» SHOPS

Santa Cruz’s Yuzu & Rose KitSerious innovates with a DIY artistic outlet and creative business model BY GEORGIA JOHNSON

Lately, I’ve been making up for lost time: meals at restaurants, long walks outside, going to the grocery store without panicking that I am out of hand wipes. So it came as a surprise recently when one of Santa Cruz’s creative types gave me a great reason to stay home—and enjoy it.

I’ve wanted to go to one of Kaitlin Bonifacio’s natural dyeing classes since I wrote about her for Good Times several years ago. Bonifacio, owner of the Santa Cruz-based business Yuzu & Rose, first introduced me to using natural dyes—from Shibori (a Japanese method of dyeing with indigo) to onion and avocado skins. Fortunately for me, Bonifacio made it easy to teach myself from home.

Bonifacio launched DIY home dyeing kits—both Shibori and natural dyes— during the Covid-19 pandemic so that people could do their own dye projects from home.

“All you need is a bucket of water,” she says; everything else is included. Bonifacio says she has been thinking about launching kits for a while now, but when she began teaching at Cabrillo College remotely, she started packing up kits for her students so they could follow along from home. Bonifacio says that within Santa Cruz there has been a need for creative wellness during the pandemic, from home or otherwise.

“I haven't seen a lot of other people doing this yet, but I do feel like there is a market for it,” Bonifacio says. “A lot of people I’ve talked to have loved it. It seems like it could work for something like macrame or embroidery. I’m sure that’s on the horizon.”

I got everything I needed to make my own little dyeing workshop in the mail. I opted for natural and shibori dyeing kits—and in retrospect, I had my work cut out for me. I probably could have dyed every article of clothing I own, everything my neighbors own, and then some. Note to self: buy more things to dye next time.

“The community has been so supportive of this during this time that everything feels like it’s on hold,” Bonifacio says. “Because everything has gone digital, I’m teaching classes digitally all over the place now. I had some in Colorado, some in Los Angeles, and there’s a school in Michigan that I taught at. It hasn’t been easy for a lot of small businesses, but since shifting to remote teaching and the kits, the business has grown a lot.”

Bonifacio makes the process remarkably easy, there are step by step instructions, online videos, and she astoundingly avails herself to anyone who has questions via the chat feature on her website. This was particularly helpful for me because when the vat of blue indigo dye started bubbling and fizzing, I knew I had managed to royally screw it up.

She assures me that this is totally normal. “This is the ‘mother’ layer protecting the rest of the dye from oxidizing.” Whew. Now, how do I get rid of the five-gallon vat of dye in my backyard once I am done?

“It’s safe for groundwater, and your plants will enjoy the pH as fertilizer,” she writes over chat. At 5pm on a Sunday, no less. “Just make sure it’s somewhere you don’t mind getting blue.”

Bonifacio makes it look easy; the kits are easy to follow, beautifully and conveniently packaged, but it’s anything but easy for artists to pivot to this kind of remote, DIY style—particularly those who may be used to teaching in person.

“It can be daunting for artists to

LIVE AND LET DYE The DIY dye kit from Yuzu & Rose is an example of how Santa Cruz businesses innovated during the pandemic.

develop a product and have to price it out and think about scaling it and sourcing materials,” she says. “I did the troubleshooting already when I measured out materials for my students while teaching online, but it’s been really popular since the kits have been in stores for everyone.”

Now, several hours and a pair of completely blue hands later (I wore the gloves, but was reckless with my splashing), I have a new set of pillowcases and several one-of-a-kind naturally-dyed tea towels. But the best part of the experience was the opportunity to be creative from the comfort of home. The beauty about these kits is that they are versatile: they can be an individual creative project, a date activity, or shared at a party.

Although the world is starting to reopen again, and with that comes the opportunity to be in person and take part in creative workshops, there is something humble and validating about having access to these new projects from home and doing it on my own. Blue hands and all.

For more information on Yuzu & Rose kits, or for in-person workshops, visit yuzuandrose.com.

Shops

OM GALLERY

ANTIQUES

After Effects

4920 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831.475.5991 Anyone who appreciates beauty can treat themselves to paintings and prints, while bookworms can indulge their thirst for knowledge. Collectors of kitchenware won’t want to leave without adding a new dish to their collection.

Center Street Antiques

3010 Center St, Soquel, 831.477.9211, centerstreetantiques.com A one-stop gathering of 25 antique dealers, Center Street Antiques features an eclectic mix of interesting and one-of-a-kind items.

Loot

3011 Main St, Soquel, 831.471.8755, lootvintage.blogspot.com Find vintage items for your home and garden here, or take advantage of their workshops on chalk painting with Annie Sloan, where you’ll learn how to use the magic paint for furniture and other household items.

