the wonderful world inside my mind AKA Miauland

a long looooong time

2011-12-02T11:31:00.001Z

It's been a long loooong time since I last wrote in this blog. Life has taken over, everything has changed sooo much that I'm not even sure what I should write about. Decided not to write about another pet casualty as sad as little Chourico (if not even more) just yet, as I know that it'll make me really emotional. Instead, I've decided to show you a little something that I worked on, hope that you'll like it :)

ode to a little dog

2011-06-15T23:04:00.002+01:00

Some moons ago in a land not so far way, a little puppy was born on a farm to a mother named Biscuit. The farm hand who was his owner named him Freddy, tied him to a stick and would only give him a little bit of food and some water once a day. The poor puppy suffered in the mid Summer's heat, up until he caught the eye of the farmer's eldest daughter. Appalled by how the puppy was being treated, she started to visit him everyday with treats, fresh water and cuddles. She loved him so much and was so saddened by his plight that she decided to secretly rename him Chouriço and hoped that one day he would be hers.

A couple of months later, the farm hand disappeared with Biscuit and left being little Freddy. Fortunately, the farmer's daughter who didn't live on the farm, was around or else the poor old pup would have been left to fry. Immediately she freed him, gave him a hug and he joined the other farm dogs and lived happily ever after... or at least until a couple of days ago when he was found lifeless under a tree.

Chouriço was a sweet little dog. Not many people appreciated his personality, all they saw was the typical little dog, jealous and a superiority complex with a bark to match. But, he was a sweetheart and loved sitting glued to me whilst I stroked him.

He was extremely intelligent even though most people didn't see it... Only a very smart doggy would crack walnuts and distribute them amongst the big dogs, right? Or lie on the floor on his back with his paws in the air when I pointed at him and in a mock annoyed voice said "ai, ai, ai". He was also extremely courageous (or stupid), as he once decided to attack one of the boxer dogs that we used to have, and my brother and I had to take him off from the other dog's mouth; and very greedy as he loved his fair share of goodies even if he had to steal it from the cat's bowl or another (often bigger) dog's mouth.

Last time I saw him, he looked a bit fragile. Chouriço had been blind in one for awhile and was a bit shaky, but Laura the labrador kept him companied, and although it was hard for me to leave him I know that he was a happy although (sometimes misunderstood) lil' dog., I only wish that I had stayed with him a little longer.

Rest in Peace my little smoked sausage xx

every little helps!

2011-05-09T00:30:00.001+01:00

Hello Strangers,

Long time no nothing, hey?

Sorry about that, I promise that I'll keep on promising that I'll be better next time.

Last time I posted, all our possessions were in boxes and a life was up in the air yet again. Since then we have settled in our new home and we're enjoying the perks of living in a village within the insanity that is London. Have you ever imagined that this smelly dirty city could ever have a road like this?

I didn't! It totally took me by surprise last month when I had to go to the local main collection post office. For a moment or so I felt like I had been transported back to my student years in Farnham! London, old girl you really do have some awesome tricks hidden up your sleeve :)

Also I had never imagine in my whole time here that I would ever have my own little garden, but guess what? I do now!

Sure I'm not allowed to dig into it (goddam you tenant agreement), but with some planters and a little imagination, I reckon that our patio is becoming a little piece of heaven! (Provided that the neighbor's cat stops lying on our pumpkin seedlings!)

By now you must be wondering.... But what's with the cheesy Tesco's (British supermarket chain for the non UK residents) one liner title. Well, if you are one of my regular readers (bless you! You're an angel), you might have noticed that every year I like to do something for one or more of my favorite charities.

This year, Japan's earthquake and tsunami came complete shock. It's one of those countries that is on the other side of the world but, somehow it has always been close to my heart. I love its quirky culture and customs, and a little bit of my heart broke when I saw the images on the tv.

I gave some money to the Red Cross Japan appeal, but it didn't feel like it would ever be enough so, I felt unsatisfied until I found the Crafts with Purpose page on the Craftzine blog. They were looking for crafters to participate in their Operation Bunny Drop by making simple bunny softies to be given to the children who are recovering from the effects of the natural disaster.

So, here's my contribution. I wish that I could have made more and I know that it would never been enough, but if even one little kid likes them, I'll be a mighty happy bunny :D

bit by bit

2011-02-13T01:11:00.002Z

Hello lovely readers,

It has been awhile since I last posted and it will be little while until I post again. As per usual life plays little tricks on us and well… we just have to accept them and move on… Quite literally!!
Our current nest has been put on the market so, we have been forced to find a new one. It's a great place in a lovely part of the city and I'm positive that we'll be very happy there but, we will still really miss "our" little flat on the hill.

We're starting to pack, which means that, I won't making my toys until we're settled, to be honest ever since I heard that we were going to be evicted, they pretty ideas in my head decided to hide and I really don't want to force them out. After all I make toys for pleasure and not because I'm forced.

I'll leave you for now with a little present that I made for my bear. Ever since I started to make toys the has struggled with the idea of them leaving the house, I show them to him, he hugs them and sighs :)

So, this little birthday present was long overdue!

Say hello to our newest flatmates!

the bear...

(who's a sweetheart!)

... and the mini kitty

the bear loves his games!


the bear is a lucky fellow as he sports my brand new label!

I'll "see" you all in a little while!

Ele passou por mim e sorriu (He walked by me and smiled) by Deolinda

2011-01-05T14:16:00.000Z

Ele passou por mim e sorriu,

He walked by me and smiled,
e a chuva parou de cair,

and the rain stopped,
o meu bairro feio tornou-se perfeito,

my ugly neighbourhood became perfect,
e o monte de entulho, um jardim.

and the rubbish pile, a garden.

O charco inquinado voltou a ser lago,

The polluted puddle became a lake again,
e o peixe ao contrário virou.

and the upside down fish turned.
Do esgoto empestado saiu perfumado

From the smelly sewer came out a perfumed
um rio de nenúfares em flor.

river of blossomed lilies.

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,

I'm a beautiful and graceful moth,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,

who paints the world pink,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

I'm love's delirium

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,

I know that the rain is thick and clogs the cesspool,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,

that love is short and leaves you hurt,
mas quero voar, por favor!

but, please, I want to fly!

No metro, enlatados, corpos apertados

In the underground, canned, squashed bodies
suspiram ao ver-me entrar.

they sigh when they see me come in.
Sem pressas que há tempo,

Without rushing as there's time left.

dá gosto o momento,

This moment feels great,
e tudo mais pode esperar.

and everything else can wait.

O puto do cão com seu acordeão,

The dog's kid with his accordion,
põe toda a gente a dançar,

makes everyone dance,
e baila o ladrão,

and the thief dances,
com o polícia p'la mão,

with the cop by his hand,
esvoaçam confetis no ar.

confetti fly through the air

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,

I'm a beautiful and graceful moth,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,

who paints the world pink,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

I'm love's delirium

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,

I know that the rain is thick and clogs the cesspool,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,

that love is short and leaves you hurt,
mas quero voar, por favor!

but, please, I want to fly!

Há portas abertas e ruas cobertas

There's open door and streets covered
de enfeites de festas sem fim,

in endless party ornaments,
e por todo o lado, ouvido e dançado,

and everywhere, listened and danced,
o fado é cantado a rir.

the fado sung laughing.

E aqueles que vejo, que abraço e que beijo,

And the ones that I see, hug and kiss,
falam já meio a sonhar,

say almost half a sleep,
se o mundo deu nisto e bastou um sorriso,

if the world became like this just from a smile,
o que será se ele me falar.

what would happen if he speaks.

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,

I'm a beautiful and graceful moth,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,

who paints the world pink,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

I'm love's delirium

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,

I know that the rain is thick and clogs the cesspool,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,

that love is short and leaves you hurt,
mas quero voar, por favor!

but, please, I want to fly!

Sou a mariposa bela e airosa,

I'm a beautiful and graceful moth,
que pinta o mundo de cor de rosa,

who paints the world pink,
eu sou um delírio do amor.

I'm love's delirium

Sei que a chuva é grossa, que entope a fossa,

I know that the rain is thick and clogs the cesspool,
que o amor é curto e deixa mossa,

that love is short and leaves you hurt,
mas quero voar, por favor!

but, please, I want to fly!

The world needs more music like this, hopeful and beautiful!

(My translation makes it no justice)

early morning meow

2010-12-22T23:32:00.000Z

Last Friday, me and couple of cool cats decided to do a little photo shoot in Trafalgar Square on our wait to work. It was bloomin' cold, but being true artists the cats bared it all with a stoic spirit (please, don't call RSPCA, I defrosted them and my fingers later on)

These were made for a commission that nearly took the best of me, but first, let me explain a little bit about why I started making toys so that you can understand my initial reticence towards this project.

I am a really fortunate person as I have the privilege to work on something that I love, not many people can say the same. However, just like any creative job where your working for someone else, I spent most of my day creating someone else's idea of perfection and it can be a bit frustrating. Ask most artists that work with me and you'll find a lot of ways to vent off after a long day at work. Some make their own movies, others play instruments, rock climbing, play games, etc, etc... I on the other hand make toys.

At home in my little corner, I'm a little toy dictator. I make what I want when I want and no one can say otherwise (even when I ask for an opinion). It's a bit silly but, it is what keeps me sane some days!

Usually, I am really lucky when I get commissions, most times people have seen my work and are glad to give me pretty much, free reigns.

But, this time it was different, the person that asked me to make these cats was really really specific, down to the difference in the size of the cats' eyes, fur tone and spot shapes amongst other things.

My ickle brain fused! It was almost like I had brought work home and for weeks I had a creative block like I hadn't had in years and just to make matters worst I got an email asking me if I couldn't lower the price by making them smaller!!

Oh the cheek!

For weeks I was completely stuck until a little light switched on in my brain and decided to go completely in the opposite direction... I retained a bare minimum of his suggestions and made something extremely stylized. I didn't care any more if he liked it or not, this was a matter of pride, how could someone ever make me feel so creatively frustrated to the point that I didn't even want to make a cat soft toy?!?

... guess what? It worked! He loved it and even payed more that I asked for :)

So, the moral of the story is... When in doubt follow you instincts because, at the end of the day you have to be able to live with yourself :)

hello duck!

2010-11-30T23:33:00.000Z

I finished this little duckling on Saturday. It was a bit of a challenge, as I was specifically asked to make a mallard duckling instead of the normal run of the mill, bog standard yellow duckling. I threw me in a bit of a loop of awhile as it is harder to put my stamp on something, when it is this specific.

