Monday, April 27, 2015

7 Layer Dip Recipe + New Salsas & Relishes for Summer!


Our Southwest inspired Spicy Corn Relish will add a nice kick to your favorite Mexican and TexMex cuisine. Spice up a plate of nachos, load onto fish tacos or use as an accompaniment with your highly acclaimed chili. You may even want to turn it up a notch for your next playoff party.
This spicy, fruity blend of fresh mango and lime will turn any dish into an exciting new favorite. Unique and bright tasting, our Mango Lime Salsa has great zesty kick that goes with everything from crispy tortilla chips and Tex-Mex cooking to grilled chicken and seafood!
Our Black Bean Salsa gives this classic Southwestern specialty a Northeast twist. It is a zesty salsa with delicious flavor combinations that will enhance burritos or quesadillas, add excitement to grilled fish or chicken and is wonderful served simply with tortilla chips.
7 Layer Dip
Ingredients:
1 (15-ounce) can refried beans
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chilies
1/2 cup sour cream 
1/2 cup mayonnaise 
2 avocados, peeled and diced 
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
1 cup Black Bean Salsa or Mango Lime Salsa (Just In At Bonnes Amies)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 
4 green onions, chopped 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
In a greased deep pie dish, spread the refried beans and then layer the chopped green chiles on top.
For the next layer combine the sour cream and mayonnaise. Continue layering the avocados, lemon juice, salsa, and top with the two cheeses and green onions.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
Serve with tortilla chips.

Clementine Hunter For Mother's Day

A beautiful piece of art by Clementine herself for Mother's Day!
The memories of the things Clementine Hunter loved and observed during her life on the Melrose Plantation are portrayed on this lovely collection we recently had fun displaying. Her famous paintings of cotton pickings, washdays, pecan pickings, weddings, baptisms, funerals and other scenes of life on Melrose have made her works an important part of American history. The Clementine Hunter ceramic collection is entirely made by hand and hand-painted. No two pieces are alike. Each piece has its own distinctive shape whose textured surface allows you to feel the passion in her work. Hang them on your wall, display them on your bookshelf, use them as a centerpiece for your table or make them your favorite serving pieces for any occasion.

 Shown above is "BAPTISM ON CANE RIVER" Clementine Hunter depicts the ritual of baptizing new church members in the Cane River. This was always a celebrated event in Natchitoches, Louisiana. "PICKING AND HAULING COTTON" Clementine shows picking cotton and hauling the cotton to the gin on a horse drawn cart. "COTTON WAGON" Clementine records the horse drawn wagon hauling cotton from the fields to the gin as it was done for hundreds of years prior to mechanization coming to agriculture. "PECAN PICKING" Clementine depicts the large pecan trees and the hard work of thrashing the trees and bending down to pick up the pecans.
 "ZINNIAS LOOKING AT YOU" Each summer the Zinnias were in bloom at Melrose Plantation. Zinnias were Clementine Hunter's favorite flower.
"GOOSTER HAULING FLOWERS" Clementine Hunter has a Gooster hauling a cart of Zinnias, her favorite flower.
In the inside of this bowl, Clementine Hunter documents the Africa House where she lived surrounded by the cotton fields. The exterior of the bowl depicts the hard work of hand picking rows of cotton on Melrose Plantation in central Louisiana. Hunter's paintings are a visual history of singular events of plantation life.
In this artist rendering, Clementine Hunter captures the structures at historic Melrose Plantation on the Cane River. She depicts Cotton Picking and Wash Day.
Clementine Hunter depicts the horse drawn wagon hauling cotton from the fields to the gin as it was done for hundreds of years before tractors were used. Here you see the cotton pickers, the horse drawn wagon, the cotton being bailed and the cotton gin all in the same narrative scene. Clementine Hunter lived and worked on Melrose Plantation, one of the largest cotton farms in Louisiana.
Baptism on Cane River is one of Oprah's Favorite Things. Clementine Hunter captures the ritual of baptizing new church members in the Cane River. Here Clementine Hunter depicts the local Catholic Church in the background with the Baptist tradition of immersion. This was always a joyous time for young and old. Baptizing in the Cane River is a community tradition in Natchitoches, Louisiana. This event is typical of the paintings Clementine did documenting life on a rural plantation in central Louisiana in the first half of the twentieth century.
Clementine Hunter lived on Melrose Plantation in central Louisiana for most of her life. The plantation had large pecan orchards, and in this scene Clementine captured the work of threshing the trees and picking up the pecans that fell from the trees. Clementine depicts a teenager hanging upside down to shake the trees so the pecans could fall to the ground for the ladies to pick up and place in their buckets.
Picking Figs to make preserves was always a popular summertime activity at Melrose Plantation. Each ceramic is hand-painterd and no two are exactly alike.
Clementine Hunter shows picking cotton and hauling the cotton to the gin on a horse drawn cart. Each ceramic is hand-painterd and no two are exactly alike. Each piece has its own distinctive shape whose textured surface allows you to feel the passion in her work. With each piece purchased, a percentage of the proceeds will go toward preservation and interpretation of the Clementine Hunter House at Melrose Plantation, a National Historical Landmark.
Clementine Hunter shows picking cotton and hauling the cotton to the gin on a horse drawn cart.
Clementine Hunter's favorite flowers were zinnias. She would paint them each summer when they were blooming. Recently, there was an opera called "Zinnias, The Life of Clementine Hunter" which had raving reviews in the New York Times.
In this whimsical artist rendering, Clementine Hunter depicts a Gooster, a combination of a rooster and a goose, pulling a cart of Zinnias, her favorite flower. There is currently an opera entitled Zinnias, The Life of Clementine Hunter which is performing around the world.
Louisiana’s most famous artist, Clementine Hunter, was born in 1886 at Hidden Hill Plantation below Cloutierville, Louisiana. At a young age, Clementine moved to Melrose Plantation where she lived and worked until her death in 1988 at age 101. Clementine first worked in the cotton fields and pecan groves until Miss Cammie Henry, the owner of Melrose, brought her into the "Big House" to clean and cook. It was here that she came in contact with visiting writers and artists, including New Orleans artist Alberta Kinsley, whose work inspired Clementine to try painting. Without formal training, she produced colorful memory paintings that captured every day life on Melrose Plantation. Her paintings are recognized as a narrative telling the story of plantation life during the time before mechanization came to agriculture. Her pictures of cotton pickings, washdays, pecan pickings, weddings, baptisms, funerals and other scenes of life on Melrose, have made her works coveted around the world. Clementine Hunter is considered one of the most important self-taught American artists of the 20th century. Her works can be seen in the Smithsonian Institution, The American Folk Art Museum and countless other museums and private collections.
With every purchase made, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Clementine Hunter's estate to further promote Clementine Hunter. All ceramics are food, microwave and dishwasher safe.



Clementine Hunter standing in front of the African House, c. 1950. Photo by Carolyn Ramsey

Handmade Woven Crystal Bracelets...

Daughter, sister, mother, professional, play girl, business woman, cover model, glam diva, power house, and even grocery shopper...Rose understands the demands of navigating life as a modern woman. 
Mother of three, wife, entrepreneur and artist, Rose values versatility and the ability to shift seamlessly and gracefully from one role to the next. Her creative and professional passion? Designing jewelry and accessories that speak to the complexity of daily life.

Rose applies the same principles that made her successful in interiors to her line of custom jewelry: being with yourself is a place you should love to be. Since her childhood weaving bracelets beside her grandmother, Rose has spent her life exploring a robust lexicon in color, texture, flow and pattern.

From your most elaborate look, to your purest form...

From boho-chic, to opulent luxe...these are perfect and simple gifts for Mother's Day and Graduation as well!

 Mix and match them...easy and simple to wear and a great price at $23.95 each.
Come pick yours out today as a pick me up, a sweet gift, or just because!
Each bracelet line is handmade with crystals, metal, leather or charms...

Turquoise Initial Wrap Buckskin Necklace/Bracelet

Our Vintage style Initial Necklace and Wrap Bracelet features a Lower Case Turquoise patina initial on soft Natural Buckskin deer hide. These are so unique and special! The perfect Graduation gift or sweet and simple gift for Mother's Day coming up...

 Layer and mix them with your other jewels...so sweet standing alone as well.
We also gift wrap and ship it's easy! Call us 806-293-3588...

 Come in and pick your letter out before they are gone! A great gift at $32.00 each we are happy to wrap this up beautifully for upcoming Graduation or Mother's Day!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Brightly Woven Bucket Bags & Hand Tooled Leather Handbags

In 1993, a Chilean designer founded a new handbag company in Austin, Texas. Hand-tooled by artisans using time honored Paraguayan tooling techniques that have been passed down through generations of families.
Known for their original designs, high quality, and brilliant colors, we are proud to offer you these beautiful and functional bags.
Starting with the vegetable tanning of the hides, to the smallest stitch detailing, each bag showcases the natural beauty of South American leather!


Sketch of a design in progress!
The larger leather totes keeps you perfectly organized and in style! The rich, genuine leather is gorgeous and will get richer with wear. You can carry this tote comfortably over your shoulder or as a crossbody. Stay fashionable and functional with this eye-catching leather tote bag.
 Love the turquoise tooled bags...each one is a unique hand-tooled design...
Generation after generation; women work in the style of their ancestors, using colorful yarns to make beautiful objects. Because their art is an expression of the culture, each piece is an individual work of art imprinted with the soul of its creator. The purchase of this collection helps Mayan artisans support their famiies and shares the culture and heart of the beautiful women. 100% cotton and handcrafted in Guatemala.
 These brightly woven bucket bags are beautiful and sturdy...great colorful tote bags for the summer!


Also love the aztec beaded and leopard beaded club bags. The ultimate functional fashion accessory, this club bag features a handmade artisan fabric with a stylish beaded accents, a "secret" side zipper pocket for cards, cash or makeup and a top pocket for your smart phone. Great gift items for graduation as well!

Venita's Peach Sangria Recipe

A few have been asking for this recipe and it is so refreshing on a hot day...think I will brew some up this weekend! This was served at our party a few weeks ago.
Peach Sangria:
Equal amounts of Crisp White Wine and Ginger Ale or Diet Ginger Ale
3/4-1 cup of Peach Schnapps (to your taste)
2-3 tbs. Sugar
Sliced Fresh Peaches
Stir and let marinate in the fridge. Serve with crushed ice and a little bit of fresh mint.

African Market Baskets

 Loving and appreciating these handcrafted African baskets and the remarkable artisans who weave them. Proceeds from the sale of these baskets help to provide healthcare, education and financial support to over 1,000 African villagers and their children through the Fair Trade Federation.
The baskets vibrant woven colors and leather wrapped handles make them perfect to take to farmer's market for produce, to carry crafts and supplies, or to be just a beautiful piece of art in your home.
They are large, well-made and priced just right!
 What a neat story...what would you do with your African Basket?
A tisket a tasket would you like to pick out an African Basket?
Please **Comment** on our facebook page your favorite thing about the Spring season!!
The winner will get to come choose one of these great baskets!