Pause. Let’s do a little dance to celebrate the upcoming long weekend for Memorial Day! I don’t know about you, but I am in the mood for some dining al fresco. I’m talking small bites, crispy potato chips, and spiked fizzy drinks all while lounging in the warm sun. Here are a few quirky finds to help you set the mood for your Memorial Day picnic. So, tell me, what are your plans for the long weekend?

links: Crush Cul de Sac / Rue Magazine / lobster bottle opener from C. Wonder / A Perfect Day for a Picnic book from Terrain / sunglasses bag clip from Urban Outfitters / champagne carrier from Kate Spade / gingham knife set from Anthropologie

Last, but not least… cobalt apparel! I’ve been waiting for this one. After all, it is my favorite color to wear. A silky cobalt top, skinny dark-washed jeans, leather booties with a slight heel and I am out the door. You could even call it my uniform. And can we talk about those silk embellished pants already?? Holy cow. Add those to the lust list for sure…

links top to bottom left to right: gilded peplum top from Modcloth / suede jacket from Club Monaco / utility pocket shorts from Kate Spade Saturday / Altuzarra embellished silk pants from Net-a-Porter

check out more Color of the Month posts here!

Last Monday I had the pleasure of attending the Frieze Art Fair in New York as part of a work trip. Picture this: take a taxi ferry to Randall’s Island, disembark next to a massive Paul McCarthy balloon dog, and wander between stalls of incredible artwork for hours on end. Inside the tent was a veritable maze; each gallery set up a booth displaying thousands of original pieces of artwork, ranging from more traditional artforms like painting and photography to off-the-wall performance art. There was even a giant pizza!

by Barbara Kruger

As a designer, there as one theme throughout the entire art fair that really spoke to me: text. Vintage and pieced-together, electric and illuminated, handwritten and scratchy…I loved it all. One of my favorite booths featured the hilarious work of David Shrigley. A bit satirical and crude, his work just makes me giggle—and isn’t it nice for art to do that sometimes?

This piece by Barbara Kruger also spoke to me on a very personal level. What do you think of it?

top left: Peter Liversidge
top right: Jack Pierson

photos by Jojotastic using Instagram — follow me here!

You know how your favorite pair of pajama pants are thin and airy and just a teensy bit sheer? That’s what I also love most about chambray. The perfect fabric for summer, chambray lets your skin breathe while you look effortlessly cool. Cool as a cucumber, in fact. A cucumber in a fizzy spiked drink…

Chambray can go prep quickly, so don it in updated silhouettes: the tube top jumper, fitted crop top, or long-sleeved romper. These shapes are all quirky in a nonchalant, borrowed-from-the-boys, super wearable way. Myself, I’m lusting after that floral printed romper from Topshop.

If head-to-toe chambray is still too Nantucket for you, why not dip your toes in by accessorizing with it? A gauzy scarf pairs with pretty much everything, while those TOMS are a the perfect degree of effortless élan.

shopping links: long sleeved romper from Rag & Bone / cropped cami from Topshop / tube top jumper from Kate Spade Saturday / floral print romper from Topshop / striped TOMS from Nordstrom / gauzy scarf from Toast / iphone case from Urban Outfitters / espadrilles from ASOS

top images: Trop Rouge / This is Glamorous / Riches for Rags

Yeah, that’s right… I designed a cabana for Anthropologie! Based on a vintage sample our buyer found, I drew artwork for the embroidery and had an absolute field day picking out the trims to create a fabric cover for a wooden frame. This is one of those projects that you tell your friends about, but no one quite gets it until it’s real.

While designing this piece, I envisioned being on vacation… maybe I’m ocean-side and want to enjoy the breeze off the sea, but without getting full sun exposure? With that in mind, I added sheer panels to the under-side of the cabana so that you could cinch the heavier top laying, thus allowing more air movement and a dreamy, floaty feeling!

The best part? During the design process, we kept calling it the “Joanna, Joanna cabana…” and then I would do a little salsa-inspired dance!

images via Anthropologie. You can see more of my designs here!

Absolutely stunning, right? Those are the beautiful flower arrangements of Sullivan Owen, a Philly-based floral and event designer. This weekend I interned at Blogshop where I got to spread some Photoshop love, meet some new blogging friends, and up my Instagram game. It’s been pretty hectic, but a really rewarding experience. I use Photoshop on a daily basis, so it’s pretty damn satisfying to be able to help someone else learn the program.

This week also brought the birthday of one of my dearest friends, Anne. Ever the health nut, she couldn’t indulge in ice cream herself, so I did it for her!

I saw this poster at my friend Jessica’s house and immediately had to cramp her style and my own. You might need one, too! Available on Urban Outfitters.

photos by Jojotastic using Instagram — follow me here!

Maybe it’s the Greek in me, but cobalt housewares just speak to me. I love this bold, saturated hue no matter the material: glazed ceramic, powercoated metal, even brushed wool. Each material choice seems to play with the light, creating shades of cobalt that are just utter perfection.

links top to bottom left to right: throw from Calypso / lamp from Horne / wave dinnerware from West Elm / mug from Toast / dotted tray from Leif / shibori pillow by Rebecca Atwood

check out more Color of the Month posts here!

PS – these ceramics may not be cobalt, but they are a Must See. Check out my latest post on Anthology.

