Thread + Crescent

as seen on Slow Southern Style

"Our eyes see beauty in simplicity and modesty and we highly value quality over quantity in every aspect of our lives. All our products share the common thread of craft."

the summer uniform

'Thread & Crescent is a New Orleans based lifestyle brand created by brother & sister, Donovan & Mitzi Guidry.' Just a short visit with a few clicks around their online boutique and their passion for quality and craftsmanship is evident. Mitzi's favorite quote sums up her vision quite well I believe, "Because there is complexity in purity, Elegance in plainness, Intricacy in streamlining, Richness in reduction, Depth in minimalism, Surprise in uniformity, Innovation in re-use, Cool in the avoidance of cool, And there is true sophistication in simplicity"  -MUJI brand philosophy

Currently, Mitzi resides in Los Angeles where she has stayed since studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She now co-owns and operates Los Angeles Leather Craft. A private label leather manufacturer 'offering a complete product development service from raw material sourcing & sampling to production & quality management'. Where they proudly put forth the effort to source their raw supplies from the USA while keeping the manufacturing talent known to LA alive and well. Mitzi was working along side skilled and experienced professionals before their previous employer closed its doors leaving all of them unemployed.  Mitzi and fellow co-workers took the initiative and they used this misfortune as an opportunity, coming together to create Los Angeles Leather Craft. GOODness happens with vision, heart, passion and bravery. This is Mitzi Guidry ya'll, born and bred in Louisiana and half of the whole of Thread & Crescent.

you can find this picture and a full article on LAL here

What is your earliest memory of having an interest in fashion?

Growing up in a small town in South Louisiana, we didnt have a lot of shopping options so my mom would commission an elderly woman in our neighborhood, Mrs Costen who was an amazing seamstress, to make a lot of our special occasion outfits. Everything from my First Communion dress through to my high school dance dresses were made by Mrs. Costen. My mom always let me chose fabrics and as I got older I actually designed these dresses and Mrs Costen would put them together. I was always fascinated by her sewing room tools and the whole process.. taking measurements, having fittings and then the idea materializes into something that you wear and feel special in.

Tell us a little something unexpected about yourself in one sentence.

My dream is to be an elementary school Home Ec teacher.

What inspired the idea for Thread & Crescent? When and how did it all begin?

Thread & Crescent has been a dream for my brother and I for maybe 10 years. We're both obsessed with curation, design, art and home life. We've spent hundreds of hours talking about perfect rooms and perfect scenarios. Thread & Crescent is that perfect world where we get to package a lifestyle with finds and creations we love and are inspired to share.

What's one of your favorite things to do and places to visit when you are back home in New Orleans?

I love music on the patio at Bacchanal in the By Water. Its a great spot I like to take my west coast friends to.. and the food is remarkable!http://www.bacchanalwine.com/

How about sharing a little advice with our southern readers, maybe something beneficial you've learned along your way that has helped you get where you are today.

Building a network is probably one of the most important things I've learned. More than half of the work I get or products I sell come from a personal connection.. and in exchange I share my resources with friends and colleagues. Now with the internet the playing field is even and everyone has access to the same resources so that part has become easier.. its using these tools to foster relationships is what takes effort but where the real payoff can be.

Now available at threadandcrescent.com with The Summer Uniform and The Perfect Belt you can find the bayou bohemian indigo dyed hemp tent tank and dress, along with many beautiful items inspired by simplicity and travel being both elegant and comfortable. 

A fellow Lafayette, LA native, a friend, a maker. Mitzi and I were introduced many years ago by some of my oldest, closest childhood friends. Oddly enough our meeting was in sunny San Diego no where near our roots. Her and I both shared a strong bond with the same very special folk it only made sense that we too would share a friendship. We met when she was in town visiting our mutual friends, who along with me lived there at the time, so our visits were always short but intimate and we always had our love of fashion in common.  Each one of us on our own path in the industry not expecting that they would one day naturally collide. And here we are today.

Intricate, streamlined, rich, minimal, innovative, local...Thread & Crescent!

Thank you Mitzi!

Secondline Jewels

as seen on Slow Southern Style

A reflection of a shared love for handmade, UPcycling, music and jewels.

Secondline is a representation of her southern roots, her second line of handmade jewelry and the second life of broken drum cymbals. All growing from a gift her husband made her with a piece from a broken drum cymbal. It seems he may have inspired that niche she was searching for.  I recall her journey clearly, she would often get discouraged with faint spells of wanting to give up but like most natural born creative types she could not stop creating. It's just the nature of creativity and inspiration. A special little life lesson, through love and perseverance greatness can be attained.

