WINDFALLS

Tired of seeing Texas memorabilia that was made in Taiwan, Suzy Platt began, in 1981, a mail-order pecan pie business out of Round Rock, near Austin. People went nuts, so to speak, so Platt expanded her selection to a full range of native gifts: cow-chip (chocolate chip) cookies (6 oz. $3.50), Texas caviar (blackeyed-pea relish, half-pint $4), Texas peach jam ($5), pottery by Mike Graffa, chili mix ($16.50) and, of course, the standard, sensational, pecan pie in a basket (9-inch pie, $15). The name of the business is Texas Duet because it’s just the right combination of the arts of food and craft. Now, there’s a retail shop at Valley View Center (9917744), or you can order by mail: P.O. Box 26529, Austin, 78755.

Yellow represents corn. Blue stands for sacrifice. Green is royalty. The bright, handwoven cottons at a new shop in Old Town, Guatemalan Color, express the rich heritage of the Indian women who weave them on stick looms. A brother and sister team, Suzette and Gus Ortiz, came to Dallas to open their family’s first shop in the United States; their parents operate another in Guatemala. Dresses range from $40 to $200; the top pictured is $298. (691-1804).

Dalias plastic surgeon Mark Lemmon says his family has always been interested in wine. So in 1976, when the opportunity came to develop a small, struggling new vineyard in what is one of the last great grape growing areas in the world, he accepted the challenge. He bought 70 acres on the eastern, live-oak-studded slope of California’s Santa Lucia Mountains and began growing grapes. This year, his prize is 6,000 bottles of San Saba, a very drinkable, soft and delightful Cabernet Sauvignon. Available at Marty’s, $14.95. (526-7796).

Heart’s Desire is an amazing new shop on Lovers Lane that was born not in Paris or Milan but-believe it or not-in Waco. Baylor University coeds Lisa King, Sharon Brock and Cindy Curtis wanted to offer Waco something different. They gradually filled an old, two story house with art glass, antique lamps and greeting cards and watched their business boom. After graduation, the three left their first shop in able hands and moved to Dallas. Their second Heart’s Desire, which opened in October, is bound to become a citywide favorite with a selection similar to but bigger than that in Waco. The store is a masterfully stocked hodgepodge of treasures: eucalyptus wreaths, hand dipped chocolates, high-tech clocks and u-nique pieces of designer jewelry are offered as well as other items 956-9596