work in progress

A minha mesa de trabalho está assim... cheia de coisas novas em progresso! E mesmo assim, continuo com a cabeça cheia de ideias... e quanto mais tempo tenho, menos tempo pareço ter para as por em prática! Alguém me explica este fenómeno?...

E enquanto as novidades não chegam, não se esqueçam que têm só mais uma semana para aproveitar os portes gratuitos na loja!


My working space is like this... full of new work in progress! And yet, I still have my head full of ideas... and the more time I have, the less I seem to have to put them into practice! Can someone explain this phenomenon to me?...

And while the new creations don't arrive don't forget that there's only one week left to enjoy free worldwide shipping when ordering at the shop!

{the interview series} Aurea Praga

Aurea Praga não precisa de apresentações. Se não a conhecerem imediatamente pelo nome, irão certamente reconhecer as orelhinhas de animais que andam a povoar os dedos de muita gente que aprecia uma peça de joalharia original.

Começou por dedicar-se ao design de comunicação, mas foi na joalharia contemporânea que encontrou a sua verdadeira vocação - desde que começou que se têm sucedido prémios e críticas positivas, por isso pode ter a certeza de que está no bom caminho! Confirmem-no e fiquem a saber um pouco mais sobre Aurea e o seu surpreendente trabalho através desta entrevista.

[Este post pertence à rubrica semanal {the interview series}, onde publico uma nova entrevista todas as quartas-feiras, com artistas e bloggers inspiradores que admiro, de acordo com o espírito handmade e um estilo de vida criativo. Tornem-se fãs no facebook e não percam nada!
Por motivos óbvios de extensão e compreensão do texto, tanto pelos entrevistados como pelos potenciais leitores do resto do mundo, a entrevista segue em inglês.]


Aurea Praga needs no introduction. If you don't immediately know her by name, you will surely recognize the little animal ears that are accupying the fingers of many people who appreciate a truly original piece of jewelery.
She began to dedicate herself to graphic design, but it was in contemporary jewelery that she found her true calling - she's been successful since she began, receiving awards and positive reviews, so she can be sure that this is the right track! Get to know more about Aurea and her amazing work through this interview.

[This post belongs to the weekly feature {the interview series} where I publish a new interview every wednesday with inspiring artists and bloggers I admire, according to the spirit of handmade and a creative lifestyle. Become a facebook fan and don't miss a bit!]

Aurea Praga
Porto, Portugal
shop | facebook | PIN

1. Let’s pretend we don’t know each other and I’ve never heard about Aurea Praga. Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Aurea, after my grandmother, and I was born in Madeira Island although I’ve lived in Porto for the last twenty years, where I teach drawing classes and develop my work in the jewellery field.

2. You’re a young Portuguese jeweler, but you started with graphic design. How was this creative passion born and what was the journey that brought you here?
Yes, I have a background on communication design and jewellery came my way much later. I guess they both indulge in my need to communicate, but in jewellery I found a true passion. I started making jewellery as a hobby, a gift for myself, but soon I realized it would become my main activity. So, since then, I’ve been investing much of my time and effort learning more and trying to make my work a little better every day.

3. You create affirmative jewelry pieces mostly inspired by the animal world. How are they born? Would you share your creative process with us?
One of the most useful tools in my creative process is drawing. I use it to visualize new pieces and solve a variety of design problems, but I also use some of my illustrations as a source of ideas for my jewellery work. That’s how the “I’m All Ears” series of rings was born, from the “Girls Are Weird” series of drawings. The animal world has very interesting textures and shapes you can explore, but my work is mostly about characters and how you can relate to them.

4. I’m now having jewelry classes too and I’m loving it! I admit that now I admire even more the work behind a jewelry piece and its time consuming process… Would you share with us some of the techniques you use?
My favorite technique is lost wax. It gives you a limitless freedom of form and you can use it in many different ways. It’s a great way to transfer textures to silver, really easy to sculpt, and you can build and destroy a piece as many times as you like without material loss. But you’re right on the time consuming thing. Sometimes I spend dozens of hours working on a single piece and make a lot of failed experiments until it’s acceptable.

