Natural Living

This editorial from a past issue of World of Interiors has made its way onto a few blogs as well as Pinterest, and it’s easy to understand why.  Washed out stripes and florals mixed with brightly colored bags and textures are enough to make a textile lover dream, but even better when the setting is in a rural city abroad with a background consisting of paper peeled walls, sticks and stones, overgrown foliage, mementos, and daily necessities for a way of life.  I’m constantly inspired by this one.

My Love For Mexico City

Six months ago I went to Mexico City for my family reunion and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  I hadn’t been since I was in elementary school, so it was a pretty big deal on many levels.  I got to see the house my mom grew up in, visit family members I had not seen in years or had never even met, celebrate the Kneeland name and much more.  I fell madly in love with the city and I knew I would be back.  A couple of months ago while I was hanging out with my good friend Heather, we started talking about our love for Mexico and within a matter of minutes a Mexico City adventure was in the works.  Flash forward to nearly two weeks ago and we had arrived, ready to take on the hustle and bustle of the big city.  It was business and pleasure for the both of us, and by day 1 we fell into our groove and couldn’t escape the Mexico magic.  We packed it in – from hitting up the markets to having the best lunch ever at Contramar with my family, to wining and dining at our amazing hotel, Condesa D.F., to visiting one of the best museums I’ve ever been to (Museo Nacional de Antropología)  followed by one of the coolest stores I’ve ever been to (Common People) – it was epic, to say the least.  I’m ready to go back.  More from our adventure below, and to read about my last visit to Mexico City click here, here, here and here.

Mexican Tree of Life at the Museo Nacional de Antropología

It was a textile dream at the museum.  I freaked out nearly every minute.

So beautiful.  I also want those braids.

This rope art was INSANE.

Snack attack outside the museum

Super fun loot at Common People.  I loved the colorful wire baskets and need to bring one home next time!

Shopping at the market, extra large pineapple

Virgin de Guadalupe

Beaded necklaces at the shop of one of my favorite vendors

Colorful paper flower explosion

Lunch with my Great Aunt Della and Great Aunt Paulette.  The best.

Celeste Champagne & Tea Room – definitely going back there

I was obsessed with the interiors, including this old lamp.

The outside of our hotel, Condesa D.F.

The dining room at Condesa D.F.

My beautiful friend Heather at the hotel bar

Amazing breakfast spread every morning

I’m not even kidding.  Just looking at this makes me want to go back immediately.  Until next time!  In the mean time, however, you can check out more on Heather’s blog, L.A. in Bloom.

Vintage Series, Play It As It Lays, Part Two

I’m about to hop on a plane to Mexico City for work and to visit my family with my good friend Heather.  I couldn’t be more psyched.  Before I leave, I thought it would be appropriate to post Part Two of my Vintage Series that was inspired by the film and book, Play It As It Lays.  One of my favorite things about the film is all the crazy amazing caftans Maria Wyeth Lang (played by Tuesday Weld) wore; a total embodiment of ’70s Malibu.  This is one of my favorites from my vintage collection, found at a flea market a couple of years ago.  It’s from India and made of silk, and has been block printed and hand painted.  I really love the geometric print and the ochre color, and I couldn’t help but pair it with a shocking pink necklace by De Petra.  I have to give a big thank you to my sweet friend Jennifer for her photography skills.  Thanks for reading, and I’ll be back in a few days with some photos from Mexico City! xo Joanna

Echo Park Craft Fair

If you live in LA, you should check out the Echo Park Craft Fair this Saturday and Sunday.  It’s gonna be a good one.  I’m sad to miss it this time – just look at that lineup!  All for the Mountain, Renata Abade, Rachel Craven, Beatrice Valenzuela, Brit Browne, Black Crane, the list goes on!

Speakeasy Sunday

My friend Hether Cook recently started a blog dedicated to style and music, linking a song or an album to some very cool clothing, accessories, interiors and more. And the best part – you can even listen to the jam she’s referencing.  It’s smart, it’s fresh, it’s called Speakeasy Sunday and I can’t stop checking it out.  Her most recent post killed me: A wire cuff and ring by Kelly Wearstler and The Smoking Popes song, “Need You Around”, as in – I Need That Ring and Cuff Around My Finger.  Love it. Check out Speakeasy Sunday here.

Lovely Hether Cook

Kelly Wearstler ring and cuff

Smoking Popes

Kaleidoscopic

I was so excited to receive the spring lookbook from Australia-based label, Andéol, in my inbox this morning after an email exchange with the founder and designer, Emilie Cacace. Emilie has an incredible eye for print design and travels the world sourcing inspiration for her collection of scarves.  Her spring collection, Vedas Maya, was created from photographs taken in Guatemala.  Textures, paint, people, tiles and more were used as a reference point for all of the prints, and the result is a gorgeous collection of silk crepe de chine scarves decorated in kaleidoscopic prints in the most show-stopping brights imaginable.  The name of the spring collection, Vedas Maya, stems from ancient beliefs in India and Guatemala: “Both India and Guatemala are unique cultures, but often in life when things are right cosmic connections and coincidences arise, if you look hard enough. The ancient Mayan people of Guatemala have predicted a powerful evolutionary change will occur when the earth reaches the end of a great cycle marked by the alignment of the December solstice sun with the Galactic Centre (the rotational centre of the Milky Way) on the 21st December 2012. Their predictions were derived from ancient cosmology, beyond occult superstition or religious prophecy, that are still popular beliefs across Central America.  For the astrologers of the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, these rare occurrences of alignment were also considered important markers in the Vedic calendar, signifying new periods of transition. That both civilisations recognised the existence of the Galactic Centre with their naked eye (the exact coordinates were not found until 1918) and monitored our periodic alignment is a striking connection between two cultures that had had no contact.  Modern researchers have interpreted these mysterious periods of transition with varying degrees of concern. Many have warned of an impending apocalypse, while others predict a new state of consciousness.”  For more information about Andéol, visit the website here.