There is one thing Austinites love more than breakfast tacos, and that’s local businesses.

But not all local businesses are created equally. Just as an up-and-coming chef might begin their journey with a food trailer, local artisans often open virtual storefronts before they are able to expand to brick and mortar. Etsy is one of the best websites to find quality craft items, but it can be a little overwhelming. Especially if you’re searching specifically for Austin artists.

So I decided to do the work for you and find 10 amazing local artisans to follow. Many have full-time day jobs and work on their craft on the side. Another thing they all have in common? Perfect 5-star ratings. So without further ado, here are the top Austin Etsy artisans. [Read more…]

Jennifer blends her love of pop culture and art (Credit: Rebecca L. Bennett)

As an artist, mother and comic book geek, Jennifer Cunningham is the embodiment of Austin, TX.

Art from Early Age

Her life long love of art started early. Despite life throwing her curve balls, Jennifer has never forgotten how it feels to create. In her own words, “I’ve been drawing and creating various things for as long as I can remember. My mother still has a thing I drew when I was about 4 years old, an illustration of a dinosaur behind an X-ray screen with a mouse in its belly among the bones. My first recollection of getting in trouble at school was a result of me coloring the bunny’s eyes the wrong color in a kindergarten class assignment.” [Read more…]

One of Christopher Locke’s “Heartless Machines:” an old brass instrument which connects to your iPod or iPhone

Thankfully the sun wasn’t shining the day I met Christopher Locke, owner of Heartless Machine, or I would’ve been blinded by the countless brass instruments strung across his shop, oddly resembling the dangling nocturnal colony that clings to the underbelly of Congress Bridge.

These discarded musical remnants wait to be freed from restraint. Though the metal scraps may not have a heartbeat, Mr. Locke has engineered a way to unlock a melody that caused my heart to skip a few beats.

Where Vintage and Modern Co-Exist

Alternating from smooth as glass to an aching quiver, Ruthie Foster’s cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” was amplified and clear. Her lyrics weren’t coming from a live performance and I wasn’t idling in traffic listening to the radio, nor was this melody coming from an electrical box requiring an outlet. Instead, it came from a recycled brass instrument attached to an iPod [Read more…]