5. Talking about the materials and its special characteristics: you use mainly silver, but you combine it with different finishes. Tell us about your choices.
Yes, most of my pieces are solid sterling silver, it’s a very friendly material to use in the body. Also, when your piece has a message to communicate, the material is just another word in the sentence of a jewel. An oxidized silver piece has a totally different impact from a shiny polished one. I normally have polished, oxidized and gold plated (I’d use solid gold if it wasn’t so expensive) versions of my rings, and the finishing look gives the same piece a slightly different personality.

6. I’m a big passionate by rings and I find your collection “I’m all ears” totally irresistible! Can I ask you what’s your favorite piece and what’s been your best seller until now?
My favorite piece is the one I’m making now. It’s not finished yet and it already made me want to cry as a lost child but also made me smile like a fool. My best seller this Christmas was the Kitten Ring by far.

7. You’ve been featured in some great blogs and publications and you received some promising prizes. What means do you use to promote your work?
When I decided to show and sell my work online, I’ve started a blog, a facebook page, a twitter account and my Etsy shop. And though lately I don’t have the time to keep them updated, they’re out there and people can find my work through them. Competitions are also a great way to promote your work. Even when you know your work is well done, it’s always rewarding to have a jury agreeing with you. And it makes people look more attentively at what you have done.

8. What is creating for you: a profession, a passion, a necessity, a life style or a hobby? What else are you passionate about doing?
All of the above and also a learning process, the more you develop your ability to create, the more it becomes natural. I’m also passionate about knowing other people’s creative work. Sometimes I think my creative work is only an attempt to give something back to a world where I find so many beautiful things that make my heart pound faster.

9. Would you share with us a regular day at work?
Well, I kind of lead a double life… I divide my week in the days I am a teacher (all day) and the days I am a jeweler (also all day). When I do one thing I forget completely about the other and focus on what I’m doing. It’s always such a refreshing feeling when I finish my last class of the week on Wednesday and become the jeweler again, hehe. Otherwise I don’t have a regular day when I work in jewellery. Sometimes I start early in the morning, other times I stay up until very late hours. It depends on how well the work is going or if I’m already so tired that I’m ruining everything.

10. Would you give us a glimpse of your working space? Describe it and tell us what you love most about it.
I love to have all I need in one space. I have my jewellery bench with all necessary tools in one side of my working space and a desktop for drawing with my computer, scanner and printer on the other side. In front of my desktop I have a big oval mirror which is very useful when I need to see a certain face expression or pose, and it’s also where I stick some pictures that caught my eye and I want to keep in memory for a while. I also like to have this big window that occupies all the length of the wall behind me when I’m working. The sun shines through it in the morning making everything look so promising.

11. You were born in Madeira, but now you live in Porto just like me – share with us what you love most about this city. Would you like to live anywhere else one day?
I think Porto is just the right size for me. Not that big of a city to lose its charm, just big enough. But the thing I love the most is the people’s will to help. If you see someone fall on the street there’s always a bunch of people reaching out to help. I don’t see this anywhere else, there are places where people just pretend not to see it and pass by. Not here.
I don’t know if I’ll live anywhere else, for now I don’t have a reason to move.

12. If you could live in any historical era of your choice, what would it be? Why?
I would choose to live right now again, I feel these are interesting times.

13. We are both Portuguese, so I don’t resist asking: what are the main problems you face being an artist in our country, Portugal?
In Portugal there are still some obstacles to individual jewelers. It’s not that easy to have a hallmark that allows you to sell your work locally. But the internet came as an escape to this unfortunate flaw. I don’t think about it so much, my real problems are the creative ones. All the rest is secondary.

14. What advices would you give to someone who would also like to become a jeweler?
Get a job to make sure you survive, marry a wealthy spouse, rob a bank, whatever prevents you from ever compromising the work you really love in order to make money.

15. What are your plans for the future? And your most unrealistic dreams?
Well, my latest plan was to finish my master on jewellery design. As it’s almost finished, I think I’ll just wait to see what happens next. I know I’ll keep making jewellery projects as an individual jeweller and I’ll always keep trying to learn and make my work better. My most unrealistic dream is taking a vacation soon.

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

book: To A God Unknown, John Steinbeck
music: The Carnival of the Animals, Camille Saint-Saëns
movie: Fight Club, David Fincher
personality/artist: Ted Noten
color: all of them
object: ring
animal: furry things
drink: chocolate milk
food: ice cream
season of the year: Summer!!
travel destination: Australia
piece of clothing: high heels
secret: I’m short-sighted

Thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us Aurea!

Bom Carnaval!

Por aqui, crises e ausências de tolerância de ponto à parte, prevejo um Carnaval bastante calmo.
Quando era pequena gostava de fantasiar-me, como, suponho, quase todas as crianças - era um pretexto para pintar-me, imaginar-me outra personagem, inventar novas brincadeiras, tirar fotografias para a posteridade... depois o Carnaval passou a ser só mais um pretexto para celebrar - para passar uma noite diferente entre amigos.
Nos últimos anos, mesmo que saia de casa, a vontade de fantasiar-me é cada vez menor... perdeu-se o sentido de tal ritual, talvez. Olho em volta e são cada vez mais as pessoas que parecem sentir o mesmo, por isso acabo por achar esta uma noite não muito diferente de outras, em que a multidão acaba por me fazer ter menos vontade de sair... claro que falo do Carnaval muito pacato e pouco característico aqui no Porto... Se estivesse a sonhar em Veneza, a bailar na Madeira ou a sambar no Rio, a conversa seria certamente outra!

Divirtam-se e tenham um bom Carnaval!

(Em cima: alguns elementos naturais no meu atelier, ansiosos para me inspirar em próximas criações...)


Around here I predict a very calm Carnival.
When I was little I liked to dress up my fantasy as, I suppose, almost all children - it was a pretext to put some make up on, to imagine myself as another character, to play with my friends, to take pictures for posterity... as I got older Carnival has become just another excuse to celebrate - to spend a funny night out with friends.
In recent years, even if I go out, the desire to dress up as faded... the meaning of such a ritual got lost, I guess. I look around and it seems that there are more and more people that feel the same, so I end up finding this night not so different from others, but the crowd is just making me have less desire to go out and have fun... I speak of course, about the very quiet and uncharacteristic Carnival here in Porto... If I was dreaming in Venice or dancing samba in Brazil, my speach would certainly be different!

Have fun and enjoy Carnival!

(Above: some natural elements eager to inspire me in future creations upon my atelier...)

{friday I'm in love}

[click for more]

E como hoje é sexta-feira... deixo-vos com alguns links para se entreterem durante o fim-de-semana!

+ para os amantes da ilustração: o fantástico trabalho de Sara Singh e a avalanche de inspiração diária dos doodlers anonymous.
+ para os que gostam de se surpreender: a escultura com lápis de Jennifer Maestre.
+ para os que sabem apreciar uma boa combinação entre simplicidade e beleza: a cerâmica do atelier halo.
+ para os que não resistem a um belo par de sapatos com carteira a condizer: a marca swedish hasbeens.
+ e por fim, para os que gostam de explorar os tutoriais e printables gratuitos, dois links que descobri pelo pinterest e me pareceram bem úteis: no-sew pencil roll (que adaptei para um estojo para guardar as minhas limas de joalharia!) e 101 pretty printables.

Bom fim-de-semana!


And since today is friday... I leave you with a few links for you to explore over the weekend!

+ for the illustration lovers: the great work by Sara Singh and the daily boom of inspiration by doodlers anonymous.
+ for the ones who like surprises: the pencil sculptures by Jennifer Maestre.
+ for the ones who admire a good combination of beauty and simplicity: the ceramics by atelier halo.
+ for the ones who can't resist a nice match between gorgeous shoes and bags: swedish hasbeens.
+ and for last, for the ones who like to explore tutorials and free printables, two links that I found through pinterest and that seemed quite usefull: no-sew pencil roll and 101 pretty printables.

Happy weekend!

still life

[click to know more!]

Para os amantes de naturezas mortas, aqui ficam alguns dos meus últimos trabalhos.
Não se esqueçam que até final de Fevereiro podem comprar na loja online com direito a portes gratuitos... aproveitem!

