The South is filled with skilled artisans, crafty entrepreneurs and makers of all kinds. I love going into a boutique or hitting up an outdoor craft festival and discovering new creatives (usually with a thick drawl and impeccable manners) at work making incredible things. From candles to booze to prayer sticks (wha?), here are six things made by southerners I’m loving right now.
- Little Otter
Unless you live with a Chapstick-addict like I do, you’ve probably never thought about how many of those little tubes of plastic are hanging out in a landfill somewhere. Little Otter has a plastic-free lip balm made of only four sustainable ingredients. My friend gifted me the tiny tube of coconut oil, beeswax, organic peppermint and rosemary oil.
Now I’m the addict. To its cute little packaging and soothing nature. My favorite part? The items are from Georgia. My home state.
- Prayer Sticks
Until recently, I’d never heard of a prayer stick ($25) until my pal Meghan Meeks told me about her new venture. Apparently, prayer sticks are from many cultures. Use them as a way to honor a spiritual journey, to bless someone or celebrate important events in your life or the lives of others, for instance. Wouldn’t it be the sweetest thing to set this in the yard of someone you know who needs your prayers? Available at Willow Park Boutique in Marietta, East Magnolia Boutique in Roswell, Marguerite’s on Dresden in Brookhaven and Oodazu in Buckhead.
- Sarah Bray Bermuda Hats
As one of my former colleagues in the luxury magazine space in NYC and the Hamptons, Sarah Bray was always ridiculously chic and stylish every day at work. But at heart, she is a southerner just like me. Born and raised in Texas, she is now in Bermuda by way of Manhattan. Her beautiful wide brimmed sun hats are belong in every Southern lady’s spring and summer wardrobe.
Even better? They are sustainable and use antique, recycled and biodegradable materials. Likewise, Bray cuts her caftans from vintage materials. I can picture myself lounging around the pool in one all summer long.
- Kindle Candle Co.
Kindle Candle Company makes beautiful beeswax candles in the coolest home studio right in my neighborhood in Atlanta. I met the artisan behind them at a craft fair in Lake Claire a few months ago. I fell in love with her work and general aesthetic. Made from 100% essential oils and hand-poured coconut wax, I gifted the hand-rolled beeswax tapers for family and friends. Also, Jill uses plant-based ingredients and nothing toxic in her wares.
- Home Grown Pimento Cheese
One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta makes this habit-forming made-from-scratch pimento cheese. Home Grown Pimento Cheese is at Kroger in the fancy cheese section. (You know, not the cheese section in the back with all the Velveeta and Kraft, but the other one up front).
Moreover, I gifted it with high-end crackers to my new neighbors who moved here from D.C. a few weeks ago. I think I made them friends for life. You can also swing by the OG restaurant in Reynoldstown and pick some up too. While you’re there, try the Ruffles with French onion dip and find out why it’s on my list of 10 Best High and Low Restaurants in Atlanta.
- Legends Distillery
Firstly, they had me at their tagline: “Drink Like a Legend.” I mean, who doesn’t want to do that? Secondly, my friend and PR guru Meg Reggie (a fellow Southener) gifted me some small batch and double barrel bourbon, vodka and more from this Georgia distillery. Thirdly, she promised that it was smooth and one of the few dark liquors that wouldn’t give you a headache the next day.
Per usual, Meg was right.
They use Quantum Purity to reduce the impurities in their alcohol by half. They won the “2019 Vodka of the Year” award, “Best of Class” Platinum at the 2020 Sips and multiple Double Gold’s, Gold and Silver medals.
Oh! Also, they have a Sweet Georgia Brown Whiskey debuting this spring that I can’t wait to try now.
If you spent too many years tailgating with a bourbon and Diet Coke in a red solo cup, upgrade to this nicer sipping bourbon. Then maybe you’ll wake up on the Sunday after game day and feel a bit better than usual. (Wink, wink.)
There you have it. In conclusion, now you have six new things made by southerners you can try. That is to say, they are things made by southerners I can’t live without right now. Similarly, if you have a favorite thing made by southerners, please put in comments below and I’ll be sure to check it out.
