Collabs

Artist Profile Cody Bond London, UK • caiandjo.com     Cai & jo is a small, independent brand dedicated to creating uniquely beautiful home décor and lifestyle products. Based in London, every cai & jo piece is designed by founder Cody Bond, a self-taught artist and designer whose distinctive aesthetic draws inspiration from the textures, colours and shapes of the natural world.   Artist Q&A Q: We were first introduced to your work while shopping at Purre Boutique in Costa Mesa. Where else can we find your products on our shores, especially in California? A: I love that you found my brand in a shop near you! We actually have quite a lot of stockists in California, and you can see a map of them to find your closest one here: https://caiandjo.com/pages/stockists  Q: You have done collaborations with Urban Outfitters, what was that like? Besides us, what would be your dream collaboration? A: I've absolutely loved working with Urban Outfitters, it was a dream come true and really helped take my business to the next level! I'm not really sure I have a dream collaboration though, I just love working with companies that have a great idea and vision. Q: We absolutely love your vintage/boho style and all the colors you choose. Where does your style and inspiration come from? A: Thank you so much! I get a lot of inspiration from growing up in Cyprus, the landscapes, colours and the heat all have a big part in my work. Otherwise inspiration just comes from everywhere, I might see a colour combination on someone's outfit, or a cool looking tree that inspires me to make a piece! Q: Have you ever been to California or Los Angeles? If yes, what are your favorite places to visit? If no, where do you want to visit? A: I've never been to California but I would love to one day, I think the landscapes of the north coast look incredible! Q: Are you from a family of artists? Does anyone in your family play sports as a hobby? A: Nobody in my family is a professional artist, but my parents are both talented creatively. My mum actually makes amazing mosaics so I get a lot of my creativity from her. None of us are really into playing sports but my brother is a good diver! Q: Throughout our process of collaborating together, we witnessed the opening of your beautiful showroom in London, right in the middle of Covid. Is your shop open to the public now, and how’s it going for you? A: We don't actually have a shop, but we do have a little display area in the new studio! I absolutely love the space, it really couldn't be more perfect for us :) Q: We see you have nicely expanded your product line to include housewares such as blankets and pillows. Where do you see the business going over the next few years? A: That's right, the new product line has been in the works for such a long time and it was amazing to finally release the new products. I do hope to continue expanding the product line a bit more over the next few years as well as grow the team. I find it a bit difficult to make concrete goals or plans as you really never know what will happen next, but I like it that way! Q: How do you balance between running a business and continuing to create art? A: I actually make it part of my workday to create art when I can, and I also enjoy drawing and painting on the weekends sometimes. Before I hired my first full-time employee it was much more difficult to find the time, but now I do try to incorporate creativity into work a few times a week at least. Q: We know you're not a tennis player, but do you have any interest in playing or have you ever played on a grass court? A: I've never played on a grass court but I did play tennis a little in high school, although I was never very good! Q: Favorite British Band? American Band? A: Hard question! At the moment I'm loving Glass Animals from the UK and Parquet Courts from the US, but I don't think I could name my all-time faves.   

