Pearson Maron + Jen Pepper + Pia Jane Bijkerk

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend?

We had a lovely weekend - my parents were visiting which is always nice, the boys got to enjoy spending time with them, and dragging them around to different school functions and sports games - oh and there was good food as well -always a bonus!!

Are you ready for this new week? - the second to last in this Alphabet*Six... lets get crackin'....

Pearson Maron

On our daily drives to school we pass a quarry with tall billowing chimney stacks. The boys quite often comment on whether the 'Cloud Factory' is working or not and whether there will be rain because of it. I have always loved the image of factory's puffing clouds (rather than pollution) out of their chimneys, and when I spotted this Cloud Factory (first image below) from Pearson Maron, I knew I had to share it with you..

Quincy Pearson and Adam Maron are the creative duo behind super cool store Pearson Maron. They are the creators of "monster magnets, unique knobs made from recycled metal, and lots of other interesting kitschy stuff..."

Enjoy!

(images and quote from Pearson Maron)

NOTES:
visit Quincy and Adam's store
read Quincy and Adam's blog


Jen Pepper

Oooh this collection of trivets and coasters from Jen Pepper are divine! Using the fail-proof combination of engraving and laser cutting, Jen makes these pieces seem effortless - and who can resist a trivet of kissing deer?? Seems to me to be the perfect way to add a little bit of fancy to your table : )

(images from Jen Pepper)

NOTES:

visit Jen's store

read Jen's blog

This first 'P' for Blog Wonderland is a given really... how could it be anyone else other than Pia Jane Bijkerk??

This is one of those blogs that you probably already know about, but it's one that I really can't pass by...This is the kind of blog you get lost in.. where do I begin??

Pia's blog is broken up into different categories... 'Guest Quarters' for guest writers, 'Kitchen' for guest recipes, 'My Heart Wanders' for updates on her new book, 'Sound Studio' for images with music (that she has created herself), 'Library' for Pia's recent reads.. and then there's 'Paris', 'Amsterdam' and 'Sydney', the three cities she resides in - each with different posts, photographs and stories...as I said, you really could get lost.

This blog pretty much covers all my favourite things - design, craft, photography, writing, food, recipes and more. The perfect place to loose yourself : )

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Have a wonderful Monday!

See you tomorrow for Q! xxoo

Oiseaux + Ole Rattlesnake + Operation Nice

Friday! Yippee! Are you looking forward to the weekend? I hope your Friday swims past fast so the weekend comes quickly for you...


Oiseaux

I have been looking for book plates for my boys to use in their school books, and these ones from

Oiseaux are my favourite so far...

Sold in packs of 24, Shelley, the creator of these goodies, uses vintage book illustrations to create these 'plates' - some are personalized and others are left blank for you to write in names yourself or to use in gifts. You might recognise some of these covers from your own childhood...

There are so many lovely ones to choose from....have a look:

(images from Oiseaux)

NOTES:
visit Shelley's store
read Shelley's blog


Ole Rattlesnake

Nothing like ending the week with a touch of 'Stache humor : )

Lindsey Clarke-Ryan from Ole Rattlesnake has these smile makers in her Ole Rattlesnake store...I'm not too sure if The Warm Fuzzies card (2nd down) was a reference to moustaches, but I do think if fits quite well (he he). enjoy!

(images from Ole Rattlesnake)

NOTES:
visit Lindsey's store
visit Lindsey's website

When I was working in the city I would always pop my parking ticket (if it had time left on it of course!) back into the pre-pay machine, so that the next person who went to pay for parking would get my ticket for free... I never realised that this small 'act of kindness' had become a 'movement'.

Operation Nice is a website dedicated to encouraging individuals to be proactively nice -

"Don't you love it when people go out of their way to be nice? Like when someone waits to hold the door for you. Or when a stranger waves you into a line a traffic. Or even when a coworker shoots you a friendly smile along with a "have a nice day." If everyone was a little bit nicer to the folks they encountered each day, perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place. Operation NICE was initiated to remind you that a little NICE goes a long way."

I was thinking how sad it is that we sometimes need to be reminded to be nice, how we forget that one simple gesture can make someones day, or even change someones life. Operation Nice is a fun and inspiring place to be reminded and encouraged to continue to make this world a nicer place - yay!

The Nice website has a collection of downloads and printables to get you on your way to random acts of kindness - I love it! I think I will print some of the notes and go on a mission with my boys so we can spread some nice around together...

