Images has a wide selection of custom made jewelry and art, featuring many noted designers. From the famous Firefly line of Swarovski crystal jewelry to the ultra-cool designer handbags by Mary Frances, we offer one of the most ecelctic and diverse selections of handmade jewelry and accessories in Sonoma County.
|
Holly Yashi
Click Here to view more photos of Holly Yashi's art with Zoomify ®
|
|
|
Twenty years - and tens of thousands of earrings ago - Holly Yashi was born in a rented garage in the small college town of Arcata, deep behind the “Redwood Curtain” along the rugged coast of Northern California. The company started almost as a lark - two young Humboldt State University graduates, in love, and in search of “real” careers. Their shared vision that began it all carries through to today.
Paul Lubitz, with a master’s degree in Industrial Arts, and Holly Hosterman, with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, decided to start a jewelry manufacturing business. Holly, with early awards in school and a recent successful showing of her handcrafted jewelry thought, “Can we really do this for a living?”
Paul got to work doing research on the manufacturing techniques; Holly got to work on her brass and silver animals; and the two talents meshed. They combined names, too, taking Holly’s first and Paul’s childhood nickname, “Yashi”, and Holly Yashi was born.
It was a singular event, however, that really fired Holly Yashi’s artistic and financial success. Along with the gold, silver, and copper they had been using, Holly and Paul discovered the extraordinary beauty that lurks in a dull grey metal called niobium. Dipped in an electrically-charged bath, the refractory metal flashes into magnificent colors (oxide layers that permanently change its color), depending on what voltage of electricity is applied.
Though niobium is twice the price of silver and nine times the price of titanium, Holly’s designs demand its superior coloring properties. Equally important, niobium is environmentally clean from start to finish. And besides being clean, it is lightweight and so hypoallergenic that it’s highly sought after for use in surgical implants - perfect for earrings!
Currently, there are some 1,200 original designs in the Holly Yashi portfolio, each hand-crafted, hand-signed, and made in the USA. Holly Yashi’s unmistakable “jewelry as art” is sold at thousands of upscale art and design shops, museum stores, resorts, and major department stores throughout the U.S., and is eagerly collected throughout the world.
Just as Holly Yashi’s collections have grown, so too has our family. After the humble beginnings of just the two of them, Holly and Paul, Holly Yashi now employs over 50 talented and creative people with a strong commitment to a culture of quality and design integrity.
Maria Stashak has been creating reproduction Edwardian and Victorian Austrian crystal jewelry since 1987. She is a graduate of Syracuse University School of Law as a patent/copyright paralegal. However at the age of 10 it was the discovery of a strand of vintage Swarovski® beads rescued from her father’s fishing tackle box that memerized her. She collected beads from that day forward.
Maria is the first original, copy-written jewelry designer to use vintage uncirculated Swarovski® crystal in combination with Tierracast® gold, copper, and rhodium metal findings. Occasionally, she will incorporate antique Czechoslovakian crystal. Her jewelry line has become more extensive and sought after when she discovered several coveted, hidden Austrian crystal caches scattered throughout the United States and Europe.
Maria’s work is celebrated throughout the United States and has helped launch a secondary line called “La Maestra©” featuring both genuine Venetian glass and Swarovski® beads.
Zina Kao
In a misguided attempt to be frugal, Zina started making jewelry for herself. Stones, beads, metals, tools and jewelry of all kinds soon spilled from every container in Zina's craft room. In due course, "making a few things for myself" expanded into making jewelry for family, then friends, then co-workers. Zina hand makes all her jewelry in Berkeley, CA using a combination of domestic and imported materials. She uses precious metals - sterling silver, 23 kt. vermeil and 14 kt. goldfill - and semiprecious beads.
top of page
Sienna Sky and Adajio by Left Hand Studios
Adajio is the newest collection of jewelry designed by Colorado artist Barbara MacCambridge. Inspired by a diversity of imagery -- from ancient art of the Americas to contemporary African, Asian and European motifs -- Barbara’s interest in color and texture infuses each item in the collection with a unique visual appeal.