I guess that in a way I just had to relax into it and go back to basics, like looking at photos and thinking about what make a mallard duckling identifiable and came up with a (deceptively) simple two tone design. Most of it ended up being hand stitched, which I think adds to its charm ;)

Just to add to the cuteness, I decided to add a little tear duct and line under the eyes.

Awhile ago I ordered some personalized labels from the internet, but never really liked them. They felt so big and impersonal. It was like it was going against the my ethos of highly personalized and unique toys!

So, for this little duckling I decided to add something special, my own logo. This one is completely hand sewn and impractical but, I have a couple of ideas to make it more manageable, yet still homemade. For the people that know me well, there is a bit of an inside joke and for others?...

Well, I just think that it is mighty cute! Isn't that enough? :)

this little piggy

2010-11-20T16:16:00.000Z

The second commission that I got was to make a little piggy for someone who's pig crazy. I had an idea to make something like this for awhile so I was really happy to start working on this project.

The piggy is nearly all hand stitched and just to make it even more special, I knitted a little pink vest for it.

I apologize for the crumminess of the photos, but it's winter and I need to ask father Christmas for one of these.

princess faily ballerina...

2010-11-20T14:14:00.000Z

... phew, that's a looooong title and it's the name of the next toy that I'm going to show you.

Awhile ago I decided to throw caution to the wind and sent an email with some shameless self promotion to all of the people at the studio where I work. I thought "What the hell! What's the worst that can happen? No one liking my toys... Impossible!" :P

Surprisingly enough, I got some orders! Hurrah!

... An here's the very first one I made, a princess faily ballerina.

To the people that read my blog regularly (if there's anyone in the world that does that... I am a fan of yours), you might have noticed that I'm not much of a doll person. Maybe it's because I only had a couple of them in my childhood or my auntie's freakish collection of porcelain dolls, I've never really been attracted to them. So, this was a bit of a challenge for me.

When I was first asked to make this doll, it was meant to be a ballerina for a little girl who loves ballet, then it evolved to a fairy ballerina and finally I thought that I might as well make her a princess, just in case that was the next request. It was a bit of a bummer not being asked to add on lion tamer, trapeze artist and doctor as I think that it would have made the doll cooler :)

bunnasaurus rex

2010-11-20T13:41:00.000Z

Long time no post!

I know, I know, and I could just start spouting out excuses but, instead of that I'm going to give you lovely people 4 posts in one day!! How amazing is that? Are you lucky little souls, or what?

So, I've been working my proverbial sock off in my little sewing corner and I must say, although it has been tiring I'm actually quite chuffed with what I'm coming up with (I'm oh, so modest)

One of the latest toys that I made deserves a little bit of explanation...

Awhile ago, whilst talking with one of my of my little work buddies, Soeren, I drew a dinosaur on a post-it and stuck it in his monitor. Cute, but nothing especial, it needed something more, so we added some bunny ears*

All of the sudden that little doodle made sense (at least to us)! Bunnasaurus was born, but it deserved more so I added a little crown and made him a Rex :)

A few weeks later, Soeren announced that he was leaving and I though that I should make him a departing gift and that how Bunnasaurus Rex jumped from squiggly form to plush!

Bunnasaurus Rex is made from felt, cotton and beads. Just to make it even more personal, I embroidered the signatures of everyone in the team on his back, using Avalon (a cold water soluble transparent material) as a template. A word of warning, when I washed away the Avalon, the felt shrunk!! Luckily, I managed to salvage all the hard work, phew!

Here's picture of everyone... plus Jorge... coff, coff, he's everywhere, can't seem to shake him off :P

*long story short, Soeren is an amazing artist, and I used to destroy his work by forcing him to add bunny ears to all of his fancy drawings... can't help it!!

oh my giddy aunt!!

2010-10-07T22:26:00.000+01:00

It's tomorrow!!!!

Oh my!!!

There's not enough exclamation marks in the world to express how I feel right now, the only way that I could be any happier was if I could be there... coff, coff, But, I'm trying (very hard) not to dwell on that. So, if any of you lovely readers are in the Seattle are, please please please, with a cherry on top, go there, you'll have fun and will get to see some very very cool softies :)

The reception will be tomorrow from 5pm 'till 9pm at Schmancy, Fancy and Nancy. For more information go to the Schmancy website.

reviving the extinct

2010-09-26T01:51:00.000+01:00

Awhile ago a good friend asked me to make a softie for his little nephew. He was really REALLY specific about his request, he wanted a dodo (he's completely dodo mad) with a little added extra...

coff, coff...

He wanted a dodo with a bum hole that you could reach inside and take out an egg... with the baby's name on it... I was stunned, not so much with the idea, I've come to expect nothing less from Mr. Micklee but, with the challenge ahead. My work tends to be more bi-dimensional so, creating something like this really had me thinking, and after many a trial and error this (not so) little creature suddenly appeared at my desk, looking at me with its slight vacant eyes, all cute, cuddly and with a feat of modern engineering (ie. a paper scaled model): a actual "functional" bum hole :D

The dodo is made of acrylic and wool felt, cotton fabric and fleece

Here's some egg laying action!

the famous egg!

The B felt very malicious as he was holding the dodo, he looks almost like he's hatching a cunning plan. Beware Mr. Bond!!

fly my little critters, fly!

2010-09-14T21:55:00.001+01:00

As I have mentioned before, three of my little toys are going to be part of this year's Plush You. As they have safely arrived in Seattle I thought that it was about time to share them with you lovely people :)

As I enjoyed making the "My Hugsy Eats..." bunny, cow and penguin so much, I though that it would be nice to continue the collection with a cat, a monkey and a dog.

This is My Hugsy Eats... Fish. You know when sometimes you eye up a fabric without much idea of what to do with it but, something inside you screams out "Get it! Get it, you'll find a purpose for it!". Well, this Japanese "scale" fabric was one of those. In my mind's eye I could feel it being part of something really nice! You can't see it from the photo but, the scales have a little bit of gold in them that makes it that little bit cooler.

This softie was also a bit of a pain, it took me 3 attempts to get it right. The first one really freaked me out as it was starting to look like Pikachu (the cat was originally meant to be yellow), the second was condemned from the start... Poor fabric choices make sad kitties, and as it tore away the cheek due to a mistake, the fabric underneath fell apart o_O

My Hugsy Eats... Bananas took a little longer than the others to leave the design stage. For some reason I just couldn't get the monkey face right! None of my drawings had enough monkey-ness. So, I had a bit of a pow wow with the bear and came up with this, which made me much happier.

My Hugsy Eats... Hot Dogs. Ok, I know that it is a bit of a stretch (although some dogs would rather have sausages instead of pedigree pal), but the stereotypical dog food is bones and as I was making the other ones it just felt too simple too me, hence the hot dogs!

Also, the "C" on it's little medal is an homage to my dog Chouriço (Smoked Sausage in Portuguese).

my totoro obsession part 3

2010-09-05T11:31:00.001+01:00

My love for Totoro has already been mentioned in this blog before, surprisingly not as many time as I would have thought but, then if I think about it I'm really a crazy obsessive with all the t shirts and merchandising, I'm more of a pleasant kind of fan that basks in the beauty that is Totoro :P

So, when the opportunity came along to do a Phat Quarter Swap about movie, well, there wasn't really an alternative, was there?

oh lucky me!

2010-08-21T21:18:00.001+01:00

I must confess that I'm not a big circus fan, to be honest just the word brings shiver down my spine. It reminds me of scary clowns, children crying and old toothless animals. Don't even get me started on Cirque du Soleil! All that jazzy hyper sophisticated over bloated and over shiny hollow fest just leaves me cold (also they treat their artists appallingly and underpay them).

So, when we were invited to go to le Cirque Invisible show

(a traveling contemporary circus which some credit as a source of inspiration for Cirque du Solei) I didn't really have high hopes for it, I thought that at worst, we might suffer for two hours but, good company and dinner would make it all better.

I am so glad to say that I was completely wrong, le Cirque Invisible is the sweetest, most whimsical and magical of shows and no words can describe how utterly happy it made me feel. I came out of it with an aching face from laughing and numb hands from all the clapping. Fronted by Jean-Baptiste Thiérrée and Victoria Chaplin (one of the Charlie Chaplin's many children) they'll be at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London until August 25th.

Don't miss it!

when I was little...

2010-08-05T00:28:00.001+01:00

... I used to go to my granny's house during the summertime. It was a magical place that smelt of sugar, bread and cakes. Sometimes the smell was so strong that it made me a little giggly and high.

There were no toys around so, my cousin and I used to pretend that my granny's playing cards were dolls and acted out "torrid" near soap operas with them (well, as torrid as a kid can make them).

There was no toilet nor even a shower, which meant that we had to use potties and a big vat filled with water, I even remember going to the public baths as a very young child. Year later when my granny finally got her very own bathroom (it was in fact an outhouse), she still kept a potty under her bed... couldn't be bothered to go outside at night

My granny was didn't have much and to support herself she used to sell home made ice creams, cakes and lolly pops to the local kids. As a means to gently "force" the kids into buying her sweets, she used to play cards with them and would bet against them... They never won and always left the house with empty pockets but, fuller tummies. Somehow I think that they all knew that my granny did in fact mark the cards, I guess that they liked the challenge, there wasn't much to do in such a small village in the middle of nowhere.

She made the most amazing bread, huge and tasty, guaranteed to last for a whole month if kept in a wooden chest. She ate everything with it, including fruit and coffee and it was because of that bread that I nearly got eaten by a flock of geese.

Every year, she would give all of her grandchildren 1000 escudos (Portuguese currency) in 50 escudos coins and even though I never liked getting money as a present, I loved that. I eventually found in her house, hidden away in a cupboard huge jars filled with coins ready for the next Christmas.

I used to sleep in a bed with a hay mattress, in a little room just of the kitchen. Awhile ago, I read about how these kind of mattresses where supposed to be uncomfortable, but to be honest I don't remember that.

These are just a few of the memories that I have from her, cloudy and faraway but, lovely none the less. The last time that I saw her, she wasn't the same anymore. Gone was the carefree person that took me and my cousin foraging in the woods, replaced by a sour depressed being, who sat in a bitter silence angry at everything and nothing at the same time.

That was 8 years ago...

Three weeks ago she got into a coma and today her outer shell died.

I hope that she went to a nice place filled with light and left her burdens behind, no more depression and sadness, just bread, a pack of playing cards, kids and happiness.

... Oh, and chocolate, she loved chocolate...

another mouse?

2010-07-09T21:47:00.000+01:00

When the bear's boss told me that his wife was going to have a little girl, I immediately thought "mmm, must make a toy!!". We had worked together on Despereaux and most recently on the new Narnia movie and I thought "Why not make a mouse? That will be amusing!".

