just dropping by...

Hi there : )

I hope your festivities have been wonderful! I just thought I'd drop by and say hi!... I've been thinking about this wee alphabetical friend a lot and thought I might just pop in every other day or so with some Facebook-like-status updates.. are you keen? Here's the first...

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Jo Pewhairangi ...thinks she might start collecting wooden spoons...

These lovelies are from Nic Webb, with thanks to Holly at Decor8 for the intro..

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xxoo

Kindred + Mimi Kirchner + Kristen Kieffer

Hello! Thank you so much for joining me again. I am actually quite excited about combining K and L together - there is such an amazing variety of styles and mediums amongst these two groups. A whole heap of work to ponder and enjoy.. let's get to it...

Kindred

Surely you must already know about two fabulous blogs Decor8 and Creature Comforts? Well, just in case you don't - Holly Becker of Decor8 and Heather 'Ez' Pudewa of Creature Comfort's both write exceptional design and goodness based blogs - you really should check them out.

Even though Holly and Ez have never met face to face, their 'online' friendship has blossomed into the wonderful joint venture that is 'Kindred'.

At Kindred Holly and Ez bring together a selection of their favourite artists, give them a small brief and then pop a free (yep, that's free!) down loadable version of their work to have on your very own desktop. - pretty fab huh?! To top that off Holly and Ez also have a great wee selection of free (there's that word again : ) printables for your very own! Luckily for us, both Ez and Holly have exceptional taste and you will LOVE all the freebies they have to offer!

"... to us it's about making the most of the often overlooked little things. No doubt you feel exactly the same way. It's amazing how we meet and connect online, sometimes replacing missing people in our own day-to-day life with new found friends we've never met face-to-face. No doubt many of you have your own kindred spirits online, those who encourage, share, motivate, comfort... Kindred is a mini celebration of such friendships formed inside the delicate and vast online web."

Take a peek:

above: by Samantha Hahn

above: by Jessica Gonacha

above: by Traci French

above: by Holly Becker

above: by Ez Pudewa

(images and quote from Kindred)

NOTES:
visit Kindred
visit Decor8
visit Creature Comforts


Mimi Kirchner

So, if you have been on the last couple of Alphabetical journeys with me you will know how fond I am of Softies, and hand stitched dolls and creatures.

It is always a pleasure to come across someone like Mimi Kirchner who carefully crafts each of her pieces.There is so much detail in Mimi's work, these pictures below hardly do it justice. I do suggest you pop over to her blog to check out more detailed images.

Mimi creates a series of pin cushions, patterns, note cards and magnet sets, but it is her doll collection that I love - check them out...(oh, and i love the fact that she creates pieces that are orientated towards boys like the robots and tattooed men below : )

(images from Mimi Kirchner)

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

Kristen Kieffer

On a completely different note to the two above is the ceramic work of Kristen Kieffer. What I love about Kristen's work is not only the delicateness and beauty of each piece, but also the colours of her glazes and the intricacy's of her pattern work.

I imagine a friend sipping a drink from the tumblers pictured 4th below, and then all of a sudden discovering that the gorgeous pattern on the front is created our of bunny's. Or a sweet plant in the pot pictured below, with the little wise owls sitting knowledgeably underneath.

I also imagine each vessel housing a sweet collection of creamy peonies - looking divine!

(images from Kristen Kieffer)

NOTES:
visit Kristen's website
visit Kristen's store here and here

Are you looking forward to L? I am!
- let's skip right over there now!

D reamy

A fab bunch today : )

Domestic Candy

I was first introduced to the work of Kerstin from Domestic Candy over at Decor8 way back in March. I noted it in my catalogue right then and there, but it isn't until now that I get a chance to share it with you.

So just in case you haven't had a chance to see Kerstin's work before, it is a very sweet collection of jewellery, buttons and wall decorations, each one created in the gorgeous European style that I love!

Here's a peek

(images from Domestic Candy with thanks to Holly at Decor8 for the intro)


NOTES:
visit Kerstin's store (in German)
read Kerstin's blog (in German)


Doll House Love
By Petit Flâneur

I mentioned Petit Flâneur in Alphabet4 in a post about Blocks. I thought I'd slip in another stunner I found in their store - 'Contemporary Printed Doll Houses' with gorgeous interior spaces - Look!!

The description for their Doll Houses reads:

"Not only for children, these houses are for anyone who enjoys things in miniature form (like me!!) Modern furniture and detailed wallpaper bring these houses up-to-date.Hand-printed, assembled dollhouses include assembled furniture, made of birch micro-plywood. Houses made of plywood. All inks are water-based and non-toxic.There is a choice in color of the top interior room: natural wood, dark orange, and fuchsia."

It sounds just as good as it looks!! check them out....

(images and quote from Petit Flâneur)

NOTES:
visit the Petit Flâneur website
visit the Petit Flâneur store


Bridget Davies

Bridget Davies graduated from Bretton Hall College of Leeds University with a 1st Class Hons degree in Fashion and Textiles. After being awarded the Arms Prize for receiving the highest grade, Bridget Davies took flight and landed in Milan where she taught Fashion.

