Lee Meszaros + Erin Tyner + Grain Edit

Hi there!

Thanks so much for joining me, it is so lovely having you drop by : )

I've got my printmaking class today, so we are going to jump right in...

Lee Meszaros

These "Be Proud" Merit Badges by Lee Meszaros are fantastic - have you seen them? There are so many great ones to choose from. Lee hand makes each badge - "lovingly silk-screened in dark brown, hand painted with colour, and hand embroidered. All done on cotton and cotton blends, reinforced with interfacing and cotton padding for strength."

Each badge has a pin sewn in the back so they can be worn with pride... : )

above: merit badge for - going out on a limb

above: merit badge for - quitting cold turkey

above: merit badge for - barking up the wrong tree

above: merit badge for - rolling with the punches

above: merit badge for - making a house a home

above: merit badge for - being busy as a beaver

(images and quote from Lee Meszaros)

NOTES:
visit Lee's store

Erin Tyner

Do you love miniatures? I do! For some reason I find them really intriguing. I remember taking my oldest son to a model railway expo - I don't know who was more fascinated, him or me!

These photographs from Erin Tyner's 'Half Awake' series capture my fascination perfectly...take a peek:

(images from Erin Tyner)

NOTES:
visit Erin's website
visit Erin's store

I heart....

"Grain edit is focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period.

Site content includes interviews, articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books from our bookshelves."

I love it!

(image and quote from Grain Edit)

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We are doing wood cuts in class today - I'm really looking forward to it... maybe one day I will be able to include my own work in this wee alphabet of ours : )

Have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow for F (and Friday)! xxoo

Happy Friday!

Hello!

I was trying to be all organised this week and had a little backlog of posts going.. and for some reason we have already done E. So somehow along the way, we managed to get through the first five letters in four days! Not to worry : ), it is a beautiful day here, so it does mean I get a little extra time in the garden...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, see you Monday for F!
xxoo

Double Parlour + Dadaya + Darling Clementine

Hey.

How's the middle of the week treating you? Well I hope.

There is a really nice mix of goodies to share today - and a minimum of printed items too : ) - not that I don't have printing on the brain, I do! but we all need a bit of variety in our lives right? - And I'm sure you'll all appreciate not being overdosed in printed loveliness... ready?

Double Parlour

Ernesto and Cassandra Velasco are the creative dynamic duo behind the fab Double Parlour collection. Based in San Fransisco, Ernesto and Cassandra work independently and collaboratively and together they create a gorgeous collection of prints, sculptures, original paintings and t-shirts.

I am in love with their little polymer sculptures, and this first one below 'Lydie' is just divine!

(images from Double Parlour)

NOTES:
visit Ernesto and Cassandra's store

Dadaya

I don't know why I haven't written about

Dadaya before, it has long been included in my resource list, but for some reason it keeps missing the boat each time the alphabet sails past.

Maybe it is because I was waiting for mittens! I know it is nearly summer here, but I can't go past these fabulous mittens that I spotted recently in the Dadaya store....look!

(Oh, that cute wee number pictured 4th below? That's a beret : )

(images from Dadaya)

NOTES:
visit the Dadaya store

Oh Darling!

"What started as place to share personal projects and thoughts has turned into a daily source of inspiration for style, decor, and design.

Whitney Deal, the voice behind Darling Dexter has trained and worked as a graphic designer, helps run the family photography business with her hub, and is gradually developing a small fashion line.

Darling Dexter is a place to share what excites her in the design community and continues to serve as showcase for personal projects. "

(image and quote from Darling Dexter)

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Well here we are heading to the end of another week...here's hoping the week continues on the happy path it's on at the moment : )

Have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow for E! xxoo

Tuesday

Hi there,

I hope your day is going well : )

If you have ever worked anywhere where you have regular customers (like you do in hospitality), you will know about the relationships you build with them. The customers where you know them by their order, you know tidbits about their lives, you can talk to them about almost anything, but really you don't know them all.

For the past year or so I have worked weekends at our local cafe. It sadly got bitten by the recession, and didn't make it through the winter. When it closed I knew that there would be particular customers that I would miss the most.

- The couple who we had encouraged to have a baby, we watched that belly grow, we talked about pregnancy and names and the excitement of waiting for them to become first time parents. When the cafe closed one of the first things that struck me, was missing out on this wee babes life, how we had waited and waited for him to come, and how I might never get to meet him. I wanted to see the joy on his parents face as they introduced him to us, how we would get to know him and love him as one of our special 'cafe babes'.

