Stevie Ballow

photo by Dorothy Lillig

Self-taught graphic designer and DIY rebel Stevie Ballow is the designer behind Rara Avis, a Graphic Design and Creative Projects company. The child of an architect and a stay-at-home-mom, Ballow grew up with a love for crafting things and an appreciation of functional spaces. She trained as an engineer at Louisiana Tech University, developing skills for finding creative and efficient solutions to problems. Ballow moved to Houston in 2001, and she soon realized that engineering wasn’t in her future (long story). After doing small design jobs for friends, she established Rara Avis in 2005. The company added handmade product lines in 2006, and the EUTECTIC™ brand is Ballow’s most visible and exciting project to date.

Drawing from Ballow’s technical experience and artistic expression, EUTECTIC™ is the product of applying engineering principals to fashion. While the look of the brand is inline with current trends and movements, more focus is placed on the actual construction and versatility of each piece, streamlining the construction process and minimizing the cost. And while all of that sounds very technical, it really means that a woman can invest a bit more in quality jewelry because she’ll wear it more and keep it longer that a “cheap” piece of costume jewelry. And in a society where fashion is either disposable or out of reach, finding the midpoint between the two extremes is not only important -- it is imperative.

Ballow currently resides in Sugar Land, TX with her husband and two cats. She is active in her community, promoting Houston-based artists and designers through her company’s blog and donating her products and services to local charities and schools. She is a member of WIVLA (Women in Visual and Literary Arts) and the Houston Craft Mafia. And if she’s not working in her studio or shoe shopping, Ballow can be found playing soccer or helping her husband rebuild his ‘88 Mustang.

Click here for the EUTECTIC™ Press Kit

all product photos by Anthony Rathbun

2007 Events

Yale Street Arts Market: October 6th, November 3rd, December 1st
Midtown Farmers Market: October 13th, November 10th, December 8st & 15th
Houston Cellar Classic Farmers Market: November 4th

Websites

Jewelry: http://www.theeutecticpoint.com
Company Home: http://www.ararething.com
Blog: http://ararething.blogspot.com