'Puffin Chalk' Book Covers // Dana Tanamachi

Oh wow! This dear lady's talents know no end!!

Dana Tanamachi's most recent project for Puffin books is quite gorgeous. She has illustrated three (quite fabulous) childrens classics in her signature style - hand drawn chalkboard type - as part of the new 'Puffin Chalk' series.



I'm always so fascinated to see the process work that goes into these final finished pieces too. The video below is a stop frame animation of the creation of Wizard of Oz. 



... and then seeing her process develop from early computer mockup to sketch to final is pretty special to see too. (Shows how important refinement and redoing designs over and over is)



For more fabulousness from this talented dame, check out this and this project too.

In the Forest / Wake Up Sloth > A pop-up book

I bought this beautiful book recently, justifying the purchase by telling myself it was for my little cub... but of course it's far too lovely and delicate for his wild paws. So instead we read it together, each loving it for different reasons, and it sits high on a special level of bookshelf.



By the creators of Popville, this is such a divinely crafted book. Full of cutouts and dramatic pop-ups, but also is a sweet as pie little story in there too. There is a sleepy little sloth hidden in the foliage and a message to the future conservationists. I've left the end off from these photos as didn't want to give it away... you'll just have to go and hunt it out for yourself! (oh, cruel tease you say? yep)



This book is called 'Wake up Sloth' in US
Available in the Tate shop in UK
I bought my Australian copy at Published Art

p.s. Under the Ocean, by the same authors looks pretty gorgeous too.

Favourite Things : Children's Books

A new series... hurrah! Lists and collections and compendiums... what's not to love? This occasional feature will showcase fabulous bundles of things that are favourites of mine (or sometimes even of others). Hope you enjoy!






This topic is close to my heart. I will admit that these are mostly MY choices and not necessarily my little cubs first choices. He is quite into the Dig, Dig, Digging / Choo Choo Clickety Clack / This is my digger variety of book at the moment - which is fine/great/splendid, but not so interesting for you guys (or me really to be quite honest!)

1 - Oh the Places You'll Go (Pop-up), Dr Seuss
Amazing book for adults and children alike (we had a reading from it for our wedding in fact!) with rhyming couplets and will make your tongue tumble along blissfully. In pop-up form it's just got even more magnifique.

2 - I'm the Best, Lucy Cousins
Wild and wonderful illustrations that look like they were incredibly fun to paint and are about to leap out of the book. A lovable story about a dog and his fluffy ears... that's all I'll say. I sometimes even read this one by myself it's so cute.

3 - Miffy at the Gallery, Dick Bruna
I have loved Miffy since I was a lil lady myself. This little adventure makes you see and appreciate art from a small persons perspective. Testament to the fact that art really is for everyone.                                  
     
4 - Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers
Anything this man creates is gold. Illustrator extraordinaire who tells tales of friendship and innocence. Heart melty moments, beware. Also love How to Catch a Star, Incredible Book Eating Boy and Up and Down.

5 - Sparkle and Spin, Ann & Paul Rand
A wonderfully graphic and colourful book all about words. Fabulously designed by Paul Rand with sing-song words by his fine wife Ann.

6 - The Red Tree, Shaun Tan
Sad, sad, sad... happy. Amazing illustrations that appeal to big and little ones. I actually bought this book long before I thought about kids, it's that good!

7 - Beautiful Oops, Barney Saltzberg
The sentiment of this book is fabulous. Folded corners become penguins, paint splatters sheep. Creativity through mess and that mistakes can be transformed into beautiful creatures.

8 - Out Of Sight, Pittau & Gervais
Sometimes its nice to have not words. Silence can be bliss it's true. This HUGE book (which Leo simple calls 'big book') has pop-ups fold outs galore and if you do want the words then it's full of animal facts that you'll never have otherwise known.

9/ Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
It would be simply rude to not include this fine book. I read/loved/gobbled it up as a child & I can't wait for the day that Leo does too. The recently re-penned 304pp version for bigger kids (by Dave Eggers) is not to bad too.

and though not pictured here but at the last minute felt it was wierd to have only 9
10/ The Art Book For Children
For the same reason as book #3. Art for kids eyes and minds which in a way is more magical than our own old jaded adult ones. I literally can't wait to get into this in a year or two.

So, what are your favourites? Did I miss any diamonds? Always keen for more...


Top photo by Mieke Dalle

Long live the bookshelf (& the books)

A world without books would be a very sad place and a house without books is simply not a home. (That isn't a quote from a fancy old famous person. Just my head) The following images are from the fabulous Bookshelf Porn site... aren't these spaces just in-cred-ible!!!