In her own words taken from here and said so well.

"SECOND LINE JEWELS was born on the bayou of south Louisiana when a multi talented musician
stepped into his wife's world of jewelry design, and made her a necklace using one of his broken drum cymbals. This gift inspired a whole line of accessories combining the couple's love of music and jewels. Second line is mostly created using chunks of upcycled brass drum cymbals along with other metals, including salvaged copper, sterling silver, and gold. Accents of precious/semi precious stones, vintage treasures, and random oddities are thrown in for an overall look that just rocks. Hard."  

Roz's father and hubby are both percussionist, an art she has been exposed to since she was a little girl. She is thrilled to have found a place for these heavy metals in her work. Her collection is evolving and developing one piece at a time into something uniquely beautiful. An expression of her own rhythm, consisting of what used to beat to a different drum.

To upcycle and reuse is a part of her families everyday life and this is clear before you even walk through the door of their gypsy fenced yard.  A stones throw from downtown Lafayette is where Roz lives with her young family and where she creates her jewels of interest.  Beautifully selected natural stone, an assortment of vintage treasures along with with hand cut, shaped, filed, sanded and drilled drum cymbals combine to make her one of kind collection of Secondline Jewels.

What would be your ideal way to spend your day?

sleep in, yoga, healthy lunch , make jewels, dinner with the fam, hot bath in the claw foot, a little DIY tv, early bedtime

What is your favorite thing about being a maker?

I can create whatever I want for others to enjoy and keep my most favorite pieces for myself.. as
advertisement , of course!
What inspires you?

Pictures are very inspirational... if I feel a connection to it I try to create my version of that image,
whether it be a piece of jewelry or a style of clothing, so I can have it for myself. I also love mixing shiny and earthy elements together- it feels necessary to achieve a balance of the two. I love rocks and stones..  I am amazed at what beauty lies in our earth.


What has been your biggest challenge along your creative journey? And your greatest joy?

MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE has been to find the time to create! I have 3 children now:
one in high school, one just starting school, and an infant. I think the inconsistency of
creating has been the culprit in whats taken so long for me to finally find my 'niche' in this business.
MY BIGGEST JOY is to look back and see how far I've evolved, style wise, at what I do. ..and I'm so excited about everything I have yet to learn, as well!


What advice have you learned along your way that has made a big impression on you, that you hold dear?

a wise girl once told me:
'ITS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE.. THERE IS NO . NEW CONCEPT- JUST OUR OWN UNIQUE VERSION OF ART.' Somehow that took this huge pressure off of me and reminded me that the wheel has already been created, I just have to create my interpretation of it to be able to ride! It helped me to stop constantly comparing my work to others'. I believe her advice applies to all modalities of art. I think it's important to impress this concept on kids , especially, so they can grow up being less critical of themselves and more accepting of their own and others' creations.

Where would you like to see yourself creatively in the next year or two?

In the very near future, like ASAP, my goal is to quit my day job and work at home. raising my babies. Where a mother belongs. as long as I can remember, I've longed for a creative niche. I've explored many styles and modalities of crafting, trying to bring it all together in one line that I can market and earn a decent living from. To have my passion feed me mentally, spiritually,

and physically is my idea of the American dream. but no matter what, I want my kids to see me practice what I love everyday so they know it's an important thing to do.

What do you admire most about being a southern gal? If you could live anywhere else where would you go?

Being a southern gal is almost an indescribable feeling to me. It's like being part of the coolest club ever! It gives me license to be charming and sweet yet hard core all at the same time. A tough cookie in a big grand vintage dress with cowboy boots on:) If I could live anywhere it would be right here except add clear watering holes( I can't relax in muddy water)and more outdoor activities that don't require a boat. Honestly, I think I was born in the south for a reason. The strong sense of family that we are raised with here is such a blessing- one that I want to give to my children. I love adventures, but I know my where my heart lives.

...and she thinks she's not that interesting!  I believe she is in fact.

A wife, mother of 3, massage therapist and a maker.  She doesn't have much free time but for the most part thats how she likes it. She likes having things to do and like me she likes getting things done.  Maybe our strong bond has something to do with that or the fact that her middle and my eldest are only a year apart while her hubby is one of my oldest, best'est', closest friends ever. Also she introduced my hubby and I. Set us up even. For months preceding our meeting she would tell me "there is someone you need to meet I think he is your soulmate" and she would tell him the same thing.  Both of us had newly healing hearts from failed relationships and would respond the same way 'please, I am not interested'.  Funny enough it only took one meeting and we both had instant crushes, a year later we were married and now 4 years later we are happy and thriving.  I guess I should add matchmaker as a word to describe her.

