joanna & simone

joanna&simone: 10.17.11 – feeling fall

October 17, 2011 by Simone

While Joanna was walking the streets of rainy New York last week, I (and everyone else in LA) was basking in some sunshine and triple-digit temps.  But since we both call LA home, we thought we’d create our own cozy weather story in hopes that some crisp fall days are ahead of us.  Rich hues of burgundies and browns mix with muted shades of ivory and jewel-toned purples in this week’s Journal Entry centered on our favorite season.  A Peruvian necklace made from scraps of yarn sits alongside vintage fabrics, hand painted artwork picked up on an excursion to Paris, and metallic embellishments – all making us want to stay indoors and do some serious fall crafting.  Anyone care to join us?  Fingers crossed that cooler temperatures are on their way.  In the meantime, take part in the making of Joanna & Simone – Feeling Fall below and on Joanna’s blog here.

This silk trim is from the 1940′s and was a studio gift from my Mom. Yes, she has amazing taste & style…

These golden leaves add a great touch to Fall inspired gift wrapping. I found them buried in a trim store downtown. The scarf is from an Indian weaver I work with – it is the softest wool and cashmere blend I’ve ever felt.

How cute is Joanna in that sweater? Her bracelet isn’t bad either…

The feather earrings are part of Joanna’s collection of goodies.

Joanna’s Peruvian yarn necklace works with every bit of these Fall details, don’t you think?

Check out our full Fall inspiration below. Now, if we can just get these LA temps to cool down please!

Tags: , , ,
Categories: joanna & simone, my life • 3 Comments »

joanna&simone: 10.10.11 Dreaming of India

October 10, 2011 by Simone

Joanna and I have been dreaming about traveling to India (neither of us have been!) and taking in some serious color and textile inspiration.  Perhaps an introduction to some block printing techniques, or to punjabi embroidery?  Last week in the studio we fantasized about all things India and pulled out our Indian goodies including embellishments, embroidery, jewelry and prints.  We found inspiration in an old issue of Vogue with a celebratory group of women dancing in beautiful pink dresses, all with gleaming smiles.  It made us happy, and piqued our interest even further.  It’s been at the top of our travel wish list for a very long time, and we’re hoping that wish comes true next year.

This paper has been a favorite of mine for a while – how beautiful is the dusty brown with that red?

Joanna picked up this printing block along her travels. Gold ink has stained the patterned edges…

I found this necklace in a little boutique – it’s hand made in Vietnam. Great color and details, don’t you think?

This is a beautiful textile from Joanna’s collection.

I found this belt while traveling in the South. The embroidery over the dark rose colored chiffon is my favorite.

I sewed this patchwork piece from fabrics I dyed by hand. I’ve had it for ages….and still think it’s beautiful.

Our India palette….nice way to start your Monday, wouldn’t you say?

Tags: , ,
Categories: joanna & simone • 3 Comments »

joanna&simone: 09.26.11 A Neon Moment

September 26, 2011 by Simone

Hello, Monday! To say that we’ve gone mad for neon would be an understatement, and apparently we’re not the only ones who are currently being seduced by its vibrancy.  From Peter Som to Mary Katrantzou to Creatures of the Wind, the Spring 2012 shows are moving right along with plenty of eye-popping brights to command our attention, and we can’t help but be inspired.  Last week at the studio, we pulled out a few inspired options our neon Journal Entry including a vintage Mexican tapestry woven in neon stripes, complete with shockingly bright pom-poms; flouro yellow chandelier earrings; a vintage velvet cigarette tray liner with pops of hot pink; a devastatingly cool Balenciaga ad awash in neon graphics; antique silk fabric in saturated brights; and a hot pink Moroccan pillow case picked up on our travels.  To add to the mix, we threw in some shimmery beads and sequins to add a dose of neon sparkle and created one of our favorite color stories yet. Check our completed Journal Entry below, and take a look at our in process shots on Joanna’s blog here.

Tags: , , ,
Categories: joanna & simone • No Comments »

a collection of…

September 19, 2011 by Simone

It’s been quite a busy ride the last few weeks readers, so we unfortunately cannot present you with a new joanna & simone post today. The gifting and styling world has been taking up all of my time and with the Holiday season in full swing on my end, it’s a wonder I’m finding the time to get any posts up at all. I look forward to the collaborations that Joanna and I do when we can find the time -  creating for the pure joy of it. What do you do for your pure creative enjoyment?  Do you have a friend you like to collaborate with? I culled through our photo archives to bring you a bit of Monday morning inspiration – hope you enjoy.

