10 Cool Makers from West Coast Craft Who You’ll Want EVERYTHING From

Katie Bond
Nov 16, 2015

Over the weekend, West Coast Craft gave us a gorgeous glimpse at some of the most colorful, modern and unique handmade goods on the West (best!) Coast. The winter edition of the biannual art and design fest brought together more than 250 makers, artists and all-around creative geniuses. With their bold and beautiful textiles, bright ceramic jewelry and modern, laser-cut goods, these vendors definitely did not disappoint.

SAMANTHA CISNEROS, SHAPES & COLORS

How did you get started making?

I’ve been making since I was about eight years old when I learned how to sew. My grandmother taught me how and she really encouraged the creative process.

What inspires your designs?

I mainly find inspiration in nature. All of the colors in this collection are actually based on the colors of the sunset, which is also my neighborhood in SF.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

Just start making. No business plan, no overthinking — just do it!

NOBEL TRUONG, NOBL

How did you get started making?

These laser cut lights and objects actually started as a side project when I was in school. I had a bunch of latex in my storage unit and a lot of my plants were dying, so I thought I would just make cacti with all the material I had been hoarding.

What inspires your designs?

Bauhaus architecture — it’s very structural, very clean. Simplicity is where it’s at! I’m also inspired by the Bauhaus graphic designer Henry van de Velde. His work is very clean and structural with a lot of primary colors and primary shapes.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

You CAN do it. You can do anything! You can build a house, so you can definitely make art.

AARON BRAY, PUSHPULLDESIGN

How did you get started making?

I have always been a maker. I’m a woodworker and furniture maker by trade, so these planters started as a side job reusing some of the scrap wood from my furniture projects.

What inspires your designs?

I’m really into patterns, so I enjoy playing with the different colors, patterns and variations in wood grain. To me, there are endless combinations of what can happen, so it keeps it really interesting.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

Definitely perseverance. None of this stuff comes fast, but if you just stick with something and carve out a niche for yourself and people respond to it in a positive way, it will pay off.

Erin Fong and Taylor Reid, Western Editions

How did you get started making?

EF: We had both learned letterpress at a different times but at the same exact press in Reno, Nevada. We became roommates when we moved to San Francisco and always thought it would be cool if we had a press together. So one day we decided to build out a studio in our garage and that’s how it all began.

What inspires your designs?

EF: Definitely California. Our business name is Western Editions and we started in the Western Addition neighborhood, so it really feels like San Francisco is our home.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

EF: Find the one thing that you are passionate about and everything else will fall into place.

Windy Chien, Windy Chien

How did you get started making?

I quit my corporate job two years ago and said I was just going to make things with my hands and it was just going to be about me for once. I learned to do macrame from my mom in the ’70s and my dad taught me a bit about woodworking growing up, but I never got a chance to really do them until this point in my life.

What inspires your designs?

I believe it’s the responsibility of the artist to bring a modern viewpoint to more traditional designs and materials. For me, it’s all about keeping things simple, modern and graphically appealing.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

Take every class you’ve ever wanted to, because you just never know. You’ll know within the first five minutes of the class if it is for you.

Maria Schoettler, Maria Schoettler

How did you get started making?

I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid. At the end of high school I decided that I really want to pursue drawing and painting so I majored in art. I’ve done portraits, landscapes, botanical illustrations. I started doing the seasonal veggie calendar for fun, for myself, and people started wanting it — friends and family — and then it grew from there.

What inspires your designs?

The farmers’ market, colors, friends’ artwork, hikes, cooking and the process of cooking. The daily ritual of getting gorgeous produce and walking around the neighborhood and seeing people’s gorgeous gardens.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

Commit. Do whatever you can to keep creating. Even if it’s working in a coffee shop or working another day job that pays the bills, keep doing your other stuff on the side. There’s always going to be a reason not to do it, but you have to commit.

Marie and Karen Potesta, Micaela Greg

How did you get started making?

