29.5.09

Though the site is not yet fully developed, you can visit me at http://vandasousa.wordpress.com/. It will be half way between a blog and a site, with a front page where all the news about fairs, exhibitions or workshops will be shown.
Will be working on it to bring you all the news about my latest work as soon as possible.

28.5.09

This blog has been going on for 3 years and some of you have been following my posts for some time. Those of you who do, have noticed that I haven't been blogging for a while. There have been a lot of changes in my life in the past year or so, which make it impossible to dedicate myself to internet researching and blogging. This means that I will not go on with this blog. Instead, what I plan to do is to open an internet site, where you can follow my work or maybe buy some of it. Hope to count on your visits!

19.3.09

New love !!!

I've always loved dolls, especially art dolls and miniature dolls in all kinds of materials. But I was never the kind of girl, who likes plush toys.
So I've only recently discovered the passion for soft toys and this happened, I think, because so many wonderful artists are now using the soft toy as an artistic object.
This tendency has grown very much in the last couple of years and I've been making a list of favourites, which I'd like to share with you here. It's very difficult to know where to start, but here are a few great ones.

Of course you know the work of Lizette Greco. My favourites are the animals and the cars.

"The works of Lizette Greco + Grecolaborativo are the product of a full family collaboration, a couple creating with their young daughter and son. Our plush art is based on the children's drawings and are made using only thrifted and recycled materials. Our aim is to create artwork that celebrates a child's perspective of the world and will hopefully be passed from generation to generation." Lizette Greco

10.3.09

Drawing with needle and thread ...

... that is what Bridget Davies does. I don't know about you ... but I think they are simply delicious !!! More at http://www.bridgetdavies.co.uk/ or http://www.bridgetdavies.etsy.com/ or www.folksy.com/shops/bridgetdavies .



Elza Pereira's enamels

Elza Pereira is a portuguese artist, who works with metals and enamel. Here are a couple of my favourites.

Check out her work at http://elzapereira.com/

New roses

These new roses (along with some other colours) will be available in a matter of days at "Pedra de Toque", Telheiras, Lisbon.

5.2.09

Crafts & Design - Jardim da Estrela - 7th/8th February

"Sedução", portuguese for seduction is the motto for the next edition of Crafts & Design - Jardim da Estrela. 7th and 8th February, from 9 am to 6 pm.
Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day.

4.2.09

Claus Porto / Ach Brito

These are not handmade products but their design is absolutely fabulous. These soaps are produced in Porto, Portugal, since 1887.

These are fine collection soaps ...


... and these are the kind you get at your local supermarket. All marvellous!!!

"History of a Portuguese Industry
XIX Century

1887 - Foundation
The first ever Portuguese factory of soaps and perfums was founded in Oporto by Ferdinand Claus and Georges Ph. Schweder, two Germans living in Portugal. By that time, this sort of products were imported and considered a privilege of the wealthiest classes, since the large majority of the Portuguese population didn’t have neither conditions nor hygiene care. The company’s brand was F.P.C. – the initials from “Fábrica de Produtos Chimicos CLAUS & SCHWEDER, SUCRS” – and the products were given foreign names, in order to make them more attractive to the Portuguese population.

XX Century
1903 – Expansion
Schweder (who was forced to leave due to health problems) was replaced by Achilles Alves de Brito as the company’s manager, while Willy Thessen – a graduated perfumery chemist – became responsible for the Technical Department. The business grew under the new owners, as soap was becoming more and more popular.
1918 – The birth of Ach. Brito
The Germany entrance on the World War I, forced the escape of the two German partners and the closing of Claus & Schweder. Achilles de Brito, the Portuguese partner, along with his brother Afonso, created a new company who occupies the space of F.C.P., the ACH. BRITO & CO. Lda. Later they had buy the broke mass of Claus & Schweder. However, Achilles de Brito decided to maintain the Claus Porto brand and, for years, both brands coexisted as umbrella brands, covering a set of product brands. The new company became known for its quality and innovation, particularly as far as the packaging was concerned.
1940/50 – National market leadership
Ach. Brito went on to conquering leadership of the domestic market. The company produced for the internal market, especially for the Portuguese colonies, and exported to England and United States of America. From early on, one of Ach. Brito’s main concerns was to have faithful costumers, which led to large investments in the aroma, texture and price of its products. In 1953, the company even created its own lithography, where labels were hand-painted. In the eighties, however, the loss of the African colonies, the fierce competition of multinationals, as well as modern distribution took its toll on the business, which went through a series of hardships.
The 90’s – Bathroom Chiq
Ach. Brito was able to keep up with the changes of an increasingly agressive and competive market, while adapting to the consumer’s needs evolution. Currently, it is present in hipermarket and supermarket chains, cash & carries, as well as the traditional commerce (including the pharmacy channel).
In 1994, together with the American company Lafco, Ach. Brito started developing a line of gift products, which have been commercialized with increasing success in the United States of America, Canada and England, under the Claus Porto brand. The partnership with the american company Lafco in the 90’s, when the company was experiencing difficulties in surpassing the competition of multinationals and hypermarkets, gave the company a new life.
Claus Porto is used to brand the high-quality products aimed at the foreign market, while the institutional brand Ach. Brito is used to bond the mass market brands commercialized in the domestic market. Claus Porto develops high-quality products, produced in an old fashioned way, almost entirely by hand.
Rather then simply offering soaps or hygiene products, Claus Porto creates true works of art, whose exclusive Art Déco design and packaging evoke the company’s historical legacy, unquestionably its major strength.
At the beginning of 2007 the company made a new bet, moved to modern facilities with a covered area of 3.900m2 implanted in a private field of 10.000m2.
The company’s following challenge is to impart vigour to Ach.Brito so that it becomes a feasible alternative to the brands that dominate the national mass market."

23.1.09

I bumped into this etsy shop today and it was love at first sight! So I just had to show these photos here today. Enjoy!




"Ananda draws inspiration from Asian art, natural forms, and the cool sleekness of metal. Each of her pieces contains an original painting on paper, which is set behind hand ground glass in fine and sterling silver. Much of her work is accented with the highest quality semiprecious stones and/or high karat gold."

15.1.09

New hat

A classic with an unusual detail: the blue interior.





13.1.09

Casa Cláudia Ideias

Some of my accessories have been featured in the new "Casa Cláudia Ideias".


Alguns dos meus novos acessórios podem ser vistos na Casa Cláudia Ideias nº 18 (Jan / Fev 2009).

9.1.09

5.1.09

Soft, warm bed


And someone got a cloud cushion and a ladybug blanket for Christmas. Mmmmm, it's sooo soft and warm!!!!

Barbie's new coat

Someone got a new Barbie coat for Christmas! Hurray for Barbie! No more furs, only felt!

18.12.08

Still haven´t made up your mind? How about these beauties? Etsy shop: http://blackeyedsuzie.etsy.com/ and blog http://blackeyedsuzie.typepad.com/.
For the Tim Burton's fans!