Since heading back to the UK, Bridget's career has seen her designing embroideries for both mass market production and small exclusive boutiques and collections.

Bridget now concentrates fully on producing her own line of gorgeous hand stitched, appliqued and freehand machine embroidered accessories.

As you may know, I really adore hand stitching. It was Bridget's eye for detail and craftsmanship that really drew me into her store. And believe it or not, Bridget's talents don't stop here, check out the notes below to view her beautiful paintings and prints!

(images from Bridget Davies)

NOTES:
visit Bridget's website
visit Bridget's store
visit Bridget's Art store


We are already heading toward the weekend! This week is just flying by!
Thanks so much for joining me today. Have a great day!

See you tomorrow for Friday and E! xxoo

it's Friday!!

I am actually quite excited that it is Friday as I am eager to start our 2nd Alphabet set on Monday!


I know I have ranted and raved about it in the past, but I just can't help doing it a bit more!! I have to let you know that the Autumn issue of Small Magazine is now out. As always it is jam packed with beautiful imagery, fantastic product and interesting reads - included in this season's edition is a 'fashion spread' by super talented Jayme McGowan, a fabulous DIY Dress-up section and gorgeous Polaroid shots by Jen Gotch...take a peek..

It really is worth a look - and the subscription is FREE!!

(images from Small Magazine)

NOTES:
read Small Magazine
subscribe to Small Magazine

Decor8

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I have a 'Guest Spot' coming up on Decor8... I'm just waiting to hear back from Holly as to when exactly it will be posted - but do stay tuned - As soon as I know I'll let you know!!
If you haven't been over there already do take a look at whats been happening at Decor8 this week - so many amazing bloggers sharing amazing finds and pieces of inspiration!!


it's the weekend!

And the weekend rolls around again!! Wow the weeks fly by! I'm going to leave you with this poster I found over at Design is Mine, it is by by Danna Ray of Groundwork.

Have a great weekend! See you Monday for a new Alphabet Set! - I can't wait!! x

the end of round one...

Well, here we are at the end of our first Alphabet set - a pretty monumental moment I think! My first journey into Blogland has been fabulous, welcoming and incredibly enjoyable... I have some exciting plans for next week when we take a rest 'between alphabets'.. more details below...

Lets kick start the Y's and Z's with...

Well, it's not really a Y or a Z.. but there are two Y's in it's name so I guess that counts!!

Gypsy and Twink

I have always been intrigued by the work of Kristy Macintosh. Kristy is the creative force behind Gypsy and Twink - a range of 3-dimensional collage pieces that are amazingly captivating.

I think it is the combination of intricate paper collage, her fantastic use of colour and the shapes and forms she works with, that make her collection so special - check out some of Kristy's work:

(images from Gypsy and Twink)

NOTES:
visit Kristy's store

Yellow Monday

I love these prints.

I wouldn't describe them as being particularly 'Happy', but they do make me smile : ) Produced in Sydney, Australia by artist Linda Kruger, the Yellow Monday prints are a collection of quirky characters, in everyday situations - well, actually, unless you tango with your dog everyday, this may not be the best description! Situations, non the less, that make me smile!

***Nip over to Yellow Monday to Buy one Get one FREE!!!
(be quick it's only for a limited time!)***

(images from Yellow Monday)

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

Yumiyumi

Aline Yamada is super clever. So clever in fact, that people keep stealing the images form her Yumiyumi range and 'making them' their own. As annoying and rude (to put it politely) as it is, it is a testament to her work.

Balancing a successful Etsy store and an active toddler, Aline still finds time to create a range that is simply beautiful.

I love this "These Are For You" print (pictured below, at top). Both of my boys 'Son aged 5' and 'Son aged 3' have gone through phases of wanting to rename themselves 'Fox' - this print makes me smile and think of them when they are at their most lovable...no doubt you will find something you love amongst Aline's work too...

(images from Yumiyumi)

NOTES:
visit Aline's store
read Aline's blog
Please don't steal Aline's (or anyone's for that matter) work!

ZukZuk

I was pretty excited to read about Helen Acraman from ZukZuk over on Decor8. I was particularly excited because Helen is a New Zealander.

Currently living in Toronto, Helen creates a fantastic collection of work for her Etsy Store. Her collection is bright and cheerful, full of colour and life - it sounds like, from reading her blog, that she is exactly the same! - the perfect way to end our very first Alphabet Set : ) - enjoy!

***$1 from each item sold goes to support Amnesty International***

(images from ZukZuk)

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

Next Week:

We are going to take a rest between Alphabet Sets next week - but don't go anywhere! There are some pretty exciting things happening here...

• I'll be guest blogging over at Decor8 during the week (!yay!) - so you will have to stay tuned for that! and...
• I can't reveal everything just yet, but lets just say that a very LUCKY reader will win a FABULOUS give-away...and...
• we are also going to have a series of interviews with some of my favourite New Zealand makers and doers - you can't be missing that!!

So make sure you pop in next week, the give-away in itself will be well worth the visit : )

Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for joining me in our first Alphabetical Journey...

xx see you Monday!