+ Athina Moisa

Hello!

A warm welcome to alphabet*eleven!

How have things been with you? I do hope all has been well.

We are all settled in to our new home. The view is outstanding and it is a joy to wake up to every morning : ) Our little house is great, is always full of children (and if not, it is quiet because our children are filling up a neighbours house!). In our old house, we pretty much just stuck to ourselves, and it has been great to move in to a neighbourhood full of kids and family's.

Speaking of neighbourhoods, I'm exited to be begin the alphabet with the following artist - are you ready?

Let's go!

Athina Moisa

When I had my little retail store I had the pleasure of meeting Wellington (NZ) artist Athina Moisa. We had discussed the possibility of selling Athina's knitted baby hats and during our chats she had told me she was an artist, that she loved wool and had been creating artwork for the last few years. At that time, I didn't take the opportunity to delve into Athina's work, but I am so glad I have now!

Recently when I was introduced to the Pablos website, and I came across Athina's bio, it was one of those "come and look at this!" moments. These works below were inspired by a trip to Greece, and are hand stitched using wool...

"Moisa was struck by how close together all the houses were. So close, in fact, that you could lean over and talk to your neighbour, encouraging a greater sense of connectedness and community."

I love it!

(images from Pablos and Objectspace, quote from Pablos)

NOTE:
see Athina's work on the Pablos website

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A wonderful way to not only start this alphabet, but also start the week!
See you tomorrow my friends - happy day!

xxoo

+ Anna Church

Welcome!

Ahh! Alphabet*ten! What an incredible journey we've been on together! This alphabet in particular is such a big milestone - our first to hit the double digits! I've lost count of how many creative super-stars I've written about, but if I estimate correctly this alphabet*ten should see us come pretty close to reaching 1000(!), and we should easily hit the '300 posts' mark too!

As it seems with every alphabet, this one is shaping up rather nicely. I do still have some spaces to fill though, so if you know of anything or anyone you think should be included (and feel free to ruthlessly self promote : ) just drop me a line.

I am so happy to have you join me as we start on this new adventure - Are you ready for another alphabetical journey?

Let's go!

(Here's one that will get the hearts of all you ex-pats yearning for home...it's a perfect start to this new series, and I know you'll love it!)

Anna Church

If you have ever read a NZ interior or home magazine you will no doubt be familiar (if only subliminally) with the work of Anna Church. Anna is a super talented stylist who freelances for a number of leading New Zealand magazines, homeware brands and advertising campaigns.

Anna is the wearer of many hats; not only has she carved a niche for herself as a sought after stylist, she is also the co-creative director of wholesale and online linen and homewares company Gorgi. She juggles all her work with being a new mum, and still manages to pull together her own impressive series of artworks portraying NZ iconography through an assembly of NZ vintage design pieces.

"My work explores New Zealand culture and history through sculptural assemblage. My sculptures are then photographed and sold as limited edition prints. I use iconic objects such as vintage Crown Lynn ceramics, a Jackie Howe singlet and vintage wallpaper to form iconic images which, once assembled, emerge and create unique artworks with a Kiwiana twist. "

Take a peek:

(images from Anna Church, Clever Bastards, The Poi Room and Gorgi. quote from NZ Herald)

NOTES:
visit Anna's website

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It is so lovely to be back. Thank you so much for joining me. I am so pleased to have started this 'milestone' alphabet with someone like Anna - will you join me again tomorrow for B?

See you soon!
xxoo

Andrew Bannecker + Aladdin

Hi!

Welcome to the first post of the year- and of the decade!

This alphabet*nine is shaping up to be a goodie! Thank you so much for dropping by and being apart of this journey of ours, I really do love your company.

My boys are on summer holidays until February, so we are going to take it slow during this ninth alphabet. My smallest has his first day at school in mid-Feb so we will run with a stripped back version of the usual letter-a-day until then. That should pretty much take us up to the end of alphabet*nine.

Blog Wonderland will be making a comeback at the beginning of March along with alphabet*ten - TEN!!!