Artist Profile Noelle Jones Tofino, Canada • lonelybanditstudio.com     Lonely Bandit Studio is headed by Noelle Jones: a digital illustrator and handpoke tattoo artist who works with everything from tattoos and album covers to surfboard glasswork and mural projects. Noelle says her illustrations tend toward the "odd, vintage surf-grunge meets spaghetti western category woven around the roots of 60’s and 70’s music subculture."   Artist Q&A Probably the coolest thing about our concept is we get to meet, and get to know some really awesome people. We fell in love with Noelle Jones’ artwork the moment we came across her online shop, Lonely Bandit Studio. With her influences of the Wild West, the Grateful Dead/hippie counter culture of the 1960’s/70’s, and the rustic colors she often chooses to work with, our initial thought was that Noelle must be...like, our age (aka really old). Our first zoom call with her told a different story. When we looked across the screen, we met a super smart, passionate and fiery artist filled with awesome energy and life….and someone who is a lot younger than we first imagined. A Bob Dylan song comes to mind when writing about Noelle: “She’s got everything she needs, she’s an artist, she don’t look back”. Noelle is a true rock star artist, and as Dylan also wrote, she painted us a masterpiece. We are just so happy our universes came together, if only for a little bit, but hope there will be more to come. Q: Noelle - On your website, you describe your artistic style as “vintage surf-grunge meets spaghetti western category woven around the roots of 60’s and 70’s music subculture.” That is pretty fuckin’ cool. We are wondering, where did your artistic abilities stem from? Are your folks artists? Are they big hippies too? A: Haha no, not really. Well my mum maybe, she’s always been a very tenacious do-it-yourselfer and she is quite literally a plant-whisperer, so a deep connection to the Earth was taught to me early on. Both of my parents always fostered my passions - whatever they were at the time. They changed a lot! But I’ve always found a really easy pathway to express myself through one creative outlet or another - I love living in the abstract areas of life - the ones up for interpretation. It was really only a matter of time before one of those creative outlets stuck. Q: When and how did you become a handpoke tattoo artist? Is tattooing a preferred artistic genre for you? What is the craziest or weirdest tattoo you have given or received? A: I’ve been illustrating for longer than I’ve been tattooing, but both mediums work my creative brain in different ways. I love tattooing for the sense of flow and focus it gives to me, as well as the benefit of being able to work with clients face-to-face. Illustration and design can be a very lone-wolfy career so it’s nice to be able to interact with people directly as well.  While I haven’t given anything tooooo crazy yet, and while I wouldn’t label any of my own tattoos crazy per se, I do have a bit of a tendency to get pretty (large) impulsive tattoos quite often however haha. Q: Bob or Jerry? A: Both, but Pig Pen will always have my heart. Q: Top 3 Grateful Dead songs? Go! A: Oh god, well right now I’ll maybe say: -Hard to Handle from History of the Grateful Dead vol. 1 (Bear’s Choice) -China Cat Sunflower from Europe 72’ -Morning Dew Live at Winterland 67’ off Anthem of the Sun *Honourable mention Brent Mydland’s Dear Mr. Fantasy live from Sullivan Stadium in 89’ Q: Sports- I believe you told us you weren’t much of a tennis player. Any interest in playing tennis or other racket sports? Are you into playing or watching any other sports? A: While I definitely have a massive respect for tennis players, I unfortunately do not hold a single shred of racquet sport talent within me. I grew up playing loads of different sports however, I was actually hoping to make the Olympic team at one point as a Luge athlete. I also played rugby for a few years during my university days, but now it’s surfing that takes up most of my time. My body has taken way too many hits over a mere two and a half decades and surfing is just a bit more laid back comparatively haha. Q: If you could live in any generation, which one would it be? A: Well I’m sure being the age that I am right now during the late sixties and early seventies in Southern California would have been something amazing. There’s definitely a lot to romanticize about that era - I mean what I wouldn’t give to be able to walk around Laurel Canyon back then or spend an evening at the Troubadour in 69’. But I think this question can be a bit complicated though. Before we romanticize the past too much, we definitely have to prioritize the fact that unless you were a straight, cis, white male during the sixties, you were up against varying degrees of serious systemic oppression at that time.  My hope, I guess, is that my generation can follow in the footsteps of those before us who fostered incredible joy and groundbreaking creative movements during periods of extreme strife, while working to figure out ways to fix the mistakes our parents’ generation made. Q: We caught up mid/late summer and felt your pain as you told us about the wildfires around your home in British Columbia. How close did the fires get to you, and how bad was your area affected? Are you scared for the future? A: Yeah I’m not going to lie, this summer was pretty terrible haha. While we’re no stranger to big fires in Western Canada (and the States of course) but this year felt especially heavy. For almost a month the smoke was so bad I couldn’t see 20 feet down the road and my lungs ached the moment I stepped outside. I watched the entire mountainside across the lake from where I’m living burn down twice, taking dozens of homes and hundreds of hectares of trees with it. Meanwhile, where I normally live on Vancouver Island, every day RCMP officers were abusing and arresting the peaceful Forest Defenders at Fairy Creek - a sacred area of Ancient Old Growth forests currently being clear cut by a single corporation. I’m terrified for the future, unbelievably angry that the government continues to ignore our pleas to stop prioritizing corporate greed over people’s lives and livelihoods. ESPECIALLY Indigenous lives and livelihoods. I really truly hope that if anything could come out of this summer’s wildfire destruction it's knowing that as settlers, we all live on stolen land and it’s our responsibility to try and fight for its protection. Q: What are you listening to these days? A: Always a mix of everything but I’m currently lingering on two ends of the spectrum haha. Lately I’ve been splitting my time between lots of Sabbath/Motorhead and a bunch of contemporary stoner rock while also staying comfy with the Eagles, some earlier Dead stuff and bluesy Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac :-) Q: Are there any charities/causes you feel strongly about and want us to make a donation to? A: Yes! As I mentioned before, a large portion of BC’s last Ancient Forests are under attack and there has been a massive, Indigenous led blockade in place for months at the Fairy Creek watershed on Vancouver Island. There have been over a thousand arrests at this point and a disgusting amount of police brutality - mostly affecting Indigenous and POC land defenders. Any donation to those on the frontlines helps out with food/supplies and much needed assistance with legal fees that will help keep this fight alive.

