Hello! Welcome back!

I hope you are well : )

It has been a chaotic two weeks here, my youngest boy hasn't managed to start school yet, as he has had pneumonia - pneumonia!! We are hoping that he may be able to start his schooling adventures towards the end of this week - fingers crossed!

(image from yarnattack)

It hasn't been all bad though; when he is under the weather he is pretty quiet, needs lots of cuddles and a few naps - "have a nap with me mama", how can I resist?!

It does mean that the work around here has been rather slow though, but there are a few changes underway...

Do you feel like a guided tour?

Well, on the left, up top there, you will notice a couple of buttons for Facebook and Twitter - yep, we are broadcasting from those spots from the start of letter A (tomorrow!), so click on through to become a 'fan' (my one fan needs a bit of company!) and to receive my 'tweets'. Oh and if you haven't already, the 'subscribe' buttons are opposite on the right.

Also on the right, you'll find some coloured strips under 'Featured Artists'. This is a work in progress as I slowly start compiling a catalogue of everyone who has been featured on this ol' alphabet of ours. At this stage you can go through to alphabet*one and alphabet*five. But keep an eye out for the others, they should be following along soon.

In both sidebars there are some new spots under 'Inspired By', and 'Take a Peek', all are worth a click, and are either reads I really enjoy, people who are super supportive, people who I find inspiring, and in some cases - all three! There will be more additions in these spots over the next few days too..

Alphabet*Ten

Alphabet*ten is about to start too - yay! I have streamlined the programme so it becomes a quick and inspiring daily read and an easy-to-browse resource. Those hard to write letters will have new faces too which I'll tell you all about later in the alphabet, and as always, I'll continue to bring you all my faves from here and around the globe - exciting stuff!!

So will you head back this way tomorrow and see who's going to start off this alphabet*ten?
I hope so...


See you soon!
xxoo

Hello!

I hope all is good with you : )
You may have noticed some additions happening around here.. I just wanted to let you know that the links wont be working straight away, so pop back in a day or two and everything should be up and running.

Only a few days left until we start alphabet*ten! - see you soon xxoo

Yellow Owl Workshop + Les Zigouis

Hello!

how's your day going? good I hope : )

As you have probably gathered - X has joined Q and U in the land of tricky letters. Also like Q and U, X will be reincarnated in a whole new light in alphabet*ten.

I'll give you the run down on alphabet*ten soon, in the meantime, will you join me for Y and Z?

yippee!

Yellow Owl Workshop

I love it when I visit a site and find a collection of goodies that make me oohh and aahh - especially when it involves stationery and printed goodness. Yellow Owl Workshop does just that, the site is full of limited edition paper goods, wedding correspondence and goodies for your home -

"Ready for the gallery wall, but formatted for everyday enjoyment, each article is made by hand with expert craft. Yellow Owl Workshop endeavors to create the most eco-lovin' products by using use non-toxic water-based inks, 100% PCW recycled paper and our own mitts for screen printing.

The Workshop is perched atop blustery Bernal Hill in San Francisco, California. Studio visits by appointment only. Christine Schmidt received her BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and has exhibited across the US. She handles the designs. Evan Gross, her lovely husband, handles just about everything else."

Have a look!

(images and quote from Yellow Owl Workshop)

NOTES:
visit Christine and Evan's website
read Christine and Evan's blog

Les Zigouis

Like Yellow Owl Workshop, Les Zigouis is also an oohh and aahh store. Not only are the products beautiful but the photography is gorgeous too.

Barbara Berrada is the super clever French fashion designer, designer and photographer behind the Les Zigouis store - and her blog? - oh my! the photography is to die for! You really should check it out!

I am so pleased to not only be ending the week, but also this alphabet, with Barbara's work -

Oh, and this is just a drop in the ocean of Les Zigouis goodness...so make sure you skip over to Barbara's store and blog for a look-see...enjoy!

(images from Les Zigouis)

NOTES:
visit Barbara's store
read Barbara's blog (in French with an option to translate to English in the sidebar)

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And that my friends, is the end of alphabet*nine.

Here's what's coming up...

In the next week or so I'm going to take some time settling my wee guy into school. I'll be back with alphabet*ten on March 1st.

Even though that will be a two week break from regular alphabetical stuff, there will be bits and bobs happening around here, so do keep popping in from time to time to check out the changes. I have plans! Plans that I am excited about, things I need to master (well at least practice!) and a few new additions to the site.... so, exciting things are afoot!

I do so appreciate your company, your loyalty, emails and comments really do make my day : )

Thanks so much.

See you soon! xxoo

Black Swan Designs

Hi there,


My wee guy is still under the weather and is in need of lots of cuddles and company... so I'm going to jump right in... will you join me?


Black Swan Designs


Mel Blowes graduated from Christchurch (NZ) Polytech with a Bachelor of Design, she also carries a couple of certificates that acknowledge her talent as a photographer. Mel obviously has an eye for composition and this, along with her impeccable attention to detail is showcased beautifully in her own label - Black Swan Designs.


I have chosen to share some of Mel's pendants here today, but make sure you jump over to her website to check out her whole collection...

(images from Black Swan Designs)

NOTES:
visit Mel's website
visit Mel's store here and here
read Mel's blog

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Have a great day!

See you tomorrow! xxoo

Cynthia Vardhan

Hello,

I hope your day is going well : )

Just like Q, U didn't show it's face yesterday... for the same reasons really... it's getting harder and harder to find things that I want to share with you that begin with U. What I am looking forward to though is alphabet*ten when a whole new approach to these tricky letters will be revealed - yay!