Aunt Daisy's Boathouse Cafe by Timothy Greig

So, last week when I got a wee message from his mum asking me if I would like to meet him, how could I say no? And today I did just that. I met this wee boy that we had been waiting so eagerly for. And I am so pleased I did. I now might be able to watch him grow.. I may not be able to make him his first hot chocolate, but it is nice to know he is still in my life.

So yep, that is my excuse for not having finished C... I hope that is OK with you. It will be up a bit later... it's a goodie - I promise!

See you soon,

xxoo



(RIP Aunt Daisy's - we miss you xxoo)

Darling Clementine + Cuore + Carpe+Item

Hi there,


Sorry about the delay in getting this C post out... I am sure it will be worth the wait though : )

Let's jump in...


Darling Clementine

If you are anything like me, your Christmas sensors would of kicked in a while ago. I have been really enjoying the increase in Christmas goodies around the place. I have a few more treats tucked up my sleeve for later in the alphabet, but first, I want to show you these beautiful cards from Norwegian stationery company Darling Clementine.

Because some people think it is way too early to be considering Christmas, I have included a few 'mainstream' cards from their collection as well... take a peek:

(images from Darling Clementine)

NOTES:
visit the Darling Clementine website
visit the Darling Clementine store

Cuore

Mika Yamamura is the crafty and talented gal behind the etsy store Cuore. This clever lass hand makes a whole swag of gorgeous creations - from softies to brooches, and stationery.

With a degree in design from the Fashion Institute in Los Angeles and six and a half years experience as an accessory designer for Paul Frank, it is no wonder Mika's collection is so adorable!

(images from Mika Yamamura)


NOTES:
visit Mika's store
read Mika's blog
P.S. Cuore is "love" in Italian : )

Beauty in Everyday

I came across Carpe + Item a few days ago while I was researching this C post. - What a find! Svanna Joensen, the author of this fab blog has amazing taste, I pretty much like everything she posts about... I've even started to go through the archives : )

So yep, this one's a goodie! go pay a visit!

(image from Carpe + Item)

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Thanks so much for your patience today, I really appreciate it...

Will you join me tomorrow for D?

See you soon! xxoo

Brigitte Bouquet + Bespoke Press + Belle and Boo

Hello!

When we went to the beach this past weekend I was wearing a woolen singlet, woolen dress, leggings and a cardigan. My boys? Well, they thought it was a perfect day to go for their first summer swim in the ocean (bbbrrr!). The sun was shining but the wind was cold, cold, cold.

I can't wait for the bright, warm and sunny days of summer to be here - and for it to be warm enough for me to dip my toes in : )

Do you need some bright sunshine colours in your day? Well, I have just the thing...

Brigitte Bouquet

Isn't Brigitte Bouquet just the most beautiful name? And perfectly suited to these bright floral hues...

Brigitte has been working with clay for around 15 years and has an exciting variety of works in her portfolio. Each piece in her Wobbly Plate series (shown below) is individually made and carefully inlaid with a lace motif.

"They are thick as pancakes, absolutely not even but wobbly, and they look as if they just walked away from Alice in Wonderland's Mad Tea Party: The WOBBLY PLATES.They will create FUN IN YOUR KITCHEN and a FIESTA ON YOUR TABLE!"

OOhh! I like the sound of a fiesta on my table...and I do agree with Brigitte - these would create some fun in the kitchen!

(images and quote from Brigitte Bouquet)

NOTES:
visit Brigitte's website
visit Brigitte's store

Bespoke Press

Thanks to the Inside Out Blog for introducing me to Bespoke Press from Brisbane (Australia).

The Bespoke Press collection of letterpress prints are just divine. Working alongside 10 talented up and coming illustrators, the folks at Bespoke Press have created this fab range of limited edition prints.

I am swooning over the third print below “The Sugar In Your Tea, In My Camomile Dreams” Illustrated By Kristal Melson. Beautiful!

Check out the Bespoke Press website for the details of each print...and for a gorgeous range of stationery and other printed goodness...

(images from Bespoke Press)

NOTES:
visit the Bespoke Press website
visit the Bespoke Press store
with thanks to Inside Out

Oh My!

I have been in love with the illustrative work of Mandy Sutcliffe from Belle and Boo for what seems like forever. I am pretty sure I can credit her gorgeous illustrations for being the first to introduce me to etsy.