By the time alphabet*ten starts I should have all my tweaking and features updated, and have a whole heap of new bits and bobs to share with you - are you ready??

Let's go!

Andrew Bannecker

I had to start the year with this poster (see first image below) from Andrew Bannecker, it is pretty much summing up how I'm feeling right now, and about the year ahead...

Andrew is prolific artist who works for a variety of large clients. His blog is chock full of recent work, awards, and plenty of well deserved recognition.

"A collector of old ephemera and just about anything wood and metal, Andrew creates beautiful art that captures the imagination and tells a story. He works in a studio in Washington DC, beautifully cluttered with everything from toy rocket ships to vintage glass beakers filled with skittles."

enjoy!

(images and quote from Andrew Bannecker)

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

The Aladdin Artist Series

oohh! fancy a hip lunch box? - or a cool re-usable coffee mug? Well, check out these goodies from Aladdin...

Aladdin has come up with the 'Aladdin Artist Series' and designed a collection of re-sealable lunch containers and insulated mugs featuring the works of some of our favourite artists... including Matte Stephens, Amy Ruppel and Catalina Estrada - yay!

"We think art makes the little things in life even better. That’s why we created the Aladdin Artist Series. Our initial collection of mugs and bowls celebrates the brilliant work of emerging artists from around the world." - pretty cool huh?

(images and quote from Aladdin)

NOTES:
check out more on the Aladdin website

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alphabet*nine has officially started!! thanks so much for joining me! - Are you keen to come back tomorrow?? I hope so!

See you tomorrow for B! 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.

Adam Beane + Alli Coate + Anh-Minh

Welcome to a new alphabet! It is lovely to be back and jumping in to this alphabet*seven. I have had a relaxing week away - how was yours? I hope all is well with you : )

Should we get started?


Adam Beane

I am so pleased that we are beginning this new alphabet journey with the intricate work of Adam Beane. Have you seen it? Well you may have if you are into action figures and collectible toys...

Adam is often contracted as 'Master Sculpture' by collectible toy giants like PlanB, SOTA and McFarlane. "I have become known for dynamic compositions, action poses, nuanced drapery work and my ability to capture likenesses with expressions."

His work reminded me of the complex sculptures that are on display at Weta Workshops here in Wellington - mind boggling craftsmanship, incredible attention to detail, jaw dropping skill...

I did read on The Sculptors Corner that Adam hopes to "make money, travel the world and live in another country", mmmm...maybe Wellington could be the place for him?

(images and quotes from Adam Beane with thanks to The Sculptors Corner)

NOTES:
visit Adam's website


Alli Coate

Freelance illustrator Alli Coate creates these gorgeous works by blending her love of paper, fabric and thread.

As a recent graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (with a BFA in illustration), Alli creates works for a variety of printed media and regularly exhibits in her home town of Providence.

Alli's passion for embroidery is one of the things that I am really drawn to in her work, I love the Hoop that is pictured last below with it's little windows of threaded love...enjoy!

(images from Alli Coate)

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

Anh-Minh is one of those blogs that you find yourself 8 pages in to before you realise it...

I have been trying to sum up this wee blog for a while now, it is a mixture of a whole lot of things... most of all it is a great read, full of interesting pieces. I think these things are a reflection of Anh-Minh Le's professional life as a journalist and writer.

Over the years Anh-Minh has written for a variety of shopping, food, travel, and lifestyle web sites (including Apartment Therapy) ... I think her bio over at Girls Guide to City Life sums it all up...

"...She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in journalism. In her free time, Anh-Minh contributes to a crafts collective, hangs out in the backyard with her husband, and blogs as a way to remember what she did the day before yesterday.

She got her passport late in life and is now attempting to make up for lost time by traveling as often as possible. Her favorite destinations so far? Amsterdam, London, and Hong Kong. Visit her web site."

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What a great start to a new alphabet and a new week! Thank you so much for joining me as we start this new journey...have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow for B! xxoo