Usually the phrase “locally grown” is reserved for referencing fresh fruits and vegetables, but shopping mindfully doesn’t have to be limited to edible products. In fact, there is an array of high-quality items, from clothes and jewelry to soap and stationery, made right here in Georgia. Not only does buying locally made products preserve natural resources by reducing the need for long-haul transportation, it also supports our talented neighborhood artisans, innovators and bakers (many of whom use natural and recycled products in their merchandise). Shop with intention this season, and share your experiences with us by going online and visiting our blog at www.atlantalifemag.com. Happy shopping!
Sugarplum Visions
Forget looking for the perfect holiday dessert–we found it! Cupcakes by Marietta’s Sugarplum Visions will have your guests talking for days. The simple designs are elegant and unique, and the taste is nothing short of decadent. Choose from dreamy flavors like lemon lavender with vanilla buttercream, banana with peanut butter buttercream and chocolate sour cream with vanilla buttercream. The individually sized delicacies also offer instant portion control. The treats start at $2 each and increase in price depending on the type of decoration required. Mini cakes, decorated cookies and cakes also are available. 678.354.PLUM, www.sugarplum-visions.com
Just Add Honey
A tea lover who searches the market and brings her favorite finds to you created this online resource for all things tea-related. Selections range from rich caffeinated black teas like vanilla chai and Georgia peaches to caffeine-free herbal and fruit teas like the revitalizing chamomile fruit and chocolate mint rooibos. Accessories like teapots, books and filters, as well as honey, also are available. Ask about the company’s holiday and seasonal blends, as well as the parties it hosts. Prices vary; the cost for a 1-ounce tin of loose-leaf tea is $6.45. 404.725.5286, www.justaddhoney.net
Savannah Bee Company
The Savannah Bee Company’s mission is to go to “extraordinary lengths and remote places to produce the finest, most natural products available.” And you’ll taste this dedication from the first bite or sip of anything sweetened with its honey. The gourmet company produces raw honeys and all-natural body care products, looking at bees as role models for how humans should live: “naturally, symbiotically and in a manner that only contributes positively to the world around them.” The majority of its honey comes from Georgia and North Florida (such as the Tupelo Flute, the Honeycomb and the rare Black Sage), but the company is working on bringing honey lovers a new flavor from the Southern Italian Alps called Organic Acacia. A few local restaurants, like Bacchanalia and Blue Ridge Grill, use Savannah Bee honey, and it can be purchased at locations such as Alon’s, Energy Coffee, Belly General Store, Whole Foods and B.D. Jeffries. Prices range from $5 to $24. 912.234.0688, www.savannahbee.com
Rinse Bath & Body Co.
Rinse Bath & Body Co., located in Woodstock, offers everything you need to feel refreshed from head to toe. Wash off with handmade holiday soaps in scents like Pumpkin Patch, Gingerbread, and Almond & Honey; then moisturize your skin and feet with the Skin Stick and Peppofoot Stick, which is a great way to energize during your holiday shopping marathons. Pucker Sticks nourish and hydrate those winter-worn lips with a peppermint zing as a finishing touch. All products are 99- or 100-percent natural, and contain ingredients like cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter. Prices range from $3.95 for the Pucker Sticks ($8.95 for the Perfect Pucker Pack) to $6.95 for the Skin Sticks and soaps. 404.556.8067, www.rinsesoap.com
Modern Basics
These adorable Boo Crib Sets are simple and modern without going overboard on the cutesy factor. Choose from a hippo, dragonfly or frog print in blue, pink or green. Each four-piece set costs $270 and includes a reversible crib quilt, reversible bumper, fitted crib sheet and crib skirt. The 280-thread-count sheets are 100-percent cotton sateen that should have your baby sleeping soundly in no time. Baby slippers and blankets also are available, as well as tabletop items and decorative pillows for the adult set. 404.881.6001, www.modernbasics.com
Baby Nation
After trekking around Atlanta with their wives looking for apparel that “transcends hip” to outfit their toddlers, young dads Brandon Friedman and Jeremy Estroff decided they needed to take matters into their own hands. They teamed up to create Baby Nation, a clothing company that produces high-quality, 100-percent cotton long- and short-sleeved tees and onesies for budding fashionistas. Clever sayings like, “If at first you don’t succeed, cry, cry again,” and, “Ain’t nothing rotten ’bout being spoiled!” give new meaning to the phrase child’s play. Short-sleeve tees and onesies are $26 and long-sleeves cost $30. Available at select boutiques, like Chickweeds in Norcross and Cutie Pie in Dunwoody, and online at www.shopbabynation.com.
