#39 Star Friends

Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are always there!

I'm lucky, I have a good share of very different friends: some are tall, some are short, some are fun, others a tad serious, some are free spirits, others are conformists, some are open minded, some think the world revolve around them, some are creative, others like numbers, some are tidy neat, others are messy, some dance, some are goofy, lots cook heavenly, some are parents, a few are blood family, with some I can talk for hours, with others I can share silence. In any case, I've chosen to have them in my life, as well as they accept me to be in theirs. I'm thankful for their persona, they sure enrich and make my life colourful! Happy "Friend's Day"!

#38 Today

As we all know, life could be a bit unpredictable, sometimes we cannot know what's around the corner, so would it be crazy to live and enjoy every day as if is our last? well yes! but we can at least try, no?

And I don't mean bungyjumping, or some extreme activity that will raise your adrenaline, making you feel "alive". I believe its more about the little things, about being greatful and not giving things for granted. Things that seem simply but most times get overshadowed by routine (among other nonsense). 

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero

Seize the Day, putting as little trust as possible in the future

#37 Buildings

A bit inspired by the movie Sidewalls (Medianeras), set in Buenos Aires, Argentina.. showing beautiful (and not so beautiful) buildings... I loved it from the beginning until the end, my kind of feel good movie. It has some killer quotes in regards to swimming, texting and internet dating, but you will have to watch it if you want to hear them.. in the mean time I leave you with Martin's opening monologue... it makes more sense with the images but anyway...

"Buenos Aires is growing uncontrollably and imperfectly. Its a hugely populated city. A city in which thousands of buildings rise into the sky arbitrarily… Next to a tall one, there’s a small one. Next to a rational one, an irrational one. Next to a French one, one without style. These irregularity reflect us perfectly… irregularities that are both aesthetic and ethic. These buildings without any logic represent bad planning, just like our lives; we have no idea how we want them to be. We live in Buenos Aires as if it were a stopover; we’ve created a tenant culture. The buildings are becoming smaller and smaller to make space for even smaller ones. Apartments are measured by the number of rooms and range from 5: with balconies, playrooms, and maids quarters to 1: a studio apartment, or a shoebox. Just like almost all manmade objects, the buildings reflect the differences between us: there’s a front and a backside, high and low apartments. Privileged people have the letter A, sometimes B… the farther back the alphabet goes, the worse the apartment. The promised views and brightness rarely coincide with reality. What can be expected of a city that turns it back to its river?"

#36 Seagulls by 8 Year Old Me

Recently my mother and father moved houses, in the process they found a drawing I made back when I was 8 years old, they sent it to me and amaze by it, I couldn't believe the unusual seagulls that I drew on the sky, so It was decided that I will use it as an element for a pattern.

The pink seagull is the original from my drawing, the rest shows how the figure for the pattern was constructed

Dear 8 year old me, 

25 years later, I am writing to you with some piece of advise:

- Your Barbie is made of plastic, it won't come alive, so stop praying and wasting energies on useless things.

- Don't worry about silly things, and don't overreact, nothing is so bad. The sooner you realise this, the better you will enjoy the little things. 

- Love your body at every age, you are not as chubby as you think. But please when you reach your late teens take example from your friends and start exercising. 

- Concentrate on searching on what drives you, on what makes you happy.

- Screw Disney and their Prince Charming. The only person that you have to impress is yourself!

- Early 2001, take out of all your saving from the bank, if not by the end of the year your Government is going to screw you, big time! 

- In 2003 you will move to two little islands in the South Pacific, a very good decision! But remember they are NOT tropical islands!

#35 Eat Cake!

Happy Birthday my precious Franca!!!! 3 years old, but not little at all! I wish I was there to blow the 3 candles with you, my darling. Maybe next year. I'm just grateful to your parents for bringing such an adorable creature to my world. I'm also grateful for free Skype. I promised I practice my Italian, so we can have better chit chats. And I hope you enjoy your first My Little Pony, it was one of my favourite toys when I was a kid! Remember there is not such a thing as too many brushes to that beautiful plastic pastel hair! 

Querida Ana, happy twentyten birthday to you, my mexican soulmate! Where would I be if it weren't for you? You are the dot to my i, the chimichurri to my meat and the heroin of my comic life! Total thanks! now... lets dance!

#34 Dot, Dot, Dot

Paul Klee said "A line is a dot that went for a walk", well then, here we have a crowd of lines, walking? talking? connecting? Or are they people in a concert? or peas in a soup? or lost full stops? 

what ever you want them to be, they are! 