So, today I gave him the little mousette that you can see in the picture above accompanied by the words "... you might not know this but, I make toys...".

He stared at it surprised, blinked a couple of time (I guess that his brain was trying to process the reason why he had a soft toy in his hands!) smiled, said some lovely words and then said "well, this one is going next to Desperaux."

I'm a happy bunny :)

happy customers

2010-07-09T21:08:00.001+01:00

A while ago my bear asked me, "You spend so much time and love making your toys, don't you feel sad when they're gone?"

Without hesitation I replied, "No, it is actually a pleasure to give them away, nothing beats the happiness (and sometimes) surprise on someone's face when I plonk a softie in their hands".

It quite literally gives me a buzz and makes me smile all day long :)

The only thing that can beat that, is a "happy customer" photo and here are my very first ones!

Thanks Marc!

Here's little Inez with the Moo. I just love the fact that the softie is almost as big as her :D

... and here's Finn proudly showing Mr. Penguin.

This might sound a bit weird, but when I make a toy I talk with it as I go along, especially when I know that the owner is going to be a child. In my mind I give it a personality, imagine the adventures that they'll have together and hope that the softie will always be there ready for a hug if necessary.

I instill so much into each toy that I'm surprised that they haven't started talking to me :P

... coff, coff, how made am I sounding just about now?...

My Hugsy eats... Flowers!

2010-07-01T00:11:00.005+01:00

I apologize for the crummy picture, but, if you're like me you'll understand... I just cannot help myself, as soon as I finished this cutey (or any other softy) all I want to do was to take is to the person that commissioned from me, just to see the look on his/her face :D
This little cow is part of a collection named "My hugsy eats..." and was made for a tiny baby called Inez (by the way the name on the back was hand embroidered and glows in the dark how totally awesome is that?)

This cute chap was also commissioned by the same person, for his 3 year old son, who's totally obsessed with penguins.

Hopefully, I'll be able to post some photos of the happy customers pretty soon!

links links links

2010-05-30T17:29:00.000+01:00

Sorry for not answering to yesterday's question, well, yesterday! But, I had to work (yes Tom, it's your fault. I know you're reading this! Just kidding, it's Harry's fault)

You might have noticed that I cleared away nearly all of the links in my "great people, studios, etc, etc..."
section. I felt that most of them didn't really relate to this blog anymore, especially as MiauMau has turned into a more crafty blog than an animation blog (although animation will always be present!!).

I thought that an interesting way of introducing to you the links/blogs that make me drool with happiness (now, that's an interesting image!) would be to create a "Link Mad Sunday"! Each Sunday I'll present you with two blogs/websites that I love, these posts will be divided into four questions:

Who is the artist/studio?

How did I find him/her? (If I still remember)

Why do I love it?

Where can you find them?

... and after the post I will add them to the link list so, that once more it might grow fat and plump with beautiful people, studios and ideas :)

Without further ado...

Welcome to the very first "Link Mad Sunday"!!! (Wow, how exciting is this?)

Who? Christina Conway, curator and graphic designer/ illustrator.

How? I found her blog through a flickr search about kokeshi dolls, where I discovered she curated an exhibition with the collaboration of several really cool artists.

Why? What's not to love? Her blog is filled with great links and ideas, and those kokeshi dolls are just a dream.

Where? **Twinklings**

Who? Jamaal Bradley, animator at Disney.

How? I found Jamaal's Pencil Test Depot through the ever wonderful Cartoon Brew website

Why? This blog is amazing resource of pencil tests, just look through it an drool. From Milt Kahl to Akira, there's no better way to looking into an animated film's soul.

Where? Pencil Test Depot

why is Hugsy so great?

2010-05-28T21:06:00.001+01:00

Try not to hyper ventilate from being so overwhelmed by the fact that I'm posting for two days in a row. just accept it and carry on reading so that I can give you a proper reason to hyperventilate.

Now, have you come up with a solution to yesterday's cliffhanger question: why is Hugsy so great?

Well, apart from the fact that it is totally awesome and just about the cuddliest bunny in the world...

Any ideas?

Ok, I'll tell you. Hugsy is great because, I put his furry bottom to work and two wonderful things happened. I got a commission for two other softies made by a co-worker and....

Even more exciting news, hang on to your hats!!

...

(I know the suspense is killing me too)

...

My toys are going to travel all the way to Seattle to be part of Plush You!!!! Oh my giddy aunt!!! How goddamn cool is that??

I tell you when I read the acceptance email, my little brain pumped so much blood that I nearly fainted. I knew that Hugsy was special :)

Oh, before I forget... The heart sale was postponed until next Friday.

Also, tomorrow's question is: What's with such a short link list?

spring clean

2010-05-28T00:05:00.000+01:00

Hello my pretties!

Last time I did a proper post was over a month ago (the jury is still out of whether the Bronte Sisters Power Doll was a proper post or not). I know, I know I'm a bad blogger, and I keep on apologizing over and over again, saying that I'm busy, that life is chaotic, etc, etc, etc...

Such a drama queen, right? Well, the truth is, that I have been busy, beavering away at work and at home too!

The photo above is the proof that I have been very busy in a crafty way. I have knitted 103 hearts (from a pattern designed and donated by the lovely Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi Land fame) as part of the Big Stitch campaign for the Children's Society, a charity that helps children facing abuse, neglect and poverty in their daily lives - building the foundations of a good childhood with thousands of children and their families, and will be forcing coff, coff... asking my dear co-workers to buy them tomorrow :)

I also participated my very first Phat Quarter swap! I totally missed the deadline by half a week but, I was really happy with the results. The theme was Zen, and all I could think about was plum and cherry blossoms, I guess that I was influenced by my beautiful surroundings.

I'll be back tomorrow with news about the heart sales and the answer to the following question...

Why is Hugsy so great?

By the way do you like my new vamped up blog layout?

Brontë Sisters Power Dolls

2010-05-19T09:38:00.000+01:00

For anyone - who like me, loves the Brontë Sisters!

...

and dinosaurs :P

hugsy the bunny

2010-04-21T23:51:00.000+01:00

So, I've been a busy busy bee and I'm hoping to show you the results from busy bee-ness pretty soon (i.e: hopefully this weekend).

Along side my super secret project (stop asking... I'll tell you all about it soon, geesh!), I have also made a little bunny for a little baby that is (for now) still in the oven :)

I started with a concept during a lazy afternoon...

et voila! This is the end result!

It isn't as round and perfect as the concept drawing and my photo sucks, but this softie has proven to be a success. Firstly, my boyfriend didn't want it to leave the house (I had to promise his that I would make him a bear version!), then everyone I showed it to seemed a bit reluctant to give it back. It is just that his bunny is extremely hug-able!!

I think that that tiny kid is going to have a friend for life in Hugsy :)

hyper cute

2010-04-12T17:00:00.007+01:00

In awe of the utter cuteness of this commercial.

no fun

2010-03-17T10:13:00.002Z

Dear readers,

I'm being flooded with anonimous/spam comments, and am feeling tempted to abandon my dear blog. Everyday, I open my email account there's at least 3 or 4 (sometimes even more) of these comments and they're driving me nuts. I don't usually get that many genuine comments, so when I get some I really really do treasure them and now they're getting lost in a sea of discontempt.
I'm not a happy puppy :(

Chicken Bobsleigh

2010-03-07T13:11:00.003Z

Chicken Bobsleigh (detail)
Originally uploaded by miaumau.

I've finished my entry to the Schmancy Olympic Challenge (check here for details) and was put in the "bobsleigh" category, which threw me back a bit as I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to Winter Sports because, I come from a country where it only snows up North and I'm a Southern girl.
After doing some research, all I could think of was poultry (difficult thing to explain, how I got from bobsleigh to poultry... I guess that I just like chickens!) So, why not a chicken bobsleigh complete with chicks? It isn't very aerodynamic but, I think that it looks cool!
Saying that, this is a very professional team as each chick is fully equipped chicken approved with a scarf and helmets complete with comb.
I had a ball making this so, I hope that it will bring a smile to who ever sees it :D

"robin hood, robin hood, riding through the glen...

2010-01-05T21:37:00.004Z

...Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men,
Feared by the bad, loved by the good,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood"

To find out what I'm working on now, click here!

to miss/mrs/mr anonymous

2010-01-05T21:19:00.004Z

Hello there,
I hope that this post finds you. I guess that by now you are wondering why I'm directing this post to you in particular, you might have noticed that I haven't published your comments. It wasn't out of meanness nor are you being persecuted for deciding to stay in the fortuitous shadows provided by the internet anonymity, it was basically to protect my blog from being ravaged by nasty bugs that have hidden themselves behind those same shadows before.
I really love reading comments so, I hope that you carry on enjoying my blog but, for future reference please leave your name or link.
Thank you!

*Not my drawing, but I felt that it fitted the mood of the post.

when a cup becomes something else

2009-12-29T11:23:00.003Z

I hope all of you had a lovely Christmas, mine was spent merrily eating away to the point that the bear stopped being able to tell time and was unsure if we were having lunch or dinner, but I digress, there is a point to this post, a purposeful point, a truly unbroken pencil point*... Basically, I'm trying to warn you that if you are not ready for a full blown rant and were expecting a cute toy, you might as well avert your eyes right about now as things are going to get a bit well, sour.
I love giving presents, it really makes me happy. I painstakingly dwell on what is perfect for each person just for the pleasure of seeing people's faces light up as they open them. So, this year I wasn't totally happy with the present I had for my brother, sure it was cool, but it just didn't feel like it was enough. To make amends with my tortured soul, I decided to get him something else and as we walk into the shop, the bear found the bestest present ever!! Kudos to him, he's the best :) It so was my like my brother, that I bought it on the spot.
Lo and behold what I bought...

