I’m thrilled to have Erin from Apartment 34 sharing her favorite American-made (San Francisco-made, actually!) picks for the holidays today!
I’m so excited to share some of our favorite San Francisco Bay Area artists and designers with you today!
No. 1 : I recently discovered Julia Kostreva and I instantly fell in love with her work. She is an artist out of the East Bay who has a delicacy and movement to her pieces that is just stunning. This marbled iPhone case is one of my favorites. It’s so difficult to find a good case and this one is definitely as unique as it is beautiful! (editor’s note : I have this case and get compliments on it all the time!)
No. 2 : Margaret Elizabeth is a fast up and coming jewelry designer – definitely one to keep your eye on. She makes sparkly pieces from druzy and gemstone including rings, cuffs and necklaces. They are the perfect gift for somebody special. My favorite pieces are her bangles! A big tear drop shaped quartz in the color of your choice sits on either side making for one gorgeous statement. Stack them for an unmatched party on your arm!
No. 3 : Fill your family members’ stockings with the ultimate stuffer for the sweets lover: Dandelion Chocolate. Started by SF duo Cameron and Todd (in their garage no less!) these delicious treats are the definition of richness and luxury. One of my favorite pasttimes is perusing their Valencia Street shop where every bar is beautifully packaged in metallic flecked recycled paper. Their Venezuela bar, with notes of fudge, coffee and cinnamon is to die for- yum!
No. 4 : Every Joshu + Vela bag is made right in the heart of San Francisco. They’re simplistic, functional and capture the urban, fast-paced life style. The backpacks and totes are great for him or her but I especially love the duffel bags. This captivating cobalt blue duffel makes any weekend trip to the snow that much more exciting and there’s no doubt that each piece will only get better with use!
No. 5 : Heath Ceramics is my neighborhood happy place. It’s full of the most gorgeous plates, bowls and vases all made across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito. I love their bud vases– I have them scattered all over the loft. They’re modern, clean and beautifully made. With that said, they’re the most transitional gift out there- you could gift a vase to your niece who just moved into her first apartment or your super chic mother-in-law!
I hope that we introduced you to some truly talented San Francisco creatives and inspired you to go out and shop locally to find the artisanship that lives in your own city. Thanks, Rita, for having us. We hope you’ll visit us at Apartment 34.com and check out more of our gift ideas here!