The Studio

We also got our first look at the studio where we would work all week on Monday.  That evening we had a delicious supper by the ocean.  More bread and olives!!!!!!   Yea!

Monday was Busy

Monday we visited the tile factory where our tiles were fired.  We had lunch in a friend of Margarita's home. We had a delicious veal stew and, my favorite,  Arroz Dulce (sweet rice).

First Evening

Sunday evening we walked to Margarita's flat for a light supper and to meet everyone in the group.  I loved the walk and took lots of pictures of the homes and gardens along the way.  After dinner we went into Margarita's little studio for some tile painting.  My tiles are the bird and the turtle.  I would like to do them over, but, oh well.

Since our room wasn't ready, Mom and I had a little lunch in the hotel restaurant.  Here I've included portion of a map of Estoril that includes our hotel area, a picture of Mom sitting across the table from me and what quickly became my favorite part of Portugese meals - the fresh, crusty, bread and oil cured olives that preceeded all of our meals while we were there.  Yummylicious.

Travel Day

The first page of my journal has a written background of my travel to Lisbon and all the trials of not meeting up with Mom as planned.  But, I knew it was going to be a good trip and all would work out.  After all, see my seat number?  Then, while we were checking in at the hotel the music playing in the background told me Dad was still watching over us.

A Journal for Memories

Mom and I are going to make journals of our favorite Portugal memories.  Here is the book for mine.  It's one I made ages ago (so long I can't really remember when).  I didn't like the way it was looking when I made it, so it's been languishing on a shelf in my studio.  I dug it out and added some collage and Uszzhhhhh.  Then I decorated the binding with ribbons, yarns and charms as I didn't like the look of the spiral binding.   The inside is watercolor paper which I think I will smoosh up some with different paints before I add my mementos to them. I'm always intimidated by the 'blank page', so hopefully some attention to the white paper before hand will help my creativity block!!!!

Michael DeMeng's Portugal Workshop: The Navigator's Journal

Well.....a new day!!!  After many things that life unexpectedly threw my way, I've been able to return to my creativity.  Many thanks to you, Mom, for taking me along to the Michael DeMeng workshop in Portugal.  Here is my piece from the fantastical nine day trip we took together.  I have SOOooooooooooooo many wonderful memories of our time together, the beautiful setting and the lovely new friends made!  My book started it's life as a 1964 dictionary found at the GoodWill for a couple of bucks.  It was gutted and new interior made from foam core/paints/paper.  The techniques we learned were amazing and I will be using them many times over in future projects.