currently reading or about to read

Things on my desk that I'm currently reading or about to read.

1. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter
Recently I've been collecting things with squirrels. When I found about this book I had to have to. Beatrix Potter illustration are beautiful, and just that makes worth the buy of the book.

2. A Midsummer Night's Dream & 3. Much Ado About Nothing
My favourite plays written by William Shakespeare. I haven't read them in English yet. I know it won't be easy to read but I'm looking forward to it.

4. Print Workshop by Christine Schmidt (Yellow Owl Workshop) & 5. Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin
I've been researching for some workshops I'll be giving this month about block printing and these two books were part of that research.

6. Monocle issue 76, volume 08 September 2014
It's been almost two years that I've been buying and reading this magazine monthly. This is the current issue that I'm reading.

I can walk for miles and miles

I was reading How to Master The Shoes Selfie when I remember to talk about my new sandals.
I know I know the Summer is almost over. But I've been on the hunt for some sandals for a long while.
I knew what I wanted but I was having troubles in finding specially in a price range I could afford.

I've been fan of the Fly London shoes for a few years. (If I could I would have all of my shoes by that brand). Their shoes can have funky colours, wierd shapes and when you walk (in the ones I've tried) it looks like you're flying! I know it's cheesy, and I promise this is not even sponsored, it's how nice this shoes and sandals are to my feet.

This might be a bit TMI but my feet are very flat, so I always need to have some sort of support under the feet so I can stand walk and put my feet on the ground for even short periods of time.

Fly London thought have many of their shoes been produced in Portugal, it's not a very affordable brand, but sometimes the craftsmen and the sole quality make it worth the price.

I have a platform shoes from the brand in black that I love. Unfortunately I can't say that I use them a lot. In the past couple years if I used them once it was too much. Because they weren't the cheapest thing I tend to think that they are my fancy shoes, while I should think that they should be more like my regular shoes. But I'm running away from the subject.

Fly London Woman's Bow Gladiator Sandals

I was browsing in Amazon.uk and these sandals were on sale for a very good price. For a bit I was sorry it wasn't the teal version the one with the best price, but then I remembered that one of my favourite sandals ever where actually in brown, and that I've wear them to death. Besides I have a lot of bags in brown. And Brown it's almost a neutral colour and goes with most of the colours.

I was concern about the sizing, because I had to buy them in UK size, and I didn't know if they were a true size. It turn out they are true size (like I was hoping them to be). The first day I wear them I might have walked a little to much. I had a blister in each feet, but I've walked so well, that I was too much wowed to even bother about the blisters. The second time I used them they didn't bother me at all.

It was such a bargain, the perfect model of sandals (in my opinion) from one of my favourite brands, with such rich and beautiful colour (it's way prettier in life than in the website) and that make me feel I can walk for miles!

Photo took with my phone.

*this post it's not sponsored, just my true opinion and feelings about my new sandals!

The Beard man said - Quote from Horns

"What he remembered was everything dark and roaring noise and a whirling sense of motion. He was poured forth into a thunderous torrent of souls, ejected from the earth and any sense of order and into this other, older chaos. He was in horror of it, appalled by the thought that this might be what waited after death. He felt he was being swept away, not just from his life but from God, the idea of God, or hope, or reason, the idea that things made sense, that cause followed effect, and it ought not to be like this, Ig felt, death ought not to be like this, even for sinners.
He struggled in that furious current of noise and nothing. The blackness seemed to shatter and peel away to show a muddy glimpse of sky but then closed back over him. When he felt himself weakening and sinking away, he had the sense of being grabbed and tugged along from beneath. Then, abruptly, there was something more solid under him. It felt like mud. A moment later he heard a far-off cry and was struck in the back."

in Horns by Joe Hill

perfect! Such graphic description that I could almost sense it myself.

Anatomy of a Book - August Wrap Up

In the month of August I've read a lot of things from different styles.
Though I think what I've read most were comics. Let's check that! (Are you ready for a really long post?)

