Alphabet Family Journal
Shopping
2nd June, 2014
Alphabet Family Journal, a new independent magazine about family, created by Sydney based photographer Luisa Brimble.
Pages from the launch issue of Alphabet Family Journal, out this month!
Pages from the launch issue of Alphabet Family Journal.
Pages from the launch issue of Alphabet Family Journal.
Pages from the launch issue of Alphabet Family Journal .
I've no doubt that if you're an Australia-based creative blog reader / social media enthusiast, you must already have heard whispers about Alphabet Family Journal. This beautiful new independent magazine has been a labour of love for Sydney based photographer Luisa Brimble since the concept first came to her three years ago. After some time developing her ideas, Luisa spent eighteen months looking for an editor who shared her vision. Her search ended in Indianapolis, USA, with Sarah Suksiri, a writer, editor and sometime contributor to Kinfolk magazine and The Indiana Review. From here, Sarah and Luisa began their quest to find writers and photographers to contribute to 'Issue A'. They also joined forces with amazing Sydney based illustrator and book designer Evi O (who has designed many beautiful titles for the Lantern imprint at Penguin, including Things I Love by Megan Morton, Edible Garden Design by Jamie Durie and many more). This month, these three talented ladies have will release their much anticipated project - a new kind of magazine about home and family.
'The concept for Alphabet Family Journal first came to me about three years ago, after I gave birth to my youngest daughter Poppy' explains Luisa. 'I began to notice that parenting and family magazines seemed so focussed on either the perfection of family life, or how to ‘fit’ having a family into our hectic lifestyles. But there wasn’t a magazine that talked about the realities of what it means to have a family or to make a home together'. Luisa began dreaming about the possibilities of a publication that celebrated a family just ‘being’ - touching on the simplicity of home, and the wonder and memories created from ordinary everyday family life. These themes are the essence of Alphabet Family Journal.
Alphabet Family Journal offers a glimpse into the lives of a variety of modern families, in all their shapes and sizes. 'Each issue features themes that begin with a letter of the alphabet' explains Luisa. 'In Issue A, our contributors take us to the Apple Isle, reflect on Art and Aesthetics, tell us about their experiences with Adoption, celebrate an Anniversary, and more'. Personal essay-style stories from both established and emerging writers are accompanied by beautiful, moody images captured by over 30 talented photographers from across the globe.
Alphabet Family Journal Issue A is the product of 26 writers, 31 photographers, 4 artists and and editorial team of 13 across 4 continents! 'Some are emerging writers or photographers, some are bloggers, others are seasoned professionals' says Luisa. 'All our contributors share a mission to celebrate the messes and miracles of what it's like to find, grow, and be a part of a family'.
Alphabet Family Journal retails for $25 AUD. The magazine will officially release on June 11th, however you can order your copy online now. (Those who generously supported AFJ via their hugely successful Kickstarter campaign last year should already have received their copies!). The magazine will also be stocked at Magnation, Oscar & Friends (Surry Hills, Sydney), Beautiful Pages (Paddington, Sydney) and Kunstler (Brisbane) from June 11.
TOP WORK PEOPLE! So inspiring.
Pages from the launch issue of Alphabet Family Journal out this month!
Pages from the launch issue of Alphabet Family Journal.
So great to see all of Luisa’s hard work in print! Such a talented group of people!
Beautifully conceived and perfectly executed. Warm congratulations Miss Brimble & Co! Look forward to getting my hands on a copy (-:
I look forward to reading this, it is really hard to find magazines that are family based. This looks amazing and I love that quote in the final image.
I agree, it looks like a wonderful book, however why does the first page who a woman sitting, at a dining table, with what appears to be a cigarette in her hand. Perhaps someone should have thought about this. I don’t know anywhere (even in private homes) where this is considered acceptable.
HEY Elizabeth – it’s a pen, not a cigarette! x
gorgeous pictorial – can not wait to snuggle up in front of the fire with my copy – oh so funny Elizabeth I did a double take but yep its a pen – a great conversation starter to say the least ;)
Elizabeth- from the photo posted here, it looks awfully long to be a cigarette…
I would guess it’s a pen or pencil?
Would love to get my hands on a copy.
Looks like a great magazine.
We really do need to celebrate family the way it is, as Luisa says, and not try to be perfect or like other families!
Oooh ahhh
As it looks so good (and I’ve yet to see the full version) I’ll reserve my judgement as to whether this magazine isn’t still projecting it’s own unique version of ‘perfection’… Maybe we look to creative/visual magazines for this (and possibly compare ourselves)? Regardless, as a parent and design-lover, I know I want to order it! :)
such a beautiful review of this amazing project xxx
SORRY to repeat myself ^ My first comment disappeared awhile; I reposted and forgot some of what I’d written first!) Lucy – you have permission to delete one! :)
What an amazing project. Imagine the time and work that went into something this amazing. Will definitely have to grab a copy.
Cheers
Brendon
Wow, what a truly outstanding-looking magazine/keepsake. A bit of a rarity these days. I can’t wait to buy a copy.
I love how they have reframed the topic of family and what it means to be one.
I see what Cass means by it maybe imposing their own views of perfection i.e imperfection (which is equally hard to recreate authentically!) But I like the ‘perfect imperfections’ nature of the book, and the reframing of an old topic. Plus, who can resist great photos!?
So excited to receive my copy that I am ordering right now! So glad to see more and more ‘homely’ magazines popping up in the market.
http://www.lostinwishfulthinking.com.au
Ooh I love the look of this! Just ordered my copy.
Wow, so very inspiring. :)
Oh I can’t wait to get mine in the mail! Lovely and well deserved feature!