Going shopping? New SLO County store offers jewelry from Bali, woodwork by local artists

Bali Gems is a new retail jewelry, gift and more shop in Cambria’s West Village that opened over the Independence Day weekend. But the store’s owner has been active in the community for some time.

Christina Tobin, an American political and social activist, has been involved in local campaigns and causes for several years. She is the founder of the Free & Equal Elections Foundation, not to be confused with the United Nations Free & Equal public information campaign.

Tobin, the sole proprietor of Bali Gems, was for a time the co-owner of the I Love Rocks store in Cambria’s East Village. She has often worked as a vendor at the Cambria Gem Show.

I Love Rocks “was a really great experience” with good connections and people, Tobin said, adding that helping run that business gave her knowledge of the field and some associates who are with her now at Bali.

“I have a soft spot for the east end of town,” she said.

“Then this perfect place opened up” at 733 Main St., next to Home Arts in Cambria’s West Village, she said.

Bali Gems features gold and silver jewelry made by local and Balinese artists, as well as other artwork and gifts.

Goods available for sale at the store include items made by Cambrians, such as woodwork by Matt Humphrey and B.K. Morrow and CBD items by Shannon Sutherland.

Jade works by David and Haley Seefeldt of David’s Coastal Collections in Big Sur are shown there, as is “unique, crystal life jewelry” by Kassidy Marley of Los Osos.

Tobin’s new venture expands on her previous experience as a designer of jewelry made in Bali. She sold that line in 2009, she said, adding that “what I have left is at Bali Gems now.” Those offerings include natural stones set mostly in silver, with some pieces featuring 20k gold hammered into the silver.

Bali Gems is intended to be a local hub for community information and events, according to the store’s Facebook page.

For more information about Bali Gems, call 805-203-5211 or visit www.facebook.com/BaliGemsStore.

For more about Free & Equal Elections Foundation, go to freeandequal.org.

This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 5:10 AM.

Kathe Tanner

The Tribune

805-781-7904 (voicemails only)

Kathe Tanner has been writing about the people and places of SLO County’s North Coast since 1981, first as a columnist and then also as a reporter. Her career has included stints as a bakery owner, public relations director, radio host, trail guide and jewelry designer. She has been a resident of Cambria for more than four decades, and if it’s happening in town, Kathe knows about it.