Whether or not you plan on attending Austin City Limits Music Festival this weekend you’ve probably already started scoping out the after-parties that the festival’s presence causes to blossom all over town like hypercolor petunias. While it might cost you an arm and a leg to catch an intimate acoustic set with Coldplay at The Victory Grill or a My Morning Jacket DJ set at Threadgills, you can still get a massive bang for your buck by hitting up this unofficially awesome post-ACL fete at going down at Beauty Bar come Saturday evening. more ›

One of the best things about East Austin Studio Tour is the opportunity to see into the workplaces of many of the city's finest craftspeople. Whether it's a back bedroom where someone paints or a huge warehouse where dozens of woodworkers turn planks into furniture, there is something very special about being able to see the environments where art is made. One such workspace we're particularly interested in checking out is the Studio Pod, a remolded shipping container that hosts four talented jewelry artists. We had an opportunity to chat with Rachel Lavin, of Pio Jewelery, about her work space, her craft, and what she's got planned for visitors on this weekend's tour. East Austin Studio Tour continues this weekend, with studios open from 11am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Studio Pod is located at 1912 Peoples Street. more ›

No canvas is too small for Austin jewelry designer Christy Klug. In fact, in her most recent work Klug draws directly onto enamel before casting and setting the handmade "stone" into intricately designed precious metal findings. Klug's work, which is available in galleries across the country, is bold and modern without being garish. Her love of jewelry design flourished after studying stained glass at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Revisiting her fine art credentials, Klug is among 900 artists participating in Arthouse's FIVE x SEVEN art show and sale taking place this week. more ›

Jaime Jo Fisher can be considered a small-scale contemporary metal sculptor. Although she works with traditional silversmithing techniques to mostly create jewelry, her end product often resembles a fine piece of wearable contemporary art. The jeweler extraordinaire fittingly thinks of her pieces as wearable collages - much of Fisher's work includes found objects and re-purposed materials. Along with traditional stones, vintage beads, and polymer clay, Fisher has been known to incorporate broken bits of a reflector, pieces of shells found on the beach, and even dryer lint into her ornate and modern jewelry. Jaime Jo Fisher is participating in this weekend's East Austin Studio Tour, stop by her space at 5609 Steven Creek Way to see her collection of found materials and how she turns them into wearable art. more ›

Austin Fashion Week continues, here's a rundown of today's events... including a little something for the men! Keepers (515 N. Congress) is hosting a fashion lunch hour wherein models with be showcasing stylish men's looks by Keepers clothing and Mint Owl Accessories. The store will also hold a trunk show and be serving snacks and beverages. The fashion lunch starts at 11am and runs until 1pm. more ›

Austin Fashion Week continues, here's a rundown of today's events. Avant Salon, winner of Rarest of them All 2009, "Best Salon", (9901 Capital of TX Highway) is offering hour long $60 facials and massages from 9am to 7pm, beginning Tuesday and running throughout the week to celebrate Austin Fashion Week. more ›

Today marks the start of Austin's very first Fashion Week. Many events will be taking place around town and we'll bring you daily preview information here. The week of style officially starts tonight with the Austin Fashion Week Kick Off Party from 6-8pm at the Spa at the Lake (900 RR 620 S, #A104). The happy hour under the spa's veranda will feature appetizers from Hosteria Verde Supper Club and feature tunes by John Selector (of Thievery Corporation and Poi Dog Pondering). The party will feature hair and makeup design by Nate Gordon and Paige McAlvey, respectively and jewelry by Limbo Jewelry Designs. more ›

Be prepared to be noticed when you wear a piece of Lisa Crowder’s jewelry – it is big, bold, beautiful, and earthy. Even the most delicate of her necklaces feels substantial. A professional jeweler since 2004, she makes rings, bracelets, earrings, and other unique adornments out of a variety of materials giving each piece an industrial, yet smooth and polished look. Working mainly with sterling silver, she uses oxidation and a matte finish to enhance the layers and details created through forming, hammering, riveting and soldering. She says, “Every aspect of the piece is taken into account from the smallest to the largest detail. Simple forms such as circles, ovals, triangles and squares repeat themselves within this body of work as they build upon each other and from each piece grows another. These forms may be simple, but they create a feel that is familiar yet unique and timeless.” This weekend at the East Austin Studio Tour you'll not only be able to find great art to put on your wall, but art you can wear! more ›