Alma B {correspondence}

Two Owls Boutique - up and running

2011-08-17T01:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been so super busy over the past couple of months, making a dream of mine come true - To open up my own shop.

Living in regional QLD as I do for the time being, I have noticed a lack in places to get a good range of boutique items in one spot.

My husband and I have always wanted to open a shop, so it with great pride that I present Two Owls Boutique (with an owl emphasis firmly on many late nights and hunting).
We aim to make Two Owls a fun and creative boutique, more light-hearted than most, while still offering excellent quality, and a range of ethically produced / unique goods.

Of course the Alma B range is represented!

It is only a baby now, but we have so much planned, like videos, home decorating projects, crafty tutorials and much more!

Each month or so we will be taking a new home page photo, to show products in situ, to enable people to get ideas, and shop a certain look.

I have a blog going over there too, split between my husband and I, however I will still be checking back to this one for Alma B specifics, as well as lifestyle posts.

I hope you enjoy!

Collections

2011-06-21T18:26:00.001-07:00

I love collecting little objects from nature - my collections are everywhere in my house - shells and seeds are my favourite, and the other day when I walked outside I saw our palm tree had dropped so many little beautifully coloured seeds.

I quickly collected them up to display on our side-board, I think they fitted in quite well with my other items! The colours remind me of a tropical sunset, a great combination!

Waves

2011-06-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

It's been almost 3 years since I moved to a house near the ocean, and I am still not tired of it- I can hear the waves when I'm working in my office late at night, I can go for a walk on the beach everyday and my shell collection is extra special because they all came from so close to home.

Because of this, I have been wanting to do work based around the ocean for quite a while.

I have 4 new marine-based designs on the way, this is my favourite so far - I am loving origami forms at the moment so this is a perfect fusion of the two loves.

Time Away...

2011-06-13T21:44:00.001-07:00

Luke and I have spent some time away relaxing before our next big project - we took some time out to visit Uluru.

I have been dying to see this part of Australia since I was very young, so it was great to finally get out there. It was a magical place, and lived up to all my expectations. The weather was beautiful, the colours were amazing, I was quite sad to come home again!

I am keen to start using some brighter colours in my work, hopefully these will start to work their way through soon.

Weekend Soundtrack

2011-04-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

I know it's over, but this weekend, the sun finally came out, the weather is starting to get a bit cooler, and the beach was just so lovely, made me put this CD on and leave it on - love!

The Alphabet

2011-04-11T01:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a bit quiet on here lately, due to a lot of behind the scenes work. There is a new venture in the works - it will be up here in full detail soon which I am very excited about, as well as lots of new work.

In the next few months I am planning more card designs, letter sets, and posters. But for now I will post a few pics of an alphabet chart I have working on. This has been something I've always wanted to do! Just 2 letters as a sneak peak for now but I'm sure there'll be lots more to see soon...

Final LOVE!

2011-01-31T22:25:00.001-08:00

My LOVE! cards arrived in the mail today - and are now in the shop!

I may not be back for a while, as YASI closes in - here's hoping for the best!

Christmas, New Year, Love & Floods...

2011-01-12T18:48:00.000-08:00

I am a little late to the post on this one, but I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years.

It was a very wet one up here, which I'm sure is no surprise to those watching the news.

I feel like i've only just recovered from Christmas and New Year, and already I am rushed on to the next event. I have been working away on a range of cards featuring type as a centrepiece. Seeing as though Valentine's Day is only just around the corner, I have decided to push out the LOVE! card first.

what do you think?

My love & well-wishes go out to everyone suffering in QLD at the moment. for those wishing to donate, you can find more info here.

A Birthday Weekend

2010-12-20T04:03:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday, so yesterday my husband Luke surprised me by taking me for a get-away up to the mountains to stay at a cabin amongst the clouds at Eungella. It was fantastic to get away from everything, if only for a night. We went exploring a bit, did a bit of thrifting, a bit of gallery-seeing, a bit of platypus spying, some storm watching, walking, drawing, etc. All in all, a perfect weekend.
Now, back to reality...

Staying Cool

2010-12-16T22:39:00.000-08:00

It's all sunny here after weeks of rain, but oh so hot!

I'm staying indoors and getting inspired with this book. Lovely!

Now to actually use this inspiration and get to designing again!

Christmas Designs!

2010-12-04T02:08:00.001-08:00

I am a bit late to the post on this one, but I finally have some Christmas designs out! I was happy with the final product being not overly christmas-y but just enough. Coming up with these, plus more projects and travel has kept me away from blogging for a while! I need to be a bit more diligent!
The cards are available in packs here.
enjoy!

Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song

2010-08-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

Everything Boy & Bear do is divine, and this video is no exception - the tribal / office worker attire made me smile a lot.

The Very First Stockist!

2010-08-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Introducing the very first stockist of Alma B: Correspondence greeting cards and gift tags - Maudie & Me, on Wood St in Mackay - it is one of the very best and cutest shops in Mackay, owned by the lovely Cathy. Maudie & Me stocks other beautiful brands such as Apple & Bee, MOR and Bholu. If you are ever in town, make sure to stop in and say hi.

Gift Tags Have Arrived!

2010-08-19T20:33:00.001-07:00

I am so excited that my little gift tags have arrived!

They will be available in sets ('Home' + 'Flowers') in my shop, as well as individually in selected stockists.

Now, back to busily designing new products!

A Misty Morning Walk

2010-08-19T20:10:00.001-07:00

misty morning, originally uploaded by Bec Holland.

I woke (early!) this morning to find a heavy fog lying over everything, so decided to go for a walk along the beach - it was strange not being able to see anything beyond the first few metres of water, but made it fun to imagine what could be out there!

Greeting Cards are In!

2010-08-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

Well, the greeting cards have been a long time in the making, but the first lot of cards are here!
I'm so excited that they are finally here, and are for sale in my shop.
I'll keep you posted about retailers coming up, and other product launches (there'll be some coming up soon!).

New Starts

2010-07-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have been having a break from all things art and design lately, to plan for my new venture, sprung out of 'Alma B'... Alma B: Correspondence. And with it a new blog, a new website, and lots of new and exciting products!

Alma B: Correspondence aims to supply everything needed to keep in touch with loved ones and plan celebrations and life events. All based around the graphic style and images developed by Alma B.

Based around my own experiences of moving away from family and friends, I have come to realise the pleasure in packages arriving in the mail from someone you are missing, and of sending something you know they will love back. Inspired to celebrate a return to traditional paper communications, I have created a range of stationery and gift products, all made with recycled, FSC approved paper, and responsible manufacturing and print processes, using local production and design. With this environmental ethos in mind, I hope to create items which are lovely enough that no one will want to throw them away!

It is a continual work in progress, but with the first product launch just weeks away i thought it was a perfect time to start blogging the process and thoughts behind Alma B: Correspondence.