TARMO HANNULA

Town and Country Antiques

9280 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond, 831.336.5993

A great selection of lovely stainedglass lamps and antique documents of all sorts, including pictures, ads and stock certificates.

Wisteria Antiques and Design

5870 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831.462.2900, wisteriaantiques.net Wisteria is a direct importer of French antiques and accessories.

ART GALLERIES

Artisans Gallery/Agency

1368 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.8183, artisanssantacruz.com Wall art, jewelry, glass, ceramic, metal work, and various other handcrafted pieces of art—both functional and decorative—can be found at this downtown gallery, as well as lifestyle accessories, home goods and handcrafted furniture.

R. Blitzer Gallery

2801 Mission St, Santa Cruz, 831.458.1217, rblitzergallery.com Renovated warehouse gallery on the Westside that features local and regional artists.

Tannery Arts Center

1050 River St, #118, Santa Cruz, 831.621.6226, tanneryartscenter.org Expanding every year, what began as the union between the city of Santa Cruz and ArtSpace Projects has transcended the Tannery’s mission of an accessible and sustainable home for local artists. The Tannery has blossomed into a haven for art, culture and education for residents, visitors and the public.

BOOKSHOPS

Bad Animal

1011 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, 831.900.5031, badanimalbooks.com Where to begin? This independent bookstore, focusing on used rare, fine press books, is also a wine bar and restaurant featuring natural wines and seasonal California-French cuisine.

1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.0900, bookshopsantacruz.com It’s famous for so many things—first and foremost, of course, books. This venerable local bookstore is, without a doubt, one of the best and most innovative not just in the Bay Area, but the entire country. Going strong now since 1966, it has survived an earthquake, competitive chain stores and economic downturns. There’s a vast selection of books here, plus a full roster of author events and other community happenings throughout the year.

Frenchy’s Cruzin Books & Video

3960 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, 831.475.9221

This adult superstore sells adult books and videos, lacy unmentionables, sex toys and more.

Two Birds Books

881 41st Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.900.5588

The newest kids on the block, Two Birds Books is a great spot to find new releases, hunt for high-quality used books, and browse a quirky curation of cards, puzzles and gifts.

CLOTHING/ SHOES

Amoureuse

1119 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.7363

If you’re looking for a stylish boutique with nourishing body products, accessories, elegant lingerie, classic perfumes, artistic jewelry, and unique gifts, this is the place to shop.

Bunny’s Shoes

1350 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.3824; 7000 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 831.662.2730 Looking for lipstick-red shoes with platform heels, or something just plain old comfortable? Bunny’s has a fine selection. The store always has a great sales rack outside as well. Bunny’s in Aptos has a whole line of lovely hats, plus much more.

Camouflage

1329 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.7613, shopcamouflage.com Camouflage is a very sexy store! It

«carries a variety of fine lingerie, sexy clothing and intimate apparel, not to mention a wide array of sex toys. This adult store has been thriving for more than 30 years and is the perfect spot to find that seductive massage oil you’ve been looking for.

Fybr Bamboo

1528 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.3927, shopfybr.com What started as a recognition of the comfort and sustainability of bamboo clothing has evolved into a store that offers a variety of eco-friendly and stylish clothing, plus luxuriously soft bedding and locally made jewelry.

Mmē

910 B Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.216.6366, mme.ltd

Shilshol

109 Locust St, Santa Cruz, 831.440.8933, shilshol.com This design studio and retail shop features Shilshol bags and accessories along with a curated selection of items from other independent brands and designers.

SockShop & Shoe Company

1515 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.429.6101, sockshopandshoeco.com One of the best selections of socks and tights you’ll find anywhere, as well as a variety of comfort shoes for men, women and children. Service is great, so you can take your time to choose the right pair.

High-end clothing and accessories for women who are looking for timeless staples that they will love wearing. Items are carefully curated for comfort and versatility.

O’Neill Surf Shop

400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, 831.459.9230; 110 Cooper St. # D, Santa Cruz, 831-469-4377; 1115 41st Ave, Capitola, 831.475.4151, oneill.com

Synergy Organic Clothing

2151 Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz, 888.466.0411; synergyclothing.com With certified organic cotton and ecofriendly fibers, the downtown boutique offers a pallet of simple chic in the form of dresses, skirts, jackets, scarves, yoga apparel, tops, and jewelry. Sustainable and conscious business.

Legendary clothing and gear for surfing and skating.

ELECTRONICS

Pacific Trading Co.

