Friday, January 30, 2015

Winter...

"We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away."
-Zhuangzi





Pretty Pretty...

 A retired couple who enjoys life and their sweet family. They wanted their home beautiful for all of the entertaining they enjoy doing with their family. It's now so lovely for Spring! 






A Touch Of Spring...

 A very traditional home and easy to see what she loves to collect. A touch of Spring here and there makes it a beautiful home for the season ahead.






A First Home...

A newlywed couple who just purchased their first home. She is a creative, sweet soul who wanted her first home to be beautiful and to reflect their young eclectic style. We had lots of fun pulling it together!


Monday, January 19, 2015

Mrs. Toddy Donahue's Lemon Cake

Mrs. Toddy Donahue's Lemon Cake is one of our best and favorite cakes and sounds so delicious right now with a hot cup of freshly ground blackberry creme coffee right? Have you made this lemon pound cake? It is divine and hits the spot this time of year..the most important ingredient? The little jar of bright lemon curd in our kitchen I promise you will not be disappointed! Easy Easy!
Ingredients
1 box of Lemon Supreme Cake Mix
1 - 3 1/2 ounce box of Instant Lemon Pudding
1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2/3 cup canola oil
1 jar of  Lemon Curd (Pick Up A Jar At Bonnes Amies)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cake mix and instant pudding to electric mixer bowl. In a measuring cup, add the lemon juice and cold water to make 2/3 cup. Add the eggs, lemon water and lemon extract to the dry ingredients and stir to blend. Pour in the oil and beat at medium speed for 6 minutes, or until very smooth.
2. Take 1/3 cup of the batter and set aside. Pour remaining batter into a lightly oiled Bundt pan that has been sprinkled with sugar. Mix the reserved 1/3 cup of batter with the whole jar of lemon curd. Make a tunnel-like well through the batter in the Bundt pan and fill it with the batter - Lemon Curd mixture. Bake for about 50-60 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean.
3. When the cake is done, let it cool on a rack, and then invert onto a plate. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and grated lemon peel and serve with a little Lemon Curd drizzled over if desired. Or glaze with the following: Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract, 1 cup confectioner's sugar. Pierce cake with a skewer all over the top and drizzle glaze over.


Bright Grain Sack Pillows

Here's a gathering of our favorite nubby pillow finds...bright and fun grain sack pillows in bright white, turquoise blue, and bright orange and green. Add a pop of color to a fun space or perk up that deck or patio with some of these bright grain sack pillows. A great find at $28.95 each...


Love...

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” 
― Elbert Hubbard


Spring Days...

 A 70 degree day in West Texas makes you long for Spring Days of working outside in the yard. We are "Springing" it up inside the store and found lots of Spring inspiration at market this past weekend!
Loving our little mantle stuffed with green coleous, white berries and trailing asparagus fern...Lanterns are still wonderful to display your favorite collections or to sit on a garden bench or patio to light the evening...
Can't wait until new and exciting items start arriving from market...cement figurines and statues that look like they are from your grandmother's garden, great frenchy metal and painted wooden pieces of furniture for your home, beautiful and colorful jacquard pillows, Clementine's hand painted platters and trays from the South... will keep you posted and thanks so much to everyone that reads our blog! Please join our email at the top to receive updates every time we post you don't want to miss out!
Until next time sit back and relax...


Large Kilim Pillows, Navajo Baskets, Indian Warrior

Add a pop of color and interest to any room in your home! The intricate geometric patterns of traditional Turkish kilims are reimagined in these large and wonderful kilim pillows, handwoven by skilled artisans. 
Kilim has a fascinating history, its origins dating back to 3000 BC, many scholars believe even earlier; like tapestries, woven kilims are one of the oldest textiles in history. Kilims are referred to as “slit woven” textiles, a technique of weaving that produces sharp geometric designs and symbols. They are produced by interweaving visible weft with invisible warp strands and are most often made of wool, though cotton and hemp threads are sometimes used. 
Different kilims possess cultural meanings that change by region, and the colors and designs also change depending on where they originate. Some kilims are used as prayer rugs, others for decorative purposes. The popularity of kilim is growing in the West as we look to more exotic ways to decorate our homes with textiles from across the globe.
Also love this mix of great woven Navajo style baskets mixed on this rustic table with our Indian Warrior art peering out from behind!

Sparkling Tortoise Tumblers

Rich glowing color patterns are inspired by nature and portrayed in this drinkware to add exotic flair to festive occasions and table settings. These thick beautiful tortoise glasses are hand blown and made by artisans in San Miguel... add beauty and warmth to your home!
The mouth-blown, tortoise-shell pattern is the result of merging dark umber with amber glass, a process that assures no two are exactly alike. These are a great price and some of our favorite glassware! Tortoise Pitcher $ 35.95 Tortoise Tall & Short Tumblers $10.95 each Tortoise Wine Glass $16.95

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The New Year Ahead...

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, 
Whispering 'it will be happier'...” 
― Alfred Tennyson


Bath & Bubble Concoctions...Lifts The Spirits

Cold winter evenings call for our favorite bath salts, bubble elixir, lotions, and soaps. Honest and clean scent that lifts the spirits and calms the senses. Dreamy smooth, this blend of milk, oatmeal, vanilla and vetiver is a tranquil, comforting scent with stirring, yet sweet seductive notes controlled by its classic romantic and powdery virtue. Find relief and contentment with these traditional concoctions.
 The Lotion. Made with colloidal oatmeal, which is known to soothe irritated and itchy skin, and the added bonus of a protective barrier that helps maintain moisture to help keep skin smooth and silky. Milk powder and mineral salts. Made in small batches by hand in the U.S. heartland.

The Bath Salt. Made with aloe, shea butter, cucumber and colloidal oatmeal, known to soothe irritated and itchy skin with the added bonus of a protective barrier that helps maintain moisture. This emulsion is formulated to leave the skin feeling silky and hydrated.
Bath Elixir. Crafted with natural plant extracts, soothing botanicals and beneficial oatmeal extract, this elixir offers lofty bubbles and an honest clean scent. Oatmeal contains saponins that help remove dirt and oil from pores. 
The Soap. Find relief with this saddle shaped natural vegetable soap, nestled in a reusable hand stamped muslin bag. Made with colloidal oatmeal which is known to soothe irritated and itchy skin with the added bonus of a protective barrier that helps maintain moisture to keep skin smooth and silky. Oatmeal contains saponins that help remove dirt and oil from pores. Ground oatmeal helps to lightly exfoliate the skin.