If you know us, or know my husband Duquette Johnston, you know we have spent the past year and a half working on his first new full length record in three years, "Rabbit Runs a Destiny." I say "we" because it has been a family affair between us as husband and wife, Armand Margjeka of Pipe and Gun, the family at Communicating Vessels, a group of the most talented musicians from around the country, Pledge Music, Peter and the entire Toolshed Media family, Standard Deluxe, Matt Lane Harris, Jason Hamric, and our community, including all of you.

Being a musician today, or the partner of a musician is hard. It's not all glamorous and it's definitely not as easy as just writing, recording, touring. You have to work really, really hard and really believe in your calling and your message, and lay everything on the line for it. It's scary. It's stressful. It's the most laborious thing you could imagine. But it's gratifying and emotional and exciting, too. But you do it because it's something you believe in. It's scary, but it's exhilerating, and it can only come from a place of true belief and dedication. 

Part of what is making it really meaningful for us is partnering with Pledge Music. Maybe you're familiar with crowdsourcing platforms, like Kickstarter or Pledge Music. It's a really exciting, kind of new way for musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, organizations to raise money to fund their endeavors by asking YOU to partner with them in making something come to fruition. By investing in someone or a project, you become a part of the community surrounding it, with some really cool incentives, personal updates, and essentially a stake in a project's success. 

We chose Pledge Music as the platform for getting "Rabbit Runs a Destiny" out there because we get to partner with an organization, giving 10% of our money raised to Pablove Foundation, who fights childhood cancer with love.  It is something really important to us. We believe in giving, and Pablove is something really close to our hearts. Why? Pablo Thrailkill Castelez was five when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. In the year that he fought that battle before losing his life, we followed the blog that documented his journey and his family's journey. It was personal and honest and invited total strangers from around the globe to become a part of that journey. It touched us and spoke to some really personal places in each of our lives: Duquette's childhood mentor fought cancer for decades and he witnessed a dear friend's little brother valiantly fight and succumb to cancer at only 17. For me, I befriended a girl when we were five and she already had cancer. It was a part of our friendship. She passed away a year later. I also lost both of my grandparents to cancer, the people who raised me and I looked up to the most. Pablove is a legacy and is helping and changing many, many lives, and we want to do anything we can to ensure they get to keep doing this.

And it's that same sentiment that we come to you with. We need your help to keep doing what we do, what Duquette does, and in turn, we get to help others. Something I have learned in this year long process is that you can't rely on the notion that someone else is going to do it. If you want to see something happen for someone else, you have to get up, take part of it, and help. With the convenience of technology and the ease that it offers us to do things, we need to actually take the 30 seconds to retweet, email, follow a link, click the button. I've been guilty of putting it off until later, telling myself that there's someone else doing it so it's okay if I don't. No, it's not okay.

We need community, all of us. And there's something so exciting about having actually played a part in it. Take pride in it. Take ownership in it. Build a relationship. Just like we feel this way about partnering with Pablove, we want you to partner with us. Because we need you. 

And here is how you can help:

Become a part of this record, our life, and Pablove via Pledge Music, here.

Tell people about it via Facebook, Twitter, email, word of mouth.

Follow Duq on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@rebelking) and retweet and repost stuff!

And here is some free stuff for you:

Free Rebel King EP on Noise Trade, here. 

Free  download of song "Rabbit Runs a Destiny" on NPR, here.

We thank you so deeply, for your support, encouragement and belief!

With so much love,

Morgan (and Duquette, too)

I will admit that I have never been one for embroidery art. There, I said it. It has always felt a little too craftsy for me. UNTIL I saw the work of Japanese artist, Junko Oki. It is really difficult to find information on her and her work, as all the sites are in Japanese. BUT I have gathered that she calls her work, WOKY SHOTEN, referring to the free movement of the line to make a simple repetition of work. And the forms and patterns and repetitions touch on her grandfather's memories.

It's beautiful and chaotic and peaceful all at the same time. 

I just want to keep looking at it.

Via Tabiota.

March 2012, via Woky Shoten.

February 2012, via Woky Shoten.

February 2012, via Woky Shoten.

It's no secret that we are HUGE fans of Imogene + Willie, over in Nashville. It has been such a tale of excitement and inspiration and just JOY to see them grow and become a true AMERICAN FORCE! And as we said a few years back, TAKE NOTE. I+W have expanded into home goods and I am delighted!

I remember the first time I walked in their shop and felt at home on their comfy leather sofa, petting shop mascot and boss Lale, freaking out the first time I smelled the heady scent of the Apothia Soul candle. Every time I go in the shop and subsequently leave, I think how I want my home to have the feel of that little old gas station, with mementos of my family and travel and inspiration everywhere I turn.

Here are a few of my favorite, favorite pieces. And if you stop in the shop, tell them that Morgan and Duquette sent you!

Vintage African Indigo Textile, here.

Vintage African Indigo Textile, here.

Turkish Hammam Towel Light Blue Stripe, here.

Turkish Hammam Towel Red Design, here. 

Vintage Bolivian Rug, here.

Sea Salt Soap, here. This is the ONLY soap I have used for the past year. It has actual grains of salt that exfoliate and refresh beyond belief. 

I+W x Apothia Candle in Soul, here. African ginger, mahogany, taboti wood, grains of paradise. We always have one of these babies burning in the house and EVERYONE comments on the scent. It is a comforting and inspiring scent, my top fragrance in a long time.

Don't miss out on these really great items! 

Have a super blessed day, y'all!

-Morgan and Duquette

I strongly believe that lighting is the top way to change a room/space. Think how much careful attention goes into the lighting of film or the stage, creating mood and guiding your emotions and responses. So often in our homes this powerful "little detail" is overlooked. And I will admit that I have been guilty of living in a few places where I left up that really bad frosted glass fixture from the previous owner, figuring "no one will notice or look up"... Friends, what makes us able to see? LIGHT. And no one is missing the source of it in your home/space. 

One of my favorite lighting styles lately is the pendant. It functions is a variety of spaces: kitchen, entryways, hallways, dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, even the bathroom. And it takes on a sculptural quality when considered in the context of its surroundings. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

The Clear Lantern, by Rose Uniake. It's hand blown by glass artisans and features unique variations in each piece. Talk about a work of art.

Gold leaf pendant from Vanillawood. It's gold leaf over iron, so it has this incredible substance to it. I'm curious what kind of lighting/coverage it produces in a space. Pretty sexy in that gilded fish kind of way!

Egyptian pendant light from Snob. It's made from solid copper, has this airy weight to it, and at night, dapples your ceiling and walls with the most beautiful pattern. I kind of ache for this one!

What feature/element of your home design is a priority in making the space amazing? Love to hear from you!

xoxo 

Morgan

Hello friends! It sure has been a long time since we have posted here on the blog, and it's all due to exciting things that we look forward to sharing soon! I must admit that while blogging and maintaining social media can be so exhausting, it can be a great source of connecting with people and being inspired. I've missed that, and I've missed you! The past week I have been bed ridden with the FLU, and I am in need of creating and connecting and inspiration! 

Pinterest can be a time suck, yes, but it can be a beautiful companion while in quarantine. I've found myself pinning a lot of really interesting jewelry pieces that are minimalist with a tribal kind of flair. A delicate piece is like a secret treasure or a tiny bird that you just want to cherish and take care of. 

Check out these pieces. I am sure you'll love them!

This is the parrot bracelet from Tassia Canellis, which you can find here. The discs are gilt brass and remind me of old metal sequins and the grey yarn reminds me of tying thread around my wrist as a kid, fashioning my own bracelets. 

Tiny rose gold and silk bracelets by Vivien Frank Designs. Elegant yet rugged, delicate yet tough. I just imagine the flash of light bouncing off this piece on a sunny day! Get it here.

Lagos necklace via Need Supply. Gold and ocean tones, can you smell the salt in the air??

I'll be excited to debut new pieces from my own jewelry collection shortly and will be offering some giveaways and "family discounts," so keep your eyes peeled here and on our Facebook page!

Have a beautiful dy, y'all.

Morgan

Do you know Catherine Martin? Well, you should. We have have been anticipating the release of Baz Luhrmann's latest film, The Great Gatsby for what seems like two years, seeing signs of a Deco revival in fashion, accessories, decor. Moreso than any director I can think of, Luhrmann's super stylized visions have a way of sparking obsessions, tapping into our desire for excess and revelry and just plain decadent beauty. And a large part of this decadent beauty is the executed vision of Catherine Martin.

Having worked with Baz Lurhmann for 20 years, Catherine has been the person behind designing the productions and costumes, including The Great Gatsby. Her resume is extensive and I can't believe I didn't know her name until now! 

And here is the best part...she has a home collection now of rugs, wallpaper and bedding! 

(Be sure to scroll down for a great Great Gatsby giveaway!)

RUGS, go here.

"Night Bird."

"Cockatoo."

"Rhapsody."

WALLPAPER, go here.

"Pheasant."

"Cockatoo."

BEDDING, go here. 

"Cockatoo."

In anticipation of the Great Gatsby release tomorrow, my favorite independent coffee and book shop, Church Street Coffee and Books, is doing a giveaway! Stop in the shop and buy a copy of the Penguin Classic and be entered to win a pair of tickets to see the movie. I highly recommend reading the "Great American Novel!" For more info, visit their site.

Tonight is opening night for the Barons at their new stadium!

Support your community.

Love,

Duq and Magoo

So we are making some changes here at Rugged and Fancy. The scope of what we want to do and who we work with is evolving. With that in mind some website changes will be coming soon with new content and a new direction. More details will be coming soon.

In the meantime I wanted to post this bad ass short video from Joe Gannon, Buckshot Sonny's and Made Right Here. I feel very lucky to call Joe Gannon a friend. He is one of those guys that inspires me to work harder and more purely. Hopefully there will be a few new posts about Joe soon. This is a video he shot for Art and Survival, a new collaboration between Ashley James of Ruell and Ray and Billy Moore of Cause and Effect belts. What I love is the rawness and effectiveness of this video. Straight to the point and no BS. Hats off to Joe and everyone from Art and Survival.

Hope y'all enjoy.

Love,

Duq

Good morning everyone. I've been absent fromt the our site for a few months while focusing on mulitple new music releases and planning shows. A few of those shows will be this April with my friends Water Liars. We have mentioned before how improtant music is in our lives and the influence it has on us. My mood can be shifted in a spit second by the right song from bad to good and from happy to sad and on and on.

We recently made a video for my song Silver and Gold using some old footage from a 1941 Superman cartoon. Once I heard the new Water Liars single Linens I started searching for some cool footage with Morgan so we could put together a fan video for the track. 

Be on the lookout for more videos soon, both archival footage and new, and please go support musicans and buy their albums, merchandise, and maybe even throw them a tip. For yourself this weekend I suggest you pick up the Water Liars new album Wyoming. Listen to it driving in the sun with the windows down, or if you are caught in the last blast of winter rock it playing in the snow, or sitting by the fire. Until then stream it below and let us know how you like the video.

Love,

DUQ