X

Not long to go now, and this alphabet will be finished! What I love about doing this, is the fact that I get to discover things that I wouldn't normally be looking for... I love that I can't rely on press releases and 'the latest' and 'newest' blog land discoveries... I love that I have to delve deeper than that, and find things that not only suit the letter we are up to, but excite me and inspire me - I hope they do that for you too : )

Here we go....

Xenia Taler

I am not sure where I was introduced to the work of Xenia Taler (maybe Design*Sponge?), I LOVE her bold and fun designs.

From their Toronto studio Xenia and partner Steven Koblinsky design and make a gorgeous collection of tiles and boxes... have a look!

(images from Xenia Taler)

NOTES:
visit Xenia and Steven's website

Xanadu2you

I am very much attracted to these beautiful enamel covered, copper wire baskets.. either woven or crocheted, the beautiful colours of the Xanadu2you collection just draw me in...

Have you seen them??

(images from Xanadu2you)

NOTES:

visit the Xanadu2you shop

Little Red Fox

Catherine Garrison is the designer behind the Little Red Fox collection. Her range brings together a mix of prints, original works, collage and softies. I LOVE her "Peg leg Evie" doll! (pictured 1st below) Evie makes me smile : ) Catherine's "Born with Dancing Feet" series is also fantastic! (pictured 4th below) - have a look:

(images from Little Red Fox)

NOTES:
visit the Little Red Fox shop
read the Little Red Fox blog

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Feature!

The lovely Heather from Skinny LaMinx has a super shipping deal going on at her store...here's the low-down...

The Shipping News

Good news, shoppers! For the month of November, Heather has radically reduced shipping costs in her Etsy shop. This is all in the name of passing on savings that the crashing global economy has, oddly enough, sent her way. And there's still time to get Skinny laMinx Christmas presents, as Heather's postal service takes 10 - 14 days to get to the US, and to Europe it's even quicker. Go check it out!

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And that is X!

See you tomorrow for Y and Z!! - have a lovely day!!

Q

Hello, I am feeling so much better today : )

As you know, I am working on a double post today, and have buddied Q up with R.. I am starting off with Q, and R will follow later.. there's also a ** Feature Sneak Peek **, so don't miss that!

Let's start with:

Equivoque

I am a uber fan of Polaroid images and when I stumbled across the work of Elinor Scott-Sutter of Equivoque and was instantly drawn in. After reading through her information, this explains it all...

"I am not as much interested in photographing people, places, or things as I am in capturing the instances of light that I love. Light is what interests me. It is what inspires me. "

No wonder I love it!! Have a look:

(images and quote from Equivoque)

NOTES:
visit Elinor's store
see more of Elinor's work here

Quilt Baby

Quilt Baby is a fantastic range of baby quilts, blankets, wall art, accessories and mobiles - all made from your favourite designer fabrics.

Designed by Jessica Bellemare in Ashville, North Carolina, Quilt Baby is the perfect addition to the nursery of any style conscious parent.

Have a look - I know you'll find something you love - oh, and there's hardly a pastel colour in sight!

(images from Quilt Baby)

NOTES:
visit the Quilt Baby website
visit the Quilt Baby shop
read Jessica's blog

* * * * * * * * * * FEATURE sneak peek * * * * * * * * * *

Just in this morning is a sneak peek from Heather at Skinny Laminx... it's a brand new tea towel print - oooh! I like it!! Named LAVA, this fab new print is available TODAY in Heathers Etsy store... go and have a look!

(images from Heather Moore)

NOTES:
visit Heathers shop
visit Heather's website
read Heathers blog

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

R is coming.. see you later today! x

Thank you!

I was so over the moon to find out from Heather at Skinny Laminx that she has very kindly posted about the Design Alphabet on the Elle Decoration South Africa Blog. What an honor! - She had me skipping around the room!

Thanks so much Heather!

Here is Heather's Post:

01 August 2008

D is for Design Alphabet

Warning: This post is especially created to keep you reading all weekend long!
New Zealand designer Jo Pewhairangi runs an ingenious blog called The Design Alphabet, where she slowly but surely works through the entire alphabet, letter by letter, showing amazing design finds from around the world.

I had lots of fun putting together a little collage of Jo's amazing finds. If you want to know more about any of these (and lots, lots more), read through the Design Alphabet this weekend. I'm sure you'll have lots of F is for Fun!

Posted by Heather Moore

NOTES:
Visit the Elle Decoration Blog
Visit Heather's Website
Visit Heather's online store

it all begins with 'A'...

Welcome to the first of our 'official' design alphabet posts - the letter 'A'!!

