Benedetta

More than the company’s founder, Julia Faller is the formulator of Benedetta, which has been produced in Petaluma for three decades.

“When we welcome people in, we’re welcoming them to not just a retail shop or a spa, but to the community where our skin care is made,” she says.

Faller’s journey began with her work as an aesthetician in the mid-1980s.

Frustrated with the cosmetic industry’s use of questionable and toxic ingredients, she began crafting her own formulations, ultimately prioritizing 100% vibrant ingredients decades before terms like “clean,” “organic,” and “biodynamic” became widely known.

Faller recalls the pushback she received from other traditional chemists, but her diligence paid off. More than 30 years later, the proof of Benedetta is in its longevity. Using only fresh botanicals and raw materials from certified organic and biodynamic family-owned farms, both local and global, the acclaimed line is still handcrafted in small batches, resulting in popular products like the Rosemary & Geranium Crème Cleanser and Crystal Radiance Hydrating Elixir.

Those uncertain where to start can opt for a consultation or a 30-minute signature facial with Faller that combines cleansing, compresses, tuning fork rejuvenation, and a customized 5-Step facial ritual.

“Benedetta means ‘blessed’ in Italian,” Faller says. “Each preparation is created out of respect and reverence for the intended user, effectively transforming the skin and bringing each person into harmony. You could say that all who use it are blessed.”

—Lauren Eberle

Marketplace Finds

DISCOVER THAT PERFECT KEEPSAKE WHILE SUPPORTING A LOCAL ARTIST AT PETALUMA’S ARTISAN MARKETPLACE, BARN 5400.

Designed to be an interactive workshop and public gallery and marketplace, Barn 5400 is a space for artists, makers, innovators, and the greater community. Behind the big blue barn doors are several local creatives, each of whom make and peddle their wares on-site. From artfully designed floral arrangements to an employee-owned produce cooperative to a custom woodworker, the Barn vibrates with a palpable creative energy.

In the Making

Creativity and thoughtfully made goods abound at this studio–boutique.

For wonderfully scented soy candles, there’s Emily Lynch Candles. If you’re looking for hand-thrown cookware, mugs, and dinnerware, check out the wood-fired creations from Kickwheel. Or perhaps natural wood cutting boards and candle holders from North Bay Creations is more your style. And for art and statement pieces that are sure to wow, Nicki Adani’s large-scale functional works and fine art, as well as Blake Aaseby’s textile-inspired drawings, will more than suffice. Check each artist’s open studio hours prior to your visit.

FFrom their chic side-by-side studios, artists Siri Hansdotter and Jennifer Conner connect discerning customers with high-end handmade products. In the Making, their Petaluma workshop-meets-boutique, is two brands under one roof, a concept that while popular internationally, is more rare in the States.

Hansdotter’s eponymous Siri Hansdotter Jewelry sells hand-carved and lost-wax cast wearables such as earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, ear cuffs, and more.

“It’s really fun to make these small, sacred pieces that people hand down to their children, traveling space and time,” says Hansdotter, who uses time-honored techniques to upcycle precious silver and gold metals.

Pennyroyal Conner’s clean-line carryall company, uses vegetable-tanned leather, a natural leather tanning alternative beloved for the patina it develops over time and use. These heritage goods match functionality with elegance.

“Working with leather is a lot like working with wood in terms of burnishing the edges and making it glossy,” Conner explains. “I got obsessed with working with it—obsessed with making the perfect handbag.”

The In the Making collaboration is more than good business—the duo’s synergy is contagious.

“We wanted a space to highlight handmade goods and the process of making something by hand (hence the name) while also connecting with the community over the process,” Hansdotter says. In addition to their personal lines, she and Conner carefully curate a selection of fine products from other makers, such as slow-fashion apparel and sustainable home goods.

Both artists were initially drawn to Petaluma for its rolling hills, creative culture, and family-friendly amenities, plus, Hansdotter adds, its entrepreneur focus.

“Creating is very therapeutic for me, and I love that I live in a town where that is celebrated and supported.”

For Jennifer, that’s also inspiration.

“There’s a lot of creative juice in just speaking with other creatives,” she says. “A lot of people think Petaluma is a tiny craft town, but high-end and high-caliber artists call this place home, which offers something to aspire to.” –L.E.

Heritage Salvage

A storyteller builds his large-scale tales through reclaimation and preservation.

There’s always a story at Heritage Salvage, and owner Michael “Bug” Deakin is oftentimes the illustrious teller. A purveyor of reclaimed building materials, flooring, paneling, and more, Deakin has a trained eye for preservation possibilities. For more than two decades, he and his team have sourced from around the world, giving new life to old by selling salvaged finds either directly to customers or refashioning them into custom-designed furniture.

A native of British Columbia who constructed his first home out of reclaimed materials in 1970, Deakin now calls Petaluma “my chosen city.”

“Within six months of being here, I met all of these incredible, creative people who not only embraced their talent, but were willing to share their maker-ness,” he recalls. “To me, that was amazing.”

Plus, he says, he values the city’s location. More than 120 Bay Area restaurants boast Deakin’s work, from bars and beams to mantels and tables.

Known as a treasure trove of inspiration, his chock-full, seek-and-find showroom and property feature a spacious lumber yard and a notable sea of stunning slabs.

“I love salvaging the heritage,” Deakin says. “Every time we build something, there’s a story with it.”

His tagline for Heritage Salvage is “practicing sustainable enthusiasm.” And whether he’s sharing his tales with a season of episodes on the DIY Network, or cheerfully volunteering to restore the local community theater, his enthusiasm is unmistakable. –L.E.

FUN FACT

Petaluma is home to nationally known producers including Alvarado Street Bakery Clover, and Strauss Family Creamery. Ever heard of them?