My birthday gifts

The two books that I had asked for and a third one that was a pleasant surprise. It's title could be translated to "Fashion Patterns step by step" and it's about tailloring. It differs from the traditional sewing books, that have beautiful pictures and cute little projects. As you can see from the interior pages, it's mostly theoritical, but it's very useful because it explains the proportions, how to draw patterns, etc. It's very professional!

(One funny thing: the book is written in spanish but also translated into italian and portuguese. My sister-in-law didn't notice this, but she didn't worry because she knows I speak spanish. Only after giving it to me did she realise it was also in portuguese!)

The patterns that I had ordered from Sew Mama Sew and that had arrived some time ago, but that only now I was allowed to open.

And Eva, whom y'all already know!


Besides Eva, my parents also bought me buttons and gave me money to order some fabrics. I bought these in the Sew Mama Sew sale.




So now I have books to learn from, patterns to cut from, a model always at my service and fabrics to turn into clothes!

I had other presents, but these were the sewing related ones. One last surprise was in store for me, also from my sister-in-law:



In her last semester at the arts university she learnt how to make books, or just the book cover if one wants to put in a book they already have. And she made this one (in blue, of course) just for me! I tell you: it's perfect!!! She meant it as a notebook for my sewing lessons or for taking notes while making stuff, but it's so precious that I feel like I would have to be careful with my handwriting so I won't ruin it. I love handmade gifts and this was just an amazing surprise!

Mr Mail Man: I LOVE YOU!

I had wonderful surprises in the mailbox these last few days.

I received the patterns I ordered from Sew Mama Sew as my birthday gift. But... I have to wait until after my birthday to open the package and starting cutting.

And Crystal from Sonnet of the Moon sent me a wonderful flag quilt after our email exchange about the soccer world cup. Portugal had just been eliminated so I was in serious need of national pride. And she was the sweetest, she also sent me these amazing scraps!!! When I saw two packages I was like: "What...?" And after opening them I had a huge grin. (I have to take better pictures of these gifts, though, I wanted to hang the flag in a tree or something but didn't want it to get dirty, so it didn't work out that well ehehe and I wanted to show you all the amazing details but the photos got too blurry)

And my latest Amazon order has also arrived: books 9 and 10 of The Sookie Stachouse "mexican vampire soap-opera" Series and "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner", even though I've read it online (in case you haven't, you better hurry up because it will be online only until next monday). So lots of vampires for me in my near future!!! (By the way: haven't decided yet how much I liked "Eclipse").

PS - I'm enjoying everyone's book suggestions on my Giveaway (still going on for a few more days) and I know that I'll be making a new Amazon order soon...

The International Fat Quarter Swap

Logo após o Giveaway Day, participei na International Fat Quarter Swap organizado pela simpática Bree do blog Me and my two guys. Ela emparelhou-me com a Jennifer e a Linda, dos EUA, e a Vivian, da região de Yukon, no Canadá. (Vale a pena perderem tempo a pesquisar onde é que fica, acreditem.)
Claro que nestas swaps, com a troca de emails por causa das moradas e tal, acaba-se sempre por criar alguma amizade com as pessoas e isso é, sem dúvida, o mais divertido. Mas esta swap teve outro grande motivo de interesse, que foi o facto de trocarmos tecidos locais, aproveitando assim para contar um pouco da nossa cultura e aprender sobre a cultura das nossas parceiras.
Enviei tecidos portugueses comprados na Retrosaria durante as férias e também alguns tecidos brasileiros que cá tinha, explicando os laços históricos que unem os dois países mas também a grande diferença cultural que hoje em dia os próprios tecidos espelham (a diferença nas cores era abismal).
E o que recebi na volta do correio foi...

Right after the Giveaway Day, I enrolled in the International Fat Quarter Swap that lovely Bree from Me and my two guys put together. She paired me up with Jennifer and Linda from the USA and Vivian from the Yukon Territory in Canada. (Take the time to search where it is, believe me, it's worth it.)
Obviously, because you exchange emails with adresses and etc during the swap the fun part o fit is precisely meeting new people. But this swap was also interesting for another reason. We were supposed to send local fabrics and show a little bit of our culture, which meant we get to know other people's culture too.
I sent portuguese fabrics bought at Retrosaria during my holidays and also some brazilian fabrics I had, and I explained the historic connection between Portugal and Brazil but also how the big cultural difference today, one that even the fabrics proved (the difference in the colours was just awesome).
And what I got back was...


A Vivian enviou-me este conjunto de fat-quarters com as cores mais típicas dos Nativos Americanos e tendo por tema principal o urso da região onde ela vive. Adoro animais e um dos primeiros tecidos que comprei tinha patinhas e tudo, portanto ela acertou em cheio. Também gostei muito do postal lindíssimo que ela juntou ao pacote e das palavras que me ensinou. Masi cho para toda a gente :)

Vivian sent me these coordinating fat-quarters with Native American colours and the main theme was the bear that lives in her region. I love animals and one of my fabrics ever had paws, so she really hit the jackpot. Also, I love the amazing postcard she sent and the words she thought me. Masi cho everyone :)



A Jennifer, que é da Califórnia, enviou um tecido que eu amei por causa das cores (têm tudo a ver comigo, incluindo o azul de fundo que é a minha cor preferida de todos os tempos) e um outro tecido que foi pintado por ela, portanto é extremamente especial. Pelo que percebi, ela vai começar a vender os tecidos dela na sua Etsy Shop, portanto aconselho-vos uma visitinha.

