Ethnic Miao - II

Have a look!

Amazing, isn't it? This is one pic I chose online. I haven't got the chance to visit Miao area yet, when I go back to China next time, I will visit for sure and take lots of photos (*^__^*)

The whole set above must be heavy, I guess at least several kilos. I have to try next time during my visit. I don't think the girls are wearing all these everyday, it must be something very percious and they only wear during festivals and celebrations.

There is a widespread legend about the ancestor of Miao tribe. At the beginning of the world, a butterfly was borned inside a maple tree. This butterfly fell in love with the bubles in the river, afterwards she laid 12 eggs. One egg became the ancestor of Miao, and all the other 11 eggs turned into different creatures in the world. So Miao people believe the butterfly is the mother of their ancestor, and regard her as "Butterfly Mama".

Miao people like to use figures like butterfly and maple leaves in their embroideries, batiks and bijutarias, to in memory of their ancestors. They also use a lot different creatures such as animals (dragon, phenix, fish...) and plants (flowers) to symbolize productive and lively life.

So, this is what I know about Miao. I'm very looking forward to visiting Guizhou, it's a neighbouring provice of my hometown Sichuan, so I shouldn't miss it when going back next time!

One more pic of cute Miao kids O(∩_∩)O

Ethnic Miao - I

During my last two fairs, I exhibited some original bijutaria from one ethnic in China, a lot of people showed a lot of interest. Now I just put some of these biju in Loja Qiao, so I think it's good to talk about this ethnic group here (*^__^*)

So the ethnic is called MIAO, and most of them live in the province of Guizhou and Yunnan, very south of China. I don't know if you have any idea of Chinese geography, anyway, you can easily google them.

When talking about Miao, there are 3 things which cannot be NOT mentioned: BIJUTARIA, EMBROIDERY and BATIK. I love the embroidery and batik too, hope in the future I can talk about them here.

We Chinese usually say Miao Silver when referring Miao bijutaria. But actually these traditional trinkets are not only made from silver, but also copper-nickel alloy. That's why the value is less than pure silver biju.

......to be continued

See you this weekend!

So, I have been preparing for Mundo Mix these days, but I feel sort of guilty because I didn't update my blog much :-(

Sorry that I haven't got much time to put all my new collections here, but if you come to visit Mundo Mix Estoril this weekend, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Okay, I'm going back to work now, see you soon at Estoril!

Introduction - Autumn Collection

Summer is leaving, autumn is coming; holidays are finishing, works and schools are starting. New start, new look ---a relaxing 'formal' blouse :-)

1. Size M, Bust: 92cm, Sleeve Length: 59cm, Cuff: 20cm, Clothes Length: 78cm, Size L, Bust: 96cm, Sleeve Length: 59cm, Cuff: 22cm, Clothes Length: 80cm.
2. Textile: cotton
3. Model: 162cm, 51kg, in Size M

Any idea of the Vietnamese style? The elegant piece above is kind of. Or I can say it is the Vietnamese style interpreted by the Chinese designer o(∩_∩)o...

1. Size M, Shoulder-Shoulder: 36cm, Sleeve Length: 63cm, Bust: 90cm, Waist: 76cm, Clothes Length: 86cm, Size L, Shoulder-Shoulder: 38cm, Sleeve Length: 65cm, Bust: 94cm, Waist: 80cm, Clothes Length:88 cm
2. Textile: cotton, linen
3. Model: 158cm, 50kg, in Size M. Photographer: 170cm, 61kg, fits into size L.

Only one word for this piece...AMAZING...

1. Size Unique, Bust: unlimited, Waist: unlimited.
2. Textile: velvet
3. Model: 158cm, 50kg

Classical, also modern...

1. Size Unique, Bust: 92cm, Sleeve Length: 23cm, Clothes Length (front): 55cm, Clothes Length (back): 54cm, Clothes Length (sides): 75cm
2. Textile: cotton
3. Model: 162cm, 51kg

Mundo Mix Estoril

A minha próxima feira~~~~~~

Autumn Collection

It has been a long time...Now the first Autumn Collection is open! Every piece in this Autumn Collection will be shown at mercado Mundomix Estoril 26~28 Sept. More details are coming...

back to work

Is everyone back to work already today? 1st September, I remember it is always the start of a new year for schools (usually the case in China). When I was young, I hated this date, coz I didn't like school at all, kakaka.

Now no more schools, but it comes work, hehehe. But I'm more motivated, because I am enjoying it :-)

a depressive day :-(

Hoje à tarde, Alex and I went to talk with his parents about our decision of having a loja. As we predicted, the old couple reacted tremendously negatively about the loja idea :-(...I know they wouldn't agree, because Alex has mentioned with them before, and they were not happy with my 'crazy' idea at all.

Economic crisis, jobless at the moment (Alex and me), full of risks in business, being apart (Alex is probably going to work in Porto, and I want to have my store in Bairro Alto in Lisboa), a risk to Alex's brother (since we are going to ask his brother to be the guarantor of the store renting contract), I don't speak much Portuguese, Bairro Alto is a dangerous area for me to run a shop alone......All possible and impossible reasons have been mentioned to make us give up our 'crazy' idea.

I am very sad, very very sad about it. I understand the old couple want to protect and help us, but I don't agree that this is the way how children should be protected and helped. Maybe this is the generation gap, culture gap, or even family gap? I didn't just dream about opening a store, then the next day wake up with this fancy dream in mind and announce everyone that I'm going for it. I've been conceiving the idea of having a store with Chinese designs since March this year. Then I conducted an online survey about people's interest in oriental stuffs. Encouraged by people's massive positive attitude, I didn't hesitate at all to fly back to China to search for possible products in April. In July and August, I participated two fairs to get a better image of the market here in Portugal. During the fairs, a lot of customers were quited interested in my stuffs and questioning if I have a shop. Encouraged again, I made up my mind to make one step forward with the business, that is to run a shop here. I DO feel that people here are suffering from the ongoing economic crisis, I know there are risks, BUT still, I have a strong wish to have my own store. I don't believe the crisis will last forever, and there exists risks for everything, doesn't it?

Anyway, I've made up my mind. I know there is a rocky road in front of me, but if I never go through it, I will never ever know what's on the other side of the road.

I AM BACK

Dear All,

I AM BACK!!! Summer hibernating ACABA!!!

Vou voltar depois de 24 Augosto

The blog will be hibernating for 2 weeks time (though it's summer time now, hahaha). Because I am at Peniche for the fair now :-)

I will come back after 24 Augosto!

Beijinhos

PENICHE artesanato 2008

Olá!

I'm going to Peniche for the Feira Artesanato tomorrow! Sorry that I didn't inform everyone in advance. It's a SURPRISE, hahaha! The fair will start this Friday, and last till 24th this month. This is going to be my 2nd fair, hope it's going to be lots of fun, hehehe. So if you have time, just pass by Peniche, to enjoy the praia, peixe grelhada, and the fair :-)

6th Feira Internacional de Artesanato de Peniche
Length: 8 - 24 August, 2008
Location: Peniche Fireman Pavillion
Entry: Free
Time: Week days 14:00 - 24:00
Weekend days 11:00 - 24:00

See you there!

P.S. I would like to practise to write more in Portuguese from now on. But it's already too late today, it will take me at least 2 hrs more to write this post in Portuguese (excuse, hahaha), so I chose English, ajajaja. Anyway, boa noite e beijinhos para todos ^0^

preguiçosa...

A Qiaoqiao fica preguiçosa nestes dias......

Todos estão a fazer férias neste momento, a Qiaoqiao também quere ^_^