By Linda Jerkins
Southern finds this week include fashion-smart aprons for today's happy homemakers, modern greeting cards with a vintage twist and chocolate bark -- all made in Georgia.
Aprons: Tie one on
Ashley Leckey Schoenith, a University of Georgia grad, was inspired to start IceMilk Aprons by her apron-wearing grandmother, who liked to sew, cook and entertain. Her Atlanta company offers a line of heirloom aprons made of oatmeal or cream linen with sashes or accents. Available in full ($85) or waist ($55) sizes, the shabby-chic apron styles have fun names like “Vanilla Churned Sundays,” the best-selling “Rollings of Cinnamon” and new “Beauty in Brie.” Also new is the children’s collection of aprons ($35), which comes in neutral blends of linen and cotton -- with pockets. The packaging makes it extra special as a gift for your favorite foodie. The aprons come packed in a canning and preserving jar. Included are three blank recipe cards for starting your handwritten recipe collection, plus a heritage tag -- a swatch of fabric for sewing the initials of the apron-wearers. The make-it-personal tag is meant to capture and archive those who inspired you in the kitchen. Visit www.icemilkaprons.com
Fine print
In the age of email, Twitter and Facebook, stationery is making a comeback. Just ask Matt and Jessica Berinato of the Atlanta-based Breathless Paper Co. In 2008, the couple started to design and print wedding invitations and baby announcements. Their business took off. While the papermakers and newlyweds (they married in November) still do custom work, their company now focuses on greeting cards that are both modern in message and vintage in imagery. The humorous cards do best, said Jessica, an avid "card sender" who grew up in Atlanta. But the sweet cards are also favorites. Cards for birthdays, births and other occasions sell for $3 to $4 each and can be found in shops throughout the country. In the Atlanta area, check Urban Cottage Inc., 998 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta www.urbancottageatlanta.com. To see more card designs, visit www.breathlesspaper.com
Sweet bites
Last year, Dawn Williams left the corporate world and bought Graffiti Zoo, a chocolate company based in Conyers. Though she comes from a family of bakers, Williams learned quickly that baking isn't the same as making chocolate by hand. In less than a year, her company added new products to its animal-inspired line of gourmet chocolate bark. There is Tropical Toucan, white chocolate flavored with pineapple and macadamia nuts; and Howlers, a dark chocolate with banana. Other flavors include Lemony Crickets, Pink Flamingos and the ever-popular Margarita Manatee. Ready for giving, the tasty bark comes in crayon-bright packages with animal images. A 4.5-ounce box is $8.50 at www.graffitizoo.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 suggestion to: ljerkins@bellsouth.net