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Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

See you Monday for P! xxoo

Night Owl Paper Goods + Not Too Pink + Shannon Fricke

Hello! Lots of goodness to share today - let's get started....

Night Owl Paper Goods

"Modern Yet Folksy", is how Alan Henderson and Jennifer Tatham describe their line of letterpress cards and eco-chic wooden goodies. By the look of their retailers list - Modern Yet Folksy must be a style of choice; Night Owl Paper Goods are everywhere!

I've picked out these cute little numbers to share with you today - all are printed onto paper thin Eco-friendly sustainably harvested yellow birch wood - and printed in the designs and colours Alan and Jennifer find inspiring -

"The duo finds inspiration in the versatile works of Swedish and American folk artists. British haberdashers, as well as the cute critters and colossal colors that Mother Nature provides daily."

Oh, and they also sell blank wooden cards and postcards too! check it out!

(images from Night Owl Paper Goods)

NOTES:
visit Alan and Jennifer's website and store


Not Too Pink

Can you imagine how noisy these trees would be first thing in the morning? A whole neighborhood of birds getting about their days, shooing baby birds from perches and calling playing birds in for supper?

Corinne Dean from Not Too Pink is the illustrator behind these works and she sees art in the same way - Corinne likes to imagine a story behind them, creating a narrative for the pieces that she enjoys. Creative from as early as she can remember, Corinne produces a variety of work, from originals and prints to softies and badges.

I was really drawn to this series of birdhouses in trees - “These are stories I do not know the beginning or end to. I am attracted to this one scene, of houses huddled together or growing on trees or these red doors, and this is what makes me want to find out the rest of the story.”

enjoy!

(images and quote from Corinne Dean with thanks to Velocity)

NOTES:
visit Corinne's store
read Corinne's live journal

There are so many amazing blogs to share that I sometimes find it hard to choose! I really must update my 'Daily Reads' list as it is much much longer than that now! Shannon Fricke is one of those daily reads that isn't included on my blog (yet!).

Any one who is familiar with anything related to Australia and design will be well familiar with the work of Shannon Fricke. An uber-stylist, author and contributor at Inside Out Magazine Shannon has an effortless sense of style that is inspiring and uncomplicated.

"For me, home is the heart centre - the place from which my day begins and ends. I believe that if you decorate your home in a way that truly reflects your individuality and the things that you love - then that space can make you feel whole from the inside out."

(images and quote from Shannon Fricke)

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Wow this week has flown by! I hope you have a lovely day!

See you tomorrow for O! xxoo

Melissa Sue Stanley + A Mischievous Marriage + Meet Me At Mikes

Mmmmm lets begin with some softie love!

Melissa Sue Stanley

Melissa Sue Stanley is the creator of a fab hand made collection of critters that you may have seen recently in the Summer 2009 issue Stuffed Magazine.

You know I have a soft spot for softies right?? Well it took me ages to decide what images to choose to show you here - you should really just go and check them out for yourself....

I would have to say that The Tootsie Monster (pictured 2nd down) is a little bit scary, in a kinda cute Gollum (if Gollum can be at all cute) way! - what do you think?

(images from Melissa Sue Stanley)

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


A Mischievous Marriage

I LOVED these stands by A Mischievous Marriage as soon as I saw them. They are so simple, so clever and so beautiful. I wish I had a counter big enough to display my fruit and veg like this. They would make the best table centrepiece don't you think?

Designed and made by Andy and Victoria (the geniuses behind A Mischievous Marriage) each pedestal is hand shaped ... "When you are ready, just pluck and eat from your very own sculpture garden where fruits and vegetables perch ....Delicious to look at even when everything has been harvested! Endless possibilities."

Beats a fruit bowl any day!!

(images and quote from Mischievous Marriage)

NOTES:
visit Victoria and Andy's website
visit Victoria and Andy's store

I couldn't skip through M without mentioning Meet Me At Mikes...

Meet Me At Mikes really is one of those 'Must Read' blogs. Written by the super talented Pip Lincolne - is there anything this gal can't do?!

Meet Me At Mikes showcases everything from craft, to cooking to fashion and design finds... there's also great discussion, links to Brown Owls ( a craft group Pip organised) and then there's the book, and the shop and..... well, it's a must read - You should get over there!

(image from Meet Me At Mikes)

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Hope you enjoyed M! Have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow for N xxoo