While 2024 was filled with unforgettable moments, one trip brought me immense joy and inspiration! We travelled through California, exploring everything from mountains to deserts, bustling cities to charming villages.
A standout design highlight was visiting an iconic site in LA – The Eames House, also known as Case Study House No. 8. This landmark of mid-20th-century modern architecture was designed and built in 1949 by the renowned duo Charles and Ray Eames as their home and studio. The experience was truly unforgettable!
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During a visit to @casa_do_esparto_, I spotted this belt pocket purse and instantly knew how I’d use it - perfect for carrying little Arlo’s treats on our walks. This great piece is by Maria José, an Esparto master I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with on several occasions at @loule_criativo .
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Durante uma visita à @casa_do_esparto_ , deparei-me com esta bolsa de cinto e soube de imediato como iria usá-la – perfeita para levar os prémios do pequeno Arlo nos nossos passeios. Esta peça incrível é da Maria José, uma mestra do esparto com quem tive o prazer de colaborar em várias ocasiões no @loule_criativo .
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Here are some more gift ideas I’ve been gathering from artisans I deeply admire!
Starting in the Algarve, these super cute donkey heads bring me joy every day. A traditional handicraft from the region, they were crafted by the masters Fernanda and Aldegundes from @casa_do_esparto_. You can find them in the quaint interior village of Sarnadas. For more details, check out @loule_criativo shop in Loulé.
If you’re in Bilbao, don’t miss the ceramics by Alejandro Moia (@alemo.ceramics ). His pieces are available at @konectarts and are truly worth exploring.
Now, in London, Arjan’s work stands out for its stunning use of color, but I also adore these two pared-down, super-elegant cups. Their perfect shape and smooth exterior make them feel like perfection in your hands. Each piece is handcrafted on the wheel - no molds involved! @arjanvandal_ceramics
Finally, we’re back in the Algarve for the water carafe we designed in collaboration with @ricardoswheel for the De Loulé collection. Ricardo’s masterful craftsmanship ensures that every piece is unique and unrepeatable. You can find these treasures at the @loule_criativo shop.
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While everyone rushes to find the perfect gifts, we’d like to highlight a few recommendations, all centered around handmade products. We believe that exceptional craftsmanship adds value to any item, and the love and care put into each piece are felt for years to come.
We’ll begin with this elegant set of two jewelry boxes we designed during our residency ‘De Loulé’. We are incredibly proud of the final result, all thanks to the expertise and precision of Sonia Mendez, who took on the challenge of exploring palm weaving on a micro scale, working with finer palm leaves to create something truly special.
Check them out @loule_criativo shop in Loulé, Algarve.
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Enquanto nos apressamos para encontrar os presentes perfeitos, gostaríamos de destacar algumas sugestões, todas centradas em produtos feitos à mão. Acreditamos que a excepcional arte de bem fazer acrescenta valor a qualquer peça, e o amor e cuidado colocados em cada criação são sentidos ao longo do tempo.
Começamos com este elegante conjunto de duas caixas de joias que desenhámos durante a residência “De Loulé”. Estamos extremamente orgulhosos do resultado final, graças à perícia e precisão de Sonia Mendez @soniamendezartesa, que aceitou o desafio de explorar a arte de entrelaçar palma numa escala micro, trabalhando com folhas de palma mais finas para criar algo verdadeiramente especial.
Encontre-as na loja @loule_criativo em Loulé.
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Lastly, we would like to highlight significant projects related to Esparto, developed for @cooperativaqrer, which was awarded the 2023 Portuguese National Crafts Award in the ‘Private Entity’ category.
Esparto has deep roots in the Algarve’s culture, historically used for various everyday objects and local economic activities. Although its use is now limited, the growing interest in it, driven by ecological concerns, led QRER to stimulate sustainable initiatives around this material.
We organised a 5 week intensive course to train new artisans, focusing on the Master-Apprentice knowledge transfer. The Creative Residency continued the course from 2021, with 8 participants, 6 of whom had already taken part in the previous training.
The pieces created were displayed in the exhibition “Despertar o Esparto,” launched in January 2023, aiming to promote the art of Esparto. The exhibition has already been shown at various strategic locations.
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Por último, gostaríamos de destacar projetos significativos relacionados com o Esparto, desenvolvidos para a @cooperativaqrer, que foi premiada com o Prémio Nacional de Artesanato 2023, na categoria de ‘Entidade Privada’.m
O Esparto tem raízes profundas na cultura do Algarve, sendo utilizado em diversos objetos essenciais ao quotidiano e às atividades económicas locais. Hoje, o seu uso é limitado, mas o interesse crescente, devido a preocupações ecológicas, motivou a QRER a estimular iniciativas sustentáveis em torno deste material.
Inicialmente organizámos um curso intensivo de 5 semanas para formar novos artesãos, focando na transmissão de saberes Mestre - Aprendiz. A Residência Criativa deu continuidade ao curso de 2021, com 8 participantes, 6 dos quais já haviam participado na formação anterior.
As peças criadas foram expostas na itinerante “Despertar o Esparto”, inaugurada em janeiro de 2023, com o objetivo de promover a arte do esparto. A exposição já passou por diversos locais estratégicos.
As part of the Algarve Craft & Food project, of which it is a co-promoter, QRER developed a series of activities focused on promoting handicrafts in connection with local gastronomy and food traditions.
In this context, we curated the Creative Residency with the aim of bringing together chefs, designers, and artisans, creating a creative and interdisciplinary environment to explore new solutions for combining Algarve’s gastronomy and craftsmanship.
The residency involved collective sessions, discussions on challenges, visits to artisan workshops, and gastronomic experiences in various contexts.
After technical visits and brainstorming sessions, the teams began creating pieces and defining a work plan.