Love this necklace of Joanna’s below…

This shot below was from our Morocco post. I’m thinking our outfits are working quite well together…

The below shot is from our Southwestern inspired post…

Some eye candy below, taken from our stockpile of treasures. Seeing these photos helps me appreciate the collecting I’ve done over the years!

Categories: joanna & simone, my life • 7 Comments »

joanna&simone 09.12.11 bauhaus

September 12, 2011 by Simone

Good morning, friends!  Here in LA things are starting to cool down after a heat wave and we’re pretty happy about it.  Inspired by the Fall season and the newness that it brings in the worlds of both art and fashion, we turned to one of the most influential movements in design, Bauhaus, for this week’s Journal Entry.

Although Bauhaus had a short reign in the early 1900’s, its effects left a lasting impression and continue to influence art as a whole bringing various design mediums together as one, which is the basis of what the School in Germany was founded on.

With Walter Gropius leading the School in Weimar, modernism and creative freedom permeated everything, and we can’t help but see some of both in the current design climate.

From primary colors and sleek, modern silhouettes in fashion to the formation of modern artists’ collectives and the freedom of creativity that is surging through this uncertain economy,

It’s clear that we’re looking to the past to create a optimistic future in design, fashion, architecture, etc. – bringing together all the arts, just like the Bauhaus.

For our Bauhaus Journal Entry, we looked to all things graphic with eye-popping brights and clean lines.

Vintage geometric fabric, hand-painted grid paper, vintage jewelry and a treasured book on Bauhaus photographers were just a few of things we pulled together to create our story, paying homage to one of the most significant artistic movements.

Make sure to check out our completed Journal Entry over at Joanna’s blog here!

Magazine tear sheet, vintage earrings, vintage print from Kneeland Co., vintage bracelets, Bauhaus photography book, vintage ribbon, silk fabric,hand-painted grid paper.

Tags: ,
Categories: joanna & simone, my life • No Comments »

joanna&simone 08.29.11 les ballets russes

August 29, 2011 by Simone

Happy Monday readers!  This week we’re looking back to the early 1900’s; a time when the avant-garde dance company known as The Ballets Russes was forming in Russia, bringing together dance, art, and music to create what became known as the most groundbreaking ballet company of the 20th century.  Formed by Russian art critic  (and ballet impresario) Sergei Diaghilev, The Ballets Russes was comprised of dancers from both Russia and Paris who collaborated with contemporary composers, artists, and choreographers such as Michel Fokine, known to have given a rebirth to classical dramatic dance.  As Russian as the prolific dance company was, it had a tremendous influence on Paris where dance technique had declined in the 1800’s.  Many of the dancers spent time in Paris during theater holidays, giving a rise to the underground cultural movements of the city.   We couldn’t help but take notice of the collaborative effort that lies at the center of this beautifully inspiring crusade, and collaborate on something ourselves dedicated to the pioneers of both dance and art.  Take a look at our completed Les Ballets Russe journal entry below, and check out the process Joanna’s blog here!

Tags: ,
Categories: joanna & simone • 1 Comment »

joanna&simone 08.22.11 south by southwest

August 22, 2011 by Simone

Hello Monday and hello dear readers. Joanna and I have been daydreaming about picturesque sunsets and desert days spent in New Mexico, so we’re dedicating this week’s Journal Entry to all things Southwest.

Lying somewhere between the palette of Georgia O’Keeffe and Navajo artistry,

are the mystical tales of nature, here to give powerful influence and provide endless inspiration for us all.

The colors of the Southwest mustn’t be forgotten – the hot pinks, dusty oranges, and desert browns mixed with natural turquoise and silvers.

You know the desert patterns, how the textures are saturated into the landscape…

and the colors in the earth and sky are such that you never forget their dizzying impact?

All thoughts are leading to longing for a Southwestern desert excursion. In the meantime, let’s just keep dreaming about sun-drenched mornings and dry, starry nights, shall we?

Check out our completed South by Southwest Journal Entry on Joanna’s blog here.

