X marks the spot...

I have to say that (as you can imagine) X was a bit tricky! But I have managed to pull some together for you.. hope you enjoy them : )

Foxy and Winston

Established in 2005 by Jane Buck, Foxy and Winston is a super cute range of screen printed note cards, tiny apparel and Limited Edition Wall Art Prints.

When I look at Jane's prints, all I can think of is soft little critters scurrying around preparing for spring - her prints have such a 'freshness' about them.

Earlier this year Jane had her first solo exhibition of Originals and Limited Editions at Relish at Home in Berkeley California.

"Woodland creatures great and small, abundant flora and whimsical pastoral scenes galore!"

Have a peek...

(images from buckfoxy and mammalia)

NOTES:
visit the Foxy and Winston website
shop at the Foxy and Winston Etsy Store
read the Foxy and Winston blog
see Foxy and Winston for stockists

Xmas Decorations

There are just over 140 days (that's about 19 weeks!!) until the Big Guy in the red suit does his rounds. And even though I consider this to be FAR too early to be considering Christmas, there is nothing like planning ahead! I thought I'd put this out there, just so you can plan the gorgeousness of your Christmas decorating! Your Tree will sparkle brighter and mantle will ooze with loveliness especially if all your Christmas Decs were from this years Rice Collection...

The reason why I'm sounding so biased is because last year we had the pleasure of having the Rice Christmas Collection as part of our range over at Apple of My Eye - with a hint of handmade charm and a dash of Scandinavian magic..the collection is truly beautiful. The extra bonus is that all of the Rice range is ethically made and traded - yay!

Here's a snippet...

(images from Rice)

NOTES:
visit the Rice website
see Rice for stockists

Pixel Organics

We are so lucky that organic products have filtered there way into design savvy businesses. Pixel Organics is definitely one of those. With a range that is hip, stylish and fun! Pixel Organics is on a mission: "to leave tiny footprints on this planet while providing modern infant products that embrace color and innovative design".

The Pixel Organics range includes Gift Sets, Bedding, Clothing, and Mattresses - all organic and Eco friendly - "Happy products for a Happy Planet"... here's a tiny taste...

and there is plenty more!

(images from Pixel Organics)

NOTES:
visit the Pixel Organics website
read about Pixel Organics Philosophy
see Pixel Organics for stockists

I cant believe that tomorrow is the end of our first alphabet set.. tune in then for Y and Z and for a hint of what will be happening next week - see you then!

p is for....

Welcome to a new week! I hope you had a relaxing weekend. We start the week with some P's...enjoy!

Port Chalmers Design Store

The Port Chalmers Design Store is owned and operated by Sarah Wood and Rebecca Wilson. Situated along side the main port for the southern New Zealand city, Dunedin. Port Chalmers is a picturesque (well actually, stunningly beautiful) bustling little area, dotted with shops and artists studios.

Port Chalmers

Sarah and Rebecca set up the store to create a space where Otago locals could buy the NZ designed products they see in magazines. With a solid contingent of successful NZ designers, the Port Chalmers Design Store has also established itself as a launching pad for Dunedin designers to test their products in the market, and showcase their work.

Do stop by if you are in the neighbourhood.

(images from Port Chalmers Design Store, NZ Life and Leisure and Rydermonkey)

NOTES:

visit the Port Chalmers Design Store website

visit Sarah and Rebecca's retail store at 15 George Street (the Main Street), Port Chalmers. Dunedin, NZ.

Pakhuis Oost

Located in the Netherlands, Pakhuis Oost has a strong collection of colourful, fun and quirky products - that I love!

Their winning combination of pattern and colour is inspiring and their sense of fun invigorating! - enjoy!

(images from Pakhuis Oost)

NOTES:

visit the Pakhuis Oost website

contact Pakhuis Oost for stockists

Good on Paper

Good on Paper was the first stationery company I really fell in love with - the one that all my friends got links to, the one that inspired e to look further, to search longer - to find more!!

Lisa Wong Jackson is the owner and designer of Good on Paper. Based in Berkeley, California, Lisa's designs custom wedding invitation sets, business identities and other print collateral as well as producing her own collection of products for the home, office and baby.

The Good on Paper designs are simple and fresh, and Lisa uses recycled paper, earth friendly inks and organic cotton wherever possible.

(images from Good on Paper)

NOTES:

visit Good on Paper online

contact Good on Paper for stockists

Thomas Paul

I mentioned Thomas Paul in my post 'M is for Melamine' as he produces a fantastic range of melamine plate collections. I love Thomas Paul's cheerful prints that are on everything he designs. His print patterns have a flavour of 'by-gone eras' with designs inspired by Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Fifties Modernism, Sixties Pop Art, Seventies Glamour, Asian, Baroque, and Hollywood Regency.

Always ahead of the curve, Thomas Paul creates innovative, affordable and gorgeous home accessories.

Here is a hint of his work.

(images from Velocity Art and Design)

NOTES:

visit Thomas Paul's website

shop for Thomas Paul products at Velocity Art and Design

Monday Art Find:

I am going to postpone Monday Art find for a few weeks as I just never get a chance to compile a really good amount of information. I am going to approach some people I know that love art, to see if they would like to guest blog this section. - If you would like to, or know someone that would, just drop me a line at thedesignalphabet[at]yahoo.com -it would be lovely to hear from you x thanks!!

And it's Q tomorrow!! see you then x

O me O my...

I was thinking that 'O' might be a bit tricky but looking here at my list, I already have notes for about ten ideas! Sometimes when I am feeling a bit stuck, I browse through the dictionary to see if it will spark some ideas, or a memory of something I've seen...and it has! A bit further down is 'Oil Cloth'.. I've made some exciting discoveries!