E já agora, não deixem de espreitar o simpático artigo que foi publicado sobre o meu trabalho no site Cliente & Designer! Para ler aqui.


For the still life lovers, here are some of my latest works.
Don't forget that until the end of February you can buy at the online shop entitled to free worldwide shipping... enjoy!

Midnight in Paris | Woody Allen

[credits: Midnight in Paris]

E como Paris é a cidade do amor, talvez não seja um dia mal escolhido para falar de Midnight in Paris, a última incursão pela Europa de Woody Allen.

Confesso que os filmes de Woody não foram para mim amor à primeira vista... não foram também paixão desenfreada que desvaneceu com o tempo... foi mais, provavelmente, uma curiosidade inicial marcada pela dúvida, que cresceu para uma relação amorosa algo inconstante mas segura, cheia de reviravoltas surpreendentes e algumas discussões previsíveis, mas inofensivas. Ri-me em alguns filmes, gostei muito de uns, ignorei outros e a outros ainda fiquei indiferente... mas foi com carinho crescente que aprendi a gostar da personagem algo melodramática que Woddy sempre (re)interpreta - embora ache que é quando ele não aparece, mas alguém do guião parece personificá-lo, que os filmes se tornam mais interessantes, sem nunca deixarem de ser pessoais.

A Europa sempre gostou mais de Woody Allen e este parece ter-se definitivamente rendido aos seus encantos. Adorei Match Point e Vicky Cristina Barcelona, por exemplo... mas há muitos, muitos clássicos ainda por ver.
Para alguém que é apaixonado por Paris, como eu própria, este último Midnight in Paris, vai parecer uma bela história de amor... de um artista pela cidade dos artistas. Impossível vê-lo e não sonhar com um regresso a uma das cidades mais belas do mundo.
A mensagem é clara e dá que pensar: o presente deixa-nos insatisfeitos, porque o ser humano é insatisfeito por natureza... qualquer regresso a um passado dourado e perfeito não é mais do que pura ilusão. Temos, sim, que aproveitar o presente e o que a vida nos oferece hoje - mas confesso que não me importaria de regressar atrás no tempo de vez em quando para conhecer algumas das personagens históricas que mais me fascinam! E mais não digo: vejam, vale a pena.


And as Paris is the city of love, this is certainly the right day to speak of Midnight in Paris, the last European incursion of Woody Allen.

I confess that Woody's films weren't exactly love at first sight for me... they weren't also an intense passion that faded with time... they were more probably an initial curiosity marked by doubt, which has grown into a lasting love relationship, secure even somehow inconstant, full of surprising twists and with some predictable but harmless discussions in the middle. I laughed in some movies, I really loved some, ignored others, and still others made me indifferent... but my fondness by the somewhat melodramatic character that Woody always (re)interprets began to grow with time - even though I think that's when he doesn't appear but somebody in the script seems to personify him, that the films become more interesting, never stopping being personal.

Europe always liked Woody Allen and he seems to have succumbed to its charms. I loved Match Point and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, ​​for example... but there are many, many classics still to watch.
For someone who is in love with Paris, like myself, the last Midnight in Paris will look like a beautiful love story... of an artist and the city of artists. It's impossible to watch it and don't dream of a return to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The message is clear and give us much to think about: the present leaves us unsatisfied, because human beings are unsatisfied by nature... any return to a golden perfect past era is not more than an illusion. Rather, we must take advantage of the present time and what life offers us today - even though I wouldn't mind returning back in time from time to time to meet some of the historical characters that fascinate me the most! And I won't say more: watch the movie, it's worth it.

looks like candy!

[click the images to visit the product's page]

looks like candy é o sugestivo nome de uma série de novas peças que combinam a delicadeza do fio de aço com a elegância das pedras preciosas... são colares e brincos que formam conjuntos, mas podem também ser comprados em separado.
Se gostam do que veem, aproveitem a promoção de inauguração da nova loja online e comprem com direito a portes gratuitos até final de Fevereiro!


looks like candy is the suggestive name of a series of new pieces that combine the delicacy of beading wire and the elegance of gemstones... they are necklaces and earrings that make a set, but can either be bought together or separately.
If you like what you see, take advantage of the new shop online grand opening promotion and buy with free worldwide shipping until the end of February!