Teddylux Cashmere
The classic teddy bear is a timeless gift for children and adults alike. But Castleberry Hill designer Brooke Serson has managed to put a new, luxurious twist on the stuffed animal standby. By using handpicked, vintage cashmere sweaters and combining them with vintage satin neckties, button or embroidered eyes, recycled suede noses, and hand-embroidered features, she breathes new life into discarded threads. The eco-friendly bears are stuffed with a new fiberfill made from corn, which is sustainable, washable and non-allergenic. Each custom-made bear is gift-boxed in recycled paper boxes with decorative ribbons and a story of its origins. The Cashmere Cub Bears are 9 inches tall and priced at $50, and the Cashmere Big Bears are double the size and cost $70. Recycled cashmere patchwork scarves also are available for $80. 404.312.4872, www.teddylux.com
Red Bird Ink
Your holiday “Thank You” notes can be as unique as your personality when you order customized cards from Red Bird Ink, a studio that creates stationery, fine art photography and other artistic writing products. Artist Julia Farill uses a variety of mediums to produce her work, including photography, paint and digital art, in addition to employing vintage and historic patterns. Prices range from $3.50 for small, individual cards to $45 and up for boxed sets and personalized items. Available at select stores around town like 17 Steps in Decatur and Metropolitan Deluxe in Virginia Highland, or via 404.371.5157 or www.redbirdink.com.
Fancy Gifts and Cards
For unique and personalized gifts, like Chalkboard or Monogrammed Decoupage coasters ($25 and $32 for set of four, respectively), Preppy Key Charms ($12.50) and Critter stationery ($14.50), browse through the offerings at Fancy. The best part about working with a small company like Fancy is this: If you think of something you might want to give a family member or friend but just can’t seem to find it, owner Kim Nungesser might be able to custom create the piece especially for you. 404.510.3208, www.fancygiftsandcards.com
Mickey Lynn
Jewelry designer Mickey Lynn’s passion for her hobby-turned-career is evident in the quality and craftsmanship of each beautiful piece she creates. The new items from her fall/winter collection are handmade sterling silver hammered bangles accented with 14-karat gold fill and various gemstones. $150, www.mickeylynndesigns.com or at Pink Lemonade boutique in Buckhead.
Glue and Glitter
Forget brown paper bags, disposable napkins and plastic cutlery. This Ecobento by Glue & Glitter is a chic and environmentally responsible way to pack lunch every day. The set includes a handmade, machine-washable and reversible tote, a snack-sized, stainless steel bento box, five machine-washable napkins, and one pair of chopsticks. Now all you need is a healthy lunch, and you’ll be the envy of every colleague in your office. $30, www.etsy.com
Firefly Designs
When you purchase a soothing lavender- and horse oats-filled achy wrap or flax seed- and lavender-filled peeper pillow from Firefly Designs, you won’t just be heading home with a relaxing gift for a friend or family member. You’ll also be making a contribution to the American Melanoma Foundation. When JoAnn Horaney was diagnosed with melanoma, she began keeping herself occupied at home by doing screen-printing on tees and onesies. She then started creating the achy wraps and peeper pillows inspired by her grandmother, and she set up shop at local festivals. After JoAnn passed away in 2006, her parents and her husband Daniel decided to continue doing festivals as a way to carry on her designs and to educate people about melanoma, donating all profits to the American Melanoma Foundation. The achy wraps are $20, peeper pillows are $10 and the set is $25. Available at www.firefly-designs.net
Lappers
Brighten up your holiday dinner with the Lapper, a dining tray inlayed with silicone mats to hold any type of dish in place. Ideal for serving appetizers or to use as funky place settings, the Lapper, created by a self-described “desperate housewife,” has large handles that are great to tie napkins on and allow for comfortable carrying. The dishwasher-safe product, recently featured in Everyday with Rachael Ray and on HGTV, also is useful for anyone with physical disabilities or those recovering from surgery. Trays and silicone mats come in colors like apple green, chocolate, turquoise, orange and hot pink. $22, available at several Atlanta locations, like Nuts to You and Peridot, or online at www.lappertrays.com.
Mary’s Garden Champagne Savers
This graceful sterling silver champagne saver by Mary’s Garden is one of nine botanical designs created by Atlantan Mary Martin, and would make an ideal gift for anyone popping the bubbly for a special occasion. Presented in a keepsake gift box, each champagne saver comes with a folded instruction card and directions for use. Priced at $200-$450 each; available at Neiman Marcus, call 404.355.4432 or www.mgarden.com.
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