1224 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.3349; 504 C Bay Ave, Capitola, 831.476.6109, pacific-trading-co.com This shop has won the GT Readers’ Poll award for Best Women’s Clothing many years in a row. The family-run women’s contemporary boutique also takes pride in customer service.

Pacific Wave Surf Shop

1502 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.458.9283, pacwave.com Pacific Wave aims to bring the local surf shop mentality to a whole new level by keeping the local vibe fresh and taking care of customers.

Rip Curl Santa Cruz

753 41st Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.464.3233, ripcurl.com All the apparel and gear for time at the beach.

Santa Cruz Tech Exchange

1715 Mission St, Santa Cruz, 831.600.8915, santacruztechexchange.com Buy, sell, and trade all kinds of electronics.

FITNESS

Cabrillo Fitness Club

6200 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 831.475.5979

Part of Toadal Fitness.

Toadal Fitness

113 Lincoln St, Santa Cruz, 831.423.3764; 1200 17th Ave, #108, Santa Cruz, 831.464.3764; 269 Mt. Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley, 831.430.9200; 2929 Mission St, Santa Cruz, 831.466.3764 fitness should be accessible to all, and good health is a key part of happiness. Also: The member is always right.

FURNITURE

Couch Potato

3131 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831.462.4636, cpotato.com Quality sofas, sofa beds, recliners, chairs, and sectionals in leather and fabric—indulge the inner couch potato.

Helm of Sun Valley

1408 41st Ave, Capitola, 831.462.6800, helmofsunvalley.com Providing everything needed to enjoy the outdoors, from patio furniture and outdoor umbrellas and beach chairs to ski and snowboard rentals, winter apparel and more.

Ironhorse Home

925 41st Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.346.6170, ironhorsehome.com/santa-cruz This family-owned and operated business offers a variety of high-end and affordable home decor.

Maggie’s Place

910 A Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.466.2666, maggiesplacesantacruz.com This furniture and home décor store also offers design services, aiming to be the go-to place for anyone interested in home décor insight and inspiration.

Natural Selection Furniture

607 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.4711, naturalselectionfurnituresc.com

Focusing on a casual, contemporary style, Natural Selection offers boutique shopping at affordable prices.

Redo Consign & Redesign

1523 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, 831.439.9201, redoconsign.com This large space maintains high standards for vintage-to-new furnishings, art, mirrors, lamps, rugs, pots, statuary, and some outdoor items sourced from interior designers, private owners, stagers, and manufacturer sample sales.

SC41 Furniture

2647 41st Ave, Soquel, 831.464.2228, sc41.com The award-winning SC41 Furniture store features quality, stylish home furnishings and a large selection that’s worth a few hours of your time. Most are made with sustainable materials.

GARDEN

American Leisure Patio

1118 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, 831.423.2425, americanleisurepatio.com American Leisure is a leading retailer of indoor and outdoor furniture, with a focus on quality, integrity and treating each customer as though they are the only customer. No order is too small or large for them.

DIG Gardens

420 Water St, Santa Cruz, 831.466.3444; 7765 Soquel Drive, #A, Aptos, diggardens.com DIG stands for Design Interior Garden, and you will definitely “dig” it! DIG has all kinds of plants—from palms, grevilleas, grasses, and bamboo to succulents and edibles. Stock up on DIG’s large range of organic heirloom veggies for your own garden, and find patio furniture for dining outdoors.

The Garden Company

2218 Mission St, Santa Cruz, 831.429.8424, thegardenco.com From wonderful perennials, tropicals, bulbs, and succulents that are easy to travel with to its gift shop filled with ceramics, candles, books, soaps, lotions, hats, and more, the Garden Company has much to offer.

Mountain Feed & Farm Supply

9550 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond, 831.336.8876, mountainfeed.com This eccentric and well-rounded locally owned shop is far from simply a feed and farm supply. With its homesteading section, you can find everything you need to do your own »

Shops

«canning and make your own cheese and sausage. They also have a gift shop and an expansive edible nursery, along with all sorts of fun things for the home and garden.

Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping

831.425.3514, terranovalandscaping.com This team takes the practices of organic gardening and ethics of permaculture and applies them to landscaping. Go to them for your landscape design, installation and maintenance needs.

GIFTS

Annieglass

310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville, 831.761.2041, annieglass.com In addition to being sold at highend stores like Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s, local Ann Morhauser’s glass creations are shipped all over the world. Check out her online store for glassware and wine-tasting events at the Watsonville factory.

Art of Santa Cruz

Capitola Mall, Capitola, 831.515.7390, regionalartisansassociation.org A nonprofit dedicated to exhibiting and selling the work of Santa Cruz County artists.

