At a recent event I attended in Birmingham with Pitchcraft and The Southern C, I met a slew of Southern small business owners and makers. All of them had amazing wares and I became a super fan of so many of their stories and products. These four stood out to me as the perfect high-end—but still down home—holiday gifts crafted by small business owners around the South. And I just had to share them with my fellow Two-Sided Southerners.
From fancy pickleball sets to bread warmers to tasty caramel cakes and big ‘ol statement earrings—each gift was made by a Southerner and has become one of my faves. They’re for all kinds of folks of course and each one inspires joy in me, so I just know you will feel the same. The holidays are here, and I hope you covet these four Southern-made gifts by talented artisans as much as I do.
1. La Point
The founder of this chic line of pickleball paddles and accessories is based in my hometown of Marietta, Georgia. Her sweet Southern twang is as charming as her feminine collection of pickleball sets. I adore the La Point motto, “just dink it, darling!” that’s become the owner’s signature phrase. My friends are pickleball obsessed, and I haven’t seen any pickleball lines this pretty before now to gift them or bring to the white elephant parties this season.
The pastel gear is very beachy and gifting a paddle, bag or set of balls will endear you to any pickleball fan. In fact, I just envision some chic Southern lady showing up to the court with La Point’s matching set. The elegant collection has legit moxie as each paddle is outfitted with a textured surface for extra spin and power. La Point paddles are like steel magnolias… they’re the perfect mix of tough high-performance grit and femininity. If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gifts crafted by Southerners, this is it.
I’m a statement earring addict and I had to hang up my fixation a few years ago because my earring holes were stretching. But now I’m back, baby! Mary K Kendig’s pieces are traffic stopping and still light as a feather. Born and raised in South Alabama, Mary Kathryn Kendig has mastered the art of big ‘ol Southern earrings that magically have barely any weight.
Every time I get a compliment on a pair, I end up taking them off and saying “Feel how light. Seriously, feel them!”… and then I dump one into somebody’s hand. Totally tacky I know. But it’s so uncanny how light they are (but well made!), I just want them to be as amazed as I was when I first tried them on.
Mary Kathryn started off with a career in the medical field, but is an artist at heart. She decided to get back to her roots and lean into her creative side with this line of jewelry made in Dothan, Alabama. I’ve already bought three pairs, so I need to buy some as holiday gifts for someone else soon!
I loved meeting Richard Reutter, the president of Caroline’s Cakes and son of Caroline herself. Above all, he is the definition of a Southern gentleman and has such pride in his mother’s recipes and the business she created out of her home kitchen in the early 1980s. You can hear the pride he has for his mom each time he tells her story to a stranger.
And ooh wee! If you haven’t tried Caroline’s Cakes’s famous 7-layer caramel cake, you are missing out, y’all. In other words, there’s a reason it’s been on Oprah’s Favorite Things list four times (2011, 2017, 2020, and 2022). Caroline’s Cakes is a mail-order bakery based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The full-size Southern cakes and small cake bites (which are equally delicious and a great little treat) are each made by hand (“we cut cakes, not corners!” they say). The cakes and bites are so chockablock with flavor get ready to be gobsmacked.
The story goes that Caroline served her first caramel cake at Richard’s christening in 1982. The power of word of mouth spread and the legend of the 7-layer caramel cake criss-crossed the country. The bright yellow, striped boxes are so joyful you feel like you’re gifting summer on the Italian coast. My fave little gift to give right now is a small jewel box of the caramel cake bites. But don’t sleep on the 7-layer caramel cake. It’s their best seller. Splurge on it for those in your life who really deserve delicious holiday gifts. The 7-layer Southern chocolate cake will get you some kudos from the host at your next Christmas party as well.
4. Rahab’s Rope
I love a gift with a story. Rahab’s Rope founder Vicki Moore is based in Gainesville, Ga. About 20 years ago, she had been to India a few times and became aware of how prevalent human trafficking was in the country. She founded Rahab’s Rope to raise money for victims of sex trafficking and provide aftercare housing. While this white-washed terracotta stone bread warmer is one of the most beautiful and unique gifts I’ve come across in a while, it does so much more than warm your tortillas and muffins.
Additionally, the breadwarmer sits in a hand-woven Kaisa grass basket with elegant ivy swirls. While it may not be made in the South, it feels like it was and ticks all the boxes for female owned, handcrafted, homey and from a small business in the South doing good.
But more than that, the gift gives hope and restoration to women and children who are victims of trafficking. The baskets are crafted by women in Bangladesh and provide fair wages, secure working conditions, and training. This helps the women to avoid trafficking in the future. Vicki is doing her part to end human trafficking and restore hope, purpose, and dignity to the lives of women and children in India. Gifting something with this much gravitas, is no small thing.