Roz + her hubby

Rozalyn Galyean. An eclectic spirit who does things her own way. She is determined and overtly creative. A prime example of following your path steadfastly. No matter how rocky or bumpy, stay true to yourself and your passion with your eyes and heart open to the inspiration that surrounds you. Do not let the challenges discourage you. Let your dreams prevail. Keep creating!

You can visit her online at gypsyrig.com and her newest creative endeavor SecondlineJewels.com. She was mentioned before right here on SSS and she is 1/4 of boho mercantile.

WEBSITE // SHOP // BLOG

Twila!

photo by Twila

portfolio sketch by Twila

When considering my first interview for Slow Southern Style I did not hesitate to interview Twila of Twila's Vintage Clothing. A great representation of southern style done right with personality, confidence, creativity and charm. A young belle with fresh, effortless style often inspired by olde days gone by. She's a fashion designer, a vintage collector, a free spirit and a Lafayette native turned brand new Brooklynite.

>>> You can read the full post + interview here <<<

website / shop / blog / facebook

the tastiest town

Southern Living magazine hosted The South's Tastiest Town Awards and the votes are in Lafayette, LA is the tastiest, winning by over 35,000 votes.  A place I am proud to call home for so many reasons just added another. Its full of flavor.

I covered our winning the tastiest town challenge for the New Orleans based blog Slow Southern Style you can read the full post here.

slow southern style

made by hand in Lafayette

here is a little more about how being yourself has its own special shine

featuring two of the bohos that make up the mercantile

I'm a homegrown southern gal

so...

i had to write a bio for my new gig

and here it is...

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Well hi there darlin'! 

My name is Je'Llyn Morvant but many of the folks closest to me call me mama J. 

I'm a homegrown southern gal born and raised in Cajun Country. I spent my 20's on the west coast in southern California where I studied fashion design, the beach, and late nights. I drove the cross country trip back to the bayou in my volkswagen van 8 months pregnant for my first, a bright, creative and motherly young lady bursting with attitude, Kaya Ruth. Though my journey in southern California may have not been complete my destiny cleared me a new path back home. 

I am a wife to a wonderful young man and a mother to two beautiful, strong spirited young children. For me it is indeed truth that inspiration is a driving force. I have a passion to create. Something. Anything. Inspiration motivates my day and my decisions. Inspiration is to my spirit what air is to my lungs, what blood is to my heart. The blog world is a nouveau way for me to collect my thoughts, my inspirations and our happenings. I began my virtual existence bayoubohemian.com when my youngest, a baby boy whom we named Sage Francis, was only 6 months old or so. We lived in a much smaller space then and the opportunity to spread out my supplies to work with jewels, metal, or cloth were near null. I was yearning for an outlet. Surfing the internet was an easy, choke hazard free escape with loads of inspiration lurking behind each click. I was going deeper and deeper into the abyss of visual inspiration while reading of other mothers and creators documenting their experiences, their inspirations and telling of their passions. I one day decided to create my own 'journal'. My very own virtual place that stands as a reminder of where I have been and where I wish to go. A place that catalogs who I am today that I can reflect on tomorrow. A place that just may inspire another bohemian spirit juggling the challenges of motherhood and family while trying to nurture her own soul. 

Today is a new day. I have studio space to create and I am getting lots done, of course never enough, but lots none the less. I am a professional juggler, trying to accomplish many things at once always being distracted and pulled from the task at hand. But I am happy (most of the time). I am expressing myself creatively and I am getting involved with more things that help my spirit feel accomplished and up-to-good. Conquering some of my silly fears, letting go of what others may think and truly being myself. Discovering who that is exactly more each day. 

I am certainly pleased to be a part of Slow Southern Style and to introduce Lafayette to its stylish southern scene. We here Cajuns have a lot to show off. An unconventional aesthetic rich with culture and intrigue. Small town girls (and boys) with big style.

you can find me at 

bayoubohemian.com

bohomercantile.com
revivaltimberworks.com
lateliernaturel.com

and on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bayou-Bohemian/222972014405319 

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slow southern style

here is something new i am up to

writing for this New Orleans based blog

here is my debut 

check it... "what we wore"

inspired by my oh so groovy girlfriends 

...this is the beginning...

i would like to photograph and document their/our style

to possibly influence others to be themselves and show it in what they wear

of course being inspired by recent trends and such

but it seems to me like a recent popular and growing trend

is to just be yourself, wear what you want and take risks

combining vintage with new and conventional with unconventional

>> find original vintage and handmade in my shop <<