Fantasy

Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

In July I've started to read a new series of books that mix fantasy with detective sort of book. The series are called Dresden Files, and they are about Harry Dresden, wizard.
So far I'm loving it. The books aren't predictable, and they have loads of twists. I hope they keep like this way. And I've been founding out that this one of my favourite combos for books and TV shows - Fantasy + Detective/Police (like the series Grim which reminds I should keep seeing the second season)

In the Dresden Files series there are 15 books so far and are written by Jim Butcher. In August I've read/listen three of them.
Yes, I've been reading these series in the audiobook form, the english is not very hard, and the audio is read by the actor James Marsters (Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show) which has this amazing voice. When I've routine work to do, something that doesn't require me to think I like to listening to these books

I've read the 3th Book - Grave Peril, the 4th Summer Knight and the 5th Death Masks.
I've also heard that the series really get good from the 6th book on so, I'm excited to keep reading.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I've started to read another series - Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
I've been for a long time wanting to read this series, because I love mythology and Greek Gods.
I really don't understand why I took me so long.
Easy and quick to read (since it's more of a kids book it makes sense to be easy). The story is quite straight forward.

If the Greek Gods exist? What if the heroes/ demi-gods lived among us?
Those are some of the premises of this series. Percy Jackson is son of Poseidon and with his new friends has to go on quest to recover the lightning stole from Zeus.

I know I will continue to read this series!

Romance

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts

I wanted to read something light and quick around the middle of the month so I picked this book.
It's was ok. Definitely not my favourite book from the author, but still a nice romance.

Here's a quick synopsis of the book
"To the residents of Whiskey Beach, it's landmark and legend. To Eli Landon, it's home...

A Boston lawyer, Eli has weathered an intense year of public scrutiny and police investigation after being accused of murdering his soon-to-be ex-wife. And though there was never enough evidence to have him arrested, his reputation is in tatters as well as his soul. He need sanctuary. He needs Bluff House.

While Eli's beloved grandmother is in Boston, recuperating from a nasty fall, Abra Walsh has card for Bluff House, among her other jobs as yoga instructor, jewellery maker, and massage therapist. She is a woman with an open heart and a wide embrace, and no one is safe from her special, some would say over-bearing, brand of nurturing - including Eli."

Thriller

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

I've also read Along Came a Spider and wrote a hole post about it!

Now into the Comics

Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steve Moore

If I hadn't seen  the year of publication I would say (by the covers) that these issues of Hercules The Thracian Wars was quite older. But when you open it, you can see it's something contemporary.

I was drawn to attention of this comic book a few weeks ago, not just because of the coming film but also an interview with (another comic book writer) Alan Moore, where he talked about the film adaptation and other serious issues (if you know all about read it here http://bit.ly/1oQsRjx)

I really like the art of this comic book, it's detailed and you can have a very cinematographic feel of the era, and also of the action. From what I know about Hercules life and Greek Mythology I can tell that everything seems quite accurate and and loyal to what's known.

This is not a comic book for all audiences, it's gloomy, bloody and gory. If what you like is fluffy characters and cute comics, this might be out of your alley.

Wet Moon by Ross Campbell 

Wet Moon, Volume 1: Feeble Wanderings | Wet Moon, Volume 2: Unseen Feet | Wet Moon Volume 3: Further Realms of Fright | Wet Moon Volume 4: Drowned in Evil | Wet Moon Volume 5: Where All Stars Fail to Burn

I know Ross's art for years and years, since I was in deviantart, I've always love it.
At last this month I've read the most of his comics from Wet Moon series (from 1 to 5) There's only one missing.
I find the story line a bit confusing, though when you keep reading you start to understand more about the characters and their relationships. I love the art and the crazy characters, I really can't forget to read the last one.

