In This Issue:

• Cinco de Mayo Fashions
• What's New in the Store
• April Spotlight: Olinala
• Collector's Corner: Folk Art Collector, Albert Bronson
• April Sale

Marcia's Minute

Celebrate Spring & The Season of Renewal with our rescheduled Bells of Joy concert this Saturday, April 21st! Since Earth Day is April 22nd, this is also a great time to celebrate Mother Earth, so in this vein, we will donate 5% of our sales on the 21st to the Save our Springs Alliance, SOS, the hard working, non-profit group that is dedicated to protecting Barton Springs, one of Austin's most threatened, precious, and valuable resources.
 
SOS is currently in the process of reorganization, but all the donations they receive go to supporting their hard-working staff & educational projects, and not to legal fees.

At El Interior, we want you to know that you are supporting our planet and sustainable local indigenous village economies and communities when you purchase our hand-woven and hand-embroidered shirts, blouses, textiles and folk art. These are communities that leave a very tiny footprint on Mother Earth.

So this year, for Earth Day, think about purchasing one of our sturdy oilcloth totes or market bags to take to the grocery store or Farmer's market. Here at El Interior, we will be replacing some of our light bulbs with the compact fluorescents, and we are participating in the "Green Choice " energy program that the city of Austin offers. I think we have to remember that all of these little things that we do to help our earth add up if we all make an effort.

Saludos,
Marcia Lucas
Owner

Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

We've got lots of great fashions for men, women & children for your Cinco de Mayo celebration this year!

CLICK HERE FOR CINCO DE MAYO FASHIONS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW NEW ITEMS IN

The process used to produce incredible Olinala pieces is extremely tedious and exacting work. Read all about the wonderful work that produces these delicate looking (yet very durable) pieces of art.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OLINALA

Featuring Albert Bronson

Thank you to Albert Bronson, this month's featured collector, for allowing us to sneak a peak at his fabulous collection of folk art within his home. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE COLLECTION

Each month we will be holding a drawing for our email subscribers for a $50 gift certificate, so watch for it - next month you might see your name!

This month's winner is
Jane E. Ward

Do you know someone who loves folk art? Email amy@elinterior.com & we'll send them a copy of this email and enter them into the drawing!

As a bonus, you'll also get your name entered twice in next month's drawing!

Why is the mermaid (La Sirena) such a common theme in Mexican Folk Art?
Mary

The mermaid is associated with water and rain--and helping bring the rain. For example, in Oaxaca, rain is sometimes scarce for years, not  unlike here in Texas. The late Robert K. Wynn (folk art collector extraordinaire) talks about the Oaxaquenos putting mermaids in their nativity scenes as a way to insure good rains for the coming year's growing season.

A common theme in Haiti is to see mermaids and mermen used as water guardians at their water sources: springs, fountains and wells.

Show us your project or collection! We'd love to feature YOU in an upcoming issue, so email us a project that you've done using our textiles, oilcloth, or your folk art collection, at amy@elinterior.com.

Also, we'd love to get your comments or questions, so submit them to the
El Interior Mailbag to be featured in future issues of our newsletters!

El Interior
1009 West Lynn
Austin, Texas 78703
(512) 474-8680
www.elinterior.com
info@elinterior.com