.IDEIAS DE DECORAÇÃO / DECORATING IDEAS
1. Portuguese pavement: it consists of small irregularly shaped stones, usually in white and black limestone, which can be used to form decorative patterns or mosaics by contrasting stones of different colors. The most traditional colors are black and white, although brown and red, blue, gray and yellow are also popular. It is usual for paving floors in public or private spaces, but also for covering walls, mosaics or paintings.
2. Tiles: it is a thin ceramic piece, typically square, in which one of the sides can be smooth or raised and also contain a drawing or painting on a specific theme. The themes diverge between reports of historical episodes, mythological or religious scenes, geometric decorative elements, etc., applied to walls, floors and ceilings in palaces, gardens, churches, convents and houses.
3. Bobbin lace: bobbin lace is produced by the successive crossing or interweaving of textile threads, executed over the pike and with the help of pins and bobbins. The pique is a cardboard, usually painted in saffron color to facilitate the vision by the lacemaker, on which a drawing, made by specialists, has been traced. It is a decorative element that can be used perfectly on pillows, towels and curtains, or be applied as a blanket on the sofa or bed.
4. Sweetheart handkerchiefs: made from a fine linen cloth or a cotton handkerchief, embroidered with various motifs, including squares or romantic phrases, the sweetheart handkerchief is a piece of crafts and clothing typical of Minho, being used by women who were going to get married . The handkerchief itself can be used as a decorative element, but it works perfectly in other ways, for example, integrated in kitchen towels, tablecloths, painting on the walls or in dishes.
5. Arraiolos tapestry: embroidered with wool on a canvas of jute or cotton and very typical of the village that gives the name: Arraiolos, located in the district of Évora. The rugs are characterized by the presence of colors, well combined, with contours embroidered in "ponto de pé" stitch on burlap and filled with Arraiolos stitch. It also has a fringe made with crochet hooks. It is mainly intended for the decoration of bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and halls.
6. Porcelain: traditional Portuguese porcelain usually has micro drawings based on or inspired by the local fauna and flora, and blue and white motifs are also commonly associated with the country. It is hand-painted through the meticulous and complex work of dedicated artisans, attentive to the smallest details. Mugs, plates, tableware, bowls, platters and everyday utensils become works of art of Portuguese porcelain for the world.
7. Saramenha ceramics: it emerged in a place known in Brazil as Chácara Saramenha, from which it inherited its name, in the 19th century. The production technique for this type of ceramic uses a dark clay, coated with a special varnish made from metallic pigments.