Katie Leavitt’s Ever-Evolving Style

Local blogger Katie Leavitt says she believes style is a language that she enjoys expressing on her blog, Running on Happiness. “The great thing about personal style is that it is ever-evolving,” Leavitt says. “As I have gotten older, and dare I say, wiser, I’ve learned that style doesn’t have to…

Downtown’s Third Friday (Oct. 21)

Art walks are more often about people watching and shenanigans and less about the actual art. Third Fridays in downtown Phoenix are a little different.You’ve seen our First Friday Field Guides, which cover the arts and shenanigans around major neighborhoods in downtown Phoenix. And now we bring you a more art…

The Seven Best Jack-O-Lanterns Ever

As kids, making a jack-o-lantern was simple: Scoop out the guts, carve a couple eyes and a jagged-looking mouth, pop in a candle, and voila. It was the perfect Halloween decoration for your front porch that would usually last until the neighborhood hooligans would smash it to bits. Nowadays, however,…

Penguin Jumpers: Because Every Animal Deserves 8ply

Yes, they’re serious, and yes, they’ve even provided a How To on knitting turtle necks and booties for what may eventually be a terrible move for the penguin race. (After all, we’re talking style and survival here, folks, as no penguin is going to take another seriously if he’s wearing…

Debbie Easley’s Gangster-Costumed Halloween Plans

The Easley clan has been through a lot of Halloweens in their day. More than half-century’s worth of ’em, to be exact. Four generations of the Easley’s family have been selling and renting costumes to Valley residents out of their namesake yellow building on McDowell Road and 7th Avenue for the past…

Thrifty Treasures and Basement Sale Steals at Domestic Bliss

 Domestic Bliss,  and a boutique in downtown Mesa has just the solution. As its name implies, Domestic Bliss carries whimsical clothing and rustic decor for well-to-do women and children. Its neighboring by-appointment showroom, FOUND, carries slightly more eccentric decor and furniture (think Anthropologie’s home section, in neutral-vision). It’s all quite expensive, with…

Missoni for Target Open Cardigan

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This Missoni for Target open cardigan has alternating navy and teal zigzags. It’s a great find from this limited collection because the knit showcases the design house’s signature…

Katherine Thornhill’s Fashionable Confidence

Seattle native Katherine Thornhill believes the old saying that if you feel good in what you are wearing, your attitude will show it. “Personal style is important to me because when I feel good in what I’m wearing, I feel confident in who I am,” Thornhill says. “There’s nothing better…

Custom Necklaces with Lisa Jacobs

​Lisa Jacobs, aka Sticker Club Girl, has always been attracted to functional art, so she says the transition from fashion design and crafting to her latest collection of custom jewelry was a no brainer. “You can put a painting on your wall and admire it,” she says. “But with jewelry, which is…

Angela Hardison’s Thoughtful Style

​ What are you wearing? Vintage silk top, Anthropologie skirt, Seychelles shoes, jewelry from local designer Ayofemi, bag by Pilcro & the Letterpress (from Anthropologie – which I maybe bought because I’m also a letterpress printer and loved the brand name)…

Skull Brooch at 609East

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This handmade skull brooch is perfect for fall — particularly with Halloween and Dia de los Muertos a couple weeks away. With a wink toward Mexican folk art,…

Call for Artists: Be a Vendor at the Pie Social A.R.T.S. Market

Oops. We just drooled. Chow Bella & Roosevelt Row announced their second annual Pie Social to benefit Phoenix Union Bio-Science High School arts programs, and this year, they’re looking for a few creatives. In addition to the mass consumption of community and celebrity pies on November 12, the social will include a…

Lance Greathouse’s Wild Workshop

The messy garage outside of the North Phoenix home of Lance Greathouse is filled with creatures and fire-breathing monsters galore. Not the supernatural kind, mind you, but rather those he’s built from made from scrap metal and steel. The dental laser technician, gearhead, and self-described “mad scientist” spends his off…

Kayla Cuore’s Practical Style

Kayla Cuore’s daily life revolves around her kids, but that doesn’t mean that she has to dress like a mom. The 26-year-old blogs about her daily outfits, and gives her readers little peeks into her life on her blog, Freckles In April. “It can be so tempting to stay in…

Phoenix Fashion Week: In Review

If you made it out to Scottsdale and followed the “Fasionistas, This Way!” signs through the Talking Stick Resort and Casino and down the elevator, you probably found yourself at the glitzed out, seventh annual Phoenix Fashion Week(end).The three-day fashion celebration featured the work of 24 established designers, 10 emerging, and 106 accessory…

Devastation 2011 in Photos

Taunts or testosterone were in abundance inside the Phoenix Convention Center this past weekend. Joystick jedi from throughout Arizona descended upon the downtown destination en masse to wage pixilated warfare during Devastation, the annual gaming competition and expo.Fueled by both adrenaline and energy drinks, gamers battled for supremacy (and cash prizes)…

Anya Melkozernova’s Eccentric, Handmade Style

​Anya Melkozernova says she knew she would be involved in the fashion world since she was a kid growing up in Russia. “I’ve always been into creating art,” she says. “And I see fashion as an artistic expression.”When she was younger, that sentiment translated to making clothing for her Barbies. Today, Melkozernova…

Downtown’s First Friday (Oct. 7)

Art walks are more often about people watching and shenanigans and less about the actual art. We’re here to guide you through both. Presenting our very own Field Guide — an evolving guide to art walks around town.From time to time, we’ll introduce some of our favorite spots and dish out some…

Call for Artists: Be a Vendor at Frances and Smeeks’ Crafeteria

It’s that time of year when the weather cools down, the creative project lists get a little longer, and a little flier comes through the mail for one of our favorite events of the year. Frances and Smeeks announced the date and time of their sixth Crafeteria, an annual gathering of local…

Nightmares Fear Factory’s Spook Album

We’re always game for a good scare — especially when we’re not the ones being spooked. It’s why we can’t stop looking at the official spook album of the Nightmares Fear Factory, the longest running and arguably the scariest haunted house in North America. The haunted house in Ontario keeps a steady…