Jennifer, who lives in California, sent one fabric that I loved because it has my favourite colours (the blue in the background is my favourite colour of all times) and another one she painted herself, which makes it extremely special. From what I gather, she will start selling fabrics in her Etsy Shop, so everyone should go take a look.



A última encomenda a chegar foi a da Linda. Nos emails que trocámos ela tinha dito que é de Nova Iorque mas agora vive perto de Atlanta, por isso claro que partilhei com ela o meu fascínio por Nova Iorque e... surpresa das surpresas... ela mandou-me um tecido com os famosos táxis e outro com a linha do metro (adooooro tecidos com letras). E, para cúmulo, mandou ainda mais dois tecidos com cores que adoro e ainda dois quadrados verdes e ainda um pássaro em crochet e ainda flores feitas em tecido (super mimosas). Ela bem dizia para eu abrir o pacote aos poucos porque tinha várias camadas... Acho que ela perdeu completamente a cabeça! Foi uma surpresa e tanto!

The last package to arrive was Linda's. In our emails, she had said that she is originally from New York but now she lives near Atlanta, so of course I told her all about my fascination with New York and.. surprise surprise... she sent me one fabric with the famous yellow cabs and another with the underground lines (I love fabrics with printed letters). And, on top of everything, she send two more fabrics in colours I love and two little squares and one knitted bird and several fabric flowers (really sweet). She warned me to open her package little by litlle because it had layers. I think she completely went over the top! It was a huge surprise!





Adorei ter participado nesta troca e espero manter-me em contacto com as minhas novas amigas. Gostei muito do que vocês as três me enviaram, por isso, um grande OBRIGADO à Vivian, à Jennifer e à Linda!!!

I enjoyed this swap so much and I hope to stay in touch with my new friends. I really loved what the three of you sent me, so a huge THANK YOU to Vivian, Jennifer and Linda!!!

Meet Eva!

O meu aniversário é só para o mês que vem, mas já tenho a prenda dos meus pais no meu pequeno atelierzinho de costura.
Apresento-vos a Eva!
É bastante mais formosa do que eu (tenho mais 10 cm em todo o lado mas não contem a ninguém) mas vai ser uma excelente aliada nos próximos tempos, quando quiser fazer umas roupinhas à maneira!
(Ia pô-la ao pé do Edward, mas depois fiquei com ciúmes e mudei-a para perto da tábua de engomar. Toma lá destas! Somos amigas, mas nem tanto!)

My birthday is not until next month, but I already have my parent's gift in my little sewing room.

Meet Eva!

She has a much elegant body than I do (I have 10 extra centimetres everywhere, but don't tell this to anyone) but she will be of great help in the upcoming future when I start making some really nice pieces of clothing!

(I was going to put her next to Edward, but then I got jealous and moved her next to the ironing table. Serves her right! We're friends, but not so much!)

It's here! It's here!

Pareço uma miúda no dia de Natal.

Quando o carteiro tocou à porta e eu me apercebi do que ele me trazia desatei aos pulinhos e a bater palminhas (é o que eu faço quando estou muito contente e o meu marido perguntou-me se eu o tinha feito em frente ao carteiro... é claroooooo que nãoooo heeheheh).

Só me controlei o tempo suficiente para tirar fotos. Depois saí logo com ela à rua para a passear e a mostrar. Já toda a minha família a viu e delirou. Pudera, é linda!

Não me canso de dizer: OBRIGADA B.!!!

I look like a kid on Christmas day.

When the postman rang the bell and I realised what he was delivering I started jumping and clapping (which is what I usually do when I'm excited and my husband asked if I had done it in from of the postman... of couurseeeeee nooottt hehehehehe).

I managed to get a hold of myself just long enough to take pictures. Then I took it out for a "test drive" and to show it off. All my family has seen it by now and loved it. Of course, it's amazing!

I can't say this enough: THANK YOU B.!!!

I just heard...

That I won this beautifully made purse! Check out all the details. It's PERFECT!





I'm so happy! I'm so happy!!! I love it!!! All my favourite colours combined in one really chic lady bag!

So, thank you very much dear B, from Sweet Limes. I'll take good take care of her, show her all the nice places and introduce her to all my friends :)

Gifts... for me!!!

Agora que tenho esta paixão, as prendas relacionadas com a costura são as que fazem mais sucesso, claro. Além de muitos tecidos (yeiii!!!), recebi esta caixa de costura (presente da minha cunhada) e esta malinha (presente da minha sogra, comprado numa loja fantástica nas Caldas da Rainha, onde a minha cunhada estuda).

Obrigado família!!!



Now that I have this crush, gifts that have something to do with sewing are the most welcomed, of course. Besides lots of fabric (yeiii!!!), I got this sewing suppplies box (from my SIL) and this purse (from my MIL, bought at an amazing shop in Caldas da Rainha where my SIL goes to college).

Thanks you guys!!!