cowgirls

Hill Country SUN

By I-Pei Hsiu Hodge
Destination shopping need not involve eyeing antiques at Covent Garden, touching luxurious textiles in Istanbul’s Covered Market, or inhaling the sweet scents of the French perfumeries in Grasse.
For worldly-wise or home-body shoppers in the Hill Country, no passport is required to visit the destination emporium that is Cowgirls & Lace, but the effect for visitors is a vacation for the senses.
With two locations, one in San Antonio and the original store in Dripping Springs, Cowgirls & Lace provides the plush necessities of life, from little to large, for pampering infants to pleasing centenarians and to delight all ages in between.
Under the cowgirl silhouette of its landmark Trail Head sign, the sprawling wooden structure of the Dripping Springs location is in sepia tones of driftwood, enlivened by jaunty cowhide awnings and welcoming red doors.
A charming painted sign attempts to summarize the wares and services available inside: baby, bedding, custom design, draperies, fabric, furniture, last call, toys. Enter those double doors to start your journey into the gracious world created by Reba Byrd, owner and founder of Cowgirls & Lace.
An institutional stockbroker for more than two decades before her retirement a couple of years ago, Reba originally began her shop as a creative outlet.
Finding waste fabric from the renowned High Point textile market, she purchased sheet remnants and instructed local handcrafters in how to transform the fabric strips into crocheted rag rugs.
Le Raggé Ruggs was born in 1993, and the winsome rugs were first sold in Fredericksburg shops and at Wimberley Market Days until the popularity of the rugs required more storage and a shop location.
“This was a creative plaything in the beginning; it was just something that I wanted to do and one thing led to another. I had no idea that we would grow to what we have now,” says Reba.
Le Raggé Ruggs, Inc. continues as the corporate designation for the shops, but the progression from waste fabrics to home furnishing Mecca evolved with inspiration and need over the years. Searching for fabrics for rugs led to the sale of bolts of fabric; the sales of fabric led to custom bedding design and matching home accessories.
“We just get an idea for what to try and we try. And if it works we keep it, and if it doesn’t, we don’t,” explains Reba.
As each variety of product or service was added, Cowgirls & Lace grew into adjoining spaces occupied by former businesses on the property. A flower shop became a nook for adorable Cowgirl Baby bedding and accessories.
Most recently, an old service station became the Cowgirl Last Call, a bargain hunter’s haven devoted to items purchased at auction and merchandise from the store that is unsold or slightly damaged.
Meandering the mercantile labyrinth of Cowgirls & Lace echoes the thrilling twists of exploring the most colorful and plentiful international shopping venues, without the worry of getting lost.
Start your Grand Tour with a warm greeting from the sales staff at the garlanded entry counter and peruse the Byzantine mosaic shelves of home and body fragrances. Head east into Toyland for unique playthings for children or west into Longhorn Territory for unique playthings for University of Texas fans.
To the northwest is the sumptuous French blue salon; to the southwest is the burnished leather of the well-appointed ranch library.
Just beyond each rainbow hillock of bedding and meadow of carpet samples, behind every tree of ladies’ accessories and log roll of fabric, is another vignette to admire.
Every turn is a discovery of treasures and decorating ideas, arranged with inspiring artistry and creative insight by merchandiser Beverly Tuntland. “We’re a destination shop and that’s something I have to consider,” says Reba.
“When I’m trying to give this place the ambience that it needs, you want something that’s diversified enough so that when the customer drives 30 minutes to get here from Austin or wherever, they can spend the day. Because we do have a lot of repeat customers, we do a lot with the display. We keep moving things around and making it a fresh store. That’s Beverly’s job; she does that 100 percent of her time here,” she explains.
“We also schedule our merchandise so that we have something new and fresh come several times a week that will have an impact on the store, both in accessories and in the fabric. When we go to market and we see something, a lot of times we have a customer in mind when we buy it. We’ve always wanted a shop that had unique, one-of-a-kind things, so we look for that when we go to market.”
Accompanying Reba on her buying trips to major markets such as Dallas, Atlanta, and High Point is longtime business partner and chief financial officer Charlie Sampley. The duo leads a company whose top priority is customer service.
“If there’s one thing that I think sets us apart from other stores is that we’re driven by customer service and we have been from day one. We have very little turnover, so our staff is very well trained and they all have design ability. When you come in, if you need drapery we can take care of you. When you need baby bedding or pillows, if you need upholstery or furniture, if you need custom work, we have someone in here that’s experienced in those areas and they can help you take care of it.”
Travelers from all over the world can come home to the comforts of Cowgirls & Lace.
“I’ll sound like Pollyanna, but we want everyone to feel at home when they’re here. I love this store. I love coming to work every day,” says Reba. “I’m trying to find a place to retire, but I haven’t yet. I like to travel. The Hill Country is beautiful, but there are other places that are beautiful that I’d like to see in the U.S. I need just to quit and go play. But this is play for me.”
FYI • Cowgirls & Lace is located at 111 West Highway 290 at Trail Head Market in Dripping Springs and 6401 Blanco Road in San Antonio. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm (Dripping Springs only). For more information, call 512-894-0350 or visit the web site at www.cowgirlsandlace.com.

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