Having an 18 month old bambino who can already operate an ipad on his own (yep, unlock it, swipe to the page with his trucks game on it and select a course. eek!) is really making me think about the future of print and how the world is going to be for him in 20 years time. I can't imagine a world without books (and thoroughly hope I never witness it) but maybe that makes me non-progressive?! I dream that the image below is going to be how my home looks to the outside world... when I'm a grumpy old bookaholic!

Song Reader // Jessica Hische and Hambeck

A McSweeneys book, lettering by Jessica Hische, music by Beck and a framed papercut artwork - a match made in heaven I think, yes!

This cover artwork was completed digitally by Jessica Hische for Becks new experimental album that is sold in the form of a book of sheet music (to be reinterpreted by his musician fans)



Beautiful as the cover is, it's journey didn't stop there... going on to even more amazing things. Beck fan (and clearly a very talented soul too) has turned it into a marvel of papercutting and quilling and framed it. Such an unlikely collaboration, delicate procedure and such a stunning outcome - feels sort of fairytale like in a way & makes a nerd like me a little dizzy!



see the full stop motion process below

Penguin Drop Caps // Jessica Hische

Admittedly, I'm abit late in putting these books up here but given my penchant for both book design and lettering it would be something of a crime to not showcase them so better late than never it is!



Penguin drop caps is series of 26 books designed in collaboration with lettering superstar Jessica Hische. They were designed to be beautiful objects to be kept and cherished. As a book designer and paper nerd, I love this idea. Though I love the technology as well (it would be silly not to) I will shed more than a tear if real paper books dimish entirely. These are living proof of their preciousness, right?!




Read more about how they came about here on Huffington Post 

The Fir Tree // Sanna Annukka

I know, I'm a little on the obsessed side with this lady... but it's Christmas soon and this is a book about fir trees and other such Christmassy delights so I think it's OK to write about her again?!

This classic Hans Christian Andersen book has been redesigned/illustrated by the very talented Sanna Annukka. The illustrations are not only graphic and divine but the colour palette is pretty spectacular too. Purple and green are my least favorite colours usually but when she uses them, it makes me rethink my prejudices. Available to buy here

While speaking of trees... her new print, Metsa, is worth sneaking in here too.

Simon Ålander LETTERING // Top 3

Simon Alander is a digital lettering artist (among other things) who sketches like mad before getting near a mouse. His works are graphic and striking and look so so refined.

SIMON ALANDER'S TOP 3  

Websites/Blogs Typeverything.com, So Much Pileup, Graphic Exchange

Books/Magazines Scripts: Elegant Lettering from Design's Golden Age by Steven Heller and Louise Fili, Typography Sketchbooks by Steven Heller and Talarico Lita, Codex Magazine (Only one issue has been released so far, but I got really inspired by reading it)

Artists/Designers Mats Ottdal, Erik Marinovich, Rob Clarke

This post is part of a series about the talented folks featured in Little Book of Lettering and Reinventing Lettering

Last chance to WIN!

Also, be sure to check back here next week for more lettering magic by some of the fabulous artists involved in the book.

UPDATE: The random number generator has spoken... congratulations Arvee from Flutter Happy and Andy Allen - your hungry mailboxes will soon be full. Thanks to everyone for entering and for the gorgeous comments xx

Reinventing Lettering Cover Design // Jason Wong

The fabulously striking cover of Reinventing Lettering was designed by the talented man that is Jason Wong (of Friends of Type and Enormous Champion) He has very kindly shared with us a few of his rough cover concepts for us to see some behind the scenes action!! As with all book design jobs there were a number of rounds of options and processes resulting finally in what we see on the shelves.

Since the brief was pretty open, and knowing that the book would be a collection of lettering and type artists, I wanted a cover that was fun representation of that collection of talent.

Little Book of Lettering > Book Launch Week & GIVEAWAY!

My new book is now out! Hoooraaayyyy!!

With the art of lettering being something of a creative frenzy right now, this book is dedicated to profiling some of the best in the business. It is divided into 3 chapters: Hand-drawn, Digital and 3D lettering; showcasing not only just the bloomin' brilliant artwork but giving some little secrets into the makers unique processes too (ooo, ahhh!)



