1. I fell in love with Instagram. Instantly. As soon as setting up my account was ready and I took my first picture, bam, I was addicted. Fantastic application that opens a whole new world, where social networks and beautiful images meet. My username, like in twitter, is air_billy, may you want to check it out.

2. I´m preparing abbrigate* baby blankets for the upcoming Market at Club Unión, here in Panamá, on the 29th of March. I´m trying very hard to diversify and have some clearly for girls, others clearly for boys, and as many as possible gender neutral blankets. Please leave your suggestions for colour combinations you´d like to see represented in the comments section.

And, if you´re around, please show up! These are the details Bazar at Club Unión, Salón Las Perlas, 29/3, from 3pm to 10pm. Looking forward to meeting you there!

This was probably one of my favourite projects of the last few months, being that it brings together many factors that just make my day. The commission was to design the Purchase for Progress brochure for the four Central American countries involved in this World Food Programme project, as well as infographics explaining the way it works. I loved translating the intricacies of the processes into a schematic illustration, and enjoyed every bit of the detailed sketching.

Here are some of my favourite spreads; you can also see how the infographics fit into the flap on the reverse of the back cover.

Here´s the portrait of my younger sister. This one posed a challenge for me because it was the first time I had 3/4 profile portrait to do. Noses are tricky!

But I´m happy with the result – and I believe so is she.

Progress shots are here.

After the 2011 goals wrap up the other day, it´s time I share one of my goals for this year. I wanted to try it for one month and then work it up, but I feel it is now quite my habit to begin my working day with some minutes (or some hours) on the balcony, painting.

My hardest-to-keep-up-with-goal for 2012 is, therefore, to paint every workday (not on weekends, not on vacation). My main medium is acrylic on canvas, which I love for its plasticity and lack of smell (compared to oil). I´m working on portraits and this is my second one for the year.

This is my youngest niece and it was the hardest portrait so far. But all the effort was worth it, as her verdict was positive: when I showed it to her, she recognized herself and said, “É a Cainha!”. This auntie melted (even more).

If you want to see process shots, head on over to flickr.

My next portrait is the first ever (for me) with the subject facing sideways… so there´s a nose!

Setting goals seems to be an activity for the beginning of the year, as much as accounting for the old goals seems to be pertinent in December. I felt that urge to share my goals, too, but decided to save it for a bit later, to let things calm down.

Now, after having my birthday last week (February 8th! And yes, I love celebrating my birthday!), it feels like the right time to write this post.

So, first for the 2011 goals, which you can read about here.

1. Sew a finish a quilt.

No, not really. Not in 2011, but it was my crafty project for 2012. I decided to go for a “+” pattern, which didn´t make my life easier, being a beginner and all. Still, I´m very happy about the result and now have the skills to make a – let´s put it this way – less misaligned quilt top next time. I´m just about to finish hand-sewing the binding to the back and I am in love with it, quirks and imperfections and all.

2. Sew a garment for me.

Yes, I did. I copied it from a top I own and love and tried to replicate it with some success. I learnt a lot in the process and feel that I have a lot to improve. Sewing my own clothes is not my first choice of sewing activities, since I consider myself a rookie, but I see it happening again in the future.

3. Have my own art show.

Yes! This was a fun, one day event at Junglewood gallery in Casco Viejo, Panamá. It happened in the context of Artblock, and I had a lot of fun – and even sold a painting! (Hi, Jimmy from Texas!)

4. Learn a new language.
Unfortunately, no. I love learning languages and after the ones I already know (portuguese, spanish, english, french and german) I wanted to change paradigm and learn hebrew. I thought that having a strong jewish community in Panama City would make it easier, but alas, it didn´t. Unfortunately there are no open classes. Strengthening my german knowledge was my plan b, but unfortunately there is no Goethe Institut in Panama and there are no classes available for my level.

5. Learn to surf.
Yes! Oh, this was so much fun. We took classes at El Palmar Beach, 95km east of Panama City. I slept like a baby after classes! Yay, endorphin!

6. Make a new friend.
Yes! More than one, which is probably one of the advantages (and, paradoxically, pitfalls) of living in a different city than the one we come from.

7. Publish my own illustrated children´s book.
Unfortunately, not yet. Maybe this year?

8. Invest more time illustrating than graphic designing.

When skyping with my nieces, I am usually requested to illustrate what they are telling my about. Say, for instance, one is learning to play the xylophone, then I must draw a xylophone. The same with rabbits, swimming pools, swimming suits,… So, even when I´m not working, I´m illustrating – which is good!

Yes. With all the zines plus the projects and commissions I had in 2011, more time was spent illustrating than graphic designing. What is more, when graphic design commissions came along, illustration crept in (pertinently and successfully).

9. Exercise regularly.
Yes. In different degrees throughout the year, but regular exercise nevertheless.

10. Improve my meditation skills.
This was a huge challenge for me and I can say that yes, I improved my meditation skills. I went from hating into enjoying the time spent trying to meditate. So, success.

11. Design my own fabric.
This is a not yet. I want it to happen!

12. Refresh my math skills.
No, unfortunately not. I didn´t seem to make the time for it, though I miss the agility studying and practicing mathematics gave my brain. Maybe this year?

Last weekend we went to the beach on the Caribbean coast. While waiting for the scuba divers to return, I looked around, found some corals and sea treasures to sketch.

Have a good week!

Setting up goals for 2011 and sharing them worked like a charm for me: I really made an effort to accomplish those objectives. A post on the subject is in progress and coming soon.

This year, one of my goals is to paint every work day. Last year, I called it the “March challenge” and saw a lot of fruits with my daily efforts. So this year the decision is to extend it twelvefold. So far, I´ve been successful.

January has been a month of birthdays, so my first 2012 painting is Diogo, who turned two and loves everything about balls (pelota, pelota!).

It is acrylic on canvas, 50cm x 50cm (19.6in x 19.6in). You can see in progress shots here.

Taking part in the Sketchbook Project is always fun. This year I chose “Travel with me” as theme and started off back in June, on a trip to New York. Some sketches are from our vacation time in Portugal and others are from different locations here in Panama.

My idea was to concentrate on what I love best: sketching with pen on paper. The watercolour on the details was something that I have been doing on the zines as well – I find that I like the sketches a bit coloured, not totally coloured.

I hope you like it!

You can see more images here.

The top is sewn, so are the two back pieces, and the sandwich is made. Quilting is in progress, but being a beginner quilter, I prefer to take it easy and go slowly.

There were some challenges concerning the alignment (or lack thereof) – I realize, being a first-time quilter, I didn´t make my life any easier by choosing a pattern with two directions of alignment (horizontal and vertical).

Still, with all its quirks, this is a quilt I´m proud of, most specially for being my first one, yes, but also because it makes me happy to look at it, its colours and the way front and back match.

I´ll show again once finished, can´t wait!

Much has been said in this e-zine about the wet season (April to December) and how moist and mildewy everything is. But, as we enter the new year, dry season arrives!

This issue of “We´re in Panama!” is all about the changes that come with these short – but sweet – three months. Download it here, free as usual.

Visit “We´re in Panama!”´s facebook page and read back issues here.