Made in Houston

Making jewelry out of Texas rocks: Perfect rodeo pieces come out of stumbledupon treasures

Expect to see feathers incorporated into Agate Ranch + Marfa's spring line.
Photo by Andrea Gibbs/AGPhotographix.com
Kathy Bracewell (left) almost stumbled upon her jewelry career.
Turquoise will be another prominent material, shown here setting off white Marfaagate.
Photo by Andrea Gibbs/AGPhotographix.com
The trunk show at Tootsies will launch the spring line.
Photo by Andrea Gibbs/AGPhotographix.com
Photo by Andrea Gibbs/AGPhotographix.com
Photo by Andrea Gibbs/AGPhotographix.com
Photo by Andrea Gibbs/AGPhotographix.com

Houstonian Kathy Bracewell started making jewelry by accident.

"Shortly after we bought our ranch outside of Marfa, I was walking through the dry creek beds and looking for Indian artifacts when I found some interesting rocks," Bracewell tells CultureMap.

She gathered up a handful, drove 20 miles north to Marfa and asked Paul Greybeal at Moonlight Gemstones about the specimens. Bracewell had found Marfa agate.

Bracewell serves as the brand's walking billboard, an ebullient personality decked out in agate — a pair of earrings, an antique ring, and a set of chunky necklaces hugging her neck.

Greybeal has since become Bracewell's tutor, teaching her how west Texas soil changes the rock, explaining how plumes and crystallization are formed and helping to cut the hard stones to make pendants, which Bracewell uses for her Agate Ranch + Marfa jewelry line.

Back at her ranch studio, Bracewell affixes handmade bales to the cut stones with lapidary glue, adorning the smooth rock with Mexican milagros, antique rosaries, beads or other natural elements.

Every piece is an individual work of art, stringed on a gold or silver chain or a strand of leather. Each rock is collected by hand; some agates are filled with clusters of crystals, some are decorated with striated lines or jet black plumes, others left rough around the edges. No two pieces are the same, and with each cut of the rock saw comes a complete surprise.

The jewelry is sold at the Marfa farmer's market and local boutiques, but the appeal of Agate Ranch + Marfa reaches far beyond the deserts of west Texas. Since the official launch last year, Agate Ranch + Marfa's popularity has skyrocketed, and Bracewell has been spotted at pop-up shops and trunk shows all around Houston. Several stores around Texas now carry the jewelry.

You'll see plenty of it at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In many ways, it's perfect big city rodeo jewelry.

Bracewell serves as the brand's walking billboard, an ebullient personality decked out in agate — a pair of earrings, an antique ring, and a set of chunky necklaces hugging her neck.

"I've sold pieces right off of me before," laughs Bracewell.

Agate Ranch + Marfa will introduce its spring line at Tootsies during a trunk show on Feb. 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. — expect feathers, turquoise, lots of color-blocking and rodeo-appropriate accessories.

The line is also sold at Muse Boutique in Houston; J.M. Drygoods in Austin; Meadow Boutique in San Antonio; Coastal Closet in Port Aransas; the Gage Hotel in Marathon; Thunderbird and Hotel Paisano in Marfa, or at the Farm Stand when she's in town.

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LEGGINGS + LATTES

Athleisure giant Lululemon opens Houston flagship with in-store cafe

Photos courtesy of Lululemon

Hundreds of shoppers lined up for the grand opening of the first-ever Lululemon x La La Land Kind Cafe store opening in Highland Village on December 19 .

Athleisure giant Lululemon is back where it all started. The brand has opened a massive new Houston store at Highland Village, returning to the shopping center that launched its Texas retail run in 2007. This time, however, it is not a small boutique. It is a full-scale flagship store with the first-ever La La Land Kind Café inside, giving Highland Village one more reason to draw a crowd.

The cult-favorite café serves exclusive drinks created just for this location, including a Double Chai Latte and Coconut Cloud Matcha. In-person shoppers can score drinks at 50 percent off through January 4 and via the app through January 16.

La La Land Kind Café also joins Lululemon’s Partner Perks program tied to Lululemon Membership, giving members access to select benefits. It makes it easier for shoppers who treat errands like a routine to use coffee as a delicious reward.

Lululemon x La La Land Texas-based artist Kyle Steed adds to the local appeal of the new Highland Village store. Photos courtesy of Lululemon

The new store is directly next door to the brand's first Texas outpost, which made Highland Village ground zero for Lululemon's growth in the state. At 9,400 square feet, the outpost is among Lululemon’s largest in the country. The space, previously owned by Smith & Wollensky, traded steaks for elevated sweat-sesh style.

Shoppers can expect a light, bright, and spacious shopping experience with a full range of products for both women and men. The store features branded apparel from the Lululemon x La La Land Kind Café collaboration, as well as a limited-time sweatshirt designed by local graffiti artist Donkeeboy, available as a gift with purchase (over $300, while supplies last). Adding to the local appeal, the store features a mural by Texas-based artist Kyle Steed.

Here's a tour of the store courtesy of popular influencer Marfisa Fiala

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A post shared by Marissa Fiala | Houston, TX (@houstonhotspots)

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Lululemon x La La Land Kind Cafe, 4007 Westheimer Rd, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77027. Store Hours: Monday-Saturday: 7 am - 7 pm and Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm.

Photos courtesy of Lululemon

Hundreds of shoppers lined up for the grand opening of the first-ever Lululemon x La La Land Kind Cafe store opening in Highland Village on December 19 .

lululemon houston la la land kind cafe highland village lululemon x la la land kind cafe openings coffee