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The Edit: Apartment 34

apartment-34-american-made

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!

Thanks, Erin – I love your picks!
Have a great weekend, friends!

The Introduction: ALL Knitwear

I discovered ALL Knitwear through Of a Kind and haven’t been able to make a decision as to which hat to buy… we had our first legit snow yesterday, so I guess it’s time for me to make up my mind!

FROM THE BRAND:

ALL Knitwear is a small, vertically integrated knitwear label created by Annie Larson. The slow-growing, idiosyncratic collection of handmade sweaters and hats is an ongoing study of color and pattern realized in a series of simple shapes. Each sweater is organized to show the special rapport between its visual components. Operating on a made-to-order basis, Larson knits each piece in her studio before shipping to customers all over the world.

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Makers Monday

Today is Makers Monday… a different take on Cyber Monday, if you will. To be completely honest with you, at first I wasn’t sure if I’d be sharing this shopping event… I love Shinola, the brand behind the event, but I wasn’t sure that the registered makers would be a fit for TAE. When I curate collections or seek out brands to share, the fact that the products are made in America is the final deciding factor, not the first, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this list.

However, I was pleased to see some of my favorite brands on the list – and happily surprised to discover some new amazing brands. Above, my Makers Monday favorites!

and… if you are wondering… buying local does more than you think!

Loren Hope (20% off today) / Imogene + Willie / Pierrepont Hicks / Marbella Modern / J.W. Hulme / Woodchuck Case / Shinola / Moop / Shannon South / Ampersand Brand / Schoolhouse Electric / Topo Designs / Outlier / Rocker Baby Nation / Sea Salt Soap /Faribault Mill blanket