A Fisticup, even the name was cool! I loved the way it turned an evil weapon into something peaceful and relaxing.
Armed with my perfect presents, I started packing but, between my family's and the bear's family presents well, there was just not enough space in our big to be checked in luggage so I decided to place some of the presents in our carry on bags, amongst them was the fisticup, which at this point in the post, I want to remind you, that in my mind (and in anyone who sensible and sane) is just a cup with a funny shaped handle.
We got to Gatwick in the afternoon (note to self: never fly with easyjet again), happy with thoughts of Christmas when we're told by security that some of the presents had to be rescanned. Three where chosen and amongst them was the my brother's present (remember this, it is just a cup!!)
The security guard then proceeded to opening the wrapped present and took it out of its box. The bear (being a kind curious soul) asked if he could touch the cup just as we hadn't see it out of the box. The security guard wasn't happy with that and looking distressed said to the bear that he was not allowed to touch it and called two other security guards to examine the (and I cannot stress this enough) CUP!
There we were looking at these three men deciding the fate of my brother's Christmas present, when the first guard turns to us and says that the CUP was going to be apprehended even though it was an all ceramic CUP (yep, the handle wasn't even metal!). He said that we might break it and threaten people with the handle!! I don't know if any of you kind readers actually know me, but I'm a 5'2", peace loving gal, I don't pose a threat to anyone I don't even like violent films or games and the scariest thing about the bear is just the fact that I call him bear!
In the face of such a statement, I said what I thought was the most logical thing that came to my mind. "By that definition, if I get any old mug, break it, turn it into a weapon and threaten people", "Oh no" said the guard, "This one is much more threatening!"
Therefore the CUP was apprehended as a weapon and because, it was considered a prohibited object, I wasn't given neither a compensation nor the cup is going to be sent to me :(
I was so extremely heart broken, it might seem like too much of a fuss over nothing but, it just made me sad.
How crazy is the world nowadays when something as innocuous as a cup gets apprehended as a weapon? I guess that the terrorists really have won, if you're into that kind of panic driven state of mind where all common sense is just thrown out of the window.

* based on one of my favorite Blackadder quote "Madam, without you, life was like a broken pencil... pointless."

cantarei ate que a voz me doa (I'll sing until my voice aches)

2009-12-17T12:02:00.004Z

I've got a sore throat and a cold, but tonight I'll carol to my heart's delight until my voice starts to ache. Sure this isn't a Christmas song, but it seems poignant to me today :P

Cantarei até que a voz me doa
I'll sing until my voice aches
Pra cantar, cantar sempre meu fado
to sing, sing forever my fado*
Como a ave que tão alto voa
like the bird that flies so high
E é livre de cantar em qualquer lado
and is free to sing everywhere

Cantarei até que a voz me doa
I'll sing until my voice aches
Ao meu país, à minha terra, à minha gente
to my country, land, my people
À saudade e à tristeza que magoa
to saudade* and painful sadness
O amor de quem ama e morre ausente
to the love of someone who loves and dies alone

Cantarei até que a voz me doa
I'll sing until my voice aches
Ao amor, à paz cheia de esperança
to love, peace filled with hope
Ao sorriso e à alegria da criança
to a child's smile and joy
Cantarei até que a voz me doa
I'll sing until my voice aches

* fado - difficult word to translate. It literally means fate but, in some occasions it is more similar to karma. It is also the name for this traditional Portuguese style of music.
* saudade - no word in English can encompass the meaning of saudade. It is a very typical Portuguese feeling (we're a very melodramatic people), the closest thing that I found was longing but, it still isn't strong enough to explain what saudade means. Saudade is that pit that you feel in your stomach when someone is faraway and the bittersweet feeling you get when you remember a departed loved one.

dream home

2009-11-30T14:57:00.002Z

I have a dream... When I "grow" up, I want to have an eco friendly home. I've been looking through websites and books, drooling over the lovely houses. None made me drool as much as the hexagon house and now (I don't know why) it's for sale. I just hope that the person that buys it loves it as much as I do!
(Damn it, when am I ever going to win the Euro Millions jackpot!... oh yes, I must play first)

shameless sef promotion

2009-11-30T11:07:00.003Z

This blog as been slipping a bit in its central theme, it started out as an animation blog, took a stroll down craft lane and now, with the lack of brain power I'm resorting to kittens to keep the viewing public entertained (hello dear, yes I mean you... thanks for reading!).
So, here's a bit of a return to miaumau's original theme with some blatant self promotion in the shape of trailer for two of the films that I've worked on "Prince of Persia" and "Clash of the Titans".
Click on the pictures and enjoy!

monday morning cheer

2009-11-30T10:39:00.000Z

Sure the weather is wet and murky but, there's nothing that a kitten can't fix :)

beautiful

2009-11-11T11:59:00.002Z

The Quilt Project - The Quilt
Originally uploaded by kootoyoo.

I should have posted this before, but time keeps on slipping through my fingers.
Here's the result of weeks of some loving labor by 66 talented artists. When I saw this, it brought some tears of joy to my eyes...
Ain't I a softie?

how It ends by devotchka

2009-10-29T16:11:00.001Z

This song moves me to tears... Don't ask why, I think that it is just perfect!

o primeiro dia (the first day)

2009-10-22T12:16:00.006+01:00

I know that everyone says this but, music plays a really important part in my life. Each time I think of a certain part of my life, some times a song pops into my mind even before the "images" of the certain memory. I heard this on the radio today and it just sends chills down my spine, so I decided to share it with you lovely people.
Enjoy!

"O primeiro dia" (the first day) by Sergio Godinho

A principio é simples, anda-se sózinho
at first its simple, we're walking alone
passa-se nas ruas bem devagarinho
slowly down the street
está-se bem no silêncio e no borborinho
enjoying the silence and murmur
bebe-se as certezas num copo de vinho
drinking certainty in a glass of wine
e vem-nos à memória uma frase batida
and then an old cliche comes to our mind
hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da tua vida
today is the first day of the rest of you life

Pouco a pouco o passo faz-se vagabundo
bit by bit steps become vagabonds
dá-se a volta ao medo, dá-se a volta ao mundo
going around fear, going around the world
diz-se do passado, que está moribundo
someone says that the past is dying
bebe-se o alento num copo sem fundo
drinking spirit from a bottomless glass
e vem-nos à memória uma frase batida
and then an old cliche comes to our mind
hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da tua vida
today is the first day of the rest of you life

E é então que amigos nos oferecem leito
and it is then that friends offer us a bed
entra-se cansado e sai-se refeito
we go in tired and come out refreshed
luta-se por tudo o que se leva a peito
fighting for all that is close to our hearts
bebe-se, come-se e alguém nos diz: bom proveito
drinking, eating and someone says: enjoy
e vem-nos à memória uma frase batida
and then an old cliche comes to our mind
hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da tua vida
today is the first day of the rest of you life

Depois vêm cansaços e o corpo fraqueja
then comes tiredness and the body falters
olha-se para dentro e já pouco sobeja
looking inside and there's little left
pede-se o descanso, por curto que seja
asking for a rest, no matter how short it might be
apagam-se dúvidas num mar de cerveja
erasing doubts in a sea of bear
e vem-nos à memória uma frase batida
and then an old cliche comes to our mind
hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da tua vida
today is the first day of the rest of you life

Enfim duma escolha faz-se um desafio
finally from a decision comes a challenge
enfrenta-se a vida de fio a pavio
facing life from beginning to end
navega-se sem mar, sem vela ou navio
sailing without sea, sail or boat
bebe-se a coragem até dum copo vazio
drinking courage from a empty glass
e vem-nos à memória uma frase batida
and then an old cliche comes to our mind
hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da tua vida
today is the first day of the rest of you life

E entretanto o tempo fez cinza da brasa
and meanwhile time turned hot coals into ash
e outra maré cheia virá da maré vazia
and another high tide will become a low one
nasce um novo dia e no braço outra asa
a new day is born and from an arm another wing
brinda-se aos amores com o vinho da casa
toasting to lovers with house wine
e vem-nos à memória uma frase batida
and then an old cliche comes to our mind
hoje é o primeiro dia do resto da tua vida
today is the first day of the rest of you life

I apologize for the crappy translation, it is near impossible to translate the feeling behind this song

the quilt

2009-10-19T09:52:00.006+01:00

the site
Originally uploaded by kootoyoo.

I'm so excited!
The Quilt will be displayed for one night only on Friday 23rd of October from 6-8pm at the Abbotsford Convent's community room in Melbourne and the site will be live on Saturday... oooh, feeling so envious!!

tidying up the "house"

2009-10-17T16:15:00.008+01:00

No, no, I haven't been dragged away to the ends of the world, I'm still around... Always the same excuses, too little time and always the same promise, I'll be better next time!!

Here's a little summary about what I've been up to since... well, I'm almost ashamed to say it, since August.

Firstly, I would like to apologise to the lovely Kim for taking all this time to write about the amazing package that she sent me for the Summer Swap (yes, I said Summer...) which I mentioned in this post. Just look how lucky I was, honestly I don't deserve all this goodness!!

The package included:

- a personalized needle book and tutorial on how to make it.
- 3 very cute strawberry pincushions.
- sewing notions, including a handmade bag filled with buttons, ribbon, a flower shaped patch and ribbons.
- Japanese "hankies" (I'm so spoiled!!)
- fabrics from her personal stash (no, really, I'm really spoiled!!)
- paper, envelopes, stickers, stamp pad, postcard all for writing letters (and feeding my obsession with all things paper related)
- a book... (again, feeding my obsessions)
If you want to see what she got, here's her post about it, written at the right time like the lovely
person that she is :)

After being totally spoiled, I was lucky enough to be chosen to be part of the Quilt Project organized by the very talented Kirsty from Kootoyo. You can find the project's flickr group here and just allow yourself to gawk at the loveliness!! To honest, I cannot wait to see the whole quilt together, I just wish that I could be in Melbourne to see it life, it is going to be wonderful!!
When I started my square, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I always wanted to do something going back to my Portuguese roots, based on a really traditional style of embroidery called "Lenco dos Namorados" (Lover's Kerchief, already mentioned in this post). The only think that I wasn't too sure about was the verse always included in this kerchiefs, for awhile I thought of using an English verse, but, it just kept nagging me. It just didn't fit!!
So, I decided to go for a very traditional Portuguese verse but, without the spelling mistakes... It was just a bit too much for me.

the verse

Se o Amor tivesse asas (If Love had wings)
Voava que nem um passarinho (It would fly like a little bird)
Entrava pela janela (It would come in through the window)
Para te dar um beijinho (to give you a kiss)

I also mentioned in a previous post that I was going to make a U softie for the Plush You exhibition at the Bluebottle Art Gallery in Seattle. I was able to finish it surprisingly quickly, I guess that unlike most of my softies, this one never went through the computer stage where I usually create my patterns in freehand, it was all drawn by hand on tracing paper then glued onto cardboard and cut. I tend to freak out when things don't look perfect during the pattern stage but, for some reason this just felt right made this way. Also, it was too big to be printed at home!!

