleaned and raised little white children and have their own private toilets because of the diseases they might carry for example or others discriminations each one worse than the others. “Shanghai girls” is the beautiful story of two sisters back in the sixties too, who after their father lost his fortune were sold and went living in chinatown Los Angeles and couldn’t get out of it no matter what. I am fortunate to have been raised by a french mother and a portuguese father both open to the world. I remember the parties in our house where my father was at the time responsible for black and arab countries. I remember mom wearing the traditional boubou offered to her by the Senegal’s ambassador. I knew from childhood that we are equals …
CRAFT AND DESIGN Christmas 2010
Perfect day no clouds spring temperature lovely time spent in jardim da Estrela along with my husband, mother and special friend Alex. Last week was another story with cold and rainy weather but still the public showed up, christmas is at the door! I must say that i am running out of spoons which is cool because i loved them and am happy that people find the idea amusing and fashionable. I was blessed last saturday with the meeting of an old (we have known each other since kindergarden) and dear friend that i haven’t seen for quite a while, can’t remember why life as set us apart, probably just that… Life! Last time she was single and now she is married with two beautiful sons, i met only the youngest who looks so much like her. That’s the kind of gift I receive with profound gratitude, can’t wait to be with her again. We are born on the 4th of august in Lisbon in 1969 same hospital! How cool is that? We used to have the same bad temper…i …
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Cadeaux de Noel
Tomorrow another market “Craft and design”, the forecast is a cloudy but sunny day with temperatures around 13C which is ok considering the wave of low temperature in europe at the moment. I still have plenty of unfinished albums at my studio but running out of time to complete them so i will relax today as everything is ready to pack, must be my german side! I can say that the previous year was a determinant one for me despite my tiredness i manage to create a lot. With insight 2010 was a determinant year for me: I am proud of me I love myself inside in an out I am an artist I was able to create I have a place to create I have plenty of new ideas I am truly blessed I love my life I accept the up and downs I engulfed into them I love my albums I love my spoons I love notebooks I love my necklaces I love my art world I love being alive I love my nests I love the …
Questo mi piace…
I completely fell in love with Rome…Like Venezia it’s a magical city where beauty lies in every corner, every fountain, every church… San Pietro Coloseo Circus Massimo appia Antica via del Condotti Palazzo Farnese … gelati tiramisu ristretto con panna montata… and the sales are awesome! Hopefully i will return…i did send two cents at Trevi Fontain, one for a special wish and the other one to come back…let’s see if the tradition is right? Have a good week-end Grazie tanto mille
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Online shop…Etsy
Eureka! I have open my Etsy shop come and visit me… I choose the banner above for my shop so i’ll know my grandmother and mother will keep an eye on me and will certainly show me the way with their inner intuition and wisdom. Hope you’ll like it. My first choice is the Once upon a time album who is very unique and special. I want to thank my artfriend Catherine Whalen Mitchel who deeply encouraged me to go for it! I know i have a true connection with the United States and my artfriends. A new adventure begins…I am very enthusiastic about it. Wish me luck Have a good week Xo
Mon Amour,mon Amant, mon Ami
