Portugal has a rich history with regional fashions to match. In this activity with Finding Stuff Club, design your own paper doll inspired by traditional Portuguese fashion. This paper doll set has a variety of outfits, each with its own story to tell. Let your imagination run wild while styling your paper dolls.

Supplies Needed: 

• Colored pencils or markers

• Scissors (ask an adult to help with the tricky parts!)

• Paper Dolls printable color sheet

19th Century Bathing Costume Paper Doll

Sea bathing was introduced by wealthy Portuguese society in the late 18th century. Swimming costumes were very different from the bikinis of today! This bathing suit costume from the 1800s featured a “gown” with matching drawers (pants) and was made from wool! 

Estremadura Fish Seller Paper Doll

Estremadura is a western Spanish region bordering Portugal. The traditional garb of women in this coastal region was a layered delight, punctuated with a black hat, large feather, and scarves. Estremaduran women used to sell fish door-to-door in this outfit. Pretty neat!

Minho Traditional Folk Costume Paper Doll

Commonly seen at Portuguese festivals, this colorful costume originated in the northern region of Portugal known as Minho. Locals call the dress ‘Traje de Lavradeira.’

The costume is often seen in red when worn by younger women and blue when worn by an older or married woman. The skirt is full and vibrant, making it great for dancing!

Alentejo Farmer Costume Paper Doll

This very stylish outfit was worn by women who worked the fields in southern Portugal. Women needed the freedom of movement, so they tucked their cotton skirts at the waist or made them into pants. Colorful socks completed the look!

Don’t forget to tag @teacollection and @findingstuff.club on Instagram so we can see how you  styled your paper dolls! Stay tuned for more fun activities like this, and be sure to check out our latest collection inspired by Portugal.

We’re excited to announce an exclusive collaboration with Shun Moore, mother of three, friend of Tea, and Founder of Marlo Bea, to bring you kids’ head wraps in some of your favorite Tea Collection prints!

Made from repurposed Tea fabrics, these head wraps are the perfect pairing to your favorite Tea outfit.

Shun started making kids’ head wraps to help her own children and children everywhere learn about other cultures through self expression. We couldn’t be more excited about this match-made-in-Tea-heaven—shop the collaboration while supplies last at www.marlobea.com. 

About Marlo Bea Head Wraps:

The Tea collaboration head wraps are size little and come with a 2 inch elastic band in the back to assist with easily putting them on or taking them off. Each head wrap is 44 inches x 5 inches, and is 100% jersey cotton. They are handmade and sizes/cuts may vary slightly. One size fits most (note to self: the smaller the head, the bigger the bow).

How To Take Care:

Machine wash head wraps with cool water. No chlorine bleach. Hang to dry for best results. To return to the original shape, steam or iron on warm.

Head over to www.marlobea.com to shop the limited edition Tea x Marlo Bea collaboration, and don’t forget to check out our new arrivals for some outfit-pairing inspiration!

Sometimes, finding connections to far-off places doesn’t require you to leave your home. Our friends at Finding Stuff Club created a fun, interactive Portugal-at-Home Scavenger Hunt featuring everyday items and Portugal-adjacent prompts. Plus, it doubles as a coloring sheet! 

Travel to Portugal this Memorial Day weekend from the comfort of your own home. No monk seals in your bathtub? No problem! Go ahead and get creative – look for pictures, words, or objects that match the images in the activity. 

What you’ll find in this Portugal-themed scavenger hunt:

Mediterranean Monk Seal: This critically endangered seal has a habitat in the Madeira Archipelago.

Sardines: Canned sardines are a common delicacy in Portugal.

Pear & Apple: Both are native to Portugal.

Books: Portugal is famous for its bookstores. In fact, the bookstore Livraria Lello was the inspiration for Hogwarts and Diagon Alley.

Lavender: The lavender is the national flower of Portugal.

Surfboard:  Ericeira, Peniche, and the Lisbon coast are three of the most famous surf spots. The entire continental coast of Portugal is known for its year round surf.

Soccer Ball: The superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, is from Portugal.

Ukulele: The ukulele was brought to Hawaii by the Portuguese.

Clamshell: Clamshells are most commonly found on the southern tip of Portugal, and are the most popular shellfish.

Sailboat: With a mild climate and warm sunshine, Portugal is a very popular destination for sailboats!

Whale: Whale sightings are common along the coast of Portugal.

Be sure to follow us @teacollection and @findingstuff.club on Instagram for more fun activities like this, and don’t forget to check out our latest collection inspired by Portugal here.

Every season, we collaborate with artists from around the world to bring you one-of-a-kind designs. This season, we tapped Portuguese surfer girl @lizzyartwork to create two t-shirts embodying her surfing soul and spirit. Her art is a representation of what she’s learned from the ocean while surfing, and her art style is inspired by classic surf movements, geometric figures, retro surf iconography, and more. Read on to learn more about Lizzy, her life in Peniche, and what surfing and art mean to her.

How old were you when you started surfing?

I was 15 when I bought my first surfboard. 17 years ago, surf schools didn’t exist like they do now, so it was common to start surfing by learning from someone in your family or a friend. For me, it was from watching someone surf on TV. Teaching myself took longer and required tons of preservereance, but all the time I spent learning made me fall in love with the ocean.