{the interview series} Katarina K Photography

Hoje trago-vos um mundo de sonho... Katarina Krizanovicova pode ter um nome difícil de pronunciar, mas o seu trabalho fotográfico é capaz de emocionar qualquer um. Adoro a atmosfera calma e pacífica, a suavidade poderosa dos retratos, o styling cuidado dos instantâneos de uma inspiradora vida diária... leiam para saber mais e admirem o trabalho de Katarina!

[Este post pertence à rubrica semanal {the interview series}, onde publico uma nova entrevista todas as quartas-feiras, com artistas e bloggers inspiradores que admiro, de acordo com o espírito handmade e um estilo de vida criativo. Tornem-se fãs no facebook e não percam nada!
Por motivos óbvios de extensão e compreensão do texto, tanto pelos entrevistados como pelos potenciais leitores do resto do mundo, a entrevista segue em inglês.]


Today I bring you a world of dream... Katarina Krizanovicova may have a difficult name to pronounce, but her photographic work is able to touch anyone who sees it. I love the calm and peaceful atmosphere, the powerful softness of portraits, the attention payed to the styling of inspiring everyday shots... read to know more and admire the work of Katarina!

[This post belongs to the weekly feature {the interview series} where I publish a new interview every wednesday with inspiring artists and bloggers I admire, according to the spirit of handmade and a creative lifestyle. Become a facebook fan and don't miss a bit!]

Katarina Krizanovicova | Katarina K Photography, Grain & Silk
Bratislava, Slovakia
site | blog | shop | facebook

1. Let’s pretend we don’t know each other and I’ve never heard about Katarina Krizanovicova. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a self-taught freelance portrait photographer from Slovakia. Living in Bratislava in a small place with uncontrollable amount of books and negatives and a crazy little dog Gina. Sister, daughter & proud aunt. Sentimental romantic with punk rocker's heart.

2. You’re a young freelance photographer specialized in portraits. How and when was this creative passion born?
Definitely when my niece Emma was born, almost 12 years ago. It's fascinating to watch a person growing and documenting it. Photography became my side-job about 3 years ago, and at this time I'm making a living from running my own business.

3. Your photographs are dreamy and peaceful… I love their atmosphere! What inspires you to create those compositions? Share your creative process with us.
Maybe because I'm a calm person in general; big crowds make me nervous, so I look for the peaceful and quiet in the world, to compensate for the noisy life in the city.
It also helps to focus on my work better, and people I photograph feel more relaxed in calm surroundings. With clients, I often come to shoot in their own home, or outside in the nature. Personal projects, well those a little more messy because work always comes first :) I keep my ideas in journals, always waiting for the right person or place to photograph, to help me bring them to reality.
I also regularly have to step away from what I'm doing and distract my mind with other things and interests for a little while, to refresh and restart.

4. You love to photograph people, but you also explore nature and everyday life details. What comes first: the subject, the message, the model, the place? How do you pick the places and themes to photograph?
It's more like I come across these things/places, rather than picking them in advance.
But if there is a place I know where the light's beautiful and I find myself constantly attracted to it, then I create a still life there, or plan a portrait session.

5. What influences you the most to create? Share with us some artists that you admire.
Stories of any kind, always. From my own life or lives of others, art, places I visit, movies and books. I love the drawings of Egon Schiele, his fascination with human face and body. The quietness and subtle light in Vilhelm Hammershøi's paintings, and the works of dutch masters. The beautiful evocative poetry of Mary Oliver. Alexander McQueen's creations. I love fashion and design, studying their history is always inspiring.

6. I believe it must be very difficult to capture the personality of a person in portrait photography, but you accomplish it in such a personal way! Would you share with us the biggest challenges you face?
Thank you. It really is a challenge I face every time. It's very important to make them feel at ease and relaxed and happy in the location. That's why I like to shoot in people's own places, where they seem to be more themselves.
I always start a discussion about things they love and are passionate about and that's where they just relax and shine. We often become good friends, which is another thing I love about my job.

