4 minute read
GREAT GOODS
goodsgreat PRODUCTS & GEAR
Bring Spring in.
SOUTHERN CHARM
Springtime in Alabama brings a flush of fresh flowers, myriad species adding their colorful profusion of petals to fields, hillsides and yards all over the state. Auburn-based artist Andrew G. Lee recently captured some of this natural beauty in a series of botanical watercolors he painted on commission for Southern designer extraordinaire James T. Farmer. Farmer chose the blooms that would work best in a client’s renovation of a historic property, including soft, heavy hydrangeas, sunny jessamine and showy pink camellias. “He was intent on capturing some of his favorite Southern plant species and wildlife to adorn the newly renovated halls of a stunning plantation home in Lee County,” Lee said. