#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!

#20 Todo sobre mi Madre | All about my Mother

Marta Leonor, nacida el 6 de Marzo ES... 

... VERDE, ama el campo y el aire libre, "Chiquititas, salgan a disfrutar de la naturaleza" lo comprueba 

... DOCENTE Y MUY PACIENTE! Amante de su vocacion (y afortunada diriamos nosotras!) 

... APASIONADA Y EFUSIVA en sus creencia, pensamientos, sentimientos e inclinaciones politicas 

... TIENE MUCHA ENERGIA, tanta que hasta a veces su manera de relajarse es trabajar. ("En orbita, chiquititas!" otra frase famosa) 

... UNA GRAN RELATORA, de peliculas especialmente, es como si la estuvieras viendo en el cine, con lujo de detalles 

... UNA GRAN AMIGA

... UN POCO EXAGERADA, aunque no lo haga a proposito (y no le guste reconocerlo) tiende a agrandar un poco las situaciones (pero esta cualidad abunda en las mujeres de la familia, incluyendonos! por eso no esta sola en esto!) 

... NUESTRA MADRE, que es perfectamente imperfecta en su rol (lejos estamos de ser nosotras las hijas perfectas). Ella hace lo mejor que le sale y con las mejores intenciones. Y aunque a veces no parezca, lo valoramos.

Feliz Cumple Mama! Te amamos, Guillermina & Florencia :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marta Leonor, born March 6 IS...

... GREEN, he loves the countryside and the outdoors, "Chiquititas, come out to enjoy nature" proves it!

... A TEACHER AND VERY PATIENT! She loves what she does (lucky her we reckon!)

... PASSIONATE AND EFFUSIVE in her beliefs, thoughts, feelings and political taste.

... HAS LOTS OF ENERGY, so sometimes even his way of relaxing is working ("In orbit, chiquititas" another famous phrase)

... A GREAT STORYTELLER, especially when telling films, it's as though you were watching it in the theater, she doesn't miss a detail

... A GREAT FRIEND

... A BIT EXAGGERATED, a drama queen, but she doesn't do it on purpose (and she doesn't like to admit it either) tends to overreact some situations (but this quality runs in women of the family, including us! so she is not alone in this!)

... OUR MOTHER, who is perfectly imperfect in her role (we are far from being the perfect daughters ourselves). She does her best with the best intentions. And though sometimes it may not seem, we value that!

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you, Guillermina & Florencia :)  

Este estampado esta basado en esta fotos de 1975. Que guapa Marta!

Inspirado en la obra del artista pop Andy Warhol.

This pattern is based on this photo from 1975. Pretty Marta!

Inspired by the work of pop artist Andy Warhol. 

#19 Goosebumps

Considering that goosebumps are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions such as fear, nostalgia, pleasure, admiration, etc. When was the last time you remember having the goosebumps?

Mine was listening to Adele's Someone like you! What a voice!

Not many things get me goosebumps (apart from being cold of course!) but I do get emotional a lot, like I a weep for everything (I told you I was a crier!) I also suffer from a severe case of blushing! ohhhh yes! And it runs in the family, BIG time! I get nervous, I blush! All red: face, ears, neck, boiling hot!... but I am learning to get over it! beside I heard somewhere that creative people blush! (note: this fact might be invented by my sister, to make us feel good about our blushing!) Opy x

PS: I bet you'll remember this post next time you have the goosebumps!

#18 A classic with a twist

To keep in line with fashion, that seem to be in every news these days (all those fashion weeks), I wanted to create an alternative to a classic I love: the houndstooth. My first encounter with this pattern was my school uniform: a pleated skirt with a very small black and white hounstooth pattern, simple yet classic, of course I didn't like it at that moment, who can blame me, we were so young!

Also called houndstooth check or hound's tooth (Pata de gallo in Spanish), this duotone textile pattern is characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes (often in black and white). They originated in woven wool cloth of the Scottish Lowlands, but are now used in many other materials. 

In my effort to try different techniques (who wants to playing it safe all the time?), I painted two checks with watercolours, scanned them and repeated them. The result is an imperfect but quite interesting pattern that I reckon it could look pretty good in a fabric and even a wall or wrapping paper. Do you concur? Opy x

#17½ VIVA la Vida

This is a special post to share with you this awesome note published in VIVA Wednesday 23 February. VIVA is a weekly magazine from the NZ Herald (one of the most important newspaper here) and celebrates "the good things in life". For me it has become like a bible for design, fashion and all things happening right now, right here (and out there). I've been a follower since my first job in NZ 9 years ago (yesterday was exactly 9 years since I first landed here, I know! Double WOW!). I am honoured and pleased that I was featured in one of the pages, I have to confess it was a dream to appear in the magazine, and I did! So this is a clear example that if you really want something and you work for it, it will eventually happen! (Important note: one must have a dream to follow, then, I believe, you are half way there). Let me thank not only the awesome team at VIVA, but also my family, friends, collegues and followers for the constant support and feedback, knowing what you think and feel is an important part of this project, it gives me energy and confidence to keep creating. So Thank You! Opy x

PS: this week's pattern come with a bit of a delay. I've been so over the moon that I haven't had a minute to sit and do... so watch this space!

#17 A la Moda

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. 

Coco Chanel

#16 NN

If you were expecting a Valentine's design, you are wrong my friends! 

I am not going to get into details why, enough said.

So instead I came up with this things, symbols or whatever you want to call them.

A Mandala? Who knows? I am not going to try to label it, because let's face it, just like in life, some things just don't have a reason to be. I mean, most of the time, themes have a sense, but sometimes, it is what it is, just triangles and circles, thrown together nicely for a pretty pattern that hopefully some day will become a textile for a cushions or a duvet cover. What a dreamer this pattern! Oh well, they do say that if you are gonna dream, may as well dream big, no? Love, Opy ♥

#15 Band of Peculiar Dogs

Last weekend was a long one, so with a bit of extra time in my hands, I started drawing these dogs and thinking what if they have a life? A peculiar personality? Something different... 

#14 Lucky Dragon

I am so thrilled! Thanks Bowie Style for posting my project in Print & Pattern!

http://www.printpattern.blogspot.com/2012/01/designer-opys-pattern-project.html

This blog is huge when it comes to surface pattern, so I am honoured that she acknowledged my project. 

By consequence I had a great response from people all over the world, in particular Leanne Carpentier, she wrote a great post about my blog, thank you so much!

http://lcarpentier.blogspot.com/2012/01/opys-pattern-project-blog.html

It is really rewarding when also fellow designers appreciate and value your work. 

All the praises keep my spirits up and renew my energy to keep doing it!

For this week pattern, you probably have already figured out why I've chosen a dragon: the Year of the Dragon, well not only that, this week, here in NZ, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is opening in theatres. I've been waiting anxious for this movie since I found out that David Fincher was going to direct it (he did the Fight Club so I know he will not disappoint), also Daniel Craig is eye candy bonus.

I read the books and watched the Swedish movies, both awesome, I am pretty sure they are not going to ruin his "american" version, however I doubt Mara could match Noomi Rapace performance (she nails the role) but I guess her Oscar nomination could prove me wrong. 

May you have luck when you see this pattern, as the Year of the Dragon is considered the luckiest year in the Chinese Zodiac.

#13 Paris je t'aime

pah-REE, the city of lights. The city that instantly became one of my favourites. I could tell you dozens of reasons why I love Paris: croissants, museums, parks, shops, cafes, baguettes, fashion, The Tower, crepes, parisiennes, macaroons, the metro... because what's there not to love? But my true reason I wanted to go to Paris: Amelie, I love that movie and since I watched it I wanted to go to this place where everything was green and red. And oh la la! I did not disappoint! Luckily I was able to go there twice. Paris is always a good idea!

Though I often looked for one, I finally had to admit that there could be no cure for Paris.

From The Paris Wife, a Hemingway novel.

PS:  Paris even has it own green (used above), "Paris Green" is an inorganic compound, highly toxic emerald-green crystalline powder that has been used as a rodenticide and insecticide, as well as a pigment for wallpapers, inks and watercolours.

#12 (Not) Singing in the rain

Rain... lovely rain, cheeky rain, annoying rain, undesirable rain! 

Can you tell I am frustrated with this "Summer"? Here, in the South Pacific, is supposed to be sunny warm summer, but NO! It is obvious that the sun decided to sit somewhere else, like South American and Dubai. I know, I shouldn't be complaining, there are far more worse things, but when you spend the entire Autum, Winter and Spring, wishing for hot and sunny days, and what we get are grey and damp weeks, I can only think of complaining, why? Why? WHY?! Forget La Niña, El Niño and all that nonsense! It feels personal! Hahaha.

I guess I (and probably the rest of NZ) will have to get over it (or move countries).

Enjoy the sun wherever you are (if you can!) Opy

#11 Wild Horses

Happy 2012! All the best with a little bit of luck!

During these holidays I watched the trailer for the movie "War Horse" (an Spielberg film that it seems to be one of those "life is beautiful" movie that I will probably watch and weep like a baby) and it got me thinking about how beautiful these animals are. Truly I haven't been in contact with many horses in my life, at my grandfather's farm there was this old horse called "Pibe" we didn't really connect much (I am not an animal person) but I remember he was nice to observe, tall and noble with so much presence and style.

For the colours I used CMYK, for those of you who might not know, this colour mode is used in colour printing, and is also used to describe the printing process itself. CMYK refers to the four inks used in some colour printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).

See you next week, Opy

PS: remember the movie "El Corcel Negro" (The Black Stallion)? Oh boy! That is definitely a "life is beautiful" movie! Love it!

#10 Soul Sister

Today is my sister's, Guillermina, 35th birthday. Those lucky to have met her, already know how special and unique she is. She is not only my sister, she also my longtime best friend, an awesome mother, a passionate singer and funny performer.

I don't really need to tell you how much I love her, she already knows... however, this pattern and this poem are my gifts to her, Happy Birthday Guille! Opy

                               I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
                               I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear;

                               and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)
                               I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

                               I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
                               and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
                               and whatever a sun will always sing is you

                               Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
                               (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
                               and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
                               higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
                               and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

                               I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

                               E. E. Cummings

PS: Yes! it is from the movie "In her Shoes", didn't you cried when you get to this part?