7. Tell us now about your love for film and its challenges. What are the main differences between film and digital photography?
There's something timeless about film. It's had the same qualities for ages, no better and more expensive version every few months. It's like an old friend whom you've known and trusted for so long. I like the grain, the density, the perfect colours, the tangibility – holding the negatives in your hand, no delete button, the element of surprise. I do realise all the advantages of digital photography of course, and I often use it for work, especially with assignments where I have to be super quick (like dance photography, for example), and take a lot more photos than I would normally do.

8. Would you share some useful tips with us, non-professional photographers, who would like to learn a bit more and make the most of our cameras while traveling or working?
Learn to use the manual mode. Play with aperture and shutter speeds, increase ISO sensitivity instead of using flash. Try different angles. Pay attention to composition, look for nice light and interesting moments. Focus on the storytelling aspect rather than simple snapping. You can for example think about a little book you create afterwards, and take it as a little concept.

9. You say that you love traveling – when you travel your photos become more personal or you can’t let go that professional attitude while behind the camera? Tell us about some places you loved most visiting.
I always take pictures of things I know I will miss most when I come home, sceneries and situations that leave me speechless. I love the South and the sea, my friends there and their way of living, the breeze and sunshine; but a piece of my heart will be always drawn to the Northwest, to the ever-green English fields, cloudy skies, woods and lakes, the slate walls and narrow streets of little towns in Yorkshire.

10. Would you give us a glimpse of your working space? Describe it and tell us what you love most about it.
Like I said, it's a small place, I work from home. It's just one room plus kitchen and bathroom, but a nice large balcony where I practically live in the summer.
I work at my desk in the quiet, often with my feet in Gina's basket, but when there's a bigger project or a session going on, it turns into a post-apocalyptic scene that usually takes a day or two to put back into normal state. I also love my inspiration board that changes along with the seasons.

11. Besides photographing, what do you love most doing in your everyday life?
I like my me-space, the fact that I have to go outside several times a day because Gina has needs too – otherwise I would lose control of time and probably spend the whole day working or just faffing about. Chats with friends and family, time out, reading, watching films... the usual stuff :)

12. You live in Bratislava, the beautiful capital of Slovakia – tell us about your favorite places in the city! Would you like to live anywhere else one day?
The city is not too big – the old town is very small, but it also feels more cosy that way, if I go out I always meet someone I know. I prefer the less crowded spaces though, so I usually end up in a small cafe (like this French bistro I discovered recently and I'm in love with it), or in one of my friends' places.
I like the older parts of the city, the historical buildings and small squares.
But I get away as often I can...to the nearby lakes and woods, or little villages.
I've started driving recently and it feels great to have the freedom to take my dog and camera and to go wherever I want, when I have the time.

13. If you could live in any historical era of your choice, what would it be? Why?
Probably 20's, 30's somewhere in Paris or Prague, enjoying life & photographing everything – but I'd like to have the chance to go back to my time whenever I want, please :)

14. What advices would you give to someone who would also like to become a photographers.
If you are truly passionate about it, then it's a great thing. But be prepared to learn a lot about marketing and the accounting aspect of the whole thing – it's a huge part of this job. Find the thing you're best at and work on that, don't try to be a bit of everything or even worse - someone else, it's good to have that unique “something” only you can offer, and everyone has that, just spend a lot of time shooting and experimenting and you will find what it is very soon.

15. What are your plans for the future? And your most unrealistic dreams?
I'd like to do a bit more travelling, set up a small studio space one day, publish a book with my photos. Learn to play the piano (that's probably the unrealistic one).

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

book: Hemingway's Moveable Feast; Baricco's Silk
music: Florence & The Machine
movie: Into The Wild; Three Colours: Blue
personality/artist: Mary Oliver
color: turquoise, blue-grey, lilac
object: book
animal: dog
drink: coffee
food: chicken soup
season of the year: spring, autumn
travel destination: mountains, sea
piece of clothing: slouchy tops :)
secret: ... (this is what it looks like, but I can't tell you what it is)

Thank you for sharing your dreamy world with us Katarina!