Hope that you have enjoyed this little catch up!

things like this just make me smile :)

2009-08-28T11:39:00.001+01:00

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

... will be back pretty soon with loads of cool news, until then enjoy!

clever boy

2009-07-28T21:54:00.002+01:00

I love good design, it inspires me, especially when it is something as beautiful and poetic as this.

still here, still crafting

2009-07-23T23:13:00.005+01:00

Hello everyone!
Sorry for taking such a long time to write again, but time passes by so quickly that well... A girl only can do so much! My Everyday May was a total failure (must remember to put the banner away). At least, I have finished the robot, sure it was several months late, but, the receiver liked it, actually I guess he loved it as he walked around the studio, going from one meeting to the next with Issachar the robot in hand. Another happy costumer, I guess :)
Here's some photos so that you can appreciate the final "product"
I also joined in the Summer Swap organised by the lovely Kristen from Schmancy (check out her website, it is the best) and got partnered up with the very talented Kim from Golden Dove Design (check out her cute totes).
Now, I must confess that I am an obsessive present giver... I really am, it gives me such a kick to get the perfect gift (or at least to try and get the perfect gift) and the whole unwrapping and seeing the person's reaction it just makes me happy! It could be worse... I think...
I got an email from Kim saying that she got the package yesterday, and my cockles warmed from all the happiness... Must do this swapping business more often!

So, when I thought that things couldn't get any better, they did!! Lovely Kristen (have I told you what a nice lady she is, yet?) posted this, asking for help in creating a Plush You plush sign for the up and coming exhibition and I just jumped on board, knowing that she would be inundaded with emails. Who wouldn't?
But, as the old Portuguese saying goes "Quem não arrisca, não pestica" (He who doesn't take a chance, doesn't get a taste), I thought "Why not?". It wouldn't be the first negative answer that I would get in my life, nor the last (in matter of fact, I used to collect rejection letters from all the studios that I applied to, however eventually I binned them. It was too much negativity in just a little folder) but, I would always regret not sending the email, and guess what?
I'm making a "U" for the sign at the Capital Hill exhibition!!! Hurrah!!!...
Righ now, I'm feeling a bit shaky, but, I have already design what I believe will be just about the coolest "U" ever :)
So, stay tuned as a lot more will be coming your way!

early birthday present

2009-06-07T15:28:00.003+01:00

This might sound a bit selfish, but just like my mum, I always buy myself a birthday present. This year I got a little doll made by the extremely talented and all-round lovely lady Hillary Lang.

my little lavender patch

2009-06-07T15:26:00.006+01:00

I might not have a lot of outside place, but I feel really proud of my little lavender patch. It smells absolutely wonderful and it attracts bees!

I've added some dahlias to it today, grown and bought at the Horniman Gardens just next door.
Ain't I lucky?

Museum of Folk Art Protest

2009-05-22T09:54:00.002+01:00

Most of what I write in this blog doesn't quite have much substance, but once in awhile I like to share something that is a bit more serious.
I first read about this on Rosa Pomar's blog...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iru1BRxaGv4
For the non Portuguese speakers here's a little translation:
"On May 17th 2009 in front of the Museum of Folk Art (Lisbon, Portugal), volunteers joined together in embroidering a giant Lovers' handkerchief* as a protest against the replacement of the said museum for the Language Museum"
The Museum of Folk Art has been abandoned and closed for many years, it contained the most important collection of Portuguese folk art (amongst it some of the most beautiful Portuguese embroidery pieces)
All I can say is that I am saddened for not having the opportunity to join the protest.
(translation of the sentence in the handkerchief : Museum of Folk Art, without you what will I become. You want to turn me into something else, one day you'll regret it)

* A Lovers' handkerchief was a traditional present made by a girl to give to her boyfriend as a "forget-me-not". Part of their charm is their atrocious spelling and grammar mistakes . Nowadays, they are very rare and sell for all of money

Everyday May - May 4th

2009-05-04T18:07:00.006+01:00

Everyday May - May 4th
Originally uploaded by miaumau.

Finished the first half of the king playing card embroidery. These are extra tiny stiches and it is taking me a really long time to finish it.
Still not sure about the beady eyes... hehe, funny pun!

feeling sad...

2009-05-04T17:03:00.002+01:00

Vasco Granja (1925-2009)

About two years ago I wrote this post singing praises to the wonderful person that was Vasco Granja. I say was, as unfortunately he as passed away today. He was one of my heroes and one of the reasons why I love animation.

Everyday May - May 3rd

2009-05-03T22:01:00.003+01:00

Everyday May - May 3rd
Originally uploaded by miaumau.

The little robot has gained some ears and an arm. It took my a really long time to finish the arm, as most of it is hand sewn but, I think that it is looking mighty cute!

Everyday May - May 2nd

2009-05-02T19:52:00.003+01:00

Everyday May - May 2nd
Originally uploaded by miaumau.

I don't know how wise it is to put pictures of this project online, just in case the recipient might see it. But hey, such is life!
This is a little softie that I've been working along side the playing cards from yesterday. I have finished the pattern today and had immediately to put some eyes on it :)
This robot was meant to look a lot more like the one on " Iron Giant", but for some reason, I just wasn't happy with it so, I decided to change it to something more like me and it is now somewhere in between a robot and a superhero (who else would wear their underwear above their clothes?!)

treading new waters

2009-05-01T15:42:00.003+01:00

1. club face with mask, 2. heart face with mask, 3. spade face with mask, 4. diamond face with mask, 5. angry club face, 6. suspicious heart face, 7. happy spade face, 8. scared diamond face, 9. angry club face, 10. suspicious heart face, 11. happy spade face, 12. scared diamond face

I know that most people make resolutions at the beginning of the year, but I believe that they are usally more effective if done around springtime, which for me is the most promissing time of the year with all its sweet smells and pretty blooms, it's like a brain spring clean!
Saying this I have decided to take the plunge and open my own little etsy shop!!! Feeling a bit shaky about it... Don't know if people are actually going to buy anything but, as we say in Portugal "Quem não arrisca, não petisca" which literally means whoever doesn't take a bite won't get a taste... Portuguese sayings revolve a lot around food and don't really translate well, it basically means that you'll never know if your going to get something (or not) until you try it. If you want to visit it, just click on the Etsy button on the right column.
I don't know how good I'm going to be at keeping it stocked, so to give me a bit of a hand I have decided to join the "Everyday May" challenge, read all about it in my previous post.

Everyday May - May 1st

2009-05-01T15:37:00.003+01:00

Everyday May - May 1st
Originally uploaded by miaumau.

Whilst going through my google reader, I found this post by the lovely Loobylu, and decided to join.
For my "Everyday May" challenge I am going to post a picture of my crafty work everyday throughout May (obviously). I think that it will be the best way to kick my crafty brain into gear and it will also be an interesting way to see my work progress... So, some days I'll be a good girl and will have tonnes done and others, well not so much...
Here's my playing card project, I've started embroidering the king (you can just about see the jack next to it). I will also make a queen and ace and will eventually turn them into little pincushions :)

If you are insterested how other lovely people are going about this challenge just click on the "Everyday May" button on the right hand side of this blog and enjoy!

pride - part II

2009-03-26T13:52:00.003Z

You can now see the "Where The Wild Things Are" trailer by clicking the picture :)

coraline mystery box swap - part II

2009-03-25T10:39:00.005Z

This morning, I found a little box waiting for me when I opened my front door :)

Inside it looking a little worse for wear due to the travel across the big pond...

... there was Coraline and a little mouse, however, after some refreshments and introductions, I am glad to say that both of them have happily settled in my handmade mushroom corner.
Thanks Jen!!

pride

2009-03-23T10:41:00.004Z

I am so proud of my bear, that I couldn't contain myself and decided to share with you, my dear audience, the reason why...
My bear is an animator in the new Spike Jonze film "Where The Wild Things Are", and he sent me this picture of the film's poster.
Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?

Not as pretty, but here's the posters from the last two films that I worked on.

coraline mystery box swap

2009-03-23T09:57:00.005Z

I should have blogged this before, I have participated in a second swap just days after finishing my Handmade Mushroom Swap (check the previous two posts to see what I sent and the goodies that I received). It was based on the beautiful Coraline film which still hasn't opened in the UK (how's that for one of the most powerful countries in the world?!) and on these envy worthy boxes that where sent by the artists at Laika to their 50 favourite blogs (lucky buggers).

So when the lovely lady at my little mochi (unfortunately, I don't know her name) decided to start a swap, I just jumped at the opportunity.
Here's what I came up with:

Everything had to be in a box, I found this at one of my favourite places in London, the Camden Market. I decided that all it really needed was some button eyes and a fancy embroidered tag as the box already had so much character (also I destroyed another box with crackling paste).

The inside of the box, it was so sunny that you can barely see what's inside... oopsey... but, isn't the Portuguese cobble stone floor just beautiful, coff, coff (distract people from the nasty picture)

To the box, I added a dragonfly hair pin made out of acrilic felt, gold floss, beads, cotton fabric and tule (is this correct? it's the same fabric as a bride's veil)
To show the next item, I requested the help of my brother's pet labrador Laura, isn't she a great model? She behaved really well, even though you can see the look of disbelieve in her face during the "photo shoot".

Here's a close up... Sure it makes no sense but, it looks fun!! the little dog was made of wool felt and buttons, its coat is made of vintage upholstery fabric and vintage satin (inside),

I wished I had had time to do something more elaborate but, I just didn't have enough time!! Feeling very envious of the lovely boxes that other people came up with and sorry for the poor soul that is going to get mine, but it seems that there might be another coraline swap (and even a graveyard book swap!!) pretty soon, so hopefully I'll be able to redeem myself!

mushrooms galore!!

2009-03-17T18:43:00.006Z

My love of packages and letters started when I first came to the UK in 1995. Nothing made me happier than seeing a little envelope in the post, it was the only way to contact my friends and the cheaper way to keep in contact with my family as I was a very late internet bloomer.
I got everything in the post from chestnuts to socks, and all of it made me feel closer to home and although I love the internet, an email still pales in comparison to a package :)
So words could not describe how happy I felt when I got Sonya's lovely Handmade Mushroom Swap bounty!!!

Here's the inside of the box, it took a lot of control to be able to take this picture instead of just unwrapping everything!!
After many "oohs" and "aahs", I decided to take them all for a walk to the park for a little photoshoot.

Lara's shroomie is just sweet, I just wish that there was an email/blog/website where I could leave a message thanking here for such a colourful lovely.

Kristin's mushroom is just lush in its velvetiness (does this word even exist?)

Now, both Jeanne's (above) and Rayna's (below) mushrooms suffer from the same problem... I cannot keep my eyes off of them or else my boyfriend might steal them as he just loves them!

... and finally Carrie's polkadot lovely shroom, it is so delicate and pretty.

