It feels as if I'm just in the nick of time, but nonetheless it feels good to finish when I wasn't even sure I would get started on this second alphabet.

Its nothing glamourous, gorgeous or wonderful, but here it is.

I used some paper I marbled during the Open Studios, wrote with a copper metallic ink in my own version of Modern Versals. Then I mounted the marbled paper onto copper metallic paper and created a dos-a-dos book.

Presenting the 26 letters of the alphabet well has proven a challenge to calligraphers over many many years.  Its not a number that divides easily beyond 13 and 2.

Still it seemed to work out well with this book - 13 letters in each half of the book and a cover and a title page for each section of the book.

It comes covered and wrapped in a little pouch, finished with a copper paper tie.

If you think you might be interested in joining ALAW 2013, feel free to contact me at my email address and I'll let you know how we go getting numbers...

Y & Z - Fiona

Thankfully, there were only two to finish when we got back and here they are. Sweet and simple.

I am about to get stuck into the making of the final piece - most of the ideas are there, but a few finishing touches are needed to fully resolve it. we'll see.

Fiona is catching up!

I have no real idea where I am up to or where I should be up to - but I just keep making letters!  I am pretty sure I'll get it all done by the end of the year...

The latest grouping of modern versal letters on marbled paper. I am pretty sure I only have two to do when we return in mid-December, and then I shall be finished!

Fiona's 2nd alphabet underway!

I have been feeling a bit badly that I have fallen so far behind this year with my letters.  Fortunately I got a few hours the other afternoon when I was feeling well enough to go over to the studio and have a fiddle.

Sometimes when you have been sick and are still recovering, it is hard to find the energy or the enthusiasm to create a piece of magic; but ALaW is something I can begin and do.

I worked out how far behind I was (like 4 months or 16 letters) and thought I'd see how far I could go.

I'm proud to say that I am now on track!  I have completed the 16 letters and one more just for good measure.  I am working on some of the paper I recently marbled, and am using a metallic copper ink.  I have decided to make an exemplar book, using modern Versals.

Every second page is lighter and I hope that looks OK in the finished product. Altho they are not nearly as pink as these photos appear!  They are just a softer version of blue-green of the first one.

It feels good to be back on track and I am excited that I even have images of the finished piece in my mind!  Now to stay on track...

Fiona's first alphabet finished

I know that the saying 'better late than never' can be over-used but I am hoping I get away with using it again for now!

I have finally completed my first alphabet. I had managed to stay on top of the letters but the pulling together of the final piece completely eluded me for quite a while.

Barry and I have reflected that when he got ill in May, we subsequently lost about 3 months of our lives and have been busily playing catch ups ever since. So I am about 3 months late with this which kind of adds up.

Here are some photos of it being strung together.

I wanted to make a dangling piece this time - and found some beautiful silver jewellery wire in Brisbane and some silver crimps. I cut the wire into 4 x 2m lengths and threaded a crimp on each wire to form the base for my first page - Z

I then pierced a hole in the corner of the Z 'page' and threaded it along the four wires so that it rested on  the crimps. Then I measured 5cm along each wire (between each page) and threaded a crimp on each wire to that point and squeezed it so it would stay in place. I then threaded the next page Y and performed the whole shebang 26 times. Phew.

Am I making sense yet?

I tried to take some shots of it hanging, but that was hard...

But I also liked the way it folded itself gently onto the floor...

I am back on track kind of sort of with my second alphabet - the design is sorted, the pages are decorated and cut and the idea is worked out in my head...now to put pen to paper and get some letters down!

Fiona's nearly there...

I've had a pretty weird past few weeks with my husband Barry being ill, so I've not been at all creative, but have still managed to do a few of my letters in my first alphabet.

I have five more letters to do which I should be able to squeeze into the next few weeks if I concentrate. It's so wonderful to see that a few folk have finished and are plotting their find piece.

I am still loving the simplicity and elegance of this little alphabet with the letters all pierced, as part of the 'going dotty or polka dot' theme.

I am still imagining the final piece - I have the main idea, now all I have to do is execute it! Laugh - how often is it that the idea never quite translates as brilliantly to the real thing as when it appears in your head?  Stay tuned.

Fiona's third instalment

Here are my next four letters - I, J, K, and L - and I am still pleased to be on track.

The four of them together on block mat board.

I and J - I think I got my piercings a bit close together on the I; with one hole a little bit big as well, so I may need to re-do this letter at some point.

K and L seem to do OK.

And this is the tool I have been using to pierce with. I bought it in Japan at a hardware store (may I just digress and say that a Japanese hardware store is to do die for!) and it is super sharp and strong; and has a great grip. If I ever go back, I expect several more of these will be in my bags on the way home. Note to self - not in my carry-on luggage!

I started a new piercing mat as well when I started these letters - so this is it so far.

Fiona's four for February

I have found a bit of time to keep on making my little letters.  I love the pin prick outlines and love the gentleness of them. They feel like snowflakes falling or something when I hold them in my hand.

So here are February's four - E, F, G and H. I like the contrast against the black; but won't be using black in the finished piece.

Here is where I have gotten to so far - the first eight letters sitting on a table in the shed.

A couple of close-ups of them nestled together - I like them close up to each other for some reason.

And an update on the backing sheet that is turning out to be so interesting!

I posted this same post over at my blog. We are away for work-work again, so I just need to find ways to stay online, on the road...

Fiona's first four letters...

I have really enjoyed the start to ALaW this year - I have sat in the studio fiddling around and have eventually come up with something I can work with.

I went for white on white (one of my all time favourite combinations) and pierced the letters through the paper. I only had the i-Phone over at the shed studio so the colours appear more dove-grey on dove-grey; but the sense of them comes through I think.

This is my response to the dotty alphabet - all those little pin pricks make such nice dots!

Here is where I have gotten to so far A, B, C and D

And this is what they looked like lined up together on a piece of blackboard - yum!

And then just because I am who I am - I took a shot of the multi-pierced piece of mat board I had been using to pierce into - the lovely pattern left was too good to ignore!

The alphabet is based upon the style of writing Charles Rennie Mackintosh used to use in his plans and designs.