Mon mari …mon Amour que j’ai attendu si longtemps comme je t’aime. J’aime ta forçe et ta perséverance J’aime ta tenacité et ton courage J’aime ta grande intuition ton empathie avec le monde qui t’entoure J’aime tes remises en question la volonté à aller de l’avant J’aime ta droiture et ton intégrité J’aime savoir que je peux toujours compter sur toi J’aime ton extraordinaire intuition J’aime ta douceur et ta sensibilité J’aime ta présence et ta disponibilité J’aime ton écoute et ta patience à mon égard J’aime te savoir fidèle en Amour et en Amitié J’aime ta générosité J’aime tes surprises tes gestes tes attentions J’aime…… JE T’AIME tout simplement MOI AUSSI de bisou à matchito
BEM-VINDOS AO MUNDO DE ALEX
OLÁ A TODOS Estou completamente “scrapbooking addict”. Desenvolvi esta paixão à cerca de 5 anos quando descobri numa loja em Los Angeles o livro extraordinário de Bev Brazelton “altered books workshop”. A idéia é recuperar, transformar e criar livros de memória com fotografias dos nossos filhos, maridos, pais, avós, amigos, etc…. Existe um mundo quer seja na net ou em lojas, onde podemos comprar o material que precisamos para nos divertirmos. O engraçado é que todos os meus amigos e amigos de amigos, rapidamente juntaram material para me dar…. Obrigado á Dulce, Natalia e Helena Almeida pelos tecidos e botões, também à Mafalda pelas lindas penas…bonjour à Tours…, à minha irmã Nina pelas caixas de corn-flakes, merçi à Jaqueline mon amie artiste-peintre que j’admire et aime profondément pour le livre d’illustration entre autres etc… Tive a sorte este ano de participar no “version scrap” em Paris em workshops com a artista Pam Garrison e também estive em Portland no evento “art and soul” onde quase não dormi de tão entusiasmada que estava( eu sei,bem longe de casa lisboa-paris-seattle-portland onde a …
A woman of passion
Hello readers It s been a while since i have last posted. I have discovered this book “Love what is” by Byron Katie check at her website http://thework.com/ and have started the certification program which kept me very busy! I haven’t stopped my creativity, on the contrary since investigating my thoughts it seems easy and freeing to create. I hope you like my newest album ” A woman of passion”.
TALISMAN NECKLACES…
HOPE YOU LIKE I DO MADE OUT OF PASSION AND LOVE #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # SUCCESS #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # BE WILD #vintage jewelry # shabby chic # hippie chic # necklace # recycled # ALIVE …
Spring necklaces
HOPE YOU LIKE THEM… I DO MAKE THEM YOURS… HAVE A GOOD WEEK Be blessed Check this instructive blog who gives you all the tools about how to improve your intuition Psychotherapist Sylviane JUNG http://lescheminsdelintuition.com xo xo xo
Talisman necklaces
DANCE as though no one is watching you LOVE as though you have never been hurt before SING as though no one can hear you LIVE as though heaven is on earth…
The purpose of Life
Love my new necklaces… Hope you’ll love them too! My favorite bedtime book is no doubt “the art of happiness” from the Dalai Lama. I usually close my eyes and open it in a random way sensing there will be a deep meaning inside it. Quoting” Sometimes when I meet old friends, it reminds me how quickly time passes: And it makes me wonder if we’ve utilized our time properly or not. Proper utilization of time is so important.While we have this body and especially this amazing human brain, I think every minute is something precious. So, let us reflect on what is truly of value in Life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set priorities on the basis of that. The purpose of life needs to be positive. We weren’t born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, i think we must develop basic good human qualities-warmth, kindness,compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful-HAPPIER”
What can you bring to the world?