About the Collab SoCal artist and graphic designer, Charlie Hosley, had initially reached out to us.  He was excited about our brand, and the possibilities when it comes to creating some fun designs around tennis and pickleball. An immediate kinship was formed and Charlie continues to create hit graphics for us, including Tennis NoMad, That’s a Good Ball and The Bubble. Links choesly.design @choesly.design  

 Artist Profile Hollis Callas San Francisco, CA • holliscallas.com Hollis Callas is a designer and illustrator living and working in San Francisco, California. When she's not designing or drawing, you can find her somewhere outside, smelling the flowers or spending time with her one-eyed Labrador, Mamut. Artist Q&A Q: You have so many varied styles and designs, are there collections that you prefer to work on? A: I love projects that bring ideas to life in delightful ways- whether it is a pattern collection, an art print or wallpaper for a bathroom, I really enjoy it all and don't play favorites! Q:Are there colors you prefer? A:My relationship with color is constantly evolving. I am deeply drawn to muted colors and earthtones but recently have been exploring brighter hues that I have encountered in nature. I always find that the palette earth provides is the absolute best. Q:Working with Ace the Moon is your first time working in the sports genre? A: It's not my first time working in the genre but definitely one of my favorite projects! I also work closely with my husband and his outdoor company, Outdoor Goyo, which inspires and prepares people to get outside and try new activities. I grew up playing soccer and my father is a retired Cross Country coach so being active has always been a part of my life. I love having the opportunity to use my art to inspire people to get out and move their bodies. Q:What made it interesting for you and what if any challenges did you have? A:Well, I didn’t know about pickle ball before working with you guys! I didn’t know that a pickle ball court could fit into a tennis court. I also had no idea that tennis courts could be so beautiful! You all shared some examples of some really wonderful courts in cool locations that seem like they would be so fun to play at. Q: You love to be in the outdoors and among nature, if you could be a professional athlete, what sport would you play? A: Hm…interesting question! Could yoga be considered a professional sport? I would be very into that! Q:You love to be in the outdoors and among nature, if you could be a professional athlete, what sport would you play? A:Hm…interesting question! Could yoga be considered a professional sport? I would be very into that! Q:Besides us, who would be your dream collaboration? A: You guys really were a dream to work with! Besides y'all, I would love to get my patterns on clothing and products from some of my favorite sustainable brands like Patagonia and Christy Dawn. Q: When you are in a creative rut, where do you find inspiration? A:I find that going on a walk and stepping away from my computer always inspires me. The San Francisco streets are always full of intriguing details that get my wheels turning. From the intricate molding on the doorways, to the pops of color on each unique house, to the ever blooming succulent gardens- this city never ceases to inspire. Q: What is your dog’s name and where did it come from? A:My lovely black Labrador’s name is Mamut. It means Mammoth in Spanish. My husband and I lived in Spain for a few years and we came up with the name there before we even had her. We knew we wanted a big dog so we figured giving her a grand name like Mamut would ensure she would live up to our dreams of having a large pooch- she definitely did! Q:We know you are originally from Atlanta and now living in San Francisco. So, west coast or east coast, or both? A:Oh gosh- such a hard question! I miss the people and culture of the South, but the nature and weather of the west is incredible. I guess I would have to say there are great things about both. I feel lucky to have called them both home.  

