Holly Hosterman and Paul "Yashi" Lubitz of Holly Yashi
Whimsical and vibrantly colored jewelry that’s made to last for generations - that’s the simple secret behind Holly Yashi, a classic Humboldt blending of art and business.
Founders Holly Hosterman and Paul “Yashi” Lubitz met at Humboldt State University, where they were both majoring in art. Always open to experimenting, they discovered the rainbow hues that titanium made possible. No one else was producing jewelry like it, so they took on the challenge.
When they first brought their wares beyond Humboldt to a trade show, they were swamped with orders. “Back then, our garage was our workshop,” Hosterman recalls. “People went gaga over the new designs. We came home with a stack of orders and invited our friends and parents over to help us fill them. It really threw us into high gear.”
Later, they shifted to niobium, a metal that can take on the same bright colors as titanium but requires less toxic acids. Today, they’ve branched out into a range of styles, from garnet-studded hoop earrings to strands of smoky crystal pearls. Their pieces can be found at outlets around the world.
Whether it’s intricate metal filigree, the hand-welded joints on an earring, or the designs themselves, all are produced to last. “We have this basic belief that you have to have a great product. That’s it. That’s what we’re all about,” Lubitz says.
And they’re in good company in Humboldt. From hand-fired glass lamps to internationally renowned fine musical instruments, artisans have turned their work into successful businesses as unique as where we live.
In Humboldt, you’ll find more working artist than any other area in California. And the town of Eureka has been named one of the “100 Best Art Towns in America,” based on our preponderance of painters, potters, blacksmiths, woodworkers, fiber artists, musicians and more.
One of our many fine instrument makers is the internationally-known Marimba One. The company creates custom concert marimbas and mallets that can be found around the world in professional orchestras and universities. The instruments are known for their rich sound and the care that goes into making each one.
Humboldt is also widely recognized for its fine woodworkers. One is Anthony Kahn, who has taken his vision of elegant woodworking and turned it into a thriving business, with multiple employees and dealers throughout the United States. A self-taught master craftsman, Kahn creates distinctive furniture from distinctive woods. Each piece is truly an original, signed and dated by its maker.
Many Humboldt businesses pride themselves on being earth-friendly. Fire & Light Originals was formed expressly to create luminous glassware out of crushed, recycled glass. Their plates, bowls and glasses are now shipped to specialty stores and galleries throughout the country.
Another artisan-led Humboldt company, Hilliard Lamps, has made an international name for its artistic glass lamps. The heirloom-quality lamps are housed in public and private collections around the world.
“I think the slower pace of Humboldt contributes heavily towards the high quality of the various products that are made up here,” says founder Noel Hilliard. “We have more time to make it right.”
