Typography Love: Kate Forrester Hand Drawn Lettering

Oh blog, I am a terrible friend, I have totally neglected you lately. I've barely had time to read other people's blogs, nevermind post on my own! There are so many things I am missing out on, I need to get back on the inspiration wagon and fast. 

March is here already, can't believe how fast this year is going. Anyway, I have found the perfect subject to get back in to the swing of things and to welcome the spring. As you probably know, I am a little obsessed with calligraphy and hand lettering so I have a few posts lined up which are going to be about just that! First I am starting with hand drawn typographer and illustrator Kate Forrester.  

I have come across Kate's work many times in the past, as many of you will have done as well. Her clients include Marks and Spencers, Tiffany, John Lewis and Penguin Books to name a few,  however, it was only recently that I discovered the designer behind it. I gained a new follower on Twitter this week, the creative lifestyle blog Jackie Magpie of which Kate is the founding member (there are some other very talented ladies on here as well). I was immediately drawn (excuse the pun) by the gorgeous hand drawn logo and went straight over to have a look at the blog, which I have to say is great and now added to my top 10 daily reads! It was here I was introduced to Kate and ventured across to her beautiful portfolio of work. Her designs are so intricate and detailed. Just the kind of pretty feminine design I love.

I am even more determined than ever to add that calligraphy course to my to-do list. You are one talented lady Kate and I'm so glad Jackie Magpie started following me!

These are just a few of my favourites pieces of her work but you can see much more on her website here. You can also follow her blog here.


All images are borrowed from Kate's website. 

Designer Love: Dana Tanamachi

I know, I am a bit behind with the times and the work of Dana Tanamachi. Design Sponge did an interview with her back in August last year and her wonderful cover for Oprah's O Magazine has certainly been doing the blog rounds lately. When I first came across her work I was so excited that I saved a collection of it in my blog folder with the intention sharing my love. Sadly too many other things took over and I completely forgot to share my new found treasure with you.  Luckily my friend Jo of Daisyspotter reminded me last week when she wrote her own post. Thanks Jo for reminding me!

Dana is a graphic designer and chalk letterer from Brooklyn, New York and one very talented lady. I am completely blown away by the incredible detail of her work. Chalk is such a hard medium to use (I remember having to write on the blackboard at school, it was never neat or in a straight line!), she makes it look so easy. 

I think the way she works is a real inspiration. Read about it in her interview with Design Sponge. I'd love to have a look at her notebooks, I bet they are magical. In her interview with idesign she tells how it all began with a doodle on a chalk board at a friend's house party . You see you never know when a little moment of creativity will unleash something amazing that will grow to become hugely successful and unique. I'm still waiting for my moment!

See more of Dana's work here.

All images are taken from Dana's website.

Illustration Love: Bernadette Pascua & GOOP

I recently signed up to Gwyneth Paltrow's blog/newsletter GOOP. Yesterday's update was all about the new Goop App. A city guide for the 'tried and tested of the best and coolest in Manhattan'. A lovely little app and I shall be sure to use it next time I visit New York, however it wasn't the app itself which struck me but the gorgeous illustration icons they have used in it. 

The Goop City Guide App

These beautiful little drawings are by Brooklyn based illustrator Bernadette Pascua. I dashed right over to have look at her website and here is a taste of what I found.....

Packaging Designs for Sugar & Plumm - Purveyers of yum.
Certainly YUMMY! I can't stop looking at them.

Please have a look at Bernadette's website Decade Diary to see more of her extremely talented and beautiful work.

Creative Mischief: Personalised Canvases

I have been to a total of 8 weddings this year which does get rather expensive after the first one or two so I tried to make home made presents (I like to be different to the John Lewis gift list anyway!).

Here are some canvases I did over the summer. The first is one I designed for my friend Emma's wedding. She and her husband Iain are also a graphic designers and they have an unhealthy obsession with Grey! The second, for my friends Jo and Simon who had a London themed wedding. I also designed their stationery which was designed around a silhouette of the London skyline.

I have since been commissioned to do lots of these for New Babies, Christenings and Birthday's. I can personalise them in any way you like. For more details please leave your email address in a comment below and I will get back to you.

Book Love: Secret Garden of Embroidery

I've just been flicking through the new November Anthropologie catalogue and came across these gorgeous embroidered Penguin Classic book covers by Jillian Tamaki. You can buy them at Anthropologie. I think they are beautiful and love the colours in the Secret Garden cover.

Falling in love with a book

I recently came across the world of Pia Jane Bijkerk and what a wonderful world that is. I just had to order her gorgeous book My Heart Wanders. There was only one left in stock on Amazon so I took that as my sign that it was meant for me. When I returned from my weekend away it was waiting for me on the doorstep. I knew what was inside the parcel and couldn't open it quick enough. Well, it had me at hello! I wasn't expecting such a big hardback book but I am so glad that it is. Each page is absolutely beautiful and so captivating. As a memoir of Pia's travels through Paris, Amsterdam and Sydney, it is filled with details, inspiration, love and plenty of emotion.  It has touched my wandering heart and one day soon I will certainly be following it..........