Andrea Luna Reece of Luna Reece Ceramics might have started her career in publicity and advertising for an indie punk label - but what really makes her badass was when she took the leap to pursue her love for all things CLAY. With a BFA in Ceramics from CSULB in one hand and a love for combining modern and vintage aesthetics in another, Andrea produces all sorts of ceramics pieces from ring dishes, to wall hangings to planters and cups & plates. Luna Reece Ceramics creations are a treat your home will love.    Andrea Luna Reece Costa Mesa, Californiawww.lunareece.com

 Artist Profile Lydia Manter Maui, HI • lydiamanter.com     Lydia Manter is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Maui, Hawaii. Having been born and raised on the coast of Maine, her childhood was spent in the ocean by summer and in the mountains by winter. Her upbringing gave her a grand appreciation for simple living and a lifestyle connected and surrounded by the natural world. Her work is a blend of art and design and reflects her love of natural places and living by the sea.   Artist Q&A Q: When we first linked up, you mentioned that our concept intrigued you...that while you were growing up in Maine, your dad ran a tennis club. Our initial reaction was, “this is beshert”, a yiddish word that means Destiny. That is pretty f@*ckin awesome. Can you tell us more...maybe tell us everything! (i.e. Where was it, name of club? Still there? Did he teach as well? Did you play (or want you to play?) Did any of your siblings play (if you have siblings). A: I grew up playing tennis. My dad was an avid player himself and passed down his love of the sport to my sister and I. He also coached tennis and has worked in the tennis industry a very long time. He has owned a tennis club called Maine Pines Racquet and Fitness in Brunswick, Maine for the past 20 or more years where I grew up playing and spending a lot of time at. I really appreciate his camaraderie and bringing something to his community there that really brings people together over the love of the sport. Q: Did your experience being around tennis as a child influence you in surfing? Do you see any parallels between surfing and tennis? A: Maybe in some ways playing tennis has influenced surfing in my life. I think having years of practicing tennis under my belt and progressing gradually translates to surfing really well. It takes a while to get the hang of both and takes both patience and a lot of effort to be decent. Q: We still haven’t made it out to Hawaii (on the top of our list). What is the tennis scene like in Hawaii? Have you played at all since you’ve lived there? If so, what are you wearing on the courts? A:There are some great courts here and as well as a lot of courts that could use some TLC! There is accessibility to tennis in most places around the island where it’s easy to rent a court or take use of community courts as well. My husband and I really enjoy the courts that are in upcountry Kula. Q:Do you have any female tennis players, past or present that you admire? A:I used to really admire the Williams sisters and still do. I don’t follow the grand slams too much now, but so I am a bit out of the loop on a lot of new female players so I’m falling back on my past tennis idols haha. Q:We know about your passions for surfing and art. Any other passions/hobbies? A: I grew up snowboarding, so I have a pretty big passion for that sport as well. My husband and I are also getting a bit into farming now so we are exploring all new passions and territory with that! Q: Give us a glimpse of your artistic process…Is there a certain time of day that you like to ideate and create? How often are you thinking about your next creation or do they just sort of come to you organically. Ever have any thoughts underwater, in those moments after you get pummeled by a wave?:) A:I definitely get ideas at random times and have to write them down so I remember. I work best in the early mornings and that’s my ideal time to get creative and get working. Once I am later in the day my internal body clock sort of wants to do other things besides sit down and focus! Haha. I think ideas sort of have to come organically, it’s hard to produce something that I like ifit’s forced or without a solid idea behind the design. I definitely have to roughly draw out a design to get a feel for it and then go more in depth from there. Q:What are you listening to these days? A:I've been listening to a lot of Lake Street Dive lately! They’re a band I first saw live sort of at random and had never heard of before and absolutely loved their style and sound. They've been a favorite of mine the past couple of years!