Frequently Asked Questions

All my inspiration comes from whatever lives in the ocean right here in Portugal. After designing the images I want to print, I commission a local wood artist to carve the blocks by hand.

I start by washing the linen so it can absorb the ink really well. Then I print each design using the hand-carved wood block and a rubber hammer. The prints then have to dry in the open air for a few days.

After drying I cure each individual print for several minutes using a hot iron, which can be a very time-consuming process. Then I wash the tablecloth by hand with an organic liquid soap to get rid of any excess ink. After this the print is completely set and it won't fade. It’s not a fast process, but it will last, and that’s the most important thing!

100% pure linen. There’s nothing better than the natural look & feel of real linen. It ages well and becomes more and more beautiful over time.

Some of it is sourced from a company based in Guimarães, in the north of Portugal. And recently I have started using vintage linen, sourced locally and in auctions. The quality of these vintage sheets is simply beautiful and it prints very well.

The linen I use is 100% pure. To me there’s nothing better than the natural look and feel of real linen. It ages well and becomes more and more beautiful over time. I only print on vintage linen sourced in Portugal and France.

You should if you have the time. Just soak it for a while in lukewarm water with a gentle liquid (preferably organic) soap. Rinse it thoroughly with cold water and dry it outside.

Yes, you can. You can wash it on the delicate setting at 30 degrees with a gentle soap. And please don’t fill up the machine more than halfway as it might wrinkle a bit too much.

The prints might fade a little over time, but that’s also the beauty of it, as it will look like it’s been bleached by the sun and that will give it an even more beachy feel. But I don’t recommend drying it in the sun, because that might speed up that process.

You can use something like Vanish or any special stain remover. Better yet, you can use whatever hard soap your grandmother used to get rid of stains. For example, here in Portugal they use Clarim, or Confiança, while in France they have Savon Noir, in the US they use Fels-Naptha, and in the Netherlands, Ossengal, etc.

Preferably not, but I understand that you might not always have the luxury to dry it outside. Just stick to low temperatures. Remove it from the dryer when it’s still slightly damp to avoid the linen becoming stiff, and hang or lie flat to finish off the drying process.

I use a water-soluble ink that carries the AP-seal which identifies art materials that are safe and that are certified in a toxicological evaluation to contain no materials toxic to people or animals, or to cause acute or chronic health problems.

The tablecloths come in 2 sizes: 170cm x 250cm, and 170cm x 350cm.

The napkins measure 45cm x 45cm.

All of my printed lined is bespoke, so it’s all made on a commission only basis.

Please drop me a line with any questions here.