+ Zara Carpenter

Hello!

Here we are at the end - again!! What an alphabet it has been! All this talent still blows me away, each and every time. I do hope you have found something that inspires you, something that brings a smile to your face, and something that warms your heart.

Shall we begin this Z?

Zara Carpenter

I am no where near brave enough to wear one of Zara Carpenter's creations, but oh how I love them!

Zara's bespoke hats are inspired by some of her favourite artists and writers Mark Ryden, Edward Gorey, Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll and Angela Carter. They are full of whimsy and perfection.

This first one pictured below is called "The Hula Girl Hat" and Zara describes it...

"Well I don't know about where you are but here its been a long hard winter and the spring has still not quite arrived...... how I ache for the sunshine on my face once more and the birds flitting through the blossom filled trees.Well at least you can wear a little sunshine on your head...... "

It's got to make you smile right??

(images and quote from Zara Carpenter)

NOTES:
visit Zara's store

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So what's next?

Well, we are heading into Easter break here, which means two weeks of school holidays for my lads - yay! I'm also working on a couple of exciting projects which keep me inspired (and working!). Oh, and we are moving house! A change is as good as a holiday they say, so we are making a move to a sweet little house on the top of the hill. The outcome of all those things will determine when alphabet*eleven will be launched, but I'll keep you posted!

Until next time, take care my friends.

Happy Easter!

Jo 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

Zara Picken

I thought that it would be fitting to end this alphabet*eight with some illustration. This alphabet has been leaning particularly heavily towards illustration with a total of 18 posts about illustrators and print makers... can you see what's been on my mind?? : )

Zara Picken

I have been really enjoying works like Zara Picken's - works that have a vintage feel about them. A soft colour palette and gentle texture - on looking through Zara's portfolio I learnt that this is best described as "retro-tinted with textured blocks of colour"...combining both digital and handmade elements.

"I am influenced by mid-century modern design and have a passion for old paper-based ephemera. I also find inspiration in vast collections, large cities and obscure music.
...Projects begin with pencil drawings and are completed using Photoshop in a distinctive style. My work is ideas-led, approaching each brief with an open mind and focusing on conveying concepts and messages with a striking aesthetic."

I love how Zara manages to create so much movement within her pieces, the swept hair-do's, the flying fish, and the party atmosphere... have a look....

(images and quote by Zara Picken)

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

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And there we have alphabet*eight! Sorry there were so many glitches these last couple of weeks!

Next week, as we head into the festive season, we are going to do an advent type series. Each day will have one or two Christmas inspired images and special finds. I'm also going to share the artwork we have purchased for our nieces and nephews, and a few of the decorations and traditions we have here in our family.

Will you join me? I hope so!

Thank you so much for visiting me throughout this 8th alphabet. Your comments, emails and loyalty really do make this all worth while. I so very much appreciate you dropping by!

Have a wonderful weekend!

See you Monday 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

Zid Zid Kids + Myan Campbell-Zurek + Imedagoze

Welcome to the end! Well not the end, end, just the end of this alphabet*six. What an amazing journey we have been on.. I have so thoroughly enjoyed sharing it with you. Your regular visits, comments and emails mean the world to me, I really do appreciate you joining me on this alphabetical adventure : )

Zid Zid Kids

When I was in the 'baby business' I did many-a-calculation, many nights dreaming and scheming of ways to get the absolutely gorgeous, fairly traded, Moroccan made, Zid Zid Kids into my collection. Unfortunately it was the shipping costs that made its inclusion un-viable but my love for Zid Zid hasn't changed, it is still one of my faves .... have you seen the Ballet Slippers pictured last or the gold embroidered pouffe (2nd) ?- divine!

"Zid Zid Kids is an award winning company recognized for its designs, use of noble materials, bold yet elegant colors, unlimited imaginations, the fun in the unknown, the magic in pretend, and the art of the handmade. By blending together old and new artistic influences alike, Zid Zid Kids aim is to bring you and your child designs that surprise, inspire and ones to be treasured for years to come."

(images and quote from Zid Zid Kids)

NOTES:
visit the Zid Zid Kids website

Myan Campbell-Zurek

Steve and I are planning a weekend away. A weekend that is kid and routine free. We both need a break, and Steve especially has been working really hard all year and deserves some time away.

While I was compiling this last alphabet edition I started thinking about how I wanted our weekend to be. When I saw Myan Campbell-Zurek's Photographs, I knew I wanted it to be just like these images below...

- well, I'll actually pass on the surfing : ) but I think these photographs encapsulate what time off should be all about - the freedom to do what you want, a moment that is long enough to take in the beauty of the world, and surroundings that are silent except for nature's noise...bliss

(images from Myan Campbell-Zurek)

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

To be honest I didn't think I would have much luck finding a 'Z' blog. I didn't have one in my catalogue, so I went browsing, and as luck would have it, I found Imedagoze.

What I like about Imedagoze is that it has a nice dose of architecture. When I visited again today I was actually gobsmacked by this image. I like being gobsmacked : )

Compiled by Singapore based Imelda, Imedagoze is a nice mixture of design, architecture and lifestyle..actually Imelda's blog banner sums it up - "Imedagoze - Home and Lifestyle Design Blog". If you feel like being whisked away, skip on over...

(image and quote from Imedagoze)

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It is so lovely to end this alphabet*six with these three talents - Zid Zid, one of my all time favourites, breath-taking photography from Myan Campbell-Zurek and the divine Imedagoze blog...just lovely.

So, for our 'inbetween-alphabets week I am going to be taking a writing break. I will be updating bits and bobs during the week - like the 'stars of alphabet*six blogroll' and a few more site improvements, so I will be popping in and out checking comments and reading emails.

As always, if you have (or know of anything) that you think should be included, please don't hesitate to get in touch, I love hearing from you.

In the meantime my friends, thank you so much for joining me, we will be back into the swing of alphabet*seven a week from Monday...

See you then! xxoo