bethanialimapatternlove

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

De volta do Brasil - Back from Brazil

Hi/ Oi,
Aqui estou, de volta do Brasil e de volta à blogolândia. Fui ao Brasil participar de dois cursos oferecidos pelo designer de superície brasileiro Wagner Campelo (site) em conjunto com o centro Universo da Cor (site do instituto).

Here are I am back from Brazil and back to blogland. I went to Brazil to participate into two courses offered by the brazilian surface designer Wagner Campelo (his site) in association with the institution Universo da Cor (its site).

Na sexta passada o curso foi sobre Estampas Coordenadas (link do curso) e no sábado o curso foi dedicado à criação de estampas a partir de referências vegetais (link do segundo curso). Wagner é um incrível designer de padronagem de superfície, cujo trabalho é de tirar o fôlego. Eu já tinha escrito um post sobre o trabalho dele, na época que comecei a fazer o blog (post antigo).

Last Friday the course subject was on Coordenate Patterns (course's link) and on Saturday we had class on how to make patterns from vegetal references (link for the second course). Wagner is an amazing surface pattern designer, whose working is breathtaking. I’ve already written a post (here) on him, at the beginning of my blog writing.

Além de ter aprendido muitas coisas interessantes e úteis pro meu trabalho como designer de padronagens de superfície, o curso representou uma oportunidade para fazer amigos e conhecer o Universo da Cor (as simpáticas Lilian e Karen estão por trás dessa inovativa instuição, que oferece cursos e consultorias no universo da cor).

On top of learning many interesting and useful things for my own work as a surface pattern designer, I could make new friends and get to know a bit of the Universo da Cor center (Lilian and Karen are the nice ladies behind this inovative institution).

Depois da aula , da direita para a esquerda - After class, from right to left: Aline, Letícia, Wagner, Evelyn , me

O curso também permitiu ter uma ideia de como o design de padronagem de superfície funciona no Brasil. Infelizmente, pode-se concluir que a cultura e o imaginário brasileiros não são devidamente apreciados por nós mesmos, brasileiros. Apesar de tantos ótimos designers, as padronagens demandadas são referenciadas no que está em voga internacionalmente. Que pena. À medida que o Brasil cresce e se torna um importante jogador no cenário internacional, tomara que possamos ter uma mudança na forma de encarar nossas próprias referências.

It was also an opportunity to get to know how Surface Patten Design is working in Brazil. Unfortunately, one of the conclusions is that our own culture and imaginary are not as apreciated and valued as they should be by ourselves, brazilians. With so many real good designers, the demanded patterns are usually related to international references. What a pity. As Brazil grows and becomes an important international player, hopefully there will be a change in this way of seeing its own references.

Os pontos altos dos cursos do Wagner foram a excelente didática, o curso bem planejado e as maravilhosas echarpes de seda criadas a partir das referências vegetais. Pra ter um gostinho do que vimos, clique aqui (veja as echarpes). Uma canjinha também pode ser vista nas fotos abaixo. Ah, essas echarpes são maravilhosas. Os padrões utilizados foram criativamente concebidos a partir de fotos tiradas pelo próprio Wagner, usando uma câmara fotográfica basiquinha!

The highlights of Wagner’s courses were: his huge capacity of transmitting his sound knowledge; the well organized and planned course and the astonishing beautiful silk scarves. You can view some of them here (the scarves link) or the sneak peek images I'm sharing below. Oh, those scarves are absolutely gorgeous. They're patterns are creative conceived from Wagner's own pictures (using just a snapshot camera!).

Wagner mostrando a concepção de uma das echarpes e a forma como utilizou a referência vegetal - Wagner explaining the use of a vegetal reference into the creation of the shown scarf.

Observando as echarpes e a explicação sobre como foram concebidas a partir das referências vegetais - Looking at the scarves and listening to the explanations on their conception

No Brasil fui sortuda de encontrar duas amigas queridas, Aldinha, anfitriã e cozinheira de primeira, e Eliane, uma fantástica criadora de patchworks. Usando tecidos com padronagens do Wagner, comprados no Panólatras (site), Eliane fez pra Aldinha e pra mim maravilhosas bolsas, mostradas abaixo. Tive o prazer de ver o autor explicar como essa estampa ("Flora") havia sido desenvolvida. Foi uma ótima coincidência.

In Brazil I was luck enough to find two cherished old great friends of mine, Aldinha, who is a great host and cook, and Eliane, a lovely patchwork maker. Using fabrics printed with Wagner's patterns, bought at Panólatras (site), Eliane made us amazing handbags, shown below. I had the pleasure of watching the author explaining how that particularly pattern ("Flora") was designed. That was a great coincidence.