Avalon Visions

2815 Porter St, Soquel, 831.464.7245, avalonvisions.com

Take note of the abundance of choice books and music available here. There is a splendid collection of natural and crafted crystals, too—plus spiritual readings and an aura station.

Botanic and Luxe

701-A Front St, Santa Cruz, botanicandluxe.com

This shop is the perfect place to find a unique gift for the plant lover in your life, and you will leave inspired by the simple beauty of natural design.

Brown Ranch Marketplace

3555 Clares St, Capitola, 831.464.3555, brownranch.com Visit the marketplace for a range of stores and eateries, including Cheese Shop 831, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Robbie’s Sandwiches, Roux Dat Cajun Creole, Zizzo’s Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, and much more.

Gaia Earth Treasures

gaiaearthtreasures.com Gaia has a large selection of mineral specimens, crystals and fossils from all around the world. It’s a unique store for gifts—bookends, vases, goblets, sculptures—and more. Find a stone that attracts you and keep it next to your bed.

Good Vibrations

111 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, 831.466.9870, goodvibes.com/s/ This sex-positive sexual health and wellness toy retailer offers education and information promoting sexual health, pleasure, and empowerment in addition to toys.

Lumen Gallery

112 Capitola Ave, #100, Capitola, 831.295.6647,lumengal.com Featuring local artisans and designers who use sustainable and green practices.

OM Gallery

1201 Pacific Ave, Capitola, 831.425.9107, omgallery.com OM Gallery carries creatively designed lighting—lamps that look like giant lotuses, flower string lights, floor lamps, and paper star lanterns. OM also has gorgeous handmade silk clothing in classic Vietnamese and Chinese styles, linen pants, handbags, scarves, and accessories.

Outdoor World

136 River St, Santa Cruz, 831.423.9555; 1440 41st Ave, Capitola, 831.479.1501, theoutdoorworld.com

Outdoor World is your one-stop shop for all things sporting goods. Looking for camping gear or fishing gear? How about archery or hunting equipment? Outdoor World’s got you covered.

Outside-In

7568 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 831.684.0178, outside-in.myshopify.com Offering gifts, home decor, jewelry, and luxury clothing with an emphasis on supporting local artisans and businesses. Their store specializing in educational toys, books and clothes— named Outside-In Kids—is next door to the main store.

Toque Blanche

1527 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.426.1351, mytoque.com/pages/our-stores Toque Blanche carries hundreds of kitchen products. Knives, bowls, espresso machines and much more.

The True Olive Connection

831-458-OILS, trueoliveconnection.com

Specializes in fresh, high-quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar from around the world.

Zinnia’s Gift Boutique

219 Mount Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley, 831.430.9466, zinniasgiftboutique.com Women’s apparel, home decor, jewelry, holiday items, and more. Zinnia’s has been voted first place in our annual Best Of issue for several years.

Ethos

101 Capitola Ave, Capitola, 831.854.2490, ethossantacruz.com Helping environmentally conscious shoppers reduce consumption of plastics and waste by offering a wide range of personal care items, home goods and on-the-go products.

JEWELRY

Byzantine Jewelry

1530 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.426.2308, bfinejewelry.com Byzantine Jewelry specializes in colored stones, and their professional staff of experienced jewelers can create 3D images of any ring a customer designs to ensure complete satisfaction.

Dell Williams

1320 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.4100, dellwilliams.com Selling classic and contemporary jewelry, Dell Williams has been locally owned and family operated for four generations. In addition to jewelry, they sell watches and other giftware. A full restoration department can help customers repair a broken necklace or an inherited antique brooch. Dell Williams has been downtown since 1927 and has a loyal, generations-old customer base.

Ideal Jewelry

720 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.457.9245

This family owned and operated boutique features an artist and in-house jeweler.

Mark Areias Jewelers

7552 Soquel Drive at Aptos Center, Aptos, 831.688.2799, areiasjewelers.com Fine jewelry and timepieces with a specialty in custom design. Also offers a wide selection of new and estate jewelry, plus a watchmaker on the premises for your watch-repair needs.

Stephan’s Fine Jewelry

102 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.458.9950, stephansjewelry.com Over 30 years of experience servicing Santa Cruz with a great selection of contemporary and classic fine jewelry and good prices.

Super Silver

1301 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.460.9696; 1855 41st Ave, Capitola, 831.477.1932; 214 Capitola Ave, Capitola, 831.462.9696, supersilver.com This hotspot with locations in downtown Santa Cruz, the Capitola Mall and Capitola Village houses thousands of sterling silver chains, rings, earrings, charms, stone necklaces, hoops, and body jewelry.