Blogging turned out to be very stressful lately! I started with a free spirit, enjoying the ride and hoping of course to be read by others fans of mixed media. My mom as been doing a blogger pro course and started two blogs, sos-stress.com and lescheminsdelintuition.com and kindly started to explain me how it all works….because blogging is an art in itself and out of a sudden i lost interest. I’m not using key words or podcasts or tutorials because it takes a considerably amount of time to learn how it combines and to tell you the truth it’s boring! I love searching at dawn in flea markets “the object” and bring it back to the studio where he will join others objects still full of dust! But…there’s always a but isnt’it? I do want my blog to have success which means being followed and read so ultimately i have to take time to understand how it works. My mom told me who cares about your life? People want to learn new techniques, discover new things…What can you bring to the world? Wow! My …
I have been working…
Hello everyone! I have been working quietly in my studio.First step of my” gousset” watches before applying the resin. I am very excited to have found out in Canton, China a huge market dedicated to pearls and jewelry. I mean 7 floors ( yes, i did them all….) with inumerous little shops with a wide variety of beads from white to turquoise to deep purple! I was frantic! It took me the all morning then i went to another huge market dedicated to bags…I was in heaven …and there are huge market for shoes only then one for underwear then another for……whatever you want. Fortunately you can only pay in cash which considerably reduce your craziness but still i had most fun. Have a good week end. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow via Seoul and my night prayers are with those who lost everything. I cannot imagine the anguish and the pain of the families. Wish you all the very best Xo
Live and let die
Last year I had installed my studio in this amazing shop Fabrico Infinito and create throughout the day…most of the time having endless conservations with the owner Marcela Brunken i must admit! We had fun…She is a big fan of my work, was and still is among the ones to continuously promote my art. Yesterday at a fancy dinner a friend was surprised that i present myself as Alex Castro Ferreira my single name and not with my married name and as an artist. Labels are hard to remove! But it make me wonder of the importance on male tradition which is still very implanted on our portuguese society( not to say around the world) and on how people see us. I am a flight attendant …….and also an artist. I am a woman of passion who is eager to learn evolve grow accepting the ups and downs of Life Live and let die…famous quote of my husband. Enjoy your day
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Online shop…Etsy
Eureka! I have open my Etsy shop come and visit me… I choose the banner above for my shop so i’ll know my grandmother and mother will keep an eye on me and will certainly show me the way with their inner intuition and wisdom. Hope you’ll like it. My first choice is the Once upon a time album who is very unique and special. I want to thank my artfriend Catherine Whalen Mitchel who deeply encouraged me to go for it! I know i have a true connection with the United States and my artfriends. A new adventure begins…I am very enthusiastic about it. Wish me luck Have a good week Xo
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
Cadeaux de Noel
Tomorrow another market “Craft and design”, the forecast is a cloudy but sunny day with temperatures around 13C which is ok considering the wave of low temperature in europe at the moment. I still have plenty of unfinished albums at my studio but running out of time to complete them so i will relax today as everything is ready to pack, must be my german side! I can say that the previous year was a determinant one for me despite my tiredness i manage to create a lot. With insight 2010 was a determinant year for me: I am proud of me I love myself inside in an out I am an artist I was able to create I have a place to create I have plenty of new ideas I am truly blessed I love my life I accept the up and downs I engulfed into them I love my albums I love my spoons I love notebooks I love my necklaces I love my art world I love being alive I love my nests I love the …
Enjoy your Christmas…
I love Chrismas! This year though, with all the buzz of the open markets i didn’t have time to make my usual christmas decoration which usually goes on for several days… but it’s ok as i have learned in 2011 to just let go, not an easy target but one that in the end will bring you peace of mind! The most important thing that i have learned this past year is to FEEL BLESSED, truly blessed! I realize how lucky i am to be alive, to be in good health, to have a bed where i can sleep and a warm home, to have food in my fridge, to have a job, to have heart friends, to be able to create, to have a studio full of vintage stuff…..and most of all TO LOVE AND BE LOVED. I don’t take anything for granted, I cherish my family and my friends and hope that I give enough. My endless questioning about who I am, what is my mission will never cease i guess but now i wake up everyday …