Ah! you are so great, and I am so small,   

I tremble to think of you, World, at all;   

And yet, when I said my prayers to-day,   

A whisper inside me seemed to say, 

"You are more than the earth, though you are such a dot; 

 You can love and think, and the earth cannot!"   

William Brighty Rands 

This is also another thanks to ApetitPois, for your post and because you suggested it! Enjoy! Opy x

#33 Melbourne

What is it about Melbourne?

Last weekend, I got the chance to go for the second time to this exciting city, and what do I think of it?

That if, thrown together: music, cafes, markets, street art, books, quirky stuff, photography, art galleries, festivals, bike trips, trams, St Kilda pier, the Yarra and creeks, gigs, theatre, fashion, food, fashionistas & hipsters (plus a few nut people, why not?)

you get the most livable city in the World! (and this is not invented by me!)

The pattern is inspired by the awesome Federation Square and

the colours by the City of Melbourne unique logo

#32 More Roses

Because there is never enough floral patterns.. and roses are so nice to the eye

...I put on my floral dress, sunglasses and off to the beach, where it's sunny and warm, the water is at perfect temperature, the book is the perfect read... care to join me?

A girl can dream... Opy x

PS: Many thanks ApetitPois, your post is awesome. Your blog is divine! http://apetitpoisdesign.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/opys-pattern-project.html?spref=fb

#31 Argentina

25 de Mayo, Feliz Dia de la Revolucion! Above all, I'm from Argentina, and although for the past 9 years I've chosen to live abroad, I try never to forget my roots. I don't know if I will ever live there again, now I'm so used to another way of life (neither better nor worse, just different), it is hard for me to look back. Many things make Argentina such a special place, if you never visit or don't know or never know someone from this wonderful country, this pattern showcases some of the most iconic symbols (at least according to me)

1. Sol de Mayo this golden sun with 32 rays (16 undulated and 16 straight) is one of our national emblems, you can find it in coins, the flag and the coat of arms.

2. Fútbol, a passion of Argentina, need to mention Maradona or Messi?

3. Asado, in this case goat in a stake, but it's mainly beef meat, it's all about the meat, tender and tasty. The cooking of the meat it's an art, charcoal or woodfire, there is no other option! We can certainly said that in Argentina being a vegetarian is frown upon.

4. El hornero, ovenbirds is another national emblem, their woodfire oven house are lovely and too cute!

5. La escarapela, the cockade, a national emblem with same white and light blue as the flag, is wear to show pride during important dates like 25 de Mayo

6. Mate is an infused drink, prepared with the yerba mate leaves and hot water (mostly). It's serve with a straw called bombilla in a shallow calabash gourd referred as Mate. It's traditionally drunk in a particular social setting such as family gatherings or with friends. Some like mate amargo (bitter) or mate dulce (sweet - like me!)

7. Alpargatas this typical canvas shoes are the simplest and cheapest footwear you can find, it's so funny to see them so in fashion these days!

8. Alfajor is the preferred sweet, two biscuits joined together with lots of dulce de leche (sort of a caramel) coated with chocolate. Yummy!!!

#30 I See You

I spy, with my little EYE, something beginning with E

EYE candy

The EYE of the storm

Hungry EYES

The naked EYE

The apple of one's EYE

Meet someone's EYE

In the blink of an EYE

Easy on the EYE

Catch someone's EYE

Black EYE

An EYE for an EYE

The evil EYE

#29 madmenmania

I've been so obsessed with Mad Men lately that I wanted to do something with a 60s design feeling. If you never watched the show, and you love vintage/retro design, I recommend you watch it, fashion and furniture are incredibly true to those years (at least that's what they said!). The story and dinamics are also amazing of course, but maybe not everybody cup of tea, the pace is rather slower than the typical nowadays shows. What I like most is how they manage to include news, music and art from that time, not to mention advertising, and how things and relationships used to work back then, oh so much different that now (well maybe not all things are much different). Also the characters are just perfect, you love them and you hate at some point, specially Don, such an adorable handsome douchebag! 

Let the draping begin! (ooooooh yes! this is happening!)

#28 Strange

I confess that this design started as a simple and classic Chevron pattern, but even if I tried, it didn't stay the same for too long, so somewhere between boredom and silliness it became shapes, that among them hide secret characters... can you see them?

... and who doesn't love a big chunky moustache?

#27 Whale Watch

This week comes with delay, just laziness. 

Like some other times, I was panicking about what to do, I asked my marine biologist friend, and she said: Why don't you do a pattern about whales? They just arrived to Puerto Madryn.

Great idea, why not? I said. They are, after all, the biggest mammals, and they seem to be fascinating creatures.

