Animal magnetism
Atlanta’s Suzie Eifrid is a self-taught artist who is widely known for her pop-modern animal portraits.
The artist: Originally from northern Indiana, Eifrid moved to Atlanta in 1981 to work with her brothers in the family business: Intown Hardware in Virginia-Highland. She lives, along with her six rescue dogs and two cats, on a former dairy farm in east Atlanta.
The goods: Notecards ($4-$6); giclee prints ($30-$300); and original paintings ($400 and up). In 2012, after the success of her wide-eyed, colorful dog and cat paintings, she added owls, deer, bears, foxes, monkeys, birds and squirrels to her ever-evolving collection.
What's popular: Dog, cat and owl themes.
Other favorites: Papier-mache animal forms ($500 and up), made with found and recycled materials.
Where to buy: www.seifrid.com. In the Atlanta area, find Eifrid's work at various locations, including the Westside Market, 1530 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd.; DK Gallery, 25 W. Park Square, Marietta; Kudzu Antiques, 2928 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur; and Intown Hardware, 854 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, and 1404 Scott Blvd., Decatur.
Tie in knots
Keith Hudson began tying knots in 1985 while working on offshore oil rigs in Alaska. Now the South Carolina craftsman uses his know-how to create products from in-demand doorstops to dog leashes.
The company and founder: Sailor Craft Knots was started in 1990 while Hudson was living in Alaska. After 20 years in Alaska, he moved to Charleston in 2005, drawn by the Low Country's maritime history and scenic coast line. Hudson has been a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers since 1992.
The goods: Monkey's fist key fobs ($8.95-$16) and floating monkey's fist for boat keys ($18); hemp doorstops ($65); doormats ($85); paperweights ($35); and hand-spliced, double-braided dog leashes ($28 and up).
What's popular: The city-country dog leash ($50) in several colors. Made from nylon deck line, the leash features two handles: a 6-foot handle for more freedom and a 2-foot handle for more control.
Where to buy: www.sailorcraftknots.com. In Charleston, check The-Commons, 54 1/2 Broad St. (the-commons.us). Also find Hudson every Saturday from April to December at the Charleston Farmers Market (King and Calhoun streets in Marion Square).
Rx for BBQ
After years of sharing an interest in grilling and BBQ, two orthopedic surgeons (aka Bone Doctors) came up with a tasty “cure for the common BBQ.”
The company: Founded in 2008, Bone Doctors' Barbeque Sauce is based in Charlottesville, Va.
The founders: Bruce Wilhelmsen met David Heilbronner in 1983 at the University of Virginia. The doctors, who became friends and shared a culinary curiosity of BBQ, decided, after several trials, to produce their own line of sauces.
The main goods: Five BBQ sauces: Original, Sweet & Spicy, Brazen Heat, Carolina Bold and Isaac's Apple ($4.99-$6.99) in hip flask bottles with novel labels.
What's hot: Sweet & Spicy, which is a unique combination of peaches, cranberries and honey with a peppery finish.
Other favorites: Premium Spice Blend and Fire & Brimstone table sauce ($5.99 each).
Claim to fame: First place at the 2014 Scovie Awards in the BBQ sauce-diet-friendly category for its all-natural, gluten-free Brazen Heat sauce.
Where to buy: www.bonedoctorsbbq.com. In the Atlanta area, find the sauces at various locations including the Preserving Place, 1170 Howell Mill Road (www.preservingplace.com), and Strippaggio, 855 Emory Point Drive, C-135, near Emory (http://strippaggioevoo.com).
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 or on twitter@southernfinds1.
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