It comes under the title Little Book of Lettering in USA (Chronicle Books) and Reinventing Lettering in UK, Europe, Australia and NZ (Bloomsbury). With these lovely covers designed by two of the books hugely talented contributors (L-R) Mary Kate McDevitt and Jason Wong. It's coming to 'all good bookstores near you' and is available on Amazon now - UK here and here and US here



Hand lettering by Chris Ballasiotes and Jeff Rogers



Digital lettering by Sean Freeman and Craig and Karl



3D lettering by Pei-San Ng and James T.Edmondson

I wrote this book when my son was first born so to see it on the shelves (though only virtual shelves for now) is something of an unbelievable / butterflies-in-belly kind of occasion... it really happened... the zombie nights (and days to be fair) were all worth it! HUGE thank all the super talented contributors for letting me use their work and being so polite despite my frequent pestering!

I am giving away a copy of each edition of the book this week (HIP HOORAY GIVE-AWAY!!) aswell as showcasing a few of the contributing artists too. For your chance to win simply leave a comment below before 10pm AEST Sunday December 2nd. You can enter a second time by sharing in another place (instagram/facebook/twitter/blog)... just comment below again to let me know if you have.  Good Luck! 

***UPDATE: The random number generator has spoken... congratulations Arvee from Flutter Happy and Andy Allen - your hungry mailboxes will soon be full. Thanks to everyone for entering and for the gorgeous comments xx

A book of memories // Amy Borrell

I have admired Amy Borrell's whimsical watercolours (aka Cake with Giants) when they grace the pages of Frankie magazine from time to time. Having a little explore on her folio site last night I found this little project which makes me want to lock myself in a room for a week to attempt to replicate it!



Titled 'A brief account of a life lived so far', Amy has gathered her photos, letters and favourite things, ordered them from A-Z and then hand sewn the whole lot into a glorious bundle of a book.







& aren't her other illustrations adorable too. One clever lady, oui?!
(available to buy here & here)

The Crafters Guide to Taking Great Photos // Book Design

Another book I was lucky enough to work on last year (along with the lovely folks at Rotovision) is now out!! Hooray!! The Crafters Guide to Taking Great Photos, written by the very talented Heidi Adnum, is full of the most beautiful photographs and crafts products you'll see. Not to mention loads of interviews and great photography tips.

The covers left to right: Search Press in UK, Murdoch books in Australia & Interweave in US
NB. I did not design all the above covers - only the internals below and the styling of the Yellow Murdoch cover
















It was such a pleasure to design the internals of this book as the content is so fabulous (I read it cover to cover as I was going through) I highly recommend getting yourself a copy if you like craft or photography or even better, both!

The book is available to buy here in the US, here in the UK and here in Australia

{Graphic Design} Australian Style Manual // Book Design

Last year I was really lucky to have the chance to design the internals for this exciting new book (out now) showcasing the very best of Australian design. It was a book designers dream project really. white space. gorgeous big images. mmmm, yum!



You can read more about the content here on author, Astred Hicks' blog. Astred designed the lovely cover too with the most excellent illustration commission by James Gulliver Hancock

In more exciting news... it has now been shortlisted for best Tertiary Book Design in the Australian Publishers Association Book Design Awards. We're keeping all our digits crossed until May 17th!

** the crossing of fingers worked - WE WON! YAY! **

*Photos care of the lovely Mrs Hicks (thankyou)

Pulled // a screenprint book

Though I'm not allowing myself to buy any more books until I've devoured the ones I've got, this one is mighty tempting. It is compiled by the wonderful Mike Perry and features screenprinting work of many greats including Aesthetic Apparatus, Deanne Cheuk, Steven Harrington, Cody Hudson & muchas more.






You can buy it here if it tickles you?!

Illustrations and letters // Chris Silas Neal

When looking for some book design inspiration this morning, I stumbled on C.S.Neal's very fine portfolio. He is a great illustrator and has a way of pairing this with hand-lettering which overall is quite frankly just too greedy in terms of talent!



He is Brooklyn based & has done many illustrations, covers and gig posters for a wide variety of clients. I highly recommend a closer peek at his site if you like the look of these below too - particuarly the art + type section. (Studio image above via from your desks where you can read an interview with the man himself)



The food prints in his shop are pretty darn cute too...

Penguin Threads // Jillian Tamaki

The talent and patience of some people astounds me. I am someone who is too impatient to even sketch proper leaves on a drawing of a tree, so anything that looks like it's taken an age and is all the more amazing for it makes me gush. Embroidered by the talented hands of Jillian Tamaki, this new series of embroidered book covers for the Penguin Threads series are completely gush-worthy.



The final covers have french flaps and were embossed to retain the detail and feel of the embroidery. Can't wait to see them in the flesh! (I love the back of black beauty especially so)



(all images copyright & taken by Jillian Tamaki)