The upside of down

"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains."

— Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)

You keep me hanging

Where: Metro Station: Colégio Militar/ Luz.

""People used what they called a telephone because they hated being close together and they were too scared of being alone.""

— Chuck Palahniuk (Survivor)

Bird Lady Superheroes

Lisboa, Avenida Frei Miguel Contreias.

New York, Sixth Av. West side of Rockefeller Center, artist: Robert Garrison.

Flowers and Stripes

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever."

— Alfred Lord Tennyson

Look Glass

A cold morning walk through the Baixa. Looking. Reflecting.

No horsing around...this is a market

A little bird told me that there will be lots of great design books and the likes up for grabs. Starting today, but running for a week, this market takes place in the old horse stables for the Trindade Palace in Largo do Carmo. The opportunity to check the space out is alone a good reason to go. Not to be missed.

Hmmm... Chaimite Tea

Chaimite is the name of a village in Mozambique and the word that crowns the awning of this small, but average for its type, coffee, tea and lollie shop. The smell of roasted coffee and sweets is delicious. Dozens of small tea packages, liquors and bags of biscuits are ordered with some thought and logic in the shelves that surround the 2 facing counters. I scan the shelves until I find what I am looking for. I love the custom printed wood grained wrapping paper that will later serve to remind me where things have come from. At home I unwrap the package to find my favourite Portuguese black tea, Gorreana, from the island of São Miguel, Açores, ready to start the morning. If you are in Lisboa visit Pérola do Chaimite, before you have to see it recreated as a museum piece.

Pérola de Chaimite,
Avenida Duque DÁvila, 38 A, Lisboa,
Tel: 213140361

Don´t look a gift purse in the light

If bags were lampshades they would look something like this. Like beacons to show us the way, carrying our glowing secrets and treasures to faraway lands. I am curious. Why would a man hold his feet in his hands? Is he, perhaps, also offering to show us the way? Should I have assumed that they are actually his feet? I am not sure what to make of this bright red enamelled plate that for 30 odd years graced the walls of a house and people I do not know. All mysteries to me. A framed bird rests on a berry branch with words below, or if you prefer, a bird on a berry branch float above words I cannot understand. I hope it says nice things.

Quilty conscience

After many pins and needles and lots of fabric and thread, I finished the quilt I started so long ago. It turned out incredible considering my almost 100% non completion record when it comes to projects bigger than the size of an A4(this bit is not true). I didn´t really plan it out, it just kind of grew...although it looks nowhere near organic. It is interesting that when something is not altogether planned but is symmetrical it no longer seems organic or natural....but then again let us not forget that nature is the greatest provider of symmetry.

Hugin your machine

This is my new sewing machine with carry case. It is a Hugin Kompakt Turissa machine made in Sweden. It is nice and green and very happy. Needs a good clean.

The sun came out today

More bags on their way today to the Wrong Shop. And because it does seem not enough to tell that the sun actually came out today for the first time in so many days I leave with this instead.

"People speak because they are afraid of silence. They speak mechanically whether aloud or to themselves. They are intoxicated by this vocal gruel that ensnares every object and every being. They talk about rain and fine weather; they talk about money, about love, about nothing. And even when they are talking about their most exalted love, they use words uttered a hundred times, threadbare phrases."

— Andreï Makine

Jump Roping Ducks

So many ribbons...so much happiness by the meter...and if 3 ducks playing jump rope don´t make you happy I am not sure what will.

Thanks To Tobias

Some beautiful photos have arrived all the way from sunny Melbourne, taken by Tobias Titz, friend and brilliant photographer. Weathered wooden fences are so warm. I can´t wait to put together a catalogue. I am curious to know where other Esquilo purses have travelled to. The fabrics I used in this purse originally came from somewhere in Australia bought during one of my many op shop trips... it is nice to see that they have found their way home.

A Good Start

There is nothing like eating fruit from a tree, clean country air, hearty winter soups and visiting old friends. I return to the big smoke, refreshed and inspired.