How lucky am I?

cadd aka craft attention deficit desorder

2009-02-22T18:17:00.003Z

I finally managed to finish my mushrooms for Sonya's swap. I wished I had finished them yesterday as it was a beautiful sunny day alas, that didn't happen so, I ended up with these pictures which are barely saved by the greatness that are the Horniman Gardens near my home and a bit of photoshop.
As I mentioned in the previous post this is my first swap, and it was a good one because, it forced me (and I forced myself) to make the mushrooms look alike... sure one of them escaped the clutches of sameness (that little chappie in the front), but, the others actually lookalike. I feel like I suffer from something like cadd or craft attention deficit desorder, if that exists... I just find it really difficult to make two things lookalike even if I'm following a pattern!
Awhile ago I bought a lovely book about amigurumi, and tried making a tiny bear, by the time I finished it, it didn't look at all like the pattern, it was all enlongated!! I later found out from a book, that after nearly 25 years thinking that I could crochet, I was actually doing it completely wrong. The same goes for the blanket stich, and many other little things that make my softies look a bit odd.
After much soul searching these are the conclusions:
- I love challenges, point to something and tell me that it's too hard, and I'll do it. So doing the same softie pattern isn't that challenging. For example, I'm know in the process of making a soft toy robot and even though I have a perfectly good pattern, tried, tested and that everybody loves, I am actually making something completely different, more sofisticated with joints and the works!
-Although I love my work (I really do!), it can be repetitive having to go through the same shot over and over and over again until the lead/supervisor/higher supervisor (in some films)/director (in this pecking order) likes it. Softies are my escape so, why should I have to repeat the same things?
-When it comes to brainstorming, I don't seem to be able to draw two things that look similar, which makes my softies look more like they are acqaintances than of siblings.
-... the last and the worst one... even though I am a very patient person, I get bored of the same thing easily...
Oh well, at least the mushrooms look similar!

my creative space thursday and something extra

2009-02-12T21:28:00.004Z

Here's my entry for this week's "creative space", it's part of my contribution to the lovely Sonya's "handmade mushroom swap", click on the mushroom button on the right handside of the screen to learn more about it.
This is my very first swap, and I must say that I am feeling a bit overwhelmed... Everyone's mushrooms look so cool, that I feel sorry for the poor five souls that are going to get stuck with my little contribution! Oh well, onwards and upwards, I still have another four to make.

... and now for some non crafty news...
The trailer for the "GI Joe" film that I worked on, came out during the Super Bowl. Check it out by clicking the picture of the leather clad hottie :)

my creative space thursday

2009-01-22T20:30:00.003Z

Hello everyone and a (very belated) happy new year! Does this still count? Or are people already feeling sour about this year?
Well, happy new year anyway...

I must confess that I'm an avid blog reader, and everyday I go through my gmail reader happy in the knowledge that I will find something inspiring. Today, whilst reading Loobylu I found post that will hopefully help me kick my proverbial behind into gear, as I haven't feeling particularly creative. In it Claire mentions kootoyoo's (aka Kirsty) idea of showing her creative space every thursday.
As Kirsty says “Each Thursday I’m going to post an image of what’s in progress either on my desk, in my spot, on the sofa, desktop, at the kitchen table…whatever. If you’d like to play along & find some new blogs along the way then you just need to post & then pop into my creative space post for the day & paste your post URL into the auto link widget…”
So, I joined and this week I'm number 21!! How cool is that?
My photo isn't very impressive, I'm at a stage in the process of creating a softie that's isn't too showey and to be honest, I'm still trying to get my brain around this ultra robot, with extra fancy joints. I decided to use a tool of my trade to create a "3d" version of the toy but, right now I'm not too sure where I'm heading.
Well, do check Kirsty's website and look at the other more impressive creative spaces, but, don't forget to come back next thursday :)

leftovers

2008-12-20T21:07:00.010Z

Here's what is left of this year's activities, in sort of chronological order...

This was the last softie that I made for Roz's shop. For some reason the child seems to have grown between the drawing and the sewing stages, maybe that's why each time that I open the fridge it seems to be a lot emptier than the time before :)Last Saturday, we delivered it (and the previous one) to the shop. It was such a pleasure to see all the softies on display... did I say all? Well, the tree was missing as it had already been sold. How cool is that??
The following day, we went to an advanced screening of "the tale of despereaux". It was amazing to see this film in a cinema packed with such talented people and their families, it made the whole experience much more interesting as people reacted in a different way to the normal movie audience due to having worked in it, clapping through out the credits and commenting on their own shots (my big kitchen shot looked impressive, I was so chuffed!).
It was very touching to hear one of the director's (Sam Fell) speeches, where he thanked the families for the great work instead of the artists, for their patience with the long hours, rants and the occasional sleepwalk. I love my job but, it is really hard not seeing bear throughout the day and home life gets a bit chaotic (and smellier) as the deadline looms. I can only imagine how hard it must be for the artists with children...
...and to wrap up this post here is the last softie of the year, a present for someone who really deserves it (and much much more). I hope that she likes it! This was my test softie, when I started braving the ways of the sewing machine and the genesis of my mother and child "series". It was left behind whilst I was preparing the softies for Roz , but I promissed myself that I would finish it in time for Christmas.

I hope that you all have a blessed Christmas surrounded by your loved ones and that 2009 brings the answers to all your prayers and dreams!

two of the same?!

2008-12-03T22:03:00.004Z

As I (probably) mentioned before, I am a bit scattered when it comes to my artwork. My brain doesn't seem to be able to tell my hands to do the same thing twice, just look at the link for my flickr page on the right hand side and you'll understand.
So, I was completely caught of guard when, just out of the blue I started to draw this mother and child over and over again (yes, I caught MYSELF off guard, sounds odd, but it's true) and felt the compulsion to turn them into fabric form, luckely this kind of theme really suits the season... mmm, imagine if I had become obsessed with sub aquatic amoeba!
Here's the latest one, accompanied by the sketch that started it.
Hope that you'll like it!

the concept behind the madness

2008-11-29T13:50:00.004Z

Oh yes, there is some (sort of) structure to my insanity, and I thought that it would be interesting to share it, so from now on I will be adding the concept drawings to the posts with softies. Think of it as a little trip inside my head :)So, here's how I started, just a little scribble on the side of my notebook at work (done whilst waiting for a render). I tend to only have two steps before making a softie, a quick sketch like this followed by a pattern made in freehand. The construction issues sometimes are solved during the pattern stage but, most often than not, I fix them while making the actual softies. I very, very, VERY rarely make prototypes as my work tends to consist only of one off versions. Sometimes it goes well, others, like a fish that was left half done and that is still waiting in softie purgatory, are left behind as I seem to have a very short attention span :P

... Well, here's the softie!

insanity thy name name is christmas tree...

2008-11-24T21:54:00.004Z

... or "grão a grão enche a galinha o papo, part IV"... but, I got bored of repeating myself, and to be honest I really don't like repeating myself, so my work tends to be all over the place artistically speaking. I'm trying to be a bit more consistant as I would like to be able to make my work more sellable (note that I didn't say commercial).
So, here's a wool felt tree with a bazillion sequins that nearly drove me insane. It's a shame that the colour gold doesn't fotograph well! oh, well... c'est la vie!

grão a grão enche a galinha o papo - part III

2008-11-21T22:56:00.003Z

So, after the robot came the gingerbread men... although, I think that the brown wool felt that I used, might be just a smidge too dark and instead of gingerbread my men actually look like they made of chocolate. Does this makes them less Christmassy?
I'm not sure how it is in other countries, but back in Portugal, there two things that it is guaranteed that everyone will get as a present, socks and chocolate. Oh yes, just like death and taxes, everyone is certain to get chocolates (most probably either ferrero roche, mon cheri, or the handy box with both) and socks. They're the generic itemd for the person you don't really know but, feel obligated to give a present to.
Any who... I had fun making these, even though I nearly hurt myself whilst trying to thread the ribbon to attach the men together, hope that you like them too!

grão a grão enche a galinha o papo - part II

2008-11-19T21:01:00.005Z

So, after the underpant boy came a robot... mmm, I can see a pattern here.
Its made of silver.... sorry, don't know the name of the fabric, felt, buttons and glass beads. It has jointed knees and dangly arms and legs.
When I showed my fancy moo mini cards at work, the "boys" went crazy for it (maybe they felt represented), but the ladies that I showed it to didn't really seem that impressed :)
What do you think?!

grão a grão enche a galinha o papo - part I

2008-11-17T22:35:00.004Z

Today's title translates as "seed after seed the chicken fill its crop", which I feel is really fitting for what I have been doing lately...
As I mentioned in the previous post, I conquered my terrifying fear of sewing machines and threw myself head first into some lessons that eventually led to my very first proper sewing machine (bask in its amazing glory here) and astonishingly enough to my first proper commission!
Roz, the lovely owner of Sew Much Fun, not only taught me how to sew (and convinced me to buy a bernina... for they are the rolls royce of the sewing machine world :P) but, also liked my toys enough to want to do a bit of a trial run and sell some christmas ornaments and toys made by yours truely.
In a state of shock, it took me a couple of days to recover and a trip to the knitting and stitching show to come up with this...... a xmas version of my underpants boy! The same character that rebooted my creative brain that had been laying dormant for the past 4 years.
This is the first of a series of little toys and ornaments that I will be sharing with you, kind reader (if you're still awake after all this rambling!) in the next few week up until christmas.
So, as the title says seed by seed, bit by bit, my little toys will conquer the world, bwa ah ah!
... just kidding... :)

since I last wrote...

2008-11-08T22:13:00.005Z

...finish my contract at framestore (see the latest despereaux trailer here!!), had a little "rest", learnt how to machine sew, found someone who is kind enough to want to sell my softies (OMG!!), started a new job back at MPC working on this (one of the ultimate boy's wet dream), saw a beautiful concert by this Portuguese composer and have been sewing my little fingers off to finish my first comission!!

puff puff...

big knit 2008

2008-10-15T22:11:00.004+01:00

milo-bot

2008-08-10T22:20:00.007+01:00

Here's my latest softie. A present for a little month old baby boy Milo... It was meant to be a "as soon as your born" present but, it ended up being a "sure, it's late, but, hey it's your first "monthday"" present.
It was interesting making it as it is my very first full "3d" toy and and I decided to try fancy new tricks for the first time, like the hidden button joint trick (oooh aaaah how swish, you can find a tutorial here, it literally saved my life!!), why not a chest cavity with a heart trick and finally the embroidered name in glorious glow-in-the-dark thread (unfortunately, I'm not clever enough to be able to take a picture of it, but believe me it looks very cool.
As I was finishing the robot my lovely bearfriend asked me if I was't sad to let it go, I think that it was because I was hugging it every 5 seconds... Well the softie must be tested, right?
But, without thinking my answer was very simple, I believe that I created a "best friend", as I was sewing it all I had in my mind was images of potential Milo growing up and loving it, in a sort of "calvin and hobbes" way.
Maybe, I'm just hoping for too much, but, wouldn't it be great if the Milo-bot was properly loved?

super pink

2008-07-05T18:46:00.003+01:00

I'm not a very pink person, to tell the truth it is a colour that is growing on me very very slowly... I actually hated it as a teenager. But, when I was asked to make this doll, especifically a doll, not cat, nor a fish not even a teddy bear, all I could think of was the pink obsession of the person who asked me for it. And with pink in mind, all I could think of was my sister as a little girl dressing up for her ballet classes (hence the skininess of the character!).