More art by Ross Campbell

Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson

I've also read the first four issues of the Lumberjanes.
First can we talk about the art? It's awesome!
Second - the characters... SUPER fun! with so much character and this is just the beginning of the Lumberjanes Series.
Three - how cool is five girls in the woods fighting three eye foxes? Super cool! I'm super excited to keep reading these series!

American Virgin by Steven T. Seagle

American Virgin, Volume 1: Head | American Virgin, Volume 2: Going Down | American Virgin, Volume 3: Wet | American Virgin, Volume 4: Around The World

What drawn me into these comics was the cover of the first issue. I've seen it a few years ago - somewhere - and it stuck in my mind. Recently I've stumble on it again and I was curious enough to actually start reading it. I have to say also that I prefer the cover of the single issues instead of the Volumes, and that I prefer the first ones that the last ones.

In this first volume are reunited the 1-4 issues.
The comic mainly focus on the character Adam Chamberlain, young adult Christian preacher promoting sexual abstinence until marriage. Adam is proud of his virginity and his engagement to his girlfriend Cassie, currently on a peace corps mission in Africa (near the border with Mozambique); he believes she was chosen by God to be his wife.
Adam can't wait for his girlfriend to come back from Africa, but for some reason not explained in the book, Cassie is murdered and beheaded by terrorists.I know the main focus on the book isn't about the situation in Africa, but I wish to understand why Cassie was there, and also the reason of the conflicts.
Adam, against his parents wishes, flee with his stepsister Cyndi to South Africa where he tries to find answers for Cassie's death.
Along that path they met a mercenary named Mel, who claims he can help him to find answers Adam wants and need.

I've really enjoyed reading this comics. Not just the covers are stunning, as the artwork inside. The story keep me going, there's a lot of conflicts between the characters believes and actions. There is a lot of hypocrisy in most of the characters, but to me that only make them feel more real. At the first sight things are presented to you in some way, but as you read along you found out there is more. For example the main character Adam Chamberlain is a virgin who preaches to other young people about sexual abstinence. You might think that people around him would actually think about it in the same way. But that's not so simple. His family, his dysfunction family is completely sex obsessed. From his teen brother, to his bully stepbrothers and his stepsister. His mother and stepfather in the other hand are more worried about Adam's talks in public than his feelings about his girlfriend died. They are more worried about him as a public figure, than about him as a person. Nasty couple.

My biggest issue with the whole series is the fact that the Chamberlain's are rich or at the least very wealthy, to the point that Adam's catches de air-plane in a heart beat to get to Africa. Everything seems so effort less, oh I want to got there, and I go. I know it's fiction, but it's still bothers me.

and last... but not least
The Unwritten, Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey

When I pick comic books the cover artwork is a turning point. I've been eyeing this comic for a while. The name is also so intriguing!!
I didn't read anything about it, so I didn't know what to expect.
It blew my mind completely!!
It not just about books, but also the possibility of a guy be a fictional character in the real world. I'm so looking forward to keep reading these comics.

Phew that was a long list of books! I hope I can read as much the next month. We'll see. ;)
Have a nice week and beginning of September.

Anatomy of a Book - Along Came a Spider

Finally I've finished the book "Along Came a Spider" a thriller with the detective Alex Cross by James Paterson [it was also adapted to film - and the main character - Alex Cross was played by Morgan Freeman - you can watch the trailer here].

It took a lot more to read than I was expecting!

Book cover

This is my short review I wrote in Goodreads

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is was my first time reading James Patterson. I enjoy it. But at the same time it was constant struggle to keep reading the book. Not because of the written, neither because of the story itself. But because I've seen the movie and kept comparing both things.

I think if I've read the book before watching the movie I wouldn't like the movie. The story of the movie is way more simple and kind of straight forward than the book. The story line and characthers are much more complex.

From the detective Alex Cross, to his family, from the Gary Soneji (the kidnapper of Maggie Rose) to the charecther of Jezzie Flanagan (Secrect Service supervisor), all the characthers have side stories, some even secret agendas. It's a great thriller.

I'll be for sure keep reading more Alex Cross thrillers.