If you are anything like me and love looking behind the scenes at the work of super clever creative folk, then the Belle and Boo blog is the one for you...it is a fun journey through the ins and outs of the Belle and Boo business, the characters they create and the wonderful products that they produce... I highly recommend you check it out : )

(image from Belle and Boo)
psst! check out the Belle and Boo website here

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Ahh, what a lovely way to end B! The beginning and middle were pretty good too : )

Thanks so much for joining me, have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow for C! xxoo

Alberto Cerriteño + Suki Allen + Abbey Goes Design Scouting

Hello! and welcome to alphabet*eight!

I hope you had a lovely week between alphabets. My week was very relaxing. In fact, I hardly did any 'work' - all though I couldn't help but do a little research here and there. The research is paying off, and this alphabet is shaping up to be a cracker.. are you ready to start?

We are beginning this journey with two amazing artists from Portland Oregon...(we love you Portland ! xo)

Alberto Cerriteño

I am so excited to begin this new alphabetical journey with the work of Alberto Cerriteño.

Alberto's playful and happy paintings, illustrations and prints are a delicate mix of traditional Mexican artistic influences and his seasoned manipulation of rich textures and decorative patterns.

Working from his home studio, Alberto is an independent artist who "collaborates with talented people with quirky and creative ideas focusing in anything where he can apply his illustrative creations."

(images and quote from Alberto Cerriteño)

NOTES:
visit Alberto's website
visit Alberto's store
read Alberto's blog

Suki Allen

So, as you are probably well aware, I have started a printmaking course. This means that my eye is drawn (more than ever) towards a whole load of hand printed goodness.

The work of Suki Allen was promptly added to my 'printmaking inspiration folder'. This week in class I am tackling woodcuts, and I think Suki's work is the perfect inspiration to get me started.

“I love the feeling of getting lost in my studio. I love when I disappear, my critical mind stops and my hands just make, make, make. My partner and I call these moments…”when the elves come out.” I am so thankful for the elves, and the respite art making provides.”

(images and quote from Suki Allen)

NOTES:
visit Suki's website
visit Suki's store
read Suki's blog

Abbey Goes Design Scouting...

"This is my stash of ideas, objects, books, interiors, art, people that inspire me. I guess I’d call this an inspiration blog — my journal of ideas on how to live a balanced, full, beautiful life.

I blog about what I’m studying at the Cooper-Hewitt Master’s Program in the History of Design (I’m obsessed with the history of design, especially the history of everyday objects), a cool old book I found in the library, art that makes my day a little bit better, a score from a regional auction or flea market, how I’m decorating my apartment, what I’m cooking in the kitchen or planting in my garden.

Sometimes I just blog about something that’s caught my eye, in my head or making me laugh."

(image and quote from Abbey Goes Design Scouting)

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Wow! Eight, eight!! can you believe we are at alphabet*eight? I find it hard to fathom that we have started our 8th journey through the alphabet, unbelievable!

Thank you so much for joining me, it is so lovely having you here. Will you join me again tomorrow? I hope so.

See you soon, xxoo.

Zanurism + Herzensart + Kseniya Simonova

Are you ready for Z?

Zanurism

I have been waiting to share these illustrations from etsy store Zanurism. Have you seen them before? I hadn't until recently, and they immediately went into my catalogue so I'd remember to share them with you today.

Based in Sydney Australia, Zan produces these beautiful original artworks on wood and paper... the works she has for sale are so reasonably priced too, starting at only $35 (US).

Do you have a fave?

(images from Zanurism)

NOTES:
visit Zan's store
read Zan's blogs, here and here

Herzensart

I first wrote about

Herzensart and the work of Sandra Monat way back in alphabet*two. I was delighted to see the newest additions to Sandra's collection over on Decor8 recently.

Sandra's gorgeous viking inspired softies and textile pieces (and I tell you her softies are to die for!), now sit snuggly next to a divine range of melamine, stamps, mobiles and gift cards...

(images from Herzensart with thanks to Decor8)

NOTES:
visit Sandra's website
visit Sandra's store
read Sandra's blog

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I have decided not to post a Wonderland entry today, as I wanted to end this alphabet*seven with this absolutely beautiful video... Shown below is Kseniya Simonova, a Ukrainian sand artist who just won Ukraine's version of America's Got Talent. I highly recommend you take the time to watch it, you will be in awe.

Enjoy.

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And here we are at the end of alphabet*seven. Thank you so much for joining me on this alphabetical journey, I really do appreciate your company : )

As always I will be taking a break next week to gather resources for alphabet*eight... it is already shaping up to be a cracker.

In the meantime my friends, I will catch up with you soon - November 2nd to be exact...I look forward to it!

Oh, and have a wonderful weekend too!

Warm wishes,

Jo

xxoo