This hedge type is by far one of my typespotting favourites. These giant leafy letters are about 2 metres high and were spotted along the Pacific Highway in Northern NSW at the Melaleuca Station Memorial Gardens. If there are any topiary artists out there who are well-versed in the art of trimming hedge-letters let me know how it's done!
Anyone who is in Hobart this Wednesday evening (May 19th), I will be doing a talk for the Australian Graphic Design Association. The talk begins at 6pm and will be held at The Australian Institute of Architects, Hunter Street, Hobart. For more information contact AGDA Tasmania. Look forward to meeting some Tasmanian typomaniacs!
This must be the place was published this month in Incubate's 3D issue. Equipped with glasses this issue has many of the illustrations and photographs converted to 3D. Considering it's already three-dimensional in the 2D plane when you pop on the glasses it is a multi-dimensional-typographic experience! Also, lend your ears to Naive Melody by Talking Heads – the inspiration for the piece (the lamp shade dance at the end of that clip is definitely one to keep in mind for your next party). The magazine is designed by Christine Messinesi and you can down an online version here.
Despite his absence on Valentine's Day I knew I would meet Mr Eaves sometime soon. Since Emigre's Zuzana Licko designed the sans-serif companions to Mrs Eaves late last year (Mr Eaves Sans/Modern), it was only a matter of time before I would meet the families. These guys were voted among I Love Typography's Favourite Fonts of 2009 and I would have to agree with John Boardley that the italic version is most charming indeed. However, it was the XL companion – released by Emigre shortly after – which caught my fancy. The lowercase characters in Mr Eaves XL Sans Ultra Italic in fact are very suitable for cupcakes. With a large x-height and short ascenders and descenders they fit quite nicely on a round, chocolate surface. Now I'm just waiting for a ridiculously good looking, intelligent and funny type-lover to start a blog under the pseudonym Mr Eaves and sweep me off my feet!
The Society of Typographic Aficionados has just released Coming Together: a collection of ampersands designed by participants from all around the world including Alejandro Paul, Jean Francois Porchez and John Downer. The font is for sale for $20US from Veer, Ascender Fonts, Fontshop and MyFonts with all sales going to Doctors Without Borders to help with the relief efforts in Haiti. This is the fourth project part of Font Aid, an initiative started by Swedish designer Claes Källarsson, which facilitates the creation of collaborative fonts to raise funds for those affected by natural disasters, war and other tragedies. Get on board and buy the beautiful collection of ampersands for a great cause. 
There is a myriad of instances of Archer in Christchurch...you can't turn a corner without spotting those charming little ball terminals on the the city's summer posters and retail windows. Of equal charm are the remnants of old hand-drawn signage lingering in alleys and on brick walls high above new shopfronts.
Australia's favourite Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, turned 80 this year and here are the invitations I created for his party. Black detailed type, a gold foil 80, and hand written names to match the main text on the invites, envelopes and name cards. Bound together with a fine gold thread and envelopes finished with a red wax seal.
This was a cute find in a Bondi second-hand store. What was once a labelling alphabet set is now a group of withering characters which nearly dissolve when touched. Poor Helvetica! Needless to say, the unassuming sales assistant endured my stories of the typeface and let me save these little guys for $3.