Adajio items are etched, then embellished by hand with a special proprietary process that adds color and interest to each piece. Earrings are completed with gold-filled or sterling ear wires, as well as glass, metal and crystal beads. The resulting jewelry is not only unique and colorful, but also lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Sienna Sky is fun, casual jewelry that is comfortable to wear and handcrafted to last. Each piece is carefully designed by Colorado artist, Barbara MacCambridge to capture her love of animals and nature. You'll also find many other designs that reflect her appreciation for the whimsical and fun to wear.
Far Fetched
For over 20 years, Far Fetched has been known for designing fun, creative, and heartfelt jewelry. While in college in the early 80’s, a series of serendipitous events led Richard Wolf to the artisans in Taxco, Mexico. He brought their jewelry back to California, and before long was taking orders and making regular trips back to Taxco. In 1985 he founded Far Fetched in his dad’s basement in Laguna Beach. In 1993, he moved back to Sonoma County with his wife and newborn daughter and brought Far Fetched to the tiny town of Graton, CA. They recently outgrew that location, and now the Far Fetched team works from new offices in nearby Sebastopol, CA.
Our designs start with an emotion, a silly joke, an experience; each piece has its own story. We daydream and doodle new ideas, utilizing a variety of materials and techniques. The designs are then sent to Cuervo Metal, our sister company, and are given to a skilled prototype maker. Once we see the prototypes, we make any changes that are needed, and the finalized designs are given to the artisans to produce in their own workshops. They use a combination of traditional silversmithing techniques and new, innovative processes that we have introduced. The end result is our unique, handmade jewelry.
Silver Forest of Vermont
The philosophy of Silver Forest of Vermont is to create wearable art that transcends fashion trends. Nature, the environment, ancient cultures, and a subtle sense of humor influence our designs. All Silver Forest jewelry is hand crafted in Bellows Falls, Vermont. The gold tone finish is a tarnish resistant 18 kt. gold finish over brass, the silver tone finish is a tarnish resistant rhodium over brass, and the copper finish is a rose gold over brass. Most of the METALS in their jewelry consist of raw brass or copper elements. Each shape or disk is cut and rolled out with our textures, from a raw sheet of metal. They use 12 different textures and over 1000 shapes. Silver Forest jewelry is always soldered together, never glued. This creates a slight variation in every piece, which gives the ambiance of wearable art.
Danny K
Born in Bangkok, Thailand into a family of shoemakers, Danny Kong worked as a shoe designer in the family business while attending college. In 1986, after graduating with a degree in accounting, Kong immigrated to the United States and soon began working with a large interior design firm in Los Angeles, California.
At work one afternoon Kong was given a sample of beautiful Italian tapestry from a nearby showroom. He took the fabric home and, using the skills he had learned as a young man, came up with a simple but beautiful tapestry tote bag. “I felt so happy,” Kong reports, “to be back at work doing something I love.” The following weekend he hung the bag in a friend’s booth at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market. That first bag sold quickly and soon Kong had a booth of his own with a steadily growing following of loyal customers.
Twelve years since that humble beginning both the sophistication of Kong’s designs and his selection of fabrics continue to grow. He has long since left his job with the interior design firm and now works on the bags full time.
Kong has created something for everyone in the Danny K. line of handbags: the sturdy Tote with lots of pockets, the Classic Backpack that is hands-free and secure, the Organizer with hidden pockets that can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist and the new Maggie Purse with built-in pocket for water bottle to name a few. And, of course, all the accessories to match, like the Cosmetic Case, the Cell Phone Case and the handy little Coin Purse.
Made with pride, start to finish in Los Angeles, California.
Firefly Products
Firefly offers intricately embellished artisan jewelry, specializing in innovative colors mixes and meticulous workmanship. Our designs are elegant, yet whimsical, and sparkle with the use of Swarovski crystals.
Firefly uses filigree findings made from vintage molds,which give the designs a romantic look, yet with a contemporary twist. The company has a passion for precise craftsmanship, with attention to harmony and beauty, and a strong eye for detail.