When a trend emerges on the scene, I take some time to adopt it lest I look a fool. I don’t want to be that über trendy girl who looks like she belongs in a teen magazine, you know? That being said, there is one trend for summer that has captured my attention and I just cannot decide what to do about it. Flower crowns. I think I love ‘em… Ever-so-romantic, I can picture a wreath of peonies and baby’s breath mingling with my chaotic waves while I wear a flowy, lacy maxi dress. But is it too bridal? Is it too… meadow? I’d certainly love your thoughts!

@jojotastic: Would you wear a flower crown?

links, clockwise from top left: Long Hairstyles How-To / 100 Layer Cake / Ban.dō / Nest Pretty Things / Dream Yourself Along Another Day

Talk about wardbrobe staple… these blouses from Everlane make me wanna stop wearing anything else and just drape myself in silk! Whether tucked into your favorite jeans or paired with worn-in cut offs, this blouse is sophisticated, yet casual. They even offer two options: the band collar is a bit more easy-going, while the rounded collar is perfect for a polished day-time look. Either way, you can’t really lose… and at $80 a shirt, you can invest is this look without breaking the bank. Which is a good thing because the color options are SO GOOD that it’s tough to pick just one!

images via Everlane

I have to admit… it’s a good day when something I’ve designed shows up in the Anthropologie catalog! It means that your product gets viewed by even more people and shown in an entirely different light than in the normal, studio-photographed way.

These sail-inspired Spinnaker Curtains are a good example. While the website shows the curtain close up and in a hand-drawn environment, nothing beats seeing it billowing in the breeze! I feel that this catalog shot really captures the open sheerness of the fabric while also showing off just how saturated the colors are. If I could, I’d give our catalog team a gold star for this!

PS – there’s a blue colorway, too!

Images via Anthropologie. You can see more of my designs here!

First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all! I hope your day is full of breakfasts in bed, foot rubs, and bunches of flowers.

This week was pretty overwhelming for me, but as I headed into the weekend, I knew how to regroup and get stuff back under control. For me, the best way to feel like I have a handle on things is by doing what I love. That means going to the flea market again, treating myself to a bit of an at-home spa session with my new treats frm SW Basics, and eating good ole home-made food. As we head into Monday, I feel better than I have in a long time and so much more grounded… phew!

Irony on parade at Urban Outfitters HQ.

It was pretty sweltering on Friday, so I sought happiness in a single scoop from Little Baby’s.

photos by Jojotastic using Instagram — follow me here!

When accessorizing this spring, why not stray from the basics and give your wardrobe a punch of cobalt instead? Cobalt is one of those colors that works with any metal finish. From shiny, bright silver to disco-era gold, it positively sings. My pick? Those striped slippers for sure!

links top to bottom left to right: skinny rectangle bracelet from Kate Spade Saturday / embellished suede belt by Matthew Williamson / smoking slippers from Joie / wedges by Loeffler Randall / lapis ring from Net-a-Porter / cashmere shawl from Barneys

check out more Color of the Month posts here!

Despite my ability to kill all plants ever, garden pots are the some of my favorite things to design. There’s just so much to play with: scale, surface texture, color. For example, you see that yellow one? It’s massive… I’m talking tree-sized. Meanwhile, the polka dotted friends below are the perfect size for a single plant. There’s even a low dish, perfect for mini succulents. It’s not often that a designer gets to dabble in such a big range of scale!

These polka dotted minis are my favorites though. If I had more of a green thumb, I’d like them up on a deep window sill!

images via Anthropologie

I’m all about giving experiences rather than physical presents. Creating a memory is so special and something you can revisit for years to come. This Mother’s Day I want to set a fancy table for my mom and make brunch for her. I’m thinking baked eggs, bunches of spring time flowers, and rustic table linens! One of my favorite places to shop, Terrain is exactly the aesthetic I’m picturing: casually elegant, natural and easy, all with lots of floral touches.

Because Terrain is so perfect for Mother’s Day, I am partnering with them to do one last minute giveaway: a $200 giftcard! Entering is easy: simply like Terrain and Jojotastic on Facebook. Once you’ve given each page a like, leave a comment here saying your favorite brunch item! One winner will be selected at random and announced this Friday, May 10, 2013 by 10:30 am EST!

1. Bon Appetit napkin
2. Petals plate
3. Italian glass pitcher
4. Acacia salad servers
5. Paper placemats

top images: metal bistro chairs / Weck juice jars / spring bouquet/ images via Terrain

PS – Today through Wednesday May 8 at Noon EST, Terrain will upgrade all orders to express shipping to ensure your gifts get there in time for mom!

One of my absolute favorite things about living on the East Coast are the flea markets. The stuff is just… older here! This weekend, my friend Jessica and I ventured out to Quaker City Flea Market, Philadelphia’s oldest flea. I was worried all the good stuff would be gone because we got a late start to the day, but within minutes of walking in we hit pay dirt. For only $8, I scored an assortment of plates in a mid-century modern pattern, an adorable hobnail milk glass pitcher, a stainless steel egg beater, and these silly dishes!

I’m not typically one to go to a flea market for valuable things; I usually just pick up whatever speaks to me and begs to be brought home. However, I felt like these pieces were quirky enough that there must be a story behind them. This Blue Heaven dinnerware features a pattern I’d never come across before. Further research on Etsy revealed that they were produced between the ’50s and ’70s and are oven-safe. And how great is that retro backstamp (the artwork on the back of the plate)? I love everything about them!

But the find of the day goes to Jessica. She walked away with these gorgeous velvet chairs ($60 for the pair!) and this crazy mod terrarium thing for $2.

photos by Jojotastic