I’ve always loved alphabets — anything that depicts letters in a beautiful way, really. This weekend, I was sifting through the dark recesses of my bookmarks again and discovered these three examples.
Alphabets Collection No. 3
1. Elsie Dodds Alphabet cushions
2. Ben Pentreath LTD Alphabet wrapping paper
3. West Elm Alphabet paper weights featuring the chalk lettering work of Dana Tanamachi (which I love)
This pillow from Heather Lins Home just makes me smile. I’ve mentioned Heather’s work before. I love her clever and simple designs and her exquisite use of typography.
I’ve been reading a lot lately about creating a more intentional digital life. Most of us are plugged in constantly. We see an ever-broadening view of the world — but often behind the glass of our laptop, smart phone or tablet screen. As I devote more and more of my work time to designing for digital media, and as I develop more and more client relationships with folks I may never see, I’m reminded that actual conversation is no small thing. No sir. I hope I’m taking the time to voice what matters.
I’m starting out the week completely amazed and inspired by the work of Dana Tanamachi, a custom chalk letterer and graphic designer. In this digital age, the drawing of letters is almost a lost art. But, I love the gritty and personal quality of these large-scale pieces. I love the whimsy inherent in conveying a message in the chalk medium. I also love the idea of possibly moving our digital tools in reverse — scoping out designs and messages in the digital sphere, and THEN translating that message back to a hand-wrought medium like chalk. [I think I may be gushing.] Be sure to check out the time-lapse video Dana made of the process of creating one of her pieces.
Ace Hotel Room 1021 from Dana Tanamachi on Vimeo.
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.
The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.
I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages.
I’m honored to have you here.
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Phone: 662.312.4001
Contact Haley to dive in