Firefly jewelry is designed by Juan Carlos Chavajay Vasquez, in conjunction with Edward Rudnicki, the owner of Firefly, and with help from Juan Carlos’s design assistants. Juan Carlos is also the Director of Operations in our workshop in Guatemala. He oversees the purchase of all workshop materials and supplies, as well as being on the lookout for new materials and techniques to integrate into the Firefly line. Head designer at Firefly, Juan Carlos Chavajay, was awarded the first prize in the Professional category during the prestigious Create-Your-Style design competition, sponsored by the Swarvoski Crystal Corporation.
Brighton
Brighton is known for designing products with a message. Many of the items in the collection have a defining detail that gives them special meaning. Whether it is love notes engraved on a bracelet or a handbag adorned with a treasured photo, Brighton products help create lasting memories.
The company prides itself on the "Brighton Difference," which is rooted in the philosophy that the difference is in the details. Brighton is one of the few remaining design houses where designers sketch each creation by hand and then follow the product from concept to fruition. It is a decidedly traditional process that seems more in keeping with the Renaissance era than the high-tech 21st century.
It is fitting that Brighton is known for its heart logo. A silver heart dangles from every handbag, and adorns many of the products in the collection. "The heart logo is so appropriate because we put our heart and soul into everything we do... from the attention to detail in the designs to the sales associates who sell our product."
Mary Frances Collectible Purses
Mary Frances Accessories is a wholesaler of designer handbags and gift items. Mary Frances designs each item personally and they are all handmade ensuring the highest quality. Mary Frances' creations are true works of art that any woman would be proud to wear. Mary's philosophy is, "Life is too short to dress boring!"
At the core, Mary Frances’ motivation is to provide objects of pure beauty at an accessible price-point. Her handmade treasures are available in over 3000 boutiques & department stores worldwide. Mary Frances is passionate about what she does & knows what her customer is looking for: unique, quality accessories that can express their personality & individual style. Primarily inspired by fabrics, textures & unique combinations of materials & colors, Mary Frances reviews trends, then sets them aside to arrive at look that is all her own. Each design is as unique & full of life as she is.
It’s been with a sense of gratitude & privilege that Mary Frances has spent the last 20 years providing beautiful handbags for women all over the world to enjoy. Not surprisingly… she’s off and running into the next 20!
Laurel Burch
At the age of 14, Laurel Burch left her tumultuous home life in Southern California with nothing more than a paper bag of clothing and the rare bone disease osteopetrosis, that she was born with. Cooking, cleaning, and babysitting for her room and board, she embarked on a search for some stable ground to support her fragile body. With no job, no money, and no dreams, Laurel Burch reached the Golden Gate of San Francisco.
Laurel’s search for connectedness was evidenced in the jewelry she began to make for herself and wear old coins, bones, and beads arranged into earrings and necklaces. Wearing them gave her a sense of belonging, if only to an exotic world of her own making. Fascinated by her adornments, people on the street began to ask her where she got them. Her creations became bridges to friendships and patrons. Through trading, selling, and giving them away, these artifacts found their way into the lives of people all across the country, and the phenomenon of collecting Laurel Burch began.
Laurel was a self-taught painter. She saw herself as a folk artist, telling stories. “In our fast-paced, changing world,” she said, “we need symbols that are a reminder of the ongoing world of the spirit.” On some level, her work was always about bringing different cultures together, and about our connection with the earth and all living things, ideas that have only increased in relevance today. There is an inner strength in her figures, with their bold lines and sinuous curves, and something irrepressible in the explosion of her colors.
On September 13, 2007, Laurel passed away due to complications from the bone disease, osteopetrosis. She will be greatly missed, but her spirit will continue to brighten our world.
Ann Lewis Designs
Ann Lewis Designs has been designing and handcrafting a line of classic contemporary jewelry since 1981. While we distribute across the United States, all design and fabrication is done at our studio located in the wine country of Sonoma County, California. MADE IN WINDSOR, CA!! Our highly skilled artisans use forming techniques developed hundreds of years ago along with modern methods to create our distinctive jewelry. We are known for our innovative yet classic designs, quality materials and craftsmanship, wearability and affordability.

Images has one of the most charming selection of gifts and accessories on the Windsor Town Green. From the stylish, elegant and practical to the fun, cute and outright eclectic, Images is one place you want to check out whenever you're shopping for holiday gifts, birthday presents... or just for yourself!
CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of some of our current gifts and accessories!
|