Abecedarium is a word that has it’s origins in medieval latin, meaning a primer for teaching the alphabet. When I came across the word a few years ago, I thought I would give it a try creating one full of inspiring thoughts. It was a game that was easier than I thought. Alphabet books are always of interest to me because it is always intriguing to see what writers or artists do with such letters as Q, X, Y and Z. Probably the most inspiring of all abecedariums that I ever encountered was Edward Gorey’s Gashlycrumb Tinies. I remember first seeing it at an exhibition in Boston. I walked the show with my little sister and she and I giggled the whole time. Being fans of Monty Python we completely got the joke. What Mr. Gorey did was invent 26 ways to kill of children from A to Z. After we saw the show, the book was for sale in the gift shop. I asked my parents if I could get a copy. They took a look at it and told me to put it back. They did not get the irony and wit. My sister and I left the museum trying to remember our favorites. We never forgot that hilariously macabre abecedarium. Here is the cover: When the time came for me to create one, I went in an entirely different direction: Inspiration from A to Z. Using my elf characters, I put them to work bringing some hope and encouragement. I printed this out as a poster and sent it to friends. To this day, I receive messages from some of the recipients that particular letters have come in handy. Here is a page from my sketch book of various elfs before they were elphs. Meanwhile, the word "Elphabet" does not have origins in Latin and I doubt that anyone in the medieval word ever used it. I made it up myself. It is something that I love to do: make up words and inspire others.
4 Comments
Rita Russell
7/13/2016 11:20:24 am
I absolutely LOVE this abecedarium elphabet! I'll never look at my ABC's the same way again.:) Thanks so much for creating such an incredible source of inspiration and encouragement that I can take along my creative journey.
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7/13/2016 02:38:20 pm
I love this idea as a means to seek out inspiration for story ideas... also The Gashlycrumb Tinies sounds soooooo great. 😂💀
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7/13/2016 02:42:44 pm
Buying this now!!! https://smile.amazon.com/Gashlycrumb-Tinies-Edward-Gorey/dp/0151003084/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468446138&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gashlycrumb+tinies
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Natinder Ferrer Manak
7/19/2016 01:32:15 am
Great Elphabet. Made up words have always somehow appealed to me, they hold perfect sense, more often then they do with the average grown up. And it’s an act that children innocently do. A world with made up words is more wondrous then a world with out. And ‘The Gashlycrumb Tinies’ by Edward Gorey is macabre at its very finest. A book that deeply interests my daughter, described as poetic deaths.
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