MP: I think we made FIMO clay necklaces on the floor of our living room starting at the age of three. And then we transitioned to jersey dresses and leather accessories, and eventually fell into knitwear and haven’t looked back since.

What inspires your designs?

MP: We are inspired by a lot of graphics and the colors and images in nature.

KP: Definitely geometrics and fun patterns in all different colors.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

MP: Focus on one creative endeavor and get really, really good at it.

KP: Start small and then grow from there.

Faye Kendall, Faye Kendall

How did you get started making?

My background is in fiber arts, so I have done a lot of weaving throughout my life. I was very inspired by my grandfather who made turquoise jewelry, so I found a way to take textural elements, like wool and hair, and make jewelry out of them.

What inspires your designs?

I am inspired by a lot of Western wear and Western tack. And I’m also really into Japanese design. So taking these two opposite ends of the spectrum and putting them together in a unique way is what inspires me and keeps me going.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

I am an art teacher, so that is something very close to my heart. I would say, look at a lot of art, design and just people who craft their own things. Always be ready to absorb everything and look for inspiration in different places.

Nicola Vruwink, Vruwink

How did you get started making?

I literally have always been doing this. My father was a ceramicist, so to keep me entertained we would make stuff together. I received my MFA in metalsmithing and sculpture and went on to work in art galleries, but eventually ended up getting a full-time gig at the ArtCenter College of Design. I started out making the ceramic jewelry, but have been more focused on objects and sculpture lately.

What inspires your designs?

I really want to make things that make people smile. It’s like serious craft but with a wink.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

If you are a maker, never stop. Even if you don’t want to and have no ideas, just sit yourself down and do it!

Dawn de la Fuente, S/He Studio

How did you get started making?

After working in the corporate world for 14 years, I realized that I felt really disconnected from the natural world around me. I started to study herbalism to reconnect with nature and began to know what it means to feel alive and fueled and medicated naturally. I learned about the ingredients we actually need and started working to bring it back to the basics.

What inspires your products?

Inspiration comes from the intention of who I make for. For me, it is more about the person and not the gender, so I typically craft products that work for both men and women.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their creative passion?

Explore your interests and passions. If you are not trained, it’s okay. Take some classes, find a mentor, try.

What makers do you follow? Share who you get creative inspo from in the comments below.

A Day in the Life of a Female Winemaker

Cambria Estate Winery
None

Hi there! It’s Sarah Sherman Samuel, interior designer and blogger. I recently moved from LA to Michigan, but a couple weeks ago I had to travel back to LA for work, and I got the chance to zip up north to partner with Cambria Estate Winery! I sat down with their winemaker, Jill Russell, to chat about the art of winemaking and the importance of female leadership at Cambria. I often get asked where I find inspiration and one of my main sources is by learning about a different artistry or craft. Nothing can dig me out of a creative slump quicker than delving into a new type of skill, and I did just that with an afternoon at Cambria.

I drove up from Los Angeles for the day, meandering through roads of open fields and vineyards, stopping for lunch in Los Olivos on the way while very excited for the day ahead. I haven’t been alone in the car sans one or two kids for a very long time, or have been able to do anything alone for that matter, so I really took it all in. Arriving at Cambria, Jill had a wine tasting all set up for me, complete with a beautiful cheese plate from Fromagerie Sophie with wine pairing notes, and we dove right in.

After the tasting, Jill took me on a full tour of the estate, and we dove deeper into the history of Cambria and what it is actually like to be a winemaker (and we tasted grapes, played in the dirt, and took a few Boomerangs…as one does).

Cambria was founded by wine icon Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke in 1986. Their daughters, Katie Jackson and Julia Jackson, grew up among the vines and continue the family business alongside Barbara. Jill was hired as winemaker in June 2017 to continue Cambria’s legacy of talented women winemakers. Cambria has strong women in leadership roles and out in the vineyards, and I thought it was interesting to hear that the female vineyard workers were sometimes preferred, as they were considered to have a more discerning eye and attention to detail when harvesting grapes.