Alphabet*ten isn't that far away, we are cruising into the end of alphabet*nine this week.. but lets wait 'til Friday to talk about all that.

Are you ready for V? Let's go!

Cynthia Vardhan


Those of you who have been on these alphabet journeys for a while now will well and truly know about my penchant for colourful ceramics. One would wonder what I would do if I actually owned the amount of pretty porcelain that I write about - I do write about alot of it! One thing I do know is that I would be one happy gal!!

Imagining opening your cupboards to these beauties by Cynthia Vardhan...I would be in heaven!

"Since age 13, through college and arty grad school, my skills in ceramics have evolved and grown to what you see today: gorgeous little pieces adorned with textured patterns you can stare at and touch for hours.

The inspiration for these patterns can come from anywhere- from European lace doilies and henna patterns from India to the traditional fabrics of West Africa & Bali."

l.o.v.e!

(images and quote from Cynthia Vardhan)

NOTES:
visit Cynthia's website
visit Cynthia's store

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I've got a very sick little guy at home today, all though he is much perkier than he has been in a while, so things are looking up. We have a stack of books lined up, and some snuggling to do...plus loads of getting better...oh, and he has just announced we have monopoly to play too : )

Have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow! xxoo

Tea and Ceremony

Happy Friday! - again! : )

I can't believe the weekend is nearly here again, is time flitting by faster than ever, or what?!

I've got some loveliness to end the week on, shall we take a peek?

Tea and Ceremony

After yesterdays post on Studio Ditte, I was all inspired about the talent and inspiration that comes out of Europe, and in particular, Scandinavia. When I found the work of Sandra Igbodo from Tea and Ceremony I thought it would be the perfect follow on from yesterday, and a wonderful way to end the week. Who can go past work inspired by Scandinavian Folk Art and not drool?!

"Graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in Design and Art Direction in 2001, Sandra has brought together all of her experience in art, design and craft to deliver a fusion of paper goods, illustration and sculpture.

Inspired by everything from Scandinavian folk prints to Lucienne Day and having practised various techniques from bookbinding to screen printing, Sandra's broad range of interest and experience gives Tea & Ceremony its unique identity"

Enjoy!

(images and quote from Tea and Ceremony)

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

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We have a very full schedule this weekend with birthday parties, bbq's and fishing - I can't wait!

What are you up to this weekend? Whatever you do, I hope it is wonderful!

Take Care,

See you Monday, xxoo

Studio Ditte

Hi!

I hope your day is going well : )

Today is the last day before school goes back, and I'm feeling rather sad about it all. Luckily I still have my wee boy at home until he turns five in mid-Feb, so I do have chance to ween myself a bit, but I still feel a bit sad....I'm going to miss them, as much as having a break from each other can be nice, I'm going to miss having them around. I have really enjoyed these holidays, we have well and truly relaxed into them, no rushing here and there, no stressing when someone cant find suitable clothes to wear, no need to pack lunches, and schoolbags - it's been great!

So, I'm going to make the most of this last day, and get this S post underway....ready? Let's go!

Studio Ditte

Oh me, oh my! It is either a blessing or a curse that I don't live anywhere near the Netherlands! When I had a store we used to import all sorts of goodness from the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, and I tell you, it was pretty hard to not add a few bits and bobs into shipments for myself! Even my children used to raid stock boxes and I'd find softies tucked into their beds, and t-shirts on over top of the clothes they were already wearing....yep, they know goodness when they see it!!

So when I came across Studio Ditte, the feelings were the same... and what feelings are those? The "I want it!" feelings!!! Luckily for our bank balance delivery is only available within the EU...but boy oh boy, talk about love!

I refrained from copying images from the whole collection, so pop on over and check it out for yourself....

(images from Studio Ditte)

NOTES:

visit the Studio Ditte website

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See you tomorrow! xxoo

Roddy and Ginger

Hi there,

Thanks so much for joining me today. Q didn't show it's head yesterday. It is becoming more and more difficult to find suitable Q's to share with you, so I decided that skipping it would be better than showing you something that I wasn't really happy with. In saying that, I did spend yesterday thinking about the next Q and how we can tackle it - I'll keep you posted. If you know of anything that you think may be suitable for Q, I'd love to hear from you!

OK, shall we get this R underway?


Roddy and Ginger

My lovely husband (he's a builder) is working on a renovation of a beautiful 70's home. It has all the good stuff - it's open plan, has high ceilings, loads of windows and doors that open to an inner courtyard - with in ground pool (swoon!), it even has some fantastic (in a 70's kind of way) stained glass.

I often wonder when renovating and then decorating a home in a era like this how one would maintain some of it's 70's influences whilst still being modern. I think I've found the answer - Roddy and Ginger.

Virginia Armstrong is the graphic and textile designer behind UK based Roddy and Ginger. Virginia produces a fab collection of vintage inspired textiles and prints - "where you’ll find cheerful products designed to bring a ray of retro inspiration to you and your home."

Virginia's work is modern, bright and breezy with vintage inspired influences shining through - I think they'd be perfect for the house Steve is working on - take a peek:

(images and quote from Roddy and Ginger with thanks to Deborah for the intro)

NOTES:
visit Virginia's website
read Virginia's blog

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With school starting in a couple of days, we are on a mission today to get all the school books covered. My wee boy isn't feeling to well today so it's a good reason to ignore the call of the beach, and sit round the kitchen table with scissors and cover-seal : )

I hope you have a great day!

See you tomorrow! xxoo