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.

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!

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

You can see more of her work here www.lizettegreco.com http://LizetteGreco.etsy.com and www.flickr.com/photos/lizettegreco

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.

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.

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."

in http://www.clausporto.com/

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."

in http://www.anandakhalsa.com/

New hat

A classic with an unusual detail: the blue interior.

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).

Yet another Christmas present

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!

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!

Still looking for Xmas presents?

If you're still on the hunt for Xmas presents, check out these beautiful paper cuts. Etsy shop http://sanfran67.etsy.com/ and site http://www.helenmusselwhite.com/

Still looking for Xmas presents?

If you're one of those people, who really has problems deciding about Xmas presents, here's another idea. Candy to wear from Florida. Etsy shop: http://jasminescott.etsy.com/

Simply irresistible!!!

Still looking for Xmas presents?

If you're still looking for Xmas presents, this just might help you:

Unusual jewelry from Barcelona: etsy shop http://alheuredelapero.etsy.com/ and blog http://alheuredelapero.blogspot.com/.

The second artist I bring you today is Beatrice Oettinger from artspotting, another artist on my Berlin list. I love her transparent pieces and the way she works with leaves and seads. Her light objects are extremely delicate and beautiful.

Her work is available online at http://en.dawanda.com/shop/artspotting.

Those of you, who visit my blog are accustomed to the fact, that in some periods I don't post often. This happens because work is very irregular. So today I would like to make it up to you by bringing you two of my very favorite artists.

Elsa Mora's work combines beauty and sensitivity. But what I like most of her is the fact that she's a multi-talented artist, who works with a lot of different materials to produce exquisite and extremely delicate pieces.

Plant Creations

Dollhouse

Jewelry

Paper

Toys

Porcelains

You can get to know more about Elsa here or buy some of her lovely pieces here.

Parabéns!!!

Pedra de Toque is a little jewelry shop in Telheiras, Lisbon, where you can also find some of my work. Last Saturday Pedra de Toque turned 2 years old and grabbed the occasion to open an exhibition, which will last until Christmas.

A loja Pedra de Toque comemorou o seu 2º aniversário com a inauguração de uma exposição no passado dia 1 de Novembro e que se deverá prolongar até ao Natal.
Aqui fica o respectivo cartaz e a foto de algumas das minhas peças que constam da exposição.

Crafts & Design - 1st and 2nd November

"Made For You" is the motto for the 26th edition of Crafts & Design - Jardim da Estrela, 1st and 2nd November, from 9.00 to 18.00.

Brighten up your Winter days

Anja Andersen is a felt artist from Hamburg, who's work I love. She produces beautiful colored fashion accessories with straight lines.

Here are some examples garantied to brighten up the Winter days.

There is also something for those of you, who prefer discreter colors.

Crafts & Design - 4th and 5th October

We're back at Estrela for the 25th edition of "Crafts & Design". You can visit us on the 4th and 5th October, from 9.00 to 19.00.

We'll be supporting SOS Animal on a campaign for animal adoption (Saturday and Sunday from 10.30 to 18.30.

Also with us this weekend will be:

4th 15.00: dj Kamala
5th 16.00: Joana Grupo de Teatro with the play "E Agora Senhor Gilberto?".

My first workshop

Yes, it's true! I finally decided to teach my first workshop on felting techniques.
Description only in portuguese. Sorry...

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A pensar em todos os que me têm perguntado se dou workshops de técnicas de feltro, decidi, finalmente, arrancar com o primeiro. Terá lugar no Sábado, dia 11 de Outubro, às 14 horas e a duração será de 3 a 4 horas.

WORKSHOP DE FELTRAGEM COM ÁGUA E SABÃO – NÍVEL 1 – AS TRÊS FORMAS DE BASE NA FELTRAGEM (PLACA, BOLA, ROLINHO) E COMO TIRAR PARTIDO DELAS – 3 a 4h

O workshop destina-se a participantes que ainda não tenham tido qualquer contacto com o processo de feltragem com água e sabão.

Não há receitas certas ou erradas para a feltragem. Partindo dos 5 elementos fundamentais (água, calor, movimento, sabão e lã) para produzir feltro, o limite é apenas a fantasia de cada um. Assim, o que se pretende neste workshop é dar aos participantes os conhecimentos de base, necessários ao desenvolvimento de um “estilo próprio”.

Cada participante deverá ainda trazer consigo:
· Agulha e dedal
· Linhas
· Boa tesoura e avental

Cada participante leva do workshop 4 peças
· Placa de feltro decorada para fazer pequena bolsa
· Bola “chocalho” decorada
· Elástico para cabelo “rasta”
· Anel / pregadeira em forma de flor (tudo cosido)

Os interessados deverão contactar a Joana Simões da loja
Pedra de Toque, onde se deverá realizar o workshop. Limite máximo de participantes: 6.
Estou disponível para responder a qualquer questão através do e-mail vanda.f.sousa@sapo.pt

Crafts & Design - 28th September

It's Crafts&Design's 2nd aniversary and you're all invited! It'll be on the 28th September - same place, same time!

Also happening at Estrela on the same day is the last concert of this year's PlenOut Jazz, with the great Maria João & Mário Laginha! Don't miss it!!!

Here is a treasure I discovered, while going through an italian magazine.

Mustardseed & Moonshine was founded by Kate Carlyle in Cape Town, South Africa in 1992 to celebrate her love of the botanical form. The idea was to make beautiful ceramic flowers that were both usable and lasting, flowers that were meticulously crafted, and yet simultaneously robust and functional.

Delicious!!! Especially if you - like me - are a flower fan.

To all of you, who have been expecting to see new posts in the last couple of weeks ... sorry...

I've been going through materials and old sketches and making lots of samples. To sum it up, I've been preparing the new work you'll be seeing here and on etsy starting from September.

And the thing is, that when I'm in this process I just can't thing about anything else. I'm totally absorbed the whole day long. So, you'll have to forgive me ... it's definitely for a good cause.

Before I completely dive into my work, I'll be taking a couple of weeks off, which means I will not be able to send you any purchased items from etsy or daWanda. So, if you're planning to buy something from my shops, it'll have to be after the 5th September. Thank you!

Nevertheless, and since I can never really be totally apart from my work during vacation, I plan on publishing a few posts in the next couple of weeks. And I promise I'll bring you interesting stuff.

New member

I was very happy to discover today, that the felting community has a new member. And a portuguese one at that!!!

I've known this blog for some time for its beautiful dolls. MisCia is now making great needle felted caracters. Congratulations on your new work!