The results of the experimentation were presented, and 13 products were selected for prototyping.
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No âmbito do projeto Algarve Cra & Food, do qual é copromotora, a QRER desenvolveu um conjunto de atividades que se focaram na promoção do artesanato em articulação com a gastronomia e tradições alimentares locais.
Neste âmbito, fomos curadores da Residência Criativa com a intenção de colocar em colaboração chefs, designers e artesãos, criando deste modo o ambiente criativo e interdisciplinar apropriado para pensar novas soluções de combinação entre gastronomia e artesanato do Algarve.
A residência envolveu sessões coletivas, discussões sobre desafios, visitas às oficinas de artesãos e experiências gastronómicas em diferentes contextos.
Após visitas técnicas e sessões de brainstorming, as equipas começaram a criar peças e a definir um plano de trabalho.
Os resultados da experimentação foram apresentados e 13 produtos foram selecionados para prototipagem.
We would like to remember here some warm moments and products from the Cane Creative Residency developed for @cooperativaqrer, with designers @sugo.design and master artisan Ana Silva.
Cane, a key part of Algarve’s cultural heritage, is particularly abundant in Alcoutim, Baixo Guadiana. Traditionally used by artisans to craft everyday artifacts and architectural elements, its use has dwindled, now largely limited to a residual traditional basketry.
The residency sought to revive its use by creating playful artisanal pieces inspired by traditional games and objects, blending contemporary elements. The programme included two phases: conceptual work between designers and experienced artisans, and knowledge-sharing with new participants. Simplified techniques ensure accessibility, enabling the creation of small, culturally rooted, and easy-to-make objects with minimal additional materials.
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Gostaríamos de relembrar aqui alguns momentos e produtos marcantes da Residência Criativa da Cana desenvolvida para a @cooperativaqrer, com os designers @sugo.design e a mestre artesã Ana Silva.
A cana, parte essencial do património cultural algarvio, é particularmente abundante em Alcoutim, no Baixo Guadiana. Tradicionalmente utilizada pelos artesãos para criar artefactos do quotidiano e elementos arquitetónicos, actualmente apenas encontrada na quase extinta cestaria.
A residência teve como objetivo inspirar o seu uso, criando peças artesanais lúdicas, nomeadamente jogos e objetos tradicionais, misturando elementos contemporâneos. O programa foi dividido em duas fases: trabalho conceptual entre designers e artesãos experientes e partilha de conhecimento com novos participantes. Técnicas simplificadas garantiram acessibilidade, permitindo a criação de pequenos objetos, com forte ligação cultural e fáceis de executar, com o mínimo de materiais adicionais.
As we approach the final stretch of 2024, we received the incredible news that @cooperativaqrer has been awarded the 2023 Portuguese National Crafts Award in the category of “Private Entity”. I’m immensely proud to have collaborated on and contributed to nearly all the activities that led to this well deserved recognition.
Between 2021 and 2023, we partnered with Cooperativa QRER to implement a series of initiatives involving master artisans, apprentices, and designers. These efforts aimed to promote the use of natural and local materials, highlight their potential as innovative resources, and explore new ways to incorporate them into the broader handmade economy.
I would like to express my appreciation for the trust from all the Cooperativa QRER team and directors, and also for the wise advice from Graça Palma from @proactivetur.
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Quase a terminar 2024, recebemos a incrível notícia de que a @cooperativaqrer foi distinguida com o Prémio Nacional de Artesanato 2023, na categoria de ‘Entidade Privada’. Sinto-me imensamente orgulhoso por ter colaborado e contribuído para quase todas as atividades que levaram a este merecido reconhecimento.
Entre 2021 e 2023, estabelecemos uma parceria com a Cooperativa QRER para implementar uma série de iniciativas envolvendo mestres artesãos, aprendizes e designers. Estes esforços tiveram como objetivo formar novos artesãos, promover o uso de materiais naturais e locais, destacar o seu potencial como recursos inovadores e explorar formas de os incorporar na economia do artesanato.
Gostaria de expressar a minha gratidão pela confiança de toda a equipa e direção da Cooperativa QRER, bem como pelos sábios conselhos da Graça Palma, da @proactivetur.
Estas iniciativas foram cofinanciadas por dois projetos:
- Magallanes_ICC, beneficiando do cofinanciamento do Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), do programa INTERREG V A España-Portugal (POCTEP)
2014-2020, bem como dos Municípios de Alcoutim e de Loulé.
- Algarve Crafts & Food, cofinanciado pelo CRESC Algarve 2020 e pelo aspirante a Geoparque Algarvensis Loulé-Silves-Albufeira.
Unboxing this beautiful sample box from @houseofhackney
We are highly selective with the materials and fabrics we use, but it’s impossible to overlook pieces created with such intention and character. Every project deserves a unique touch—whether it calls for a simple, understated approach or intricate, luxurious details. The key is understanding our clients’ personalities to define the perfect direction.
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Stepping outside… well, someone’s definitely overdue for a trim! 🌳✂️
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Sometimes, you have to strip everything back to reveal what lies beneath—and then decide whether to let it be or rebuild it stronger and better. Here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the messy, yet essential, part of the design journey.
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This is also part of the project—dusty floors, scattered tools, and a vision still coming together. But this is where the magic begins! This reminds us that transformation takes work, patience, and a whole lot of love for the process.
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A favourite place that never ceases to inspire. Exploring the sleek and elegant curves by Kengo Kuma at the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian. The perfect blend of nature and contemporary design, where architectural lines meet organic forms.
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While at the partner factory, we started sampling out different wood textures and materials to find the perfect match for our upcoming projects.
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Exploring beautiful machinery at our partner factory! Gearing up for some exciting upcoming projects—can't wait to bring these designs to life.
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