etsy south...

we both love etsy so we'd like to highlight our favorite finds each week from artisans and collectors based in the south.

my favorite of all favorite etsy stores is yokoo, based in atlanta, ga.  yokoo knits such whimsical, creative pieces that i believe i could turn one of her scarves into a fine little nest.  her lovely self-portraits modeling each of her pieces are a work of art unto themselves.  here's a nytimes piece about her.

check out this great video on her and her work.

yokoo pop pom hat in butterscotch combo, $90.

warmer in taupe, $70.

both images courtesy of yokoo

this paper ship is a super cute illustration, design and photo shop based in greensboro, nc.
also check them out at society6 and dribble.

12x12, $15.

10x10, $15.

both images courtesy of this paper ship

drucilla pettibone sells vintage treasures with categories such as "the boudoir."  love it!  many of her  treasures would make it into my photos if i had my wish.  her shoppe is located in an old victorian hotel in siler city, nc.

   vintage tobacco pipe with bakelite, $19.

   vintage silk baby jacket and bonnet, $46.

both images courtesy of drucilla pettibone

lauren markley is a studio jewelry designer based in spartanburg, sc, and she designs lovely, simple pieces in sterling silver and some 18k gold at her shop AntiGenre.

oval knotted necklace, $120.

silver shapes earrings, $45.

both images courtesy of lauren markley

stream tracks by sxsw artists!

SXSW is coming up in march! listen to hundreds of SXSW showcase bands in streaming audio

i heart letterpress!

i have been more than a little obsessed with letterpress lately. i love the handmade, one-at-a-time nature of letterpress printing, and, since i also love music, i wanted to feature hatch show print for this post. hatch show print is based in nashville and has been cranking out concert posters and advertisements since 1879. hatch created posters for ryman auditorium and grand ole opry performers such as johnny cash, bill munroe, and hank williams. check out this video for a look inside the shop, which is still in operation today under manager jim sherraden.

more letterpress:

briar press, a letterpress community

record letterpress coasters!

parklife press, a shop in nearby carrboro

RED BIRD INK, a letterpress shop in atlanta

knoxville's yee-haw industries

alabama chanin

alabama chanin is a lifestyle company based in florence, alabama, that has always caught my eye.  local artisans create a variety of limited-edition products by hand.  alabama chanin's website is lovely and includes an online catalog of everything from handmade wedding dresses to books to diy kits from the company.  alabama chanin's style is original and thoughtful.

check out the style story and photo gallery that the new york times did on the founder of alabama chanin, natalie chanin's, home built by hand by chanin's partner, butch anthony.  it is lovely in all the right ways.
"my most important revelation was the realization that making something with my own two hands added substantially to the value of that object in my life," natalie chanin, ecosalon.

southern music featured in garden & gun!

north carolina gets to claim many of these wonderful bands.  check out the story and listen to the playlist!

lovely illustrations from greensboro, nc

i ran across the whimsical, lovely illustrations of jordan grace owens yesterday while perusing my favorite gallery, rebus works, in raleigh.  my four-year-old was immediately charmed by owens' small, moveable paper dolls and i have promised her a cat in the very, near future.

kitty-kat doll, $6

i, myself, like the bearded men magnets, $14.  ha-hum.  

she also does small prints, cards and she has a pop-out zine, $20.  you can see several pages of the zine on her flickr stream.

all of these items are for sale at her etsy site, hollandsworth.  or if you are in raleigh, visit rebus works for a selection of paper dolls, pins and magnets!

all photos courtesy of jordan grace owens.

marfa brand soap

When Jay and I were planning our wedding last year, we wanted to create a unique, useful wedding favor for our guests. Jay remembered using a handmade Marfa Brand Soap bar on a recent trip to Marfa, Texas, so we contacted Ginger Griffice, the creator of these all-vegetable soaps. Jay told her of our engagement trip to Northern California, and she agreed to create a 'Rocky Pacific' soap just for us! We ordered 200 2-inch bars for our guests and 4 large bars for us to keep! More hand-crafted Marfa Brand goods here. (photos by juli)

Speaking of Marfa (which tops my list of places to visit), check out El Cosmico, the ultimate slow life destination. I'll stay in one of those cool Airstream trailers. I think Juli would prefer a yurt!

(Photos courtesy elcosmico.com)