Local Jewelry Designer, Kathy Bracewell, and her collection of semi-precious stone jewels, Agate Ranch + Marfa, was a creation that I have watched from the sidelines for a while. It was not until this past Saturday at her Trunk Show at Tootsies, that I was finally able to spend some time with her and get an education on the Marfa Agate, and how finding this beautiful rough stone while looking for Indian artifacts has changed her life, got her creative design juices flowing and given her a new-found career.
It all started when Kathy and hubby bought a ranch in West Texas almost 10 years ago. She became a rock hounder and would continually find this beautiful and rare stone, which she took into town to a local rock shop owner named Paul, with her inquiries. He has since become her teacher and working partner in creating a finished product, exclusive to Marfa, known as the Marfa Agate. I never realized that the Agates all over the world are all different and this one can be found no where else than the desserts of Marfa. While they all looked similar in their rough stages, it was not until Paul cut the slabs for Kathy for her to polish that their true beauty and variations became visible. This stone is the basis for her jewelry collection and the reason that this Houstonian makes two trips to Marfa per month to find more stones and keep a studio actively producing her designs there in Marfa.
After much polishing of this rare stone, Kathy adds her own special touches to each, like authentic Milagros, Rosary seed beads and other stones such as lava, mother of pearl and turquoise. Her stones are strung either on leather or silver chain.
New Items for this season are the continuing of feathers, a Rodeo favorite, the Tumbled Agate…..a process that smoothes the corners and make for a different type of softer-looking stone. Chains have always been popular in her collection, but for this season she has added the double chain, which includes one silver chain paired with a jeweled touch of bling in a second chain of semi-precious stones. This look was a favorite of what I saw. She has also done double slab necklaces, new to the line this season. Also, the most popular piece that Tootsies cannot keep in stock is her Lariat, again another product for this time and great for Rodeo.
Tootsies stocks Kathy’s collection all of the time both here in Houston and recently added to Dallas. While her collection has many wear-anytime fashion choices, there is no better time to step up and purchase your first Agate Ranch + Marfa piece than at Rodeo time…….a perfect completer to any Western Wear outfit! To see more visit: www.agateranchmarfa.com.
Some examples of her newest looks below……
photos courtesy of fulton davenport, pwlstudio.com