You helped us design the “Lizzy Surfer Girl Graphic Tee” and the “Lizzy Surf Car Graphic Tee” – what do these designs mean to you?

Surfing is in my veins. I can change every single aspect of my life, but not the fact that I am a soul surfer. I designed these tees to encourage little girls to feel inspired and to be encouraged to start this life adventure. 

What’s one thing someone traveling to Portugal should see or do?

For me, Portugal is all about the sun, the coastline, and the stunning natural landscapes, so anywhere by the ocean. Go to the beach and soak up the maritime vibes and eat some tasty and fresh Mediterranean food. Simple as that. 

What do you hope people will take away from your art?

I hope people feel my strong connection with the ocean and maybe understand the state of presence that can be generated when we are among nature. My illustrations show the reflections and the inspirations that come from being close to the ocean. The nature around us leads to the nature within ourselves. 

Where’s the first place you’d travel to once the world opens back up?

Oof… That’s a hard question because I am a travel lover. I love ancient history, so I would love to visit Egypt and Jordan. On the other hand, I love to surf in warm waters, so the Philippines may be one of my next choices!

You can shop both of Lizzy’s designs here. Don’t forget to check out Lizzy’s artwork at https://www.lizzyartworkshop.com/ and follow her on Instagram @lizzyartwork. 

We’re bringing you another activity from Finding Stuff Club inspired by our travels in Portugal. The Rooster of Barcelos is one of the most common symbols in Portugal. According to Portuguese folklore, a rooster was able to prove a man’s innocence when he was accused of a crime he did not commit. As a result, the rooster has come to symbolize faith, good luck, and justice. 

Step 1: Gather your materials.

• Templates on page 2-3 of the downloadable instructions
• Printer
• Scissors
• X-acto knife
• Glue stick
• Cutting surface
• Cardboard
• Coloring supplies for your rooster (crayons, color pencils, paint)

Step 2: Print out the templates on pages 2-3.

Step 3: Trace the rooster template and base onto your cardboard.

Step 4: Cut out your rooster and base. Depending on the thickness of your cardboard, you may need to use an X-acto knife.

Step 5: Fold and cut the base where indicated. To make the rooster stand up, slide the rooster into the base (see diagram in the instructions).

Step 6: Paint or color your rooster and base.

Step 7: Decorate and cut out the shapes on page 3.

Step 8: Apply your shapes to the rooster with a glue stick.

The end result should look something like this:

Don’t forget to tag @teacollection and @findingstuff.club on Instagram so we can see your amazing roosters! Stay tuned for more activities like this, and check out our latest styles inspired by Portugal here.

With a COVID crisis transpiring in South Asia right now, we reached out to our longstanding giveback partner, The Global Fund for Children (GFC), to see how they’re supporting those impacted by a devastating second wave of COVID-19. Read on to learn more about what the GFC is doing and how you can help. 

In India, nearly 350,000 new cases of COVID-19 are reported daily, with many more believed to be underreported (Source: The Global Fund For Children). With limited hospital beds and oxygen supplies to aid infected patients, there are increasing fears about the impact COVID-19 will have on the country. To exacerbate the problem, recent news of a fatal “black fungus” infection targeting those recently afflicted by the coronavirus add to a growing list of concerns over the country’s recovery.

Infections have also reached an all-time high in Pakistan and Bangladesh, with vaccinations not reaching those in need quick enough. There is a massive struggle throughout the region, and state and social welfare agencies struggle to support children and young people who have lost one or both parents to COVID-19. These kids are without access to safe spaces, food, and basic hygiene supplies.

The GFC’s local partners in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are providing direct emergency relief and essential services to children and their communities. We continue to donate 10% of all our profits to the GFC, as well as 100% of profits of our kids and adult masks to the GFC’s COVID Relief Fund.

If you want to help the COVID crisis in South Asia, donate to the GFC at checkout at www.teacollection.com or directly on the GFC’s website here. Together, we can help make the world a better place for children everywhere.

We’re bringing you another activity from Finding Stuff Club inspired by our travels in Portugal. Costa Nova is a popular seaside town with a small stretch of striped waterfront houses. In this activity, you’ll create cardboard vases inspired by these colorful homes—a perfect gift or activity for Mother’s Day! Follow along for instructions on how to create your own Costa Nova inspired flower vase.

Step 1: Gather your materials.

• Templates on pages 2-4 of the downloadable instructions
• Printer 
• Scissors 
• Exacto knife  
• Cutting Surface 
• Cardboard 
• Masking tape 
• Coloring supplies (crayons, color pencils, paint)

Step 2: Print out the templates on pages 2-4.

Step 3: Trace your vase templates on cardboard. You will have to trace two sides and two fronts for each vase.

Step 4: For the house shaped vase, score the side of the vase where the dashed line is indicated.

Step 5: Tape your pieces together side by side. Try to make the tape cover the full edge.

Step 6: Flip over and fold your vase. For the house shaped vase, bend and tape the sides flush to front pieces. Tape all the edges together to reinforce.

Step 7: Decorate your vases with paint, stickers, or crayon.

Step 8: Color your flowers and cut them out. Place flowers in their corresponding vases.

The finished product should look something like this:

Don’t forget to tag @teacollection and @findingstuff.club on Instagram so we can see your beautiful vases! Stay tuned for more activities like this, and check out our latest styles inspired by Portugal here.