Having trouble finding the right product that perfectly suits your needs? Good news, our Bay Area Made community includes skilled makers and artisans who can create made-to-order goods such as furniture, lighting, decor, kitchen & tabletop, clothing, jewelry, bags, accessories, food, beverages, and body products. Whether you need a custom or customized solution for aesthetic or functional reasons, or both, we got you covered. In this series we’re calling “Have it Your Way” we highlight some outstanding bespoke projects from our members. Here is the third installment.
Clouds + Ladders
Kate Joseph of Clouds + Ladders creates contemporary wearable art pieces inspired by her love of modern art and design. In addition to her handcrafted modular jewelry collection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and pins – which can be customized to maximize self-expression – she also creates special collections for museum stores including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
For the de Young Museum store, she was invited to create an exclusive offering inspired by their collection, architecture, and natural environment, to accompany their “Open Call 2023” exhibit showcasing the work of craft artisans from around the Bay Area.
Inspired by the Hanging Looped-Wire Sculptures in the Education Tower at the de Young by San Francisco artist Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), Kate created the “Clouds + Ladders x Ruth Asawa” collection of earrings and necklaces. At first, she was drawn to the artistry of the gravity-defying shapes of Asawa’s work, and after reading about her discovered that she possessed an admirable human spirit as well. She chose colors from her own garden in Sonoma County to represent Asawa’s love of gardening and reflect the wire that she used. The collection is available exclusively from the de Young Museum store.
Yvonne Mouser
Yvonne Mouser is an Oakland based artist, designer, and builder engaged in creative practice that spans furniture design, product, spaces, fine art, and events.
For the Oakland office of architecture and design firm Gensler, Yvonne created a Tree Planter Table out of White Oak. Soft Rounded corners on an asymmetrical polygon top invite you to sit beneath the foliage.
The central insert wraps the greenery and houses easy access outlets. The matching coopered base anchors and conceals the plant container.
Claflin, Thayer & Co.
Liz Thayer of Claflin, Thayer & Co. creates leather purses, wallets, key chains, jackets, and home accessories in her studio and retail space in Oakland’s Temescal Alley. In addition to her product lines, she creates custom commissioned pieces.
One of her specialties is made-to-order Varsity Jackets, which feature a more-tailored body and a less voluminous sleeve than most vintage varsity jackets. They nicely fit and flatter a wide range of body shapes and sizes.
For Valentine’s Day, Liz collaborated on a personal Varsity Jacket for herself with embroidery artist Samantha Saavedra of Sweet Chain Stitch, who owns fellow Temescal Alley shop Mira Flores.
Custom jackets are available in cropped (waist), standard (hip), or long (mid-thigh) lengths. Liz chose the standard length with black wool body, black full grain cowhide leather sleeves, and black knit rib trim with red stripes. It has two welt front pockets, one interior chest pocket with name tag (fits cell phone), black painted-enamel brass snaps, and is fully lined.
The jacket is covered with a selection of beautiful custom embroidered rose designs made by Samantha Saavedra, and Liz’s “L” initial in pink on the chest. See here for more information and how to order custom Varsity Jackets.