View all my reviews

Back in 2011 I have made a small review from Kiss the Girls which is also inspired in James Patterson thrillers book with Alex Cross character.
For some reason I've never reviewed the Along Came a Spider.
I'm looking forward to read the rest of the Novels about Alex Cross, though I don't picture the character as Morgan Freeman when I read it. I might have to re-watch the "Kiss the Girls" to see if I connect it more with the character.

From what I recall from the Along Came a Spider as movie, the character of Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) is the main point in the plot (nor in the book, but in the book most of the chapters are told in the first person by Alex Cross himself). But though I really like the movie and the story, I've always felt there was something missing in some part of the stories, some parts that didn't make much sense, and know that I've read the book I know why.

Bites & Bits of my week

This week was mix between busy week with a few relaxing moments at the same time.

Between custom notebooks - from sketches until almost the final product, through orders of address books and planners.

I love it. I just need to adjust a few things for this to perfect.

And that means get a routine. Yeap it's an old story around here. Get routine, do things, draw a lot, and sell a lot too. Among other things. I hope this month of August I can finally get into that.

Take advantage of my time and put up another store on etsy with a few things my grandma does. I've been promising that for a while now, and I haven't made it.

I've been reading a lot lately, and also care about book in general. That, for some reason, lead me to find a lot of youtubers who review books... I didn't even know that existed! Most of them are teenagers, but hey it's entertaining listening what they have to say.

For some reason I thought it was about time to organise my digital books... Yeah, it has been all weekend around it. Now I only have the one I really want to read, but still they need to be better categorized. Oh boy here I go again to that.

All photos of this post were took by me - can be seen originally in my instagram.

Bites and Bits of my Summer 2014

 Há mais de um ano que não posto consistentemente neste espaço. Esta semana apeteceu-me mudar isso.
Aqui ficam algumas coisas que recentemente tenho feito.

Com a Nuts for Paper e a Casa d'Amendoeira fizemos uma segunda exposição. Quase um ano depois da primeira, a comemorar o nosso primeiro ano de Nuts for Paper. Criámos um espaço como se fosse uma sala. Fizemos almofadas, sacos, pintámos peças de cerâmica e muitas outras ilustrações originais! 

[foto da organização da Feira das Almas]

No segundo aniversário da Feira das Almas estive por lá com a Nuts for Paper. Um fim-de-semana mega cansativo com música a bombar durante o dia todo e muitas horas em pé com um calor acentuado. Mas valeu a pena! Conhecemos pessoas que seguem o que fazemos e que nunca tinhamos conhecido, conhecemos outros artistas... eu até trouxe alguns prints absolutamente fantásticos de outros artistas. Agora por isso... ainda não os pendurei nas paredes do meu quarto!

 Workshop de Feltragem com a Maria Filipe da The Fabulous Creations of Maria Filipe Castro | Workshop na Casa d'Amendoeira | [fotografias © Casa d'Amendoeira] - Eu estou na última fotografia do lado direito a fazer bolacinhas de feltro.

Projecto das Bolachas | Workshop de Feltragem com a Maria Filipe da The Fabulous Creations of Maria Filipe Castro | Workshop na Casa d'Amendoeira  [fotografias © Casa d'Amendoeira] - E no final do workshop, como era o aniversário da Casa d'Amendoeira até tivemos direito a um cupcake... É claro que o do monstro das bolachas tinha que ser eu a comer... não fosse eu uma verdadeira monstrinha no que toca a comer bolachinhas com pepitas de chocolate.

Montra da Casa d'Amendoeira desenhada por mim e com type desenhada pela Catarina como Nuts for Paper. Eramos para dar um workshop em que a bicicleta seria o mote, mas depois pensámos melhor e adiámos para Setembro. 

Acabei este trabalho de design e ilustração para a Inês Fonseca da Creatureshire. Brevemente partilho no Behance e no meu blog de desenho o processo desde o desenho ao produto final!

