Glass act
Atlanta artist Kathleen Plate is well-known for giving glass bottles a second life in her popular line of Smart Glass jewelry. In her Candler Park studio, Plate uses colorful recycled glass, which is individually cut from empty soda, wine and beer bottles to make her signature style of jewelry. In January, Plate introduced a stylish and socially smart collection of chandeliers and lighting for home or office. Her recycled glass sconces start at $2,500. Chandeliers range from $5,000 to $10,000, but she can customize a chandelier to your room and budget. The 30-pound Dionysus chandelier (pictured) is 26 inches deep by 42 inches high. It features recycled glass bottle colors, including Coke bottle antique clear, chardonnay sage, Trappist ale amber and sake aqua. All electrical components are UL/CSA approved. See more at www.kathleenplate.com.
In the bag
Aubrey Lenyard, a former bridal and evening gown designer in Atlanta, wants you to bag it -- in his eco-chic market bags and totes. His canvas and jute bags ($10 to $38) come in a variety of modern colors and are imprinted with fun phrases, such as "It's a Green thing." The beach bag ($38) is the newest tote in Lenyard's line of reusable bags. Made of jute, it features removable leather handles, a zippered top and a vinyl-like inside lining that makes it easy to clean. Choose from tangerine, teal, red, brown and fuchsia. Available at www.fashionablenotes.com. The colorful jute market bag is also available at Gifted! Artist Market and Gift Boutique in Roswell. 944 Canton St., Roswell. 678-585-0071.
Wear her metal
Jewelry designer Ashley Buchanan loves working with metal -- and it shows in her lightweight metal jewelry. Buchanan, who lives and works in Johnson City, Tenn., hand cuts each piece, using brass and sterling silver sheet metal. She then powder coats most of the brass pieces. Any necklace, cuff bracelet or pair of earrings can be powder-coated in one of four colors: cream, light gray, slate gray and charcoal. This summer, the earrings and cuff bracelets in cream/white have been big sellers. The long necklace ($130) is hand-cut brass, powder-coated cream with a sterling silver chain. Prices for other pieces range from $28 to $150. Buchanan, a University of Georgia grad with a bachelor of fine arts degree in jewelry and metalsmithing, also takes custom orders. Find her jewelry at www.ashleybuchananjewelry.com or in the gift shop at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 300, Duluth. The Young Blood Gallery and Boutique, 636 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, also carries some of Buchanan’s pieces.
Southern favorites
Do you have favorite finds from across the South that you give as gifts, buy for your home or rave about to friends? If so, please share them with us. Send your suggestions to: ljerkins@bellsouth.net or
jerkins. Please include your name and contact number.
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