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Hi everyone,

JANUARY 2011 UPDATE: Keep an eye out - there are a few changes taking place!

I'm feeling bad, I feel like I have let this alphabet down. I'm so sorry that I haven't been around this way for a while.. The image below pretty much sums up my time at the moment... it's full! Just as one project finished, another needed some attention... which is all good in the grand scheme of things, but not so good for this alphabet of ours!!

So, will you be patient (some more!) with me?? I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'll let you know as soon as I am.

In the meantime, take care my friends. I'll see you again soon...

xxoo

(image from Craig A Rodway)

see you soon!

+ Justin Rothshank

Let's jump right in...

Justin Rothshank

Some more ceramic love to share with you...

On a recent trip around etsy I stumbled across the work of Justin Rothshank. I immediately fell in love with Justin's pieces and in particular his quirky application of decals and motifs.

"My junior high art teacher sparked my interest in ceramics, and my high school clay teacher cultivated it. She introduced me to wood firing, and it completely changed my perspective on clay."

Thank goodness for art teachers! Check out some of Justin's work below, then skip over to his website and store for more...

(images from Justin Rothshank, quote from The Studio Chronicle)

NOTES:
visit Justin's website
visit Justin's store

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S is on it's way! See you soon! xxoo

+ Quiet

Quiet

We will continue on this new series titled 'Quiet', as mentioned in alphabet*ten "Quiet will generally be a collection of images to ponder, reflect and refresh...there will be minimal words... I hope you enjoy it : )

My brother's recent wedding meant that we were on a road trip... a six (or so) hour drive north, through beautiful landscape and snowy terrain. Those of you with children will know the 'joys' of travelling long distance in weather that doesn't allow alot of leg stretching and time out of the car. The journey can be a bit trying sometimes, but that moment, when they let the rhythm of the car take over, and they finally fall asleep, the quiet is so welcomed.

So today, to encourage some quiet at your place, I have chosen some images that reflect that moment during a road trip, where the quiet lets you take snapshots in your mind of the beauty that is outside your window... enjoy!

(images from Helene Smith)

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ssshhhh : )

+ Nadia Pignatone

Hi there!

Sorry it's been so quiet around these parts. The last two weeks have been nothing short of hectic! The projects I have been working on are coming to a head, meaning the workload has grown and everything is at a really crucial stage... I have also started a new job which I am really excited about : )

My brother and his new wife celebrated their nuptials too so we've had a whole heap of celebration thrown in the mix as well. There's nothing like having a full life, filled with people that you love and the things that make you happy!

I hope all has been well with you... are you ready to delve back into this alphabet*eleven?

Let's go!

Nadia Pignatone

Nadia Pignatone's gorgeous porcelain work is new to me. Like me, you may have seen Nadia's work amongst the pages of the April/May Issue of Belle, or in various other publications that have readers oohing and ahhing over the latest finds at Maison and Objet in Paris... - oh my!

I have been particularly loving Nadia's Blossoms collection of hand thrown porcelain adorned with laser cut Kimono (pictured below)... Oh, and the Drip's Collection by Nadia's work and life partner Fausto Pellegrini (pictured first below) is divine too!

"My love for the art of pottery began many years ago in an atelier on the East Side of Manhattan, where I learned to shape my passion for clay into forms that I longed for.
The soul of my wares comes to life through a visual aesthetic, inherited from my background in graphic design, combined with the endless enjoyment of forming porcelain."

(images and quote from Nadia Pignatone)

NOTES:
visit Nadia's website

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See you soon for Q!

xxoo

+ Sara Olmos

It's Friday!

Let's Go!

Sara Olmos

I am just about to skip out the door, but before I go I want to share with you some gorgeous illustrative work from Sara Olmos... take a peek:

(images from Sara Olmos)

NOTES:
visit Sara's website
visit Sara's store

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Well my friends, I do so hope you have a lovely weekend. Where ever you are, stay well and warm. See you Monday!

xxoo

+ Danny Mansmith

Hi!

We're going to jump right in today...

Danny Mansmith

I always enjoy reading through an artist's bio and Danny Mansmith's was no exception - I could copy and paste it all here, but I'm not going to - I want you to go and check it out for yourself... here's a snippet;

"I was the sensitive redhead growing up: the one that was picked on. So, from the very beginning, I was sort of pushed upon a path of feeling different and apart from others..."

I can definitely identify with Danny, not that I was picked on, but that feeling of being different - thinking differently, liking different things, having different interests...blogging has opened me up to a whole heap of like-minded people, it makes me realise I am not actually that different, there are plenty of people out there who are just like me!

Unfortunately for me, the outcome of my 'differences' are nothing like Danny's - this 'sensitive red-head' is super talented and produces an awe inspiring collection of work - you need to have a look through his portfolio...

"It took almost all of the ‘90’s to develop a way of sewing that looks naive and disheveled, but still well made.There’s this really hard work ethic I have. But working and making art is my joy and freedom. It’s my survival."

(images and quotes from Danny Mansmith)

NOTES:
visit Danny's website
visit Danny's store

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The sun is shining! As much as I try to think positively about the rain - the sun brings a (very big) smile to my face!

Have a great day!
xxoo

+ Cade Martin

Hi there,

Mid-week already! I hope your week has been going well.

All is good here, it is still raining but I try to think of all the positive things that rain brings -

One of the best things is that it encourages us to stop rushing. We become extra conscious of running here and there, most of the time unnecessarily. Rain like we have been having gives us an opportunity to stop and ponder, wrap up warm and spend time together indoors - and then there's the open fire, the warm hot chocolates, the board games and the extra snuggles from the kids - hmmmm rain... not that bad at all!

Cade Martin

The photography of Cade Martin is the perfect place to ponder on days like today. Have you seen his work? Maybe you spotted him when he was a guest photographer on cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model?? You really should check out his portfolio, his work is beautiful!

I've chosen some images to share with you here from a commemorative book produced by The Washington Ballet titled 'Wonderland'.

"Wonderland gives readers an intimate look at the TWB dancers, providing rare glimpses of life backstage, and hopefully, a better understanding of what it means to be a performing artist."

Cade's collaboration with creative and art directors Design Army brings together a series of images that are undeniably-breath-takingly-beautiful. - My fave? The second one pictured below from Peter Pan, featuring dancer Jonathan Jordon... take a peek:

(images from Cade Martin, quote from The Washington Ballet)

NOTES:
visit Cade's website
visit The Washington Ballet's website
buy Wonderland

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Have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow! xxoo