No início do ano desafiaram-me para irmos ao Optimus Alive (agora NOS Alive), mal sabia no que me ia meter. Estava um calor ATROZ! Ao ponto de chegar ao festival e já ter bebido um litro e meio de água!
Estava tudo doido para ir ver Arctic Monkeys e Imagine Dragons, de tal maneira doido que só não subiam pelo palco acima e encavalitavam-se uns em cima dos outros porque havia gradeamento e seguranças à volta do palco e espera... houve em todos os concertos malta às cavalitas dos outros.

Juntámo-nos um grupinho (faltam aqui duas pessoas... epah que me desculpem mas é que não me gosto de ver nas outras fotos em que por acaso estamos todos... e como provavelmente nem vem aqui ao blog estou desculpada por ignorância de terceiras partes) [foto tirada pelo Ivo]

Eu e as caras (aparentemente parvas) que faço a comer... queques ou melhor um queque de chocolate. [foto tirada pelo Ivo]

E não há só um registo disso, são logo dois!! E com o mesmíssimo queque! [foto tirada pela Cris]

Tive pena de não ter ido ver ao palco Heineken o concerto do Noiserv, fiquei a ver Ben Howard no palco principal e tirando uma mísera música que conhecia melhor o resto do concerto deu-me sono. Felizmente os The Lumineers encheram o palco com boa música e boa disposição. A partir daí foi sempre a subir com Imagine Dragons a pôr a malta toda a cantar, Interpol com grande som e o piece de resistance - os Arctic Monkeys!

[foto tirada pelo Ivo] Que tem à vontade mais um palco do que eu em altura. Concertos em locais direitos não dá para quem é baixinho. O que me valeu foram os ecrãs e as abertas entre as pessoas.

Quem não aguentou nem um quarto dos concertos foram os meus pézinhos e as minhas costas. Tantas dorzinhas de pés de estar parada no mesmo sítio. Nem mesmo com calçado confortável fiquei confortável muito tempo. Cheguei ao final da noite com as calças num estado empoeirado que parecia que tinha andado a rebolar na terra. Eu só estive sentada na terra... porque o asfalto e a falsa relva estava ocupada!!

Conclusões que retirei desta minha primeira ida a um festival, não vale a pena ir muito cedo, tens filas para entrar e se está muito calor, apanhas calor na fila, apanhas calor enquanto esperas (e desesperas) para que os concertos comecem, especialmente se for um festival de rua e com palcos sem sombra. Quanto mais à frente tentas estar, mais apertada ficas, menos espaço para sentares tens, e menos vês... Outra conclusão, a fauna local dos festivais são uns porcos que atiram garrafas e copos de plástico o que é terrível para andar, especialmente quando se tem as pernas entorpecidas e está tudo escuro. Tirando isso até foi um dia bem passado.

[foto tirada pela Catarina] Estas sãos as nossas caras de quem veio da festa. Estávamos todos ressequidos e cheios de sede a apanhar o fresquinho da noite!

É claro que no dia a seguir não me apetecia sequer sair de casa, mas até saí. Fui substituir o meu tablet avariado e sem arranjo por um novo. Um Acer Iconia B1, super catita, fácil de transpostar com uma risquinha azul, um miminho! Mais rápido e potente que o anterior. Ainda não o larguei.

No sábado ou tinha ficado em casa a procastinar (e era o que me apetecia quando me levantei) ou ia dar uma curva. Fui a Lisboa. Já algum tempo que estava para fazer um workshop na Casa Nic e Inês, quando soube que iam fazer um com a Yara Kono como convidada pensei logo, é agora!
O tema do workshop era o Álbum Ilustrado, e depois fizemos um pequeno exercicio de fazer um pequeno album ilustrado. Eu escolhi uma história verídica que me aconteceu quando era pequena.
Assim que acabar os desenhos mostro tudinho!

Foto tirada pela Casa Nic e Inês

até breve!
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest