Well, back to school means brushing up on our ABCs. Big Bird gets us going with a sweetly cornball sketch/song from 1969 and then we’re off with a new round-up of alphabet themed goodies!

Alphabet Poster by Draw Pilgrim

Alphabet Cards by Sea Urchin Studio, sold individually and in sets

ABC Animals Pillow by MyMimi

Owlphabet Print by Gingiber

ABC Print by EvapaulPetite

Alphabet Embroidery Patterns by Penguin and Fish

Swiss born artist Rolf Sachs has created a coffee table featuring 511 miniature figures roaming around beneath its glass top.  Titled Alone in a Crowd, Rolf’s description of this piece is ‘packed’ with a lot of meaning which honestly feels a little cliche - but I’m a sucker for miniature figurines. Read the write up yourself - you’ll find it on his website in the furniture section. [via NotCot]

Summer, one of the most anticipated seasons on the kid calendar for so many reasons - summer sunshine, vacation, picnics, beach trips, camp and the summer issue of Small Magazine! I always look forward to latest release of this favorite US indie online quarterly of great independent childrens design curated by editors Christine Visneau and Olivia Pintos-Lopez.

Stand-out favorites include in the new summer issue include a round-up of Favorite Bedtime Reads by Irene Hoofs, gorgeous kid scale furniture by Kalon Studios,  a beautifully art directed fashion spread called Of Their Garden (with the most exquisite floral masks!) and very best of all the very first Small film called City Mice! And if for no other reason, you’ll want to peruse this particular issue to see the small finds feature by your truly! Excellent book reviews, handcrafted finds, commissioned artwork and smart selections of clothing, toys and decor are all presented in an aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly (paper-free) way. Subscriptions are free! Sign up here.

And I want to draw your attention again to the Small Magazine blog called Smaller. It’s a wonderful behind the scenes look at the making of the quarterly and daily inspirations compiled by Christine and Olivia. Go visit!

It’s time for another visit to the ever-growing alphabet files! Following are a few note-worthy, letter-loving finds:

Alphabet City by Scott Teplin “Letters are available as individual prints… great for framing your monogram, spelling specific words, or gift giving. All are relief printed from etched magnesium plates on Zerkall vellum text, individually airbrushed with Winsor & Newton and Holbein watercolors, and curated with matching Prismacolor pencils.”

“In 1960, Bruno Munari made ABC with Imagination for the Italian manufacturer Danese. It’s a game in which he merged his attention for the world of children with his research about multiples. 26 linear and circular elements can in fact make up any letter of the alphabet, or whatever the imagination suggests.”

Alphabet print from Shakshuka

“From an alligator made of aaa’s to a zebra made of zzz’s, the Alphabeasties in this book are ingeniously built out of multiple typefaces. A typographical menagerie, this visual book will engage, delight and teach people of all ages about the design of different fonts and letters. Features flaps that lift to reveal “beasties” for each letter of the alphabet and six fold-outs.”

Alphabet poster (created from an original gouache illustration by Anna Bond) from Rifle Paper Co.

I suppose it’s an understandable assumption.  I own and operate an online shop and this blog so I must know all there is to know about the web. “What’s a web host? Do they do birthday parties?” Who is FTP? Do they deliver flowers?” “What’s a ’stat counter’ and why do I need one?” “Where can I find an SSL certificate? Is it something you pass an exam to earn?” And so on…you get the idea.

While I am able to answer most of these questions with some degree of certainty (five years into the business) I am light years away from being an internet expert.  So where did I turn when I first needed to learn the basics of operating a web presence?  

When I was initially interested in launching an ecommerce site I spent hours surfing the web, looking for sites that appealed to me both in their design and function - and at a certain point I realized that several sites in my ‘top 20′ were built by one design firm in the Pacific Northwest.  I figured this was a good sign and sent off an email. Contacting Arianne Foulks and her brainiac band of buddies at Aeolidia them was one of the best business decisions I’ve made - seriously.

These folk held my hand and patiently walked me through the web design, construction and maintenance  - hurdles that would have left me ripping my hair if left to my own devices. The design of the sites was a collaboration between myself, the respective artists/illustrators and Aeolidia - but in the end it was Arianne and company that did all of the tech stuff that makes the sites work and my head spin.  So if I’ve ever extended a whole-hearted, unsolicited and truly genuine recommendation/referral/endorsement it’s for the amazing services and results I’ve received from Aeolidia.