Puerto Madryn is a city East of Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, very famous for it's whale watching. I have actually never been there, but according to many it's an amazing city where you get to live one of the best sealife experiences. And my friend knows best! She is from the mainland, but from the moment she saw the whales at an early age, she had "the calling" and she knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. So when time came, she moved to Madryn where she went to UNI, and lucky me she is here now, still studying, happy about being surrounded by oceans. It is sooooo cool to have a marine biologist as friend, its like having my own personal wikipedia! So have you ever seen a whale? Opy x

#26½ Halfway There

I can't believe 6 months have passed since I started this project. What a journey! So much learning, such a good exercise for consistency and discipline. Hard work but so worth it!

Thanks to my friends, family and followers for your constant support. You already know that your words of encouragement are an important part of this process.

And as a gift... don't you love the above quote? It's simplicity and message really inspires me. It's taken from the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" a David Fincher film, loosely based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It has superb acting and killer phrases. Enjoy! Opy

#26 The Piano

Tonight I was having dinner at my friends' place, one of whom is a pianist. Even though their house is cosy and small, a black shiny piano lives on the living room, and rather than being just another piece of furniture, it's more like a giant presence, impossible not to admire. How lovely is to listen someone playing piano, emotional (goosbumps for sure!) and lucky those who have the talent to play it, they make it look so easy. Me, always curious, wanted to know the inside about someone who plays it, not only as a passion but also for a living. I found my friend's answer quite fascinating:

A piano is clumsy and demanding (something like a neurotic girlfriend, that you can't bring nowhere!)

It's a relationship of mutual possession.

Sometimes you play the piano, but other times the piano plays you!

PS: Thank you Frankie magazine for the mention on your e-newsletter! The copy is lovely!

http://www.frankie.com.au/newsletter/

#25 Red, Red Wine

I know close to nothing about wines: about colours, textures or flavours. 

What I do know: that I prefer red over white, that it relaxes me, that it dyes my tongue, that makes me sleepy and of course, how much I like it. Not that I am a big drinker, but I do enjoy a glass (or two) some evenings (ok, afternoons on a Saturday, you got me!)

"Drink to celebrate fullness, not to fill emptiness"

#24 Happy Easter

Bunny rabbits wiggle,


So much they make me giggle.


They wiggle their ears,


They wiggle their nose,


The tail on their rear,


Wiggles too, I suppose.


And just when I say “Stop wiggling, stop!”


They wiggle all over, and take a big hop!

May you have an Easter full of laughter, chocolate and good weather!

Opy x

# 23 Life's Recipe by Me

Ingredients

1 cup of friends

1 cup of family

1 litre of humour

1/2 cup of creativity

100 ml of personality

50 ml of common sense

4 tbsp of passion

2 tbsp of craziness

4 tsp of patience

2 Pinches of curiosity

pinch of silliness

Dash of drama

Cooking Instructions

Do you have them? Because I don't... I probably lost them somewhere between my late teens and mid 20s, so now I just throw ingredients together and wish for the best. If you haven't try this freestyle cooking, I dare you! It's yuck sometimes but when it turn out ok is delicious! Even if is not the flavour that you hoped for!

So how are you cooking these days?

#22 Mapuche

Inspired by the Mapuche textile art, here is my version of the "Tribal Print" (very much in trend this days). 

The Mapuche are one of three surviving tribes of the ancient Araucanian linguistic group of indigenous who lived in south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina before the Incas or the Spaniards arrived. The Mapuche, whose name means "people of the land" are gifted craftsmen. Their textiles, in beautifully blended colors, borrow designs from the Incas, with squares, stepped, and zigzagged lines dominating. 

If you are lucky you may have seen this fabulous form of craft in its environment, if not, consider a trip to South America next time you plan a holiday, I am positive it will be one of the best experiences of your life, and I am not just saying that!

#21 Roses are Big, Blue & Bold

Don't you just love bold lines?

When I was a kid I was obsessed with Snoopy & Garfield, in those times, it was difficult to find pictures or stationery about them, and then when I finally managed to get something, I wanted to apply it everywhere for every occasion Eg Birthday cards, letters. I used tracing paper to copy their images with pencil, then transfer them to paper, then colour them and last, I drew the bold black lines, ahhhh my favourite part! so much dedication! But it was worth it, with no computer or scanner everything was like that! I am from a generation that adopted "resourceful" as its middle name (imagine our parents or grandparents generations, the imagination! such a troopers!) 

Coming back to lines, one of my favourites artist that based his work on thick lines was Keith Haring, such a talent! I love his bright and bold figures, they have so much energy, with a real power to communicate. If you never heard of him, check the official website, I am sure you will like his work too http://www.haring.com/ his drawings put a smile on my face!