Breakfast Talks – Pastel De Nata with Margarida

I met Margarida through Sanda during my stay in Lisbon. Margarida was showing us her pieces for upcoming event. I fell in love with each one and straight away I asked if I can buy them. It took me some time, but finally I’m a proud owner of this beautiful ceramic. I look at it and I admire everything about it. The idea, craft, work, colour, delicate form. Everything is special. But it didn’t come out of nothing. Margarida has a story behind it.

It was a long journey. Margarida wanted to work with her hands and her first weapon of choice was wood. As she said it wasn’t truly for her, but she still uses elements of wood in her art. Ceramic seemed natural. It took her quite some time to master her technique and she’s still on her way, learning each day. Heads down for makers with passion. And also this is what I like about this series, it helps us to understand that everything is a process, but it’s worth following our path. Oh and Margarida’s partner helps her in her small studio located in popular LX Factory area. How cool is this!

How has it all started?

After my studies (Industrial Design, in Fine Arts, Lisbon) I worked in few design studios but I had this feeling that my hands (and heart) need to be in contact with material instead of a computer keyboard. During my degree I had an opportunity to experiment with ceramic and I liked it. The clay had been on my mind ever since and I felt that I should learn more about it. Also, the idea of doing everyday use objects, something special for food and cooking pleased me from the beginning. I tried to set up a contact with Portuguese potters from Alentejo, but I got rejected. They are still too closed for people from outside and they think that this is a job for men. That was the point when I’ve decided to search for a place where I could really learn this craft. I tried to find a studio which will have an unique poetry of work. It took me some time but finally I got lucky and I found Ninna Gotszche’s studio in Denmark. I applied for a position as an intern and she accepted me. I was honest and direct in my contact, and we’ve found an agreement – for 4 months I was her assistant. This way I had time to work for Ninna and time to work by myself. During the period in Denmark I was focused on craft – I worked during the day, learned as much as I could from Ninna (she was my master), and studied during the night. It was a very important and fulfilling moment in my life, also because living in Denmark is so different then living in Portugal (culturally, economically, socially). After Denmark, I had another working experience, in Amsterdam, where I learned other techniques and different concepts.

When did you realise that it’s time for your own studio?

I decided to start my studio when I felt I had the knowledge big enough to do it by myself. I always knew that I would have my studio in my city (Lisbon), that was the goal.

You need to have a specific equipment. How long did it take you to get everything?

I came back to Lisbon in 2010/2011 and I set up a studio in a garage of my family, in the periphery of Lisbon. That allowed me to save money from rent and to buy a kiln. Before I had to carry all my ceramics to someone’s studio to burn it. It took me almost 5 years to get where I am right now.

You’ve mentioned that for now you still have a second job – tiles. Do you see ceramic as your career path?

Since 2011 I have been working in the restoration of tiles, in the beginning with more frequency (for some periods full time), and in the present only part time. Right now I’m considering leaving the restoration of tiles for a while and concentrating on my ceramics full time (not because I don’t like tiles, I think this is a very important job for the country, and also inspire my ceramics). So, to answer your question, yes I do believe in ceramics as my career.

What is you dream scenario?

I have my ceramics studio inside a garden, maybe in the garden of my house, have visitors, friends and family around, and the certainty that my ceramics will live longer then me in kitchens around the world.

What annoyed you most on your way?

The moment when I tell people that I’m a ceramist and they immediately think about sculptures and decorative pieces, instead of thinking about functional pieces like bowls, plates and cups.

And when I tell the prices, they smile, and I know that they are thinking about going to Ikea and buying nice tableware over there…

Did you have moments when you thought that it’s too difficult?

Yes, when I open the kiln and I have a crack in one of my pieces, or when a plaster mould is giving me problems.

How is it to work with your life partner on your art?

Having André as my assistant is very precious. He’s a sailor, so he’s around only for some periods in a year. André has different skills than mines, and we combine different tasks when we work together. Also he works with other materials, like wood and cork, which are perfect to mixed with my ceramics.

When he is around in the studio he always adds something to the ceramics, even if I’m not aware of that in the present, I can recognise that afterwards.

You will need:

• puff pastry
• 2 cups milk (480ml)
• ½ cup powdered sugar (60g)
• 1 cup water (240ml)
• ½ cup flour (70g)
• 1 cup sugar (200g)
• Zest from 1 lemon
• 7 egg yolks

This is something that everyone should try, kind of my best memory from Portugal. You can make your own puff pastry, but as a mum of 5 month old, I prefer simple and fast solutions. So let’s start.

Preheat your oven to 250*C.

Cut out round shapes from your puff pastry and place it in a tart pans or muffins form. You don’t need to grease the form.

In a pot place all the ingredients except for a puff pastry and bring it to boil while whisking. Let it boil (mix it all the time) till the mix thickened.

Pour the mix into each form and bake for about 11-15 minutes. I took mine out after 13 minutes, as it was already ok. It should be a bit burned on top, so don’t worry about it.

Serve your pastel de nada with cinnamon and sugar and espresso.

Enjoy, Marta