On this, the advent of their own adorable site redesign I want to send out three cheers to this brilliant little company.  Below are just a sampling of the sites they have worked on and there are plenty more to be seen in their portfolio.

Sophie & Toffee

Present & Correct

Three Potato Four

Super Buzzy

Rifle Paper Co.

Tidiworld

Bamboletta

Renegade Craft Fair

Drum roll, please. The winner of our Vintage Paper Parade St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway is:

Sakina Says:
March 11th, 2010 at 10:54 am
“The Safari Adventure birthday invites are so cute!!!!! Would be great for my Godson’s birthday!!”

Congratulations Sakina! Please email me at grandpoobah@juniorsociety.com with your mailing address and we’ll send the prize patrol your way.  Many thanks to Debra Norton of Vintage Paper Parade for hosting this swell giveaway!

“I’m a great believer in luck,
and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
- Thomas Jefferson

What better way to start the week than with a giveaway! Junior Society sponsor Debra Norton of Vintage Paper Parade has kindly designed a prize package sprouting with St. Patrick shamrocks.

The giveaway package includes:
one set of 10 St. Patrick’s Day cards (including custom text if desired)
one set of cupcake toppers
one $25 gift certificate for Vintage Paper Parade

To enter kindly visit Vintage Paper Parade, browse their charming collection of custom papergoods and then return to this post to leave a comment including your favorite Vintage Paper Parade item. And, if you feel so inclined, share one of the ways you celebrate St. Paddy’s Day!

You have until 11:59 p.m. this Thursday, March 11th to leave a comment. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday. Good luck!

Sure signs of Spring? Crocuses poking their heads up through the snow, adjusting our clocks for daylight savings and the spring issue of Small Magazine! I always look forward to latest release of this favorite US indie online quarterly of great independent childrens design curated by editors Christine Visneau and Olivia Pintos-Lopez.

Stand-out favorites include in the new spring issue include Gemma Correll’s spread of quirky fashion illustrations, an interview with Roberto Gil designer of the amazing kid’s furniture line CASA KiDS, a beautifully art directed fashion spread by Jen Altman called Road Trippin’ and a delicious strawberry chocolate cupcake recipe by Cheryl Porro. And if for no other reason, you’ll want to peruse this particular issue to see the small finds feature by your truly! Excellent book reviews, handcrafted finds, commissioned artwork and smart selections of clothing, toys and decor are all presented in an aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly (paper-free) way. Subscriptions are free! Sign up here.

And I want to draw your attention again to the Small Magazine blog called Smaller. It’s a wonderful behind the scenes look at the making of the quarterly and daily inspirations compiled by Christine and Olivia. Go visit!

I couldn’t resist sharing these sweet supplies for note-taking, list-making or simply doodling. Adorable, eco-friendly wooden jotters are journals from Night Owl Paper Goods available in a wide selection of designs that couldn’t be cuter.  And for the smarty-pants in your family, the Know-It-All from Paper Pastries pencil set is a must.

Enter promotional code DOODLE and receive 15% off all Night Owl Paper Goods wooden journal and jotter orders placed before February 15!  But wait, there’s more! Enter promotional code MAILINGLIST and receive 10% off your entire Paper Pastries order!

I always look forward to the latest issue of my favorite US indie online quarterly, Small! Editors Christine Visneau and Olivia Pintos-Lopez curate this inside guide to great independent childrens design.

Stand-out favorites include in the new winter issue include a peek inside Molly Meg’s amazing collection of classic chairs for kids, gorgeous illustrations by Miki Sato, a beautifully art directed fashion spread by Rebecca Drobis and Tiffany King called From Out the Golden West and a delicious pumpkin cake recipe by Jennifer Causey. And if for no other reason, you’ll want to peruse this particular issue to see the small finds feature by your truly! Excellent book reviews, handcrafted finds, commissioned artwork and smart selections of clothing, toys and decor are all presented in an aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly (paper-free) way. Subscriptions are free! Sign up here.

I also want to draw your attention to the Small Magazine blog called Smaller.  I love this behind the scenes look at the making of the quarterly and daily inspirations compiled by Christine and Olivia.  Go visit!