This little doll has a secret, if you take her to a dark place the symbol in her chest (it's meant to be a cat, you can barely notice it in the picture... blame the photographer) lights up!! Hurray for glow in the dark embroidery thread, it is a bitch to sew but, it looks oh so very cool.

replacement

2008-06-29T19:21:00.006+01:00

One of the loveliest people ever to grace this planet had her birthday earlier this month. As a complusive present buyer, I was planning her little surprise months before the day and scoured the far reaches of the internet looking for a present worthy of such a special person. I found it, passed it through the quality test (aka my boyfriend, the bear) and bought it 2 month before the big day.

...

...

...

Two weeks before the birthday, it still hadn't arrived... Crap... I panicked!
Instead of making my life easier and getting something from I shop, I though "I know... I'll make a present!" and this is what I came up with...

Based on one of my very favourite fairy tales, I decided to make a cut out of the moment just before the execution, when the princess throws the shirts made out of thorns at her brothers who were cursed to live as swans so, that they can become human again. the version that I heard as a little girl was a bit different from the one that you can read if you click on the words "fairy tales", but what really matters is that all is well at the end.
For a great novel based on this tale read Juliet Marillier's wonderful first novel "Daughter of the Forest".

following instructions....

2008-06-29T17:44:00.005+01:00

Ok, so I've never been very good at following craft instructions.... I could show you some examples, but... I'm far too ashamed, *sigh*...
So, when I bought the "Sock and Glove" book, I though "these instructions look really simple and I'm going to be extra careful in following the instructions.

Here's the original cat:
... and here's mine...It looks completely different... so I decided to blame the sock....
Luckly, I am my mother's daughter and believe that unlike the Portuguese* say I my chicken IS fatter that my neighbor's, so I like my cat better than the original! What do you think?

*A little translation... the Portuguese saying "The neighbor's chicken is fatter than mine" is the equivalent to the English "The grass is always greener on the other side".

nani - now in real 3d

2008-06-29T17:04:00.004+01:00

If you are a frequent visitor to this blog, you should know this little lady by now. Her name is Nani, she's obsessed with bears and her life started here, and turned into a fully rounded character that looked something like this a little while after her birth. she has starred in my showreel and has been the "face" of my blog for almost as long as it exists.
A couple of months ago, I felt that I had to thank her (somehow) for all the help that she has been giving ever since I met her, so I turned her into real 3d! She's no longer a mere figment of my over active (and over crowded) imagination.

peek-a-boo time

2008-06-29T16:53:00.004+01:00

The trailer is finally out!!
How exhiting is this??
Just click on the mouse and it will take you there. Enjoy!
You can also find the official website here.

about a mouse

2008-05-05T23:18:00.005+01:00

You might have noticed by now that my life is a bit (coff, coff) chaotic. I finished work on "Prince Caspian" (go see it!!! it opens in the US on May 16th!!! Not too sure about other countries... it only opens here in June) in March, had a tiny winny break and started my current job still in March , oof... No rest for the wicked!
I've started working on "The Tale of Despereaux" as a technical animator, and man, I must tell you it looks absolutely beautiful!! The team working at Framestore is really excellent and you can see who is doing the voices just by clicking on the picture. Be impressed, very impressed!
I will post the trailer as soon as it comes out, but meanwhile here's a "Prince Caspian" trailer.
Enjoy!

...help!....

2008-03-12T10:56:00.004Z

... so, how did I get dragged into something like the race for life?... Everyone that knows me, knows that I'm not the sporting kind but, the way things are going... well, who's life hasn't been affected by cancer even if it is only indirectly?
When I was little my great-aunt Isabelinha died of colon cancer, I remember the last time that I saw her laying on a hospital bed the day before she died, her beautiful hair gone and replaced by wig. I try to remember her as the happy go-lucky lady who used to take me for long walks in the woods in front of my uncle's home, and she could have carried on being if it hadn't been for the lack of knowledge about cancer at that time.
Cancer Research UK makes a difference in many people's life everyday... so, why not help?
Just click on the little box underneath my profile picture and give us all a hand!

something cool

2008-03-06T11:42:00.006Z

I first used photoshop when I was 15, I wasn't overly impressed by it... At that time it didn't beat my favorite box of crayons, so I stored the experience in the back of my mind and renounced computers as over glamorized type writers... Ironic, isn't it?
I was dragged back into the computer world and the ever present photoshop when I got my first job. I struggled with it, kicked it about, got pummeled by it, and amazingly enough learned to love it. Just look at my drawings and you'll understand what I mean....
So, it was with delight that I found this website in one of the many emails flying around the studio.
Click on the picture and have fun!

P.S: I still prefer my box of crayons...

handmade

2008-03-02T19:18:00.006Z

Try not to be overly distracted by the beautiful silk that I got for my mum as part of a birthday present (hope she doesn't read this...) , and you'll notice my little handmade character. It was meant to have a teddy bear suit but, it ended up with some sexy y-fronts. I'm happy with the semi-naked version and hope that you'll like it too!

Inspiration isn't always practical... especially if the artist isn't that bright!

The finished product sans bear suit.

He's also has a sexy behind...

... and here's his lovely y-fronts... very manly in all its flowery glory!

still alive!

2008-02-27T10:13:00.004Z

Well... just barely!
This new year (does end of February still count as new?) has been a true roller coaster ride in both my personal and professional life, like always my life seems to be a bit like a Mexican soap opera, only the heroin isn't blond.
It all started in November, a few days after I stopped posting... I know, I know, there's about two or three people out there feeling a bit disappointed that they haven't heard from Miauland in awhile and by now you must be asking yourself what's with the pretty picture included in this post.
... as I was saying it all started in November, when I was offered a layout artist position on the brand new Chronicles of Narnia film "Prince Caspian" at the Moving Picture Company !!! Hurray! My very first job in a major movie!!!
It all happened so fast, I was interviewed on a Friday afternoon and by the following morning , I was already working. It was a bit daunting at first (I even did a little drawing of a hyper ventilating character...), however pretty soon I got used to it and now I can say that it has been hard work but, great at the same time.
There's nothing like being thrown in the deep end of the pool with a bunch of very cool and talented people to learn how to "swim" in this film industry.

.... and the tutoring begins!

2007-11-07T18:09:00.000Z

So, yesterday I had my very first lesson with Stephen (read this post if your not up to date), and I am still digesting it.
The lesson consisted mainly on reviewing the two exercises that he had give me to do previous to the beginning of the programme (if you're morbidly curious, you can find them here). It was amazing to go through them and seeing them in a totally different light, all the little details like the lack of overlap on the arms as the character touches the ground, and slight changes in the pose just to give it a bit more oomph. Now I look at it and think, how the hell did I miss it? But, hey for some reason I'm the one doing the programme and he's the one giving it!
We also talked about the graph editor and the way he uses to give that extra smoothness to his work. Stephen mentioned a really cool tutorial by Victor Navone which, in a way, gives us an insight into the way that they deal with the dreaded splines.
As homework (for no lesson can end without it) I was given a gear change exercise, short and sweet, so that we can concentrate on something that I feel I really lack... polish! Aaaah that fantastic and mind bending Pixar sheen!
I'm really excited about the weeks to come!!
I've already started on this new exercise and I'll post something about it as soon as possible.

halloweeney

2007-10-31T09:35:00.000Z

Ok, ok, so I caved in after all this time in the UK, and did something utterly American... what can I say?
The Halloween imagery is everywhere and I couldn't help it!! So yesterday, we (Ricardo and I) carved my very first Jack O' Lantern. Sure, it isn't anything like this fierce guys here, but I think that it looks pretty cool!
Happy Halloween!

twists and turns

2007-10-25T11:23:00.000+01:00

This fell out of a book that I started reading yesterday and made me think of my life's twists and turns.
Eleven years ago to the day, I sent a present to my sister Raquel. I went to the usual post office near the St Martins-in-the-Field church, not because it was closer to the place where I lived (in fact I had to take a bus and the underground to get there!) but, because it was the only place where Î could choose the prettiest, coolest and most recent stamp designs around. the people at the till already knew me by then, as this happened around the start of my second year in London and every time I sent a letter or a package, I would be there bothering them (I was a prolific letter writer).
I cannot remember what I sent Raquel, most probably something symbolic and a bit off centre, I really didn't have that much money at that time, but I always made an effort to sent my siblings something unique.
My second year in London was full of contrast, it was the happiest and the loneliest time of my life until then... It was that year that I discovered that there was such a thing as an animation course and career!!! Honestly!! Up until then I thought that people outside the US fell into animation, at least that's what happened (and, to some extent, it still happens) in Portugal!
But, man, when I was told that I could study animation I went crazy with joy and spent the entire year between bothering the tutors to the ground with questions about animation, reading any last piece of information about the subject that I could find and shooting my animation with a 1946 Russian 8mm camera, that one of the nice technicians dug out from the bowels of the college.
1996 was the year when my love for animation that had been in me all my life, finally materialized...

Oh well, sorry for the rambling, but, it is amazing how a tiny piece of paper with stamps can conjure up such memories!

finished

2007-10-19T16:49:00.001+01:00

So here it is, the finished product!! Tah dah!!
I'm glad that I finished this... I was getting quite depressed from listening to her day after day after day...
Hope that you'll like it!

Onto a different subject... I should have mentioned this by now especially as I did found out about it almost a month ago, but my brain has been slowly processing the idea, because it still hasn't exactly sinked it... Nope, I still think that I dreamt about it and that I am going to be really disappointed come november 1st.
You see, I am one of the five lucky people that were selected for the professional animation tutoring program created by none other than Stephen Gregory!!! hurrah!
Ok, ok, so you're not an animation person and you are reading this just because, for some bizarre reason you find my blog amusing, just click on his name and you will find out why I am so excited!!

done and dusted

2007-10-17T10:00:00.000+01:00

Well, if you are a regular reader you should know by now that I have been participating in the "Big Knit" created by the innocent drink people (if you're totally lost just read my "them innocent people" or click on the hatometer under my link list). So, today I am going to post my "results"... 11 little knitted hats!! tah dah!
Definately not as many as I wanted to knit but, it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside just to be able to participate.
Hope that you like them!

cringe factor

2007-09-24T12:13:00.000+01:00

I've finally done something that I should have done a very very long time ago. I've converted my graduation film onto a digital format and out of sheer craziness decided to put it here.
Why craziness?
Well, each time I look at this film it makes me want to cry, hide and not show up for a few years!! Every artist worth his/her salt feels like this about their early work, so you creative souls out there know exactly what I mean!
This film has - though crude looking, especially in this day and age of soft gloriously perfect cg, some good aspects about it, that save it from being hidden away forever in some obscure drawer. I made it all by myself, with my own blood (from pricking my fingers with the tiny sharp scissors whilst cutting a fair few dozens of ickle hands), sweat (from running backwards and forwards between Farnham and London) and tears (when the finally dragged me out off the rostrum room, it wasn't a pretty sight). It represents some of my passions in life, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's beautiful writing, Lotte Reininger's haunting sillouette animation, wonderful classical guitar music provided by the very talented Miguel Mera and sweet narration by David Browne, and in my own way this film is an homage to all of this elements.
Sure it's poor but, at least it is heartfelt and genuine.
So, this is why even though it makes me cry (ooh, it rhymes!) I've decided to share this important part of my life with everyone.
Enjoy!

lip synch

2007-09-05T16:11:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone!
I has been a time since I've posted something done by myself, but now that I have started to revamp my tired old showreel, i will start to post my own stuff more often... (hopefully)
Here's the blocking for a lip synch scene that I'm currently animating, using a line from the film "the hours".

ok, for the non-animators... blocking is one of the several steps that I use to animate a shot in 3d (I say "I" because different people have different methods, mine is based on Keith Lango's as explained in his video training sessions). Blocking is when an animator creates different poses to "explain" her/his main poses (keyframes) for the particular shot that she/he is animating. This particular blocking is a bit beyond that because, I have already added a few more poses called the "main inbetweens", these poses help with the better understanding of how the character moves from one pose to the other.

hope that this little explanation helps!

slow dancing

2007-08-28T15:04:00.000+01:00

I have a lifetime love of dancing, even though I cannot dance to save my life!... a lot of it is due to my own "little" sister Raquel, she is the one that taught me (without knowing it) how hard and special dance really is. Day after day I saw her coming home with aches and pains, and the occasional missing toenail, so tired that sometimes she nearly fell asleep at the dinning table. But, still to me she will never be as beautiful as the moment I saw her stepping onto the stage on her ballet exam date (even though her dress was falling apart!!).
She made me want to see ballets in the front row, where you can see the dancers sweat, hear their bones made odd noises and see the effort that takes to look like a goddess at the distance.
I found this in one of my favourite websites, animation podcast, and thought of her.
See you at christmas, Raquel!!

I don't like football but...

2007-08-16T13:43:00.000+01:00

Samsung Dance - video powered by Metacafe
The amazing guys at cartoon brew did it again! they found this somewhere in the depths of the internet.
Here's what they have to say about it:
"Can animation exist in real time? Without film, without video, without digital tricks… this is the opening ceremony for football’s Asian Cup and these are apparently workers for Samsung in South Korea. Pretty amazing…"
So, as I said it this post title, I don't like football but, with ceremonies like this, I might have to start checking it out!!
Just try to imagine the logistics behind this clip, and you'll go insane.

them innocent people

2007-08-15T15:23:00.000+01:00

You might have noticed a little addition that I have made to my blog, if not, just look under the list of wonderful people and studios and you will find the hatometer.
It is another charity money making scheme by the lovely people at Innocent drink. Now, I'm not much for advertising, but, the innocent people not only make wonderful drinks but, the also support a lot of charities. This year, I joined in the partying at their innocent village fete at regent's park, and now I'm preparing myself to give them a little hand at trying to knit 400000 little hats in aid of the charity Age Concern!!
Almost 25,000 older people died of cold related illnesses last winter, so it’s important for us to do our bit. Age Concern will use the money raised to provide support to older people in winter including hot meals, blankets and advice on how to keep their houses warm.
In 2006 they managed to raise £115,000 by knitting 230,000 hats. This year the innocent people are dreaming about what £200,000 could do.
So, if you live in the UK, try to do one of these two things, either go knitting crazy like myself or around november time, if you go to sainsburys buy an innocent drink WITH A HAT and 50p will revert to Age Concern... and get a warm and fuzzy feeling because you just did a nice thing for someone else ;)

Lost projects

2007-07-23T13:43:00.001+01:00

I had yet another rummage through my computer, and found some concept drawings that I did for a short film called "Belinvicta".
This film falls into the lost project because, even though it isn't one of my many crazy ideas, it will never been finished... At least, it won't be finished by its original team.
It is a shame, as it was looking really great, but as we say in Portugal "you cannot make a canoo with just two sticks".

Anyway, throughout the next weel I'll be unveiling some other little "gems" that I found in my computer.

Enjoy!

beautiful animation

2007-07-17T10:36:00.000+01:00

One thing that anyone who reads my blog might have gathered by now is that I absolutely love animation, I do, I do... I just can't help it!!
So, finding something as precious as this short called "Estória do gato e da lua" ("the story about the cat and the moon") by Pedro Serrazina (who I know personally, and not only he is extremely talented but, he's also a really nice guy) is a total delight.
This is one of my very favorite Portuguese animated shorts!
Enjoy

my love for cats and other things

2007-06-17T10:49:00.000+01:00

Ok, it has been a very very VERY long time since I last posted anything here... I apologize to anyone out there that might actually like to read my silly babbles, and promise that I'll try to be a better person or at least a better blogger from now on!
The reason why it has taken me such a long time to post is very simple, we only got an internet connection this past Wednesday, after a very very long battle with BT (a British telephone provider) we decided to give them the stink eye and got a different internet supplier!!! hurray
I'll leave you here with something that I found on the internet today... this is dedicated to anyone who says that cats aren't as intelligent as dogs.
(I'm particularly fond of the last one!!)
Toodles!

Vasco Granja and Frédéric Back

2007-04-14T11:43:00.000+01:00

Vasco Granja at his home

Hello Everyone!
I know, I know, it has been a long long time since I last posted, but, if you have read the post from March 22nd, you will know that I have said fairwell to my little country and moved to London. So, I have been (pardon my French) bloody busy with all of the work/house/transport/account, etc, etc arranjements (by the way I'm starting on Monday, wish me luck!)
However, I saw something on the internet that touched me so much that I couldn't not resist taking some time out of my hectic schedule just to post it for you.
I grew up loving animation especially because of one man, Vasco Granja. Even though he wasn't an animator, he loved animation and above all he loved showing and talking about it. Mr Granja had a great tv show which started in 1974 and lasted 16 years.
Although I really loved his shows, I only realised the importance of his teachings when I started my BA in Animation, where all of the artist that I was told that I should idolise seemed to me strangely familiar and somehow made me feel at home.
Duh! I had seem all of them on Vasco Granja's shows, I (along side a very lucky portuguese generation) had had one of the most varied and great animation education possible, without even realising it!

Frédéric Back's "The Man Who Planted Trees"

One of the animators that I fell in love whilst watching these shows was Frédéric Back. His film "All Nothing" (1980) haunted me as a child and "The Man Who Planted Trees" (1987) totally blew my little 10 year old brain.
So, you can imagine how happy I was to find out that one of my favouritest (is this even a word?) as a website? And believe you me, when I tell you that this is a great website, with precious little bits of information and films.
For you, non-French readers don't feel left behind, as the English version of the website will be available from April 18th!!
As always I have Cartoon Brew to thank for these great news!

over the hedge

2007-03-30T11:40:00.000+01:00

I have been a big fan of the "over the hedge" comic strip for quite a long while now (notice that I said comic strip not film). Every morning comics.com sends a strip to me, and even when I'm down, it never fails to make me smile (at the very least).
I find this one particularly poingnant, especially in this crazy blogging word!!

famous ballon movies

2007-03-28T11:23:00.000+01:00

This is one of the reasons why I love cartoon brew so much!
Enjoy!!

save the bunny

2007-03-23T12:37:00.000Z

Ok, there is a lot of junk in the internet, bad junk, filthy junk, scary junk, bizarre junk... and then there's funny and harmless junk!
Enjoy!

life as we know it...

2007-03-22T16:32:00.000Z

Dear friends and strangers,
If you're a regular visitor, you will know that I don't tend to used this blog to pour my heart out, I'm not really into "virtual" blabbing about my life online!
However, this is a special occasion and what the hey, with so many sad news in the world, why not share something good?
I was privileged enough to be born and live a big chunk of my life by the beautiful Arrabida mountains and its beaches, and once more I will be waving goodbye to them pretty soon.
Why leave such a beautiful place?
Me and lovely bear got jobs in London!!! Hurray!! After such a long time waiting and struggling we finally got it!!!
As a proper Portuguese, I am extremely happy to go, it is a pleasure and privilege to finally get proper work as an animator (hey, animation is my life, you should know that by now) yet, it will be a bittersweet farewell, I sure am going to miss my family and my moutains.
So, more for myself that for others, here are some pictures to remind me that home will always be there for me.
It's pretty but, nothing beats a great job and a warm bear!!
P.S: Can I just say one more extra gushy thing?
I am so proud of my boyfriend for getting his brand new job at Framestore CFC, he really deserves it!
Love you, bear!

my toons

2007-03-21T12:10:00.000Z

I think that I have mentioned before in this blog, that I am a very hard person to please, however, once someone or something cracks through my tough shell I am all soft and gooey inside (we all are, quite literally) and full of praise.

YouTube was a major internet breakthrough, yet for almost anyone who animates and likes to show their personal work online, knows how utterly crap it can be. Not only the quality can be quite gruesome but also, many times the sound doesn't sync. So what is the point of showing a lovely (for example) lip sync if it looks crap and out of sync?
My boyfriend found this fantastic website the other day, not only it is a whole new world of animation it but also, it uploads and streams beautifully, and most importantly the animator's hard work (and believe me when I tell you this, animating is a lot of hard work) looks great and syncs properly.
Hurray for MyToons! You've got my vote!!
(now, if only I could finish my animation)

illustration friday: total

2007-03-19T12:53:00.000Z

I was feeling rather uninspired about this one, all I saw in my mind was accountants totaling up taxes, and that cannot be healthy... so, I decided against that idea!
Believe me I have nothing against them, I just think that I would have to be in a very low creative runt to resort to drawing accountants.
As I was looking through the internet for some inspiration, and I came across this website and finally my muse smiled at me.
So, how many monkeys does it take to change a lightbulb?
The total is 2, one to change it and the other is just there for moral support.

monday morning fun!

2007-03-05T11:34:00.000Z

A dear friend of mine sent me this today... so it is crude and silly, but it is fun!!
Create your own character at Roxik!