By Linda Jerkins
Favorite finds this week include gear for modern guys, candles for a wine fan and a calendar to help you manage the months ahead in this fresh new year.
Wallets with wow
Birmingham-based Vvego International makes go-to men’s accessories that impress and protect. Take the exotic black and white stingray wallet ($180). The slim, minimalist wallet, which can hold six to seven credit cards, is lined with black carbon fiber. Designed for men, the wallet – in this color combination -- has been a bit hit with women, says Vvego founder Robert Porter. Or consider the brown leather pivot wallet ($159). Give a twist and the wallet fans open for easy access. Other hand-constructed products include belts ($179 and up) and the new cedar-lined cigar cases ($395 and up), made of alligator and ostrich. Besides leather goods, Vvego also makes single-piece cuff links in many colors. The machine-made cuff links – with a modern edge – are $99 and up. Visit vvego. com to shop or place a custom order. Vvego products also are available at Guffey’s, 3340 Peachtree Road NE (in Tower Place), Atlanta, or guffeys.com.
Wall art
Wildlife artist Grainger McKoy has been fascinated with the craft of carving and with the subject of birds since he was a boy. After graduation from Clemson, McKoy began an apprenticeship under experienced bird sculptor Gilbert Maggioni, who encouraged McKoy to pursue his art. In his South Carolina studio, McKoy creates lifelike sculptures of birds feeding, flocking, fleeing danger -- or fighting. As part of his attention to detail, McKoy inserts individual wood feathers, rather than carving them from an existing block. McKoy’s realistic bird art may be out of reach for some, but his 2012 calendar is not. The 12-month wall calendar includes 16 wildlife images. Available for $6.99 in the gift shop at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta.
P.S. See the “Sculpture of Grainger McKoy” at the High through Jan. 8. The exhibit features more than 30 of McKoy’s sculptures and drawings. McKoy will be on hand for a gallery talk on Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Visit high.org for details.
Wine-bottle candles
In 2010, Bonny and James Tillman decided to turn their interest in wine into a home business. In the basement of their Acworth home, the couple creates eco-friendly candles from recycled wine bottles. James cuts, sands and polishes the bottles. Bonny fills them with 100 percent, clean-burning soy wax. For a gift, choose from the company’s inventory of wine bottles. Or provide your own bottle from a special occasion, event or winery. Prices for candles range from $21 to $30, depending on the label and size. New winter scents include apple and oak, but top sellers are fig and merlot. Find Vino-Eco Candles at the Oak Barrel, 4843 N. Main St., in Acworth. Or visit www.vinoecocandles.com
Best of the South
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.
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