Best of the South
Do you have favorite finds from around 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: lljerkins@gmail.com. Also find more Southern-made products, featured in the AJC, at Southernfinds on facebook.
Socks that rock
Fred and Harrison Rich are fashion-conscious guys. And it shows. In their socks.
Dissatisfied with the bland and bunching options in men’s hosiery, the father and son team decided to offer a stylish, over-the-calf dress sock. Two years ago, they started Kentucky-based Dapper Classics.
With more than 120 styles, the company offers sock patterns and colors for every personality. Socks with a navy base, including navy socks with red polka dots, are top sellers. But socks with red, lavender, pink and green have gained a foothold in casual workplaces. As a fashion accessory, the distinctive socks are a fun and easy way to complement your off-duty wardrobe.
Made with mercerized cotton or fine, superwashed merino wool, the socks are knitted in a third-generation mill in North Carolina. Prices range from $20 to $25.
Refresh your sock drawer and visit www.dapperclassics.com. Also find Dapper Classics socks at 310 Rosemont, 1038 N. Highland Ave., in Atlanta (www.310rosemond.com).
In the clutch
Growing up in Virginia, Libby Ganong was always “that girl in the corner creating something.” Sewing, weaving and woodworking were some of her hobbies.
After graduating from the University of Virginia, Ganong moved to Charleston, S.C., to join the lively art scene. In 2009, the self-taught designer started Add Libb Designs.
Ganong makes various styles of statement handbags, ranging from clutches to totes. Made from durable upholstery fabric, the handmade bags are sturdy and thoroughly modern. Some of the purses also feature unique accents and handles fashioned from a variety of materials, including leather, metal and stones. And by adding a chain, any of the bags can become a shoulder bag.
Because of the wide selection, accented clutches are favorites. Available in various styles, the colorful clutches ($86 to $94) feature unique stitching techniques, hand-dyed leather backdrops and vintage or limited-edition accents.
Another popular design is the silver-handle tote ($96). Versatile and classy, the roomy tote is sized right for your essentials.
Shop online at www.shopaddlibb.com. AJC readers can save 15 percent on orders placed by Nov. 25, 2013. Enter coupon: ajc2013.
Jewelry as sculpture
As a child, Andrea Slappey made jewelry from colored telephone wire. Paper clips too. She never planned to pursue jewelry-making as a vocation.
But after college, the University of Georgia grad enrolled in various art classes. Slappey studied beading and precious metal clay. A few years later, she learned welding and metal smithing techniques in a 3-D design class at Georgia State University. Along the way, her design talent was noticed.
Last year, she incorporated Amalia Designs in Decatur. In her sophisticated and elegant designs, the jewelry sculptor uses sterling silver, gold, semi-precious and precious stones. But Slappey’s favorite materials are 18K gold, plus sapphires and tourmalines (her birthstone).
Her Goddess earrings, Ladder Cuff bracelet and Sunburst necklace are popular pieces.
So are the Mobius Infinity bracelet and the XOXO Cigar Band ring, which launched her business. Made-to-order pieces also are available in gold.
The Goddess earrings ($90) and Ladder Cuff bracelet ($354) in sterling silver are popular pieces. But they also can be made-to-order in gold. The striking Sunburst necklace ($246 and up) and the XOXO Cigar Band ring ($392 and up) are available in 14K and 18K gold. The sterling silver Mobius Infinity bracelet, which comes apart like a puzzle, is $232.
To order, visit www.amaliadesigns.com or thetravelerscollection.com. Also find a lovely selection of jewelry in the Atlanta area at Atlanta MADE, 1187 Howell Mill Road, (atlantamade.us), and BEE, 26 E. Andrews Drive, (www.bee-atlanta.com).