So, what does a typical day look like for a winemaker? According to Jill… it is “Busy!”

From Jill: “During harvest, I arrive at the winery around 5:30am, check in with the teams and get to work calling picks, writing work orders for various fermentation activities including punchdown schedules, yeast additions, and so forth. I’m constantly walking the vineyards, checking the crushpad and making sure things are running smoothly for when grapes come in. Post-harvest, it’s all about the tanks and barrels – here I’m tasting wines, seeing how they’re progressing and running blending trials to determine the final blends for our wines.”

I was curious how one can get creative in the wine business since Jill mentioned that it is part farming, part artistry and part science. She explained how her favorite way to get creative is running new blending trials and the freedom of considering, “What happens if I try this? or this?” There are so many variables to get creative with. Her mind is always thinking of new methods or blends to test out.

As Jill talks about what she strives for in her winemaking, I can’t help but see the parallel in the work I do as a designer, as well as the work of other artists and makers across the board. For example, the search for that harmony or balance. I talk a lot about how I strive for balance in interior spaces —just replace flavors and tannins with visual weight, pattern, and colors, and she could have taken the words right out of my mouth. Then when it comes to “energy,” it is even more apparent. I always want whoever experiences my work to feel something, and feel the love and the story behind it. The same goes for the wine of Cambria. Jill wants the wine to make you feel the energy, and know that the wines you drink from them are lovingly made by a team of passionate wine lovers.

As a fan of Pinot Noir,Julia’s Vineyard has this amazing “Santa Maria Spice” as Jill explains, that isn’t the traditional sweet spice you may find in other red wines, but something a bit more savory like Chinese Five Spice. It really achieves that harmony in texture that Jill is so passionate about it! On the other hand,Katherine’s Chardonnay has this beautiful bright acidity and pretty citrusy floral notes. This isn’t your mother’s oaky, buttery Chardonnay (not that there’s anything wrong with those), but it truly tastes like the place. The tour of the estate and vineyards with Jill really illustrated how these single-vineyard wines are able to showcase the terroir they come from in the glass. This isn’t a blending of flavors from different areas, this is Cambria’s rocks, earth, fog, and wind all neatly captured in a bottle.

Interested in getting into the wine business? I asked Jill if she had any advice for someone who thinks he or she might want to work with wine. Her answer was the same that I often give to people interested in getting into design — and that is to just get working! She advises, “The best thing you can do is get a job at a winery, whether it’s a part-time gig at a tasting room or a full-on harvest internship. No matter where you start, you’ll learn so much about the industry and can start to forge your own path in where you want to work whether it’s in the vineyard, in the cellar, in operations, marketing or working with customers.”

FEATURED PRODUCTS

2016 Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay
$22
2015 Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir
$25

Thank you for following along, I loved getting to learn more of the origins of some of my favorite wines and I hope you did too! I will definitely be back.

Would you consider being a winemaker? Share your thoughts on Instagram using #britstagram.

Author: Sarah Sherman Samuel

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Hold Up, Did Rebecca Yarros' First 'Onxy Storm' Excerpt Just Tease Violet Sorrengail's True Identity?

Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.

We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.

We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

Amazon

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

Did she announce the name of book no. 3?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!

Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?

Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing

Onyx Storm

Yes!

TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.

Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"

Are you excited for the release of Onyx Storm? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

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WHICH Movie Had Kate Winslet "Sh—ing" Herself?!

Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.

Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.

  • Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
  • However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
  • The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."

Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!

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Here's A New Look At Florence Pugh's Return As Yelena Belova

Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.

Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.

Marvel Studios/YouTube

Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!

We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.

Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”

What is the plot of Thunderbolts?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Plot

Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Jesse Grant/Disney

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.

Who's on the Thunderbolts team?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Cast

Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"

Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”

Jesse Grant/Disney

The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”

“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”

Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.

Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

This post has been updated.

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