Lets Go!!

inspired by Amy Butler

From fabric, to sewing patterns, books to stationery, and more... is there anything this gal can't do??

It seems that the world is full of Amy Butler loving creatives. A quick look through flickr confirms that there are many, many, many cute little aprons, fabulous gum drop cushions and a myriad of chair re-upholstering projects happening throughout the globe. The 'Amy Butler' name is synonymous with contemporary vintage-inspired style, and her range oozes with goodies that are modern, bold and distinctive.

Amy started making small passport sized bags in the 80's, while living in Kansas City.

"I've never given a second thought to being an artist. It's really who I am, and what I enjoy. I'm inspired by my surroundings, my friends, my family, nature and the rich textures of everyday life. I was never much on following trends."

Amy's online store offers a product mix that is designed especially for the site, with new items being added all the time. Fabric and sewing patterns are available through one of the many retailers listed on her website.

Here are some piccys of Amy, and her studio... and some of her gorgeous fabrics and products ...

(images from Amy Butler)

NOTES:
- see the Design Alphabet Bookstore for a selection of Amy's Books
- be inspired (some more!).. Click HERE to see the Decor8 and Amy Butler Mood Board contest. (my "i heart nz" entry made the finals!)


i heart Areta Wilkinson

I first saw the work of Areta Wilkinson in a television documentary. I loved her work immediately. I was particularly drawn to her silhouette brooches that are housed under glass domes.

I am lucky that my boys love going to the gallery, and it was because of their love for gallery visits that I was able to see Areta's work at the City Gallery in Wellington.

The images of Areta's work that are found online (and above) only show a glimpse of it's beauty - when you view her work in the flesh it's intricate detail and exquisite workmanship is revealed unashamedly, as a true work of art.

(images from Anna Bibby Gallery)

NOTES:
- pictured above (Santa, if you are reading this, please can you put this in your sack for me!): Poi Girl III 2006 monel. 9ct gold pin. brass. glass. felt. 200 x 270 x 200.
- to purchase work by Areta Wilkinson please visit the Anna Bibby Gallery.

the goodness of Africa - Shweshwe

I have spent many a time browsing the Shweshwe online store. Next time I am Melbourne, their retails store is definitely on my 'must-do' list.

(Don't you just LOVE the wire coat rack pictured above?? It spells out the words "it's beautiful here").

"Shweshwe" means 'the sound the cloth makes when you walk' and is named after the fashionable wax coated fabric of Africa.

I love the eclectic mix of colour and forms that are shown throughout the Shweshwe collection, from the traditional and contemporary craft from South Africa, to the independent Zines or artisinal fashion from Cape Town.

(images from Shweshwe)

NOTES:
- Next time you are in Melbourne, make sure you visit the Shweswe Store located at 210 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia 3065. or shop online.

the goodness of Africa - Heather Moore..

..or Skinny Laminx as she is known to her 'Etisan' fans. Heather is an illustrator, writer and designer from Cape Town, South Africa. She produces a fantastic range of screen printed goodness... including these fabulous 'Spoons' Aprons and 'Eep' Tea Towels..

Heather also produces vinyl Wall Decals. I love the simplicity of this image below. It is of one of my favourite flowers / plants - the Protea.

The cleverness of this lady doesn't stop here...if you check out Heather's Blog you can find D.I.Y instructions for applying your own patterns to ceramics - so inspiring!!

(images from Heather Moore)

NOTES:
Visit Heather's Etsy Shop or her website for all this goodness and more.


Monday's Art Find

Introducing the first of our Monday's Art Find... Basically I can't wait for an artist's name to come up alphabetically, so I'm just going to post them as I find them every Monday!

I LOVE art. Looking through Galleries is one of my favourite pass times. I am constantly in awe of how clever people are, and how much they have such freedom of expression.


This Weeks Art Find: Chris Kenny

When I was over at Mein Inspiration the other day, I discovered the art of Chris Kenny. I ooohed and arhhhed over his work for ages...

"Chris Kenny produces an unexpected kind of poetry with his three- dimensional 'drawings' and constructions made from twigs, fragments of maps and strips of found text. Objects or phrases of the same type are mounted on pins and organised n a way that suggests an intention to rationalise the differences between them."

pictured from top:

Map Circle (Eureka) 2007 Construction with map pieces 24 x 24 x 3 inches.
Observatory 2007 Construction with map pieces 16 x 16 x 3 inches
Road Circle 2007 Construction with maps 20 x 20 x 3 inches
Map Circle (16 Typhoons) 2007 Collage Construction with maps 24 x 24 x 3 inches

(images from England Gallery)

NOTES:
To check out more of Chris's work, visit England and Co.

See you tomorrow for a whole heap of 'B's'!!