Things to bear in mind while packing:

♥ It has been snowing in Dream Town. Temperatures ranging from 0 to minus 7. Nothing too dramatic, I guess (I have experienced the minus 20s before so I’m pretty sure I’ll survive), but still: need to pack scarves, coats, hats, boots and gloves. It’ll be weird having come from a 35-plus Celsius summer in Brazil and going to a bellow freezing winter in Dream Town in the space of two weeks. Weird as in good-weird, not bad-weird because to be honest, nothing gets me down these days. Cold: I am not scared of you!

♥ Accommodation is all set. Location is great. Everything seems to be in order. My new flatmates: 2 girls and a chiwawa puppy called Gangster. :) I haven’t had a flatmate since university (boyfriends don’t count as flatmates, do they?), and I haven’t lived with a dog since childhood (I had a beagle called Wendy years ago). I have no idea what to expect, but everyone seems very nice and welcoming. Watch this space.

♥ Illustration material is neatly piled up, just waiting to be included. Markers, sketchbooks, watercolours, laptop, walcom tablet, pencils and paintbrushes. All ready to travel. New business cards are done too. The cutest I’ve ever printed so far! I almost feel sorry to hand them out.

♥ Cameras are ready to go. I was given a Canon G9 as a Christmas present and together with my genius 500D, they make the perfect team: one for proper good images, the other for fun stuff. Note to self: need to empty out all cards to make space for new pictures. My new hometown will be way too irresistible. I’m sure I’ll be snapping away left and right.

♥ Still not sure where I am heading? Here’s another clue:

 Source: here.

Lots of love from Lisbon.

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I finished 2011 in Lisbon, saying goodbye to a really great advertising agency where I’ve worked as an art director for the past 7 years, and also saying goodbye to a lot of very good friends that I made whilst working over there.

I started 2012 in Brazil, in the summer, among friends and family, some of the people I love the most in my life.

I am now packing my bags and heading to a completely new adventure. It involves a new location, a lot of illustration, a lot of walking and gazing around. It’s been a dream and a project of mine for the past 4 years and I can hardly contain myself!

Without giving too much information away, here’s a little clue:

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Here’s the first present I gave this year. A little illustration for a very dear friend.

He really liked it, which is all that matters to me.

♥ And speaking of gifts…

My print shop is up and running and taking orders. If you’re looking for something sweet and original for Christmas, this could be a good idea.

All illustrations were carefully selected and originally produced with a lot of love. The prints are limited edition so if you find something you like, let me know. Check them out here. 

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I am not an advocate of smoking. I pretty much loath cigarettes (those who know me personally have all been witness to my moaning and winning about smokers at some point or another), but I just adore these photographs. I’m not sure I find them specially shocking but I love the Bugsy Malone aesthetics and the characters these children are portraying.

The bloggers at I Love Belgium say:

“… So why kids? By portraying adults as children all  the attention went to the smoking. An adult would draw too much attention to the portrayed person. Thus these portraits evoke questions such as: is the smoking ban the right way to get rid of an absurd addiction and are smokers treated like little kids who can’t make the difference between good and bad? While Frieke doesn’t give answers, the portraits are strong enough to start your thinking process…”

Either way, regardless of the photographer’s intentions, I am always in favor of art that’s not just pleasant to look at, but also makes you think.

Check out the complete series here.

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Source: Amazing Amsterdam-based painter SIT

Source: Pinterest

Natalia Vodianova shot by Mario Testino for Vogue UK May 2008

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Ewan McGregor by Alexi Lubomirski

Source: Soul Hunting

Source: Ricor

Mary Kate. Source: Too Many Grandmas

Source: Pinterest

Gala Darling

Source: Gilded

Source: Rock n’ Roll Bride

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Elsa Peretti by Helmut Newton

Source: Confetti Garden

Illustration by me.

Yup, I think I might have a thing for bunny ears…

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Jeanmaire was a close friend of the designer. They collaborated together a few times and she modeled for him.

Zizi Jeanmaire & Yves Saint-Laurent

I haven’t seen the documentary yet, but I can’t wait to watch it.

Yves Saint-Laurent fascinates me. He had a terribly hard life and died of a very tragic illness, but he was also an inspiring character and one of the most important designers in the world. He created the first tuxedo for women, he created the first ready-to-wear line and he was the first designer ever to use ethnic models on runway shows. This was a man who was born in the thirties, by the way, completely ahead of his time.

Read the full review in Amelia’s Magazine.

♥ Yesterday was Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Parade. Source: Pinterest.

Even though Europe does not celebrate Thanksgiving, this makes me happy for two reasons:

1) It reminds me to be thankful for everything I have and for everything I have achieved.

My life is going through some major changes at the moment, and even though some of them are difficult, I am thankful for them. Change is always for the better, right?

2) Thanksgiving also reminds me that in exactly ONE MONTH it will be Christmas. Yay!

I love Christmas. It’s by far my favorite time of the year. This year it will be slightly different from the usual: I am going to Brazil. After almost 20 years away, I am going to spend my first Christmas and New Years over there. I don’t know what to expect but I’m very excited and looking forward to it. Though I’m sure I’ll miss the cold weather and the European feel of Christmas: it’s cozy and pretty special. But like I said: “change is always for the better”, so bring it on!

Source: Pinterest.

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone.

Lots of love from Lisbon.

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♥ I’ve been missing London like crazy these last few days.

Ever since I left, I usually go back there at least 2 or 3 times a year but it never seems to be enough.

London is one of the most vibrant cities you can ever come across. It’s a city for those who love cities. Not for nature-lovers or the faint-hearted. I find it so inspiring though. It takes my breath away every time I go there.

All pictures of London taken by me. :)

♥ And speaking of London…

This week I produced illustrations for an article about the 3rd Fashioning the Future Awards that took place last week at the London College of Fashion.

I was asked to sketch two of the finalist dresses. Here they are:

Fashioning the Future is an initiative that awards innovation in sustainable fashion design. It’s a very cool project. It promotes the use of environmentally friendly processes and materials in fashion, which is inspiring and an enormous challenge for the designers.

Check out the full review of the Awards in Amelia’s Magazine.

And have a brilliant Thursday, everyone.

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Sweet toothed and cake lovers everywhere: here are some delightful inspiration for the coming weekend…

Lots of love from Lisbon.

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All pictures taken by me, on Instagram.

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