But first off...as I promised yesterday, some more about Rona Ngahuia Osborne -



Rona Ngahuia Osborne

Rona Ngahuia Osborne is the driving creative force behind Native Agent. Her work references her Maori and European heritage, and is rich in symbolism. The recurring use of the icons of historic trading - including muskets, hei tiki and feathers are strongly represented in her work.
Rona exquisitely hand crafts quilts, blankets and pillows and currently supplies several retail outlets as well as showcasing her collection in the Native Agent retail store.

Formally trained as a painter, Rona graduated from Elam Art School in 2001. Her paintings are regularly exhibited at various galleries throughout NZ.


(images from Native Agent)


NOTES:
visit Native Agent online.
visit Native Agent retail at 507 New North Road, Kingsland. Auckland
contact Native Agent for stockists
see Rona's paintings



Oil Cloth

I was pretty excited to reminded about Oil Cloth after my browse through the dictionary, I had a scout around. I have found these amazing oil cloths from the Scandinavian Design Center...- these ones blow their kitschy oil cloth cousins out the window!!

(images from the Scandinavian Design Center)

NOTES:
see more Oil Cloth at the Scandinavian Design Centre



Getting Organic at Mod Green Pod

Nancy Mims and Lisa Mims, (co-founders and sisters-in-law) grew Mod Green Pod from their love of swank design and sustainable goods. Not able to find anything that combined the two, they started their own company.

Mod Green Pod offers a range of hand printed organic fabrics and vinyl free wallpapers. With prints that take their cue from nature, Mod Green Pod's print collection is the perfect combination of whimsy and sophistication.

(images Mod Green Pod, Domino and Harlands Organics)


NOTES:
see the Mod Green Pod collection
contact Mod Green pod for stockists
read the Mod Green Pod blog

I thought I'd finish the week (and the O's) on a fun note - don't these shadow puppets by Andrea Everman of Owly Shadow Puppets look great! My kids (and some grown-ups I know) would get a huge amount of fun out of them! - enjoy!


Owly Shadow Puppets

In her day job, Andrea Everman is an architectural model maker. Using a laser cutter to produce her model making pieces, Andrea decided to try cutting out one of her own doodles. And, what-do-you-know??? Andrea took the plunge and purchased her own laser cutter, and an Owly Shadow Puppet business was born! I think they're fabulous!!

(images Owly Shadow Puppets)


NOTES:
shop for Owly Shadow Puppets
visit Andrea's website



Oh it's the weekend...

and the weekend rolls around again!

I love it when we are all energized enough to make a plan for the weekend...so often the days just fly by and we feel like we haven't done anything adventurous.

This weekend we are going on a family outing to Te Papa (the Museum of New Zealand). Jetson and I went there on Monday and he is keen to go on a special 'date' with his Dad to show him the Pacific Island drums he had so much fun playing. Phoenix was highly disappointed that he missed out on the Monday trip, so he and I are having a special date too, separate from his brother - no doubt we will end up in the same Planet Pasifika Discovery Centre!

I hope you get to do something special this weekend too,


See you Monday x

N is for Nice!

Well, here we are, officially past half way in our first alphabet journey!
Enjoy 'N'!


SweetNellie

There's not much to say about SweetNellie as it has been pretty tricky finding info about her.. what we do know is - her name is Trish and that she is incredibly talented!

Check out some of these gorgeous critters!!

above: tulip peep

above: Hugh

above: summertime peep

above: grace

(images from SweetNellie)

NOTES:
Shop SweetNellie
Read SweetNellie's Blog

Native Agent

Native Agent was launched in late 2004 to support and nurture NZ designers, craftspeople and artists.

Only stocking work designed and made in New Zealand, Native Agent has become a platform for emerging designers.

"When we established a business along creative lines, we wanted it to mean something, to embody the essence of our colonial and tribal histories, to celebrate the patterns of our lives in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and recognise and respect the creative minds that design and make beautiful things for us all to enjoy."

(images from Native Agent)

NOTES:
Visit Native Agent online
Visit Native Agent at 507 New North Road, Kingsland Auckland
See tomorrows O's for Rona Osborne, a creative force behind the Native Agent Store.

Nature Baby

For the last ten years, Nature Baby has been establishing itself in the New Zealand baby market. Long before the words "organic" and "sustainable" were used in every day conversation, Nature Baby was providing its customers with innovative and modern products for the conscious parent.

Those first ten years have seen Nature Baby grow and transform into a thriving retail business, online store and wholesaler. Their product range has constantly evolved and continues to expand, giving all parents the opportunity to provide a healthy and positive environment for their children to grow.

above L-R: svan mini furniture, teepee

above L-R: baby's first ball, eco merino handknit blanket

above: miss buttons sew your own kit

(images from Nature Baby and Sew your Own)

NOTES:
Visit Nature Baby online
Visit Nature Baby's retail stores in Auckland (NZ): 433 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn and 4 Morgan Street, Newmarket.
Contact nature Baby for Stockists: telephone 09 630 8394

November Moon

Cathy Cullis's blog November Moon is a showcase for her variety of creative works.

I am in awe and enormously inspired by her mixed media work. Cathy creatively and meticulously works with a range of materials - in particular, vintage haberdashery, papers, threads and yarns.

What looks to be quite simple machine stitching is no doubt a focused, deliberate and highly practiced skill, combining a sense of whimsy with immense artistic ability.

above: random poetry bird

above: timeless - mixed media collage

above: brooch - her ceaseless desire

above: mixed media brooches

(images from Cathy Cullis)

NOTES:
Visit Cathy's Etsy Store
Read Cathy's Blog

Okey Dokey.. I hope you enjoyed N! O is tomorrow...see you then!!