News Page 4 - Stray Dog Designs

The Beauty of San Miguel de Allende reflected in Stray Dog Designs by Ariel Garneau

3 min read

What can I say about San Miguel de Allende that hasn’t already been said! It’s a Mexican jewel, up in the mountains about 3hrs drive north of Mexico City. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to a thriving artist and maker community - including the workshop of Stray Dog Designs. Locals and expats alike, have known about the beauty of SMA for years, but only on my visit this past winter did I really get a feel for the place.

Stray Dog Designs Namesakes

9 min read

Last month our beautiful and classic Doug Buffet Lamp was featured in Southern Living Magazine. The Doug Buffet Lamp is named for our friend Doug Self, creator of JDouglas, an agency representing the finest lighting and home brands in the country. Doug graciously took the time for an interview with Billy and his answers are engaging and enlightening. We love the Dougs!

Throw Back Thursday - Mario Lopez Torres Edition

3 min read

Let’s go way back. To our honeymoon days. Almost 25 years ago, which is hard to believe. Before cell phones. Before email really. Where the seeds of our lives together and this accidental business were sown. Two aimless, adventurous young adults lumbering thru Central Mexico in a big red Chevy truck, searching for noted centers of folk art with our map (yes, the kind you unfold in the air), and stumbling into beautiful, remote, way off the beaten path villages.

House Tour - Coral House

2 min read

Y'all, it's cold outside! The weather is gray and gross and COOOLD! Six months ago I was lounging on a beach on Harbor Island in the Bahamas, knowing the cold would come, but I just wasn't prepared. I am trying to channel those warmer days as I bundle myself up in woolen sweaters and extra pairs of socks. I have been dreaming about the Bahamas and even watched the Fyre Festival documentary on Netflix just to see that crystal clear water again.

Mid winter seemed like the perfect time to do a virtual tour of our friend Chassity Evan's house on Harbor Island which you may have seen in the October issue of Coastal Living. You can have an actual tour if you rent in on VRBO!

How an earthquake brought papier mache back to San Miguel.

2 min read

On January 11, 2010 (the date is important here), we had a talk with our Haitian producer of papier mache whom we had helped grow their papier mache department from a handful of employees to over 100 in an effort to bring jobs to the impoverished nation. Without going into specifics, we had a major dispute when the owners of the shop crossed a red line for us.

A day in the life of Lucia

1 min read

Have I mentioned how much I love our workshop? Let me say it again, I love working in our workshop because there is generally a happy hum about the place. There is always music, usually Ranchero. There are always stories bandied about (sometimes in whispers); there is a sweet smell of something always simmering in the kitchen; and there is always laughter.