Oh My!

Let's jump right in : )

Looolo

So, here I was all prepared for this 'O' post and what-do-you-know? Over at Design*Sponge a couple of days ago Grace featured a whole new range of Looolo goodness.. so - who wants to see the old range now??? not me! Without copying Grace's whole post, you should really jump over to d*s and check out a sneak peak at the gorgeous new Looolo collection.. I've popped one image directly below... the others are from the last Looolo collection, which was just as lovely... have a look-see..

(images from Design Sponge and Looolo)

NOTES:
visit the Looolo website
read more about Looolo

Orla Keily

Orla Keily seems to send hearts a flutter all over the world, and the new online shopping / worldwide shipping website has meant a whole heap of O.K lovers can easily get their fix! I don't confess to be one of the obsessed but I have enjoyed what I have seen others post about in the past - which has mainly been bags and stationery... little did I know that there is a range of wallpaper and home accessories too! - I know I can be a bit slow about some things!! - anyway, here's my picks...

(images from Orla Keily)

NOTES:
visit the Orla Keily website

Office Goodness

For me, there is nothing like good lookin' stationery, and I am sure that one day when my office is exactly how I would love it to be, it will have a complete collection of Meg Mateo Ilasco's range of fabulous stationery.. have you seen it?? have a look!

(images from Mateo Ilasco)

NOTES:
visit Megs website
read more about Meg

and there we have O!

it's the weekend!

Do you have much planned? We are having a family day tomorrow, with a yummy breakfast at our favourite Wellington cafe - Nikau.. and then Son aged 5 is going to show us around the Fiona Hall exhibition that is on at the City Gallery - they have studied her work at school and visited the exhibition during the week (man, I love his school!!). And then Son aged 3 wants to visit the Shark at Te Papa, as he is enjoying a book with a Shark in it at the moment.. and hopefully we will also get to do some baking.

What about you? Whatever you do, have a lovely weekend!

See you next week for P! x

very short, but very sweet

Hi there, I hope your Tuesday is going well : )

You will have to excuse my short (but sweet) post today as my son aged 5, is moaning and groaning in bed with a temperature and sore head - and he needs me! So, I will need to make this reasonably quick! sorry about that!

So here goes...

Enfin, La Voila!

I have always really liked the work of Belgian designer Marijke Janssens. Marijke is the creative talent behind Enfin, La Voila! - a fabulous Etsy store that is definitely worth the visit!

If you are after a hint of whimsy and a splash of stylish kitsch (yes there is such a thing!) and you want to send a note or some invitations that are quirky and fun...then this is the range for you!

Marijke is a seasoned Graphic Designer, and uses her trusty Mac to digitally montage a fantastic collection of patterns and images - Take a peek:

(images from Enfin, La Voila!)

NOTES:
shop at Marijke's Etsy Store

OliveMoonPrints

I have just stumbled across this store while I was scouting around Etsy. From Melbourne (Australia), OliveMoonPrints produce a 50's inspired range of giclee prints and original art.

OliveMoonPrints is in the process of relocating it's Etsy Store to Printspace, so make sure you check out both stores for the entire range - enjoy!

(images from OliveMoonPrint)

NOTES:
visit the OliveMoonPrint etsy store
check out the new Printspace store

tomorrow -
I will post the Book of the Week tomorrow - sorry to rush out of here, but my boy isn't doing so well... see you tomorrow for W! - have a great day!

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

kickin' with k

Jumpin' straight in....

Kindergallery

When I first discovered Kindergallery I was so excited! - Finally a clever person has collated all my favourite (kid inspired) artists!... and best of all the store is based in Australia! (I mentioned Kindergallery in my 'C for Collage' entry, when I wrote about Lorena Siminovich's work being apart of the Kindergallery collection).

The clever someone behind Kindergallery is Fiona Lang. Fiona opened Kindergallery in 2007 with each piece in her collection hand-picked to inspire the imagination of children of all ages. Fiona has sourced the finest art and design fro children from around Europe, the U.S and Australia.

"We have selected works exhibiting an aesthetic richness to which children can respond in different ways as they grow up, and which will form part of a child's visual vocabulary for a lifetime."

I was going to try and hone my selection and just highlight one of my favourites, but I couldn't decide, so here are four!! You must go and check out the gallery!

Pictured clockwise from top left: 1 - 10 Poster by Issac, Inverno (Winter) Cut and Paste by Ana Ventura, Bird House with One Bird by Tamar Mogendorff and Sleep, Dream, Create, Explore by Meredith Gaston

NOTES:
Visit Kindergallery
International shipping is available


kikki.K

This fashionable and innovative collection of stationery makes me want to redecorate my workspace - just so I can have the gorgeous white storage boxes and pretty filing accessories!

kikki.K started as a dream for Swedish born Kristin "Kikki" Karlsson. When she set up a home office almost ten years ago, she could never had guessed where that decision would take her. Now boasting retail stores throughout New Zealand and Australia, and stockists all over the world, Kristina has well and truly established herself in the design conscious stationery market.

At kikki.K you can shop for stationery until your heart's content...from pencils to ringbinders, presentation folders to sticky notes... there is something to satisfy and stationery craving!

NOTES:
Visit the kikki.K website
See kikki.K for stockists


Kokeshi Dolls

These beautiful, brightly coloured dolls have an irresistible charm. I love the idea of having a collection of them one day - a mixture of old and new.

Originating in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, Kokeshi Dolls are thought to date back to the 19th century. It is believed they may of had some spiritual significance as Kokeshi represent a wish for a healthy child.

Just like Russian Dolls Kokeshi are making a comeback amongst illustrators and creative folk as a new surface for decorating. New ones have been spotted by Susie Ghahremani from BoyGirlParty and Portland based illustrator and Designer Alberto Cerriteno.

I do love the quaintness of the old ones though!

(top image from Revolutionary Girl on Flickr, bottom images from Wahooya)

NOTES:
there are many places to buy Kokeshi online. - a quick Google search should give you some options.

Kiwi Industries

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Kiwi Industries....and yes, it is pretty much because the owners fell in love with New Zealand and based their whole range on the NZ lifestyle...and as you can imagine - the range is (of course!) beautiful!

I also admire their 'conscious' business practices and how they care for the earth and those on it.

“Kiwi Industries is about capturing this time, through its children’s clothing and gift line. Natural, organic, and recycled fibers are used to create classic designs with a modern twist. We use only high quality fabric, reminiscent of an earlier time before “throw-away” clothing – our clothing truly gets softer and softer with time. Wear it, wash it, pass it down from child to child.”

Here are some cutie-pie pics from their collection:

(images from Kiwi Industries)

NOTES:
visit the Kiwi Industries website
see Kiwi Industries for stockists

Monday Art Find:

I have to apologise about the lack of our usual gallery based Monday Art Find this week- I haven't finished collating all my information yet, so in the meantime.. here are some images from a good friend of ours, Paul Jones - congratulations Paul for making it into the Top 200 Best Advertising Photographers in the world! x

(images from Paul Jones)

I hoped you enjoyed the K's.. we are hitting the L's tomorrow - see you then!!