Wagner segurando uma amostra de tecido com sua estampa "Flora" na versão azul ao lado da bolsa recebida da Eliane, feita usando tecido estampado com a mesma estampa, em outra versão cromática -Wagner holding a sample fabric of his pattern ("Flora") in a blue version and the handbag I received from my friend Eliane, made using Wagner's same pattern in a different colourway.

A outra bolsa feita pela Eliane, usando a estampa "Flora" em outra paleta - The other handbag made by Eliane with the same pattern ("Flora") in a diferent colour palette

Finalmente, abaixo encontram-se duas fotos tiradas enquanto estava por lá e que prometi a mim mesma usar para desenvolver padronagens no futuro, como resultado dos conhecimentos adquiridos nesses maravilhosos cursos que ando fazendo... Espero ter tempo para fazê-los.
Finally, I'd like to show you two pictures taken while I was there and that I promised myself to work with towards developing a pattern in the future, summing up the knowledge adquired with all those lovely courses I've been taking... Hope I do find the time to make them.

Flores vermelhas, inspiração para futura padronagem - Red flowers, reference for a future pattern

E que tal essa inspiração? - How about this inspiration?

All images and contents, unless otherwise stated, belong to Bethania Lima. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Please do not use anything without permission or without making note of the origin on your blog or website

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

The postman brought kiwi from Karlskrona!

If you participate in every giveaway you see in front of you, one day you’re going to win something. Simple. Just a probability issue. So luck came in my way not because I won a giveaway sometime ago, but because I won this giveaway offered in Virginia Kamau’s blog (blog), my e-friend and e-classmate on the Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, here, the great e-course that I am always talking about (and that unfortunately is ending this week).

Today was the day the postman delivered the little lovely package, with great Sweden stamps (Karlskrona is the island in Sweden where Virginia lives) and my new precious tea towel.

The gorgeous surface pattern design is from Virginia. It’s beautiful, joyful and marvelously print (you can even see the layers). Have a look.

You can see lots of others lovely patterns from Virginia on her site (here). I own her a proper post about her great patterns, but, you know, I’ve been busy with the course and it will take me sometime before I can come blogging regularly again.

So far, thank you Virginia for the cheerful gift.

Friday, 20 April 2012

Christmas

You know when, after Christmas, all the kids of the block go out with their new dolls, bikes, skates, books (few), cell phones (lots), so on and so forth, to play and show off?

Wow, that’s me today. One of my works was featured on a post on students of the ABSPD (Art and Business of Surface Design) course today on the Print and Pattern blog, from Marie (aka Bowie Style). If you are reading this blog and don’t know P&P, well, to make it short, it’s the Bible. The bible of pattern and illustration.

It does mean a lot to me to be featured there. I’d like to thank you Rachael, for the lovely course and for making all this possible, Bowie, for the opportunity and for the blog (I’m an old reader, a very old, reader, I mean), and two wonderful ladies in our course who have been real friends to me, helping me through this hard learning process: Miranda and Jacqueline.

For details on the course, go here: ABSPD

To see the mentioned post and blog, here: post

To get to know a bit of Miranda’s work, read this: Miranda

To get to know a bit of Jacqueline’s work, read this: Jacqueline

For my family and friends who are reading this, thank you.

Sabe quando todas as crianças da redondeza, depois do Natal, saem com suas bonecas, bicis, skates, livros (poucos), celulares (um monte), e assim por diante, pra brincar e exibir?

Uau, hoje essa sou eu. Um de meus trabalhos aparece num post sobre alguns estudantes do curso de ABSPD no blog Print and Pattern, da Marie (aka Bowie Style). Se vc está lendo este blog daqui e não conhece o P&P, bom, pra encurtar a história, é a bíblia. A bíblia da padronagem e da ilustração.

Pra mim significa muito aparecer lá. Gostaria de agradecer a Rachael, pelo maravilhoso curso e por tornar tudo isso possível, a Bowie, pela oportunidade e pelo blog (sou uma leitora antiga, velha, leitora), e a duas maravilhosas garotas no nosso curso que têm sido amigas de verdade, me ajudando nesse difícil processo de aprendizagem: Miranda e Jacqueline.

Para detalhes sobre o curso, vá aqui: ABSPD

Para ver o mencionado post e blog, aqui: post

Para conhecer um pouco do trabalho de Miranda, dê uma olhada aqui: Miranda

Para conhecer um pouco do trabalho de Jacqueline, dê uma olhada aqui: Jacqueline

À minha família e amigos que estejam lendo isto, obrigada.

Monday, 16 April 2012

Contests

Hi, everyone.
I've been silented, busy participating in different contests. And asking votes for my entries. Thank you to every one of you who had the trouble to vote for me. Unfortunately I did not win anything. Obviously, I did win lots of experience and hope it will help me with my future contests.
The main contest I participated in was the betafashion Paisley scarf contest. Here I show you my main entry. Fingers crossed for the next contest. The winners can be seen here. Nice week. And thank you again.
*****
Oi,
tenho estado silenciosa, ocupada participando em diferentes concursos. E pedindo votos pros meus trabalhos. Obrigada a cada um de vcs que se deu ao trabalho de votar por mim. Infelizmente não ganhei nada. Além, obviamente, da experiência, que espero ajude nos próximos concursos.
O mais importante concurso no qual particpei foi o da echarpe de Paisley, da betafashio. Aqui está a minha principal entrada. Meus dedinhos já estão fazendo figa pro próximo concurso. O resultado oficial do concurso pode ser visto aqui. Boa semana e obrigada mais uma vez.

Festive Geometric Paisley - copyrigth Bethania Lima

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Veronica Galbraith

The top image is a pattern from Veronica Galbraith, a multi-task lady. Besides being a great student of the ABSPD course (http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/pattern/), where we met, she is very prolific in her work as a SPD and webdesigner. This Colombian lady did her degree in Colombia, trying, during that time, various types of design (graphics, fashion, jewellery, furniture, packaging etc). If you add to that the fact that she was born in a “family of architects, designers and painters”, it might explain why her designs stand out with freshness, personality, certain geometry and a great sense of space and colour.

I make delicious soufflés. What’s the connection? Everybody, but specially children, are curious enough to learn from everyone and from almost anything. I loved the consistency, the flavours, the aroma, the taste of the soufflès that were made at home when I was a child. Although not realizing at the time, I watched them being made and learned by observing. When I went to live on my own I discovered that I was uncapable of making feijão (baked beans), but I wanted to eat soufflé and did know how to make it. This digression has a point: Veronica tells that “Since I was very little I knew I wanted to do something creative for the rest of my life. I used to spend many afternoons sitting next to my mum at her drawing table, designing everything from fashion collections to blocks of flats with very detailed interiors!”. She knew the taste and learned to do it. Bingo! Hope one day great neuroscientists such as the portuguese Antonio Damásio (wikipedia link) go deep into understanding the mechanisms that connect emotions and learning, translating the findings into understandable language. It’s such a great theme, don’t you think?

I love Veronica's style, a mix of geometry, high design capabilities and great use of colour. As I introduce my readers to my classmates’ work, I must clarify that the criteria to show their work is taste. My taste, I mean. As I like most of my classmates’ works, those posts could go on for a long time… Today is no exception. Vero’s works are so expressive, so full of energy and cleverness. Here are some more images of her patterns. Enjoy it.

To see Veronica's profile, lots of works of her ( for instance, have a look at the whole collection of patterns she did for the "Bright side" pattern, it's amazing) and her great abilities as a web designer, visit her site here (site). Veronica's works are available for licensing/comission, see details on her site too. She now lives in England, with her husband and two boys. Hope you like this soufflé, I mean, those patterns and this post!

Monday, 26 March 2012

Bamboo

I needed an excuse, so I thought of an antecipated mother's day gift and won my new Bamboo Creator tablet. Like a child the day after christmas eve, I played around with my new toy today and here is a version of my flower vase motif, made with the Wacom pen and tablet. Delicious technology. Thanks husband and daughter!
*****
Precisava de uma desculpa, então me lembrei do dia das mães e pedi o presente antecipado: Bamboo Creator tablet. Como criança depois do Natal, fiquei brincando com meu brinquedo novo hoje e criei a versão abaixo do meu motivo vaso de flor. Que tecnologia deliciosa. Obrigada, marido e filha!

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Conceição Lima

My post today is not connected to the world of SPD. Well, not in the sense that we use to think about it. But let's think again. I am talking about the embroidery activity: time consuming, perfect, entertaining, full of techniques. Look at the picture below.
Meu post de hoje não é ligado ao mundo do Design de Padronagem de Superfície, não no sentido que se costuma pensar sobre isso. Mas pensemos de novo. Falo da atividade do bordado: requeredora de tempo, perfeita, cheia de técnicas. Veja a imagem abaixo.

17th century embroider sample - Victoria and Albert Museum

It was taken in 2009 at the V&A (Victoria&Albert museum), and is a sampler of embroideries of late 17th century. Look at it again and pay attention. Can't one associate the dots with pixels? Isn't there a resemblance? Now think about hand embroidered dresses, tapestries, rugs, linens and all sort of home decor with embroideries in it. Embroidery has been a traditional modality of surface pattern design.

Foi tirada em 2009 no V&A (Museu Victoria&Albert ) e é uma amostra de bordados do final do século XVII. Olhe de novo, prestando atenção. Não se pode associar os pontos com os pixels? Não há uma semelhança? Agora pense nos vestidos bordados, tapeçarias, tapetes, roupas de cama e todo tipo de decoração com bordados. O bordado tem sido uma modalidade de desenho de padronagem de superfície.

Conceição Lima, my mother, is 87 years old (almost). She embroiders since her childhood. So, today I want to show you a sampler cloth she did during her four months stay with us in Chile. It's a traditional sampler cloth, showing different stiches, meant to be given as a gift to her grandaugther, who happens to be my daughter. The whole sample can be seen bellow.
Conceição Lima, minha mãe, tem 87 anos (quase). Ela borda desde pequena. Então, hoje quero apresentar um pano de amostra que ela fez durante sua estadia de quatro meses conosco aqui no Chile. É um pano de amostra tradicional, exibindo os diferentes pontos, feito para presentear sua neta (que, a propósito, é minha filha). A foto abaixo é uma visão geral do paninho.

Copyrigth Conceição Lima - embroider sampler

Now look at this image of a blonde girl, a detail of one of the many different motifs she used in her sampler.
Agora observe a imagem da meninha lourinha, um detalhe dos diferentes motivos usados na amostra.

Copyrigth Conceição Lima - Menininha com flores

It is inspired in my not so blonde girl. Look at the smile, the huge eyes, the lovely details. She is so beautiful, happy and surrounded by gorgeous flowers. A bird decided to stop by and say hello to her. Look at the different flowers, colours, stiches. This lady rocks.
É uma imagem inspirada na minha não tão loura menina, Olhe o sorriso, os olhos grandes, os detalhes amorosos. Ela é tão bonita, rodeada de flores maravilhosas. Um passarinho pousou e deu um oi pra ela. Observe as diferentes flores, cores, pontos. Essa senhora arrasa.

And then look at those houses in the picture below. They are made of clay, hand painted and meant as decorative objects. An unknown craftsman made them in the countryside of Bahia, Brazil, where we (mom and me) come from.
Agora olhe as casas nessa foto abaixo. São de barro, pintadas à mão, concebidads como objetos decorativos. Um artesão desconhecido as fez, no interior da Bahia, Brasil, de onde nós, minha mãe e eu, somos.

Now look at another version of those houses. They were embroidered reproduced. Aren't them astonishing? Full of different stiches and colours, embroidered by the same 87 years old hands.
Agora observe essa outra versão das casinhas. É uma reprodução bordada das casinhas originais. Não são incríveis? Repleta de diferentes pontos e cores, bordadas pelas mesmas mãos de 87 anos.

Copyrigth Kristina Klarin - Originally a 2009 calendar page

How about this print reproduction of watercolour houses, from artist Kristina Klarin (her blog)? I bought her 2009 calendar with beautiful printed reproductions of watercolour works (originally sold in Etsy) many years ago.
E que tal essa reprodução impressa de um casario em aquarela, da artista Kristina Klarin (blog dela)? Muito tempo atrás comprei esse calendário (2009), com inúmeras reproduções de aquarelas dela.

Conceição thought the sampler's cloth composition was in need of something else on the top rigth hand corner and decided to embroider a version of those lovely watercolour houses. And so she did.
Conceição achou que a composição do paninho de amostra precisava de algo no canto superior direito e decidiu bordar uma versão dessas adoráveis casinhas da aquarela. E assim o fez.

Each time Conceição decides she wants to do something, she goes for it. She worked during many weeks preparing this sampler cloth to leave as a gift to her lovely granddaughter, now that she's coming back to Brazil for a period. She even embroidered a dedicatory to her as you can see below in more detail.
Cada vez que Conceição decide que quer fazer algo, ela vai atrás. Ela trabalhou por muitas semanas preparando esse paninho de amostra pra deixar de lembrança pra querida neta, agora que vai retornar ao Brasil por um tempo. Até bordou uma dedicatória, que pode ser apreciada abaxo em mais detalhes.

Copyrigth Conceição Lima - Dedicatória

I believe my daughter is receiving much more than a sampler embroidery cloth. She's receiving an example of hard work, perseverance, effort and love. Thank you, mom.
Acredito que minha filha está recebendo muito mais que um paninho de amostra. Ela está ganhando um exemplo de trabalho duro, perseverança, esforço e amor. Obrigada, mãe.

Conceição Lima caputured while in the garden, Santiago, march 2012.

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