Jewelry open house

Jennifer Merchant has been getting some much deserved attention for her jewelry designs, which incorporate layers of laser-cut acrylic and magazine clippings. She has shown her work at the prestigious American Craft Council show, and was recently picked up by designer accessories haven StyledLife, making her one of the shop's few local designers. Now she's opening a studio and celebrating with a party, where she'll offer discounts of 20 to 70 percent. (2-8 p.m. Sat. 711 W. Lake St., Suite 411, Mpls. www.jennifermerchant design.com.)

Shoe open house

Shoe line Ina Grau is part of a burgeoning trend of handcrafted footwear, issued in limited editions. And although co-designers Crystal Quinn and Luisa Fernanda Garcia-Gomez call Minneapolis home, the line's roots stem from the craft of traditional Colombian shoemaking. Now they're launching a new collaboration with Colombian-based shoemaker Oscar Betancur for a limited run of a new staple design. They're celebrating with an evening of music, drinks and a raffle to win a pair of custom Ina Grau shoes (women's or men's). (7-10 p.m. Fri. Free; raffle $10. 711 W. Lake St., Suite 603, Mpls. www.inagrau.com.)