Interview: Azulado

Sandra Rosa is the ceramics mastermind behind the Portuguese design brand Azulado. She first started working with ceramics when learning about the restoration of traditional Portuguese tiles (azulejos) - further explained in her blog. She kindly agreed to an interview when I told her how much I was lusting after the Blue Eye bowl in her Etsy shop so over to Sandra:

1. Tell us a bit about what you do and what first inspired you to do it?
Pottery came into my life throughout the conservation and restoration of tiles. I graduated and worked for several years in a museum called the Museum School of Decorative Arts - Fundação Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva, in the area of conservation and restoration of tiles. It was the constant Living with art and the preservation of it that inspired me to create my own pieces. As a child I love to create, paint, etc. Conservation and restoration continue to be part of my job and at the same time I work on jewellery and day to day utensils, using all of the knowledge I have developed over these last few years.
2. What do you do when you're not creating/selling?
I have a two year old son and most of my free time is spent with him. I think it's important to be with him as much as possible, and love every moment. I'm privileged to be living on a farm at the moment and so a lot of leisure time is spent going for long walks in the countryside. Sometimes I need to be alone and reading in particular is something that always liked to do. Of course it's also always great to be with friends!
3. What's your favourite piece / the hardest piece for you to part with?
It is a difficult question, because I think differently about each piece. My relationship with my candleholders is really strong, mainly because they take me so long to make. However, in general I don't create too strong a bond with my pieces - they're always made to be sold and it makes me happy to think someone will enjoy my creations. Either way I feel I am constantly evolving with loads of new projects in mind. I have a new passion every day!
4. What is your most valuable possession?
My creativity
5. What are your plans for the future / new ranges?
At the moment I still have a lot of work and a lot of projects in mind for new ceramics. In the future I hope to continue to work in the area I like, surrounded by people who love me and always encourage and support me.
6. Complete this sentence: "Happiness is..."
Many years ago a friend told me that happiness is about the fact that most of the time we are happy but do not realize it until we look back on that time later on. When it comes to happiness I remember that his sentence with a smile and think he is right. Either way, happiness is the ability to dream and fight for dreams.