Vintage print from Kneeland Co., embroidery from Kneeland Co., vintage silver and turquoise belt, R&Y Agousti coasters, Navajo earrings, beaded embellishment, quartz, gold bracelet, leather and snakeskin tasseled bag, magazine tear sheet, ceramic beads, wooden beads, vintage stamp

Tags: ,
Categories: joanna & simone • 3 Comments »

joanna&simone 08.15.11 journey through morocco

August 15, 2011 by Simone

Hello, Monday! So you’ve probably noticed that travel is the topic du jour around here – and I have to say that after a calming week in Hawaii I’m back and ready for more getaway inspiration. Joanna and I are carrying on our own inspired travel binge with some Moroccan flavored visuals – and can you blame us for being obsessed?  Who wouldn’t want to ride a camel bedecked in glorious rainbow brights?  This country is beloved by many for its food, textiles, and leather, and we all know it’s a go to destination for seekers, artists and the like.  For this Journal Entry, we pulled out some new embellishments inspired by Moroccan wedding blankets, an embroidered textile covered in vivid colored mirrors and buttons, and some statement making jewels to get us in the mood.  Fez, Tangier, Marrakech and Casablanca – we’ll take ‘em all, thank you very much.  See our completed Journal Entry below and check out our in process pics on Joanna’s blog…

To check out more Journal Entries by Joanna & Simone click here.

Magazine tears, vintage necklace, neon pink earrings from Topshop, printed wrapping paper, embroidered epaulet, silk ribbon, embroidered textile, embellishment from Kneeland Co. , image from Gypset Style

Tags: ,
Categories: joanna & simone, my life • No Comments »

joanna&simone 08.8.11 big sur

August 8, 2011 by Simone

Happy Monday sweet readers. I’m posting from the Big Island of Hawaii, (lucky me?) but I wanted to share with you some shots that Joanna and I took last week post Big Sur. I hope you find them as inspiring as we did…

There’s been a lot of talk of our Big Sur trip, but we couldn’t help but do one last post dedicated to the enchanting escape we love so much.Whether it’s taking in the magnificent sunset on the Pacific Ocean or marveling at the glorious redwoods…

There’s something about Big Sur that feels both powerful and healing. Bonds are formed; bonds between friends, and bonds between ourselves and the power of the landscape.We have nature to thank for that, and all of the history that quietly speaks to us. It’s a spot that’s full of intrigue, and we believe it brings out the best in us.
Be it through friendships or solitude, finding a way to inspire your ‘best self’ is what it’s all about. The objects we find along the way are a part of what make us who we are today.

The pieces we find, the items we covet help to define ourselves and our vision of seeing the world.

Picking up treasures along the way from the Henry Miller Library, Deetjen’s (one of our favorite places on Earth), and Nepenthe, it’s as if everything takes on an even deeper, soulful meaning.
We created our homage to Big Sur with inspired minds and we hope you get to experience a bit of the same magic that we did. Click through to see our completed Big Sur journal on Joanna’s blog.

Tags: ,
Categories: joanna & simone, my life • 7 Comments »

joanna&simone 07.25.11 we’ll always have paris

July 25, 2011 by Simone

It’s been a whirlwind of a month, lovelies. We’ve had some serious travel happening around here and are gearing up for another round of adventures, so we figured we’d pay homage to one of our favorite destinations, the one and only Paris.  While our upcoming travels may be stateside, this is one city that will always be at the tip top of our travel list for its ability to make our hearts melt every. single. time.  For our Journal Entry dedicated to all things Parisian-inspired, we pulled out that beautiful Balenciaga fragrance ad (you know, that one) and used it as our starting point.  We combined antique French floral embroidery with Man Ray, antique lace, velvet cigarette tray liners (that look like miniature rugs) and a romantic love letter from decades past.  A natural, ethereal color palette that calls to mind all of those magical moments that happen in the City of Light is what we envisioned.  While our sights are currently set on other destinations, this one in particular remains a constant. Check out our completed Journal Entry below, and click on over to Miss Joanna’s blog here for the process shots!

If you’ve missed our previous Journal Entries by Joanna & Simone, click on the Joanna & Simone link to the right.

May Ray fold out and postcard, gold buttons, antique lace, antique floral embroidery, taxidermy skulls, antique stamps and letter, antique velvet cigarette tray liner, vintage black and white photos, magazine tear sheet.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Tags: , , ,
Categories: joanna & simone, my life • No Comments »

« Older Entries