Heart spoons…
A good way of giving new life to old spoons! Add any photos of the ones you love along with their nicknames some resin…and voilà! One of my christmas gifts for mom who certainly like yours got everything!!! Have a good week end Remember to dance laugh share hug kiss… xo
Yes I can
Love my new spoons…there are more in my studio but the weather was cloudy this morning and i had to rush to take my flight…who is more than 3 hours delayed but still i will manage to arrive in Paris tonight Tomorrow heading to one of the few towns where i would love to live for a year…you name it New York but then Shanghai appeals to me and Rio de Janeiro as well. Different energy different people but i love to mingled and wouldn’t mind settle for a while and discover the “real”town not the tourist one. If i had to pick one then it would be Port Towsend. There’s the amazing mountains views, the beaches, the art galleries, the fabulous mixed-media workshops, Artfest, Artifiberfest, the fisherman’s all this in a small wonderful little town. No crowded plenty of fresh air 2010 is ending 2011 new resolutions GROW LOVE GIVE CREATE RECEIVE FORGIVE LEARN BELIEVE BE HAPPY ACCEPT UNDERSTAND EXERCISE MEDITATE DANCE LAUGH COMUNICATE ACHIEVE LISTEN 2011 wishes Be inspired Create Visit Rome Learn how to take good …
Notebooks to cherish
LIFE IS ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal LIFE PRINCIPLE #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES THINGS #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal #notebook # agenda # hippie chic # recycled # art journal ENCOURAGE YOUR HOPES NOT YOUR FEARS #notebook # agenda # hippie …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
drawers are opening
I am in a good shape well maybe not yesterday as i drink too many caipirinhas! That’s the thing with this brazilian drink once you begin it’s quite difficult to stop… but i did enjoy myself and dance with my husband and a dear friend which was great! I was saying that i have recover from the endless flights and have plenty of new items in my atelier, drawers are definitely opening for me. I am back with ideas, projects…. and am planning to have my own site . Come this week-end to jardim da estrela, Craft and Design market with a jazz concert at 17h and plenty of beautiful handmade art. Have fun xo
Create your own agenda
I do love my agenda though is not a small one i take it everywhere with me! Why don’t you create your own? Add the photos of your beloved ones along with specials postcards, plenty of vintage papers, where you can write never ending list of your goals, projects, secret desires. My agenda pretty much defines me, it’s handmade original and unique. In this world of globalization it is good in my point of view to resist and follow our own path. What are your passions? (quote minimum 10) What makes you unique? What do you bring to the world? Are you happy with your life? Do you like yourself? I know i have been questioning a lot lately, must ask my astrologers pals what is this all about! But i like it to challenge myself and specially to have goals. What is there for you? Do you live life to the fullest? My secret desire would be to sleep 3 to 4h taking a magic pill that would give me a lot of energy to carry on with day …
Le grand Bleu
How odd! I just received an email from my first love back when i was seventeen… It didn’t last long but for me it lasted a lifetime. I relish that year as one of total happiness, my grand-mother moved on with us as she wanted “to divorce” after fifty years of marriage as my grand father didn’t make the celebrations of half a century they spent together. We didn’t take it seriously but loved having Mamie around everyday she cooked us different and delicious meals, sewing in the afternoon, her hands never at rest. My first love looked like Mickey Rourke, one of the handsome guys in school and he asked me to date him! I was feeling whole, my dreams had came true. I remember him as one does with first love with romantic eyes, we never argue, we had fun, we danced… we spent endless hours talking. He had this “mobylette” that i thought was sooooo cool riding behing him feeling his male scent how unerving that was and exciting! We were free spirited but still so shy. …
Mon Amour,mon Amant, mon Ami
Mon mari …mon Amour que j’ai attendu si longtemps comme je t’aime. J’aime ta forçe et ta perséverance J’aime ta tenacité et ton courage J’aime ta grande intuition ton empathie avec le monde qui t’entoure J’aime tes remises en question la volonté à aller de l’avant J’aime ta droiture et ton intégrité J’aime savoir que je peux toujours compter sur toi J’aime ton extraordinaire intuition J’aime ta douceur et ta sensibilité J’aime ta présence et ta disponibilité J’aime ton écoute et ta patience à mon égard J’aime te savoir fidèle en Amour et en Amitié J’aime ta générosité J’aime tes surprises tes gestes tes attentions J’aime…… JE T’AIME tout simplement MOI AUSSI de bisou à matchito
BEM-VINDOS AO MUNDO DE ALEX
OLÁ A TODOS Estou completamente “scrapbooking addict”. Desenvolvi esta paixão à cerca de 5 anos quando descobri numa loja em Los Angeles o livro extraordinário de Bev Brazelton “altered books workshop”. A idéia é recuperar, transformar e criar livros de memória com fotografias dos nossos filhos, maridos, pais, avós, amigos, etc…. Existe um mundo quer seja na net ou em lojas, onde podemos comprar o material que precisamos para nos divertirmos. O engraçado é que todos os meus amigos e amigos de amigos, rapidamente juntaram material para me dar…. Obrigado á Dulce, Natalia e Helena Almeida pelos tecidos e botões, também à Mafalda pelas lindas penas…bonjour à Tours…, à minha irmã Nina pelas caixas de corn-flakes, merçi à Jaqueline mon amie artiste-peintre que j’admire et aime profondément pour le livre d’illustration entre autres etc… Tive a sorte este ano de participar no “version scrap” em Paris em workshops com a artista Pam Garrison e também estive em Portland no evento “art and soul” onde quase não dormi de tão entusiasmada que estava( eu sei,bem longe de casa lisboa-paris-seattle-portland onde a …
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
Serenissima…Venezia
Had I arrived 15 days earlier and I would have probably seen…George at la nostra de Venezia! Instead I get to see beautiful Italians who possess an unique and astounding charm. The italian men show you by whistling, singing, saying out loud how “belissima” you are and…it feels good! My advice is that any woman after a rough experience with men should go to Venice because her self esteem rises up pretty fast. One feels awesome and gorgeous in this magic city. Beauty is everywhere. The only but…that cannot be neglected is the excessive price of everything! Feel free to share the taxi boat on your way to Venice with other tourists like we did or when sightseeing in the grand canal for example. Be aware that most of the mask are made in china and the shop owner is chinese! My husband Luis fulfilled one of my mom’s secret dream that was staying at the Danieli. She was like a kid, savouring each moment of this timeless luxury hotel. The breakfast with a top view over the grand canal …
Thank you
I am really excited about Katie Kendrick online class. She’s so inspiring and talented. It’s like i have been waiting all these years the green light…and off i go. I have been in my studio with my hands full of paint and watercolors crayons feeling alive. I don’t know where i’m going but i definitely sense that a new and exciting path is ahead. i like to doubt i like to try i like to question i like to explore i like…myself each day a little bit more Make something bold this week xo
On self esteem
The school is about to begin…time to go back to my studio again. I had a whole and full summer with plenty of emotions(not all positive…) but that’s part of the bargain. We know there’s a path but are we on the good one? When we feel whole i guess it means something is working for us. I could say that my inner voice tells me to withdraw, to settle a little, to look inside myself and start working again on my self esteem. What about you? In a scale one to one hundred where do you place your self esteem? When i m working and starting new projects i feel always very enthusiastic then i doubt…am i repeating myself? What do i want to say? How can i be more creative? bla bla… on and on which is very confusing for those around me who look at my art and really appreciate it. But then again are they just being nice? So the solution always comes from within because somewhere in the road i got lost again and i …
2011…you go girl!
Between Christmas and New Eve time stands still, there are always a lot of joy and gratitude in the air. It’s a moment of peace where families and friends get together, share, exchange, bounds become more profound each year. It’s a moment to remember with tenderness the ones that are no longer but will remain forever in our hearts. It’s a time of rest where the worries lay aside, where we take good resolutions hoping that this year maybe we can keep some of them…..for a month at least! December is a blessed month for me, preparing with love and care the presents, forseeing their happiness, knowing that mom is cooking delicious meals that i won’t find anywhere in the world. It’s a moment to remember those who are alone or like this year who have their flights cancelled and couldn’t make it to their destination. It’s a moment to make amend. I cherish the dream that next year will be better that the crisis will pass that abundance will return that we have learned the lessons out of it. …
