In our L.A. Crafted series, we highlight independent makers and artists, from glassblowers to fiber artists, who are creating original products in and around Los Angeles.
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Following a 2011 windstorm that devastated Pasadena trees, architect Chris Speck started Keita Design to make sure that trees were utilized and not wasted.
Naoshi specializes in sunae, the Japanese art of making images out of colored sand. She also creates sweet DIY sand art kits for crafters of various ages.
Known for her work on “Adventure Time,” artist Ako Castuera has a second life as a ceramicist inspired by Southern California’s natural resources.
Alicia Piller’s sculptures have been featured in museums across L.A., from Craft Contemporary to the California African American Museum. Her jewelry is an extension of her art.
Steve Stringer’s tattoo mugs are his signature product. At his Melrose Hill studio, he has designed a second act for himself.
From personal pergolas to dining tables and commissioned benches, Harold Greene has built a life in custom, handmade furniture.
Aaron Moore nearly died of a heart attack. Now, he’s helping to raise a new generation of high-end furniture refinishers.
Animator-turned-ceramist Rami Kim brings whimsical characters to life. She also turns beloved pets into figurines in her Los Angeles garage studio.
In addition to creating stunning textiles, neurodivergent fiber artist Fiona Simpson uses weaving as a way to calm her mind. ‘I felt scattered and restless in my thoughts,’ she said. ‘Weaving has changed my life.’
Na-Moya Lawrence and Debbie Lin, the perfumers behind Samar, want their perfumes to be intriguing and emotionally evocative.
L.A. bladesmith Nicholas Berkofsky, who lost his home in the Eaton fire, demonstrates the power of hand-forged tools.
People from all over the country are donating and sewing quilts for victims of the Eaton fire in Altadena. The quilts feel like a hug.
Kate Mueller relishes bringing people together by sharing her welding work and art — including a coffin coffee table and steel portals to nature.
With a background in music and a passion for precision, woodworker Eric Blackwell creates intricate marquetry, clocks and guitar stands that combine functionality with artistic flair.
Emily Haynes’ colorful wheel-thrown, hand-painted ceramics reflect Southern California surf style and Midcentury Modern design.
L.A. ceramist Linda Hsiao’s hand-built vessels — owls, birds and mythological creatures — exhibit a playful style that is thoroughly her own.
Los Angeles glassblower Cedric Mitchell relishes his role as a rulebreaker. “I wanted to break all the design rules similar to Ettore Sottsass,” he says, “and develop my own style.”
Vince Skelly, a Claremont designer, transforms raw timber into decorative and functional works of art. He starts with a chainsaw and transitions to other tools to add nuance.
Krysta Grasso’s vibrant crochet brand, Unlikely Fox, is dedicated to her late mother, who taught her to crochet when she was 5.
Daniel Dooreck’s fascination with motorcycles, flash tattoos and cowboys comes alive in the hand-thrown vessels he creates in his tiny Echo Park garage.
Julie Jackson’s use of reclaimed wood reinforces her commitment to creating sustainable home goods that tread lightly on the environment.
Soraya Yousefi’s art career started by accident, but she’s found her stride making whimsical bowls and cups in her Northridge home studio.
After managing grief, anxiety and depression, video game designer Ana Cho turned to pottery and woodworking to sustain her.
L.A. woodworker C.C. Boyce is reevaluating what happens when a person dies by turning ashes into planters.
Inspired by her career in automotive engineering, L.A. ceramist Becki Chernoff throws ceramic dinnerware that is clean-lined like the cars she loves.
