An Online Store for Western Decor, Lifestyle, Art & Literature

ABOUT US...

THE ARTISTS, AUTHORS & ARTISANS 

Historic Ranch Fence Post Candles created by Rustic Ranch Accents:

The cedar fence posts that these candles are created are bits and pieces of local heritage. Recycled from Music Meadows Ranch in Westcliffe, CO, the fence posts and the barbed wire are well over 100 years old. Ranching has remained the life and breath of the Wet Mountain Valley since the 1880's. The Valley rests in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Their rugged peaks create a striking backdrop for one of the best kept secrets of Colorado. Your rustic candles represent a part of living ranch history in the unspoiled beauty of the real West.

 “Art is how we express our troubles and pleasures. Art is how we fly.”                    ~ Carol Martinez ~

Carol is an award winning photographer. She is a past president of the Sangres Art Guild, wife, proud grandmother, a great friend and a passionate American. You can recognize her by the three cameras that hang from her neck, the tripod in her hand and the smile on her face. Her amazing pieces are inspired by the mighty Sangre de Cristo Mountains that reign over the landscape, the wildlife and the ranching heritage, that remains as the heartbeat of the Wet Mountain Valley.

Email: custercare@centurytel.net

Robin successfully began her writing career after winning“Best Poems and Poets of 2002” , the same year two of her songs were recorded at Hilltop Records. Her unique gift of putting the reader into the actual story and her vast experience in a cowboy, ranch and gold mining lifestyle, has given her many things to write about. Robin is currently working on two novels and continues to write creative personal poetry. www.robinschwarz.com

Since 1987, when Irene was made chairperson of the Westcliffe Colorado Centennial Committee, she has been interested in the process  of researching and preserving the mining and ranching history of Custer County.  She has collected documents, photos and made oral tapes of pioneers. From  these  files, Irene has

written books and created art works of the various sites, in order to share the rich and rustic  heritage of Custer County.

 Email: stanandirene@live.com

Lynetta Gilmore has been part of the Western horse culture all of her life. She has shown horses and been active in horse   training and various youth training seminars. For the past eight years, Lynetta owned the Chuck Wagon Trading Post in  downtown Westcliffe, Colorado. Lynetta knows many ropers and has recycled their used lariats into rustic lasso baskets,  vessels and a variety of rustic ranch home decor accessories. Her hand-painted signs from recycled barn wood boast a humorous array of cowboy sayings. Email:  lynetta@ris.net

Lynn demonstrates her passion for art with her pastels.  She focuses on accentuating the beauty of mankind and nature at its' rustic best..  She likes the versatility, pure color, and ability to convey softness with pastels. Expression of emotion balanced with drawing skills and techniques using light, color and value, are pivotal in her pieces.  Uniqueness and variety are qualities exhibited in Lynn’s paintings.  As a member of the juried Pikes Peak Pastel Society and Pastel Society of Colorado, Lynn has won many awards including the Latino Chamber of Commerce choice of her painting, “The Storyteller”, for their 2007 Lithograph.

719-568-5348 (cell)  www.lynnchapmanartist.com   ~ lynnchapman@att.net

Janel retired from nursing 3 years ago and moved to the Wet Mountain Valley.  She is a prior resident of Colorado for almost 40 years, also doing stints in  Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Cruces and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Janel has been knitting and sewing since a young girl. She is enjoying recycling denim materials into  decor items  with a western and ranching themes. 

The fabric gift bag concept began over ten years ago when we had recycled our paper gift wrap until it fell apart. We decided to incorporate fabric gift bags into our Christmas and birthday wrapping tradition.  We had such a great response from friends and family we decided to raise awareness about the fragile state of our environment through our ecology-savvy gift-giving. Since then, Harmony Gift Wrap.com as evolved into a meant-to-be-recycled product line, that is easy on the environment.  These one-of-a-kind creations are passed forward to new friends and family, rescuing them from the landfills, as the gift bags and wraps bring joy to the recipients. 
        Harmony Gift Wrap.com is a company that cares about the health of our planet for future generations. We strive to offer and gather ideas and solutions that have a more gentle impact on the way we treat our precious environment.                              ~Shelling Blessing~

info@harmonygiftwrap.com  ~ http://harmonygiftwrap.com

Integrating nature's art with his own has resulted in unique recycled pieces, sustainable in origin, some still bearing the scars of wildfire.

Karen has been creating pottery since 1973. Her work for the past decade has been in the ancient disciplines of Raku and Terra Sigilatta.  Both techniques have been modernized and lend themselves well to colorful and unusual one-of-a-kind items. She currently uses polished terra sigilatta of color, white and   terra cotta and another post firing technique including horse hair in the process.  This horse hair firing is widely used in the American Southwest, for a very spontaneous effect. 

Karen is available for special effect workshops in Raku, Terra Sigilatta, horsehair and pit firing upon request. You  can plan your educational vacation around exciting classes and stunning surroundings where 14,000’ high peaks rise from the floor of the Wet Mountain Valley

PO Box 119, Westcliffe, CO  81252 ~719-783-2127 ~ Email: bluemoonpottery2@earthlink.net ~ www.karenleblondpottery.com

Phred Jahner of Hawk Ridge Ranch, Nathrop, Colorado....

What started out as a simple task from my wife, Patty, has turned into a pleasant  adventure in the world of hardwood inlay. Her request seemed quite simple; she was looking for a cutting board with a wood inlay that would be a functional kitchen tool, as well as visually appealing, to blend into the décor of her kitchen.  After searching for many months I determined that I would need to make it myself. Our wonderful neighbors were so enthused by this creation that they all requested a custom board for themselves and as gifts for their “phriends”.  My hobby has now become a small business.  My product and designs have been featured in Western Horseman Magazine.

                                                       ~Phred Jahner ~

Phone: 719-395-3523, Email: phred@pcisys.net  ~ ww.HawkRidgeRanch.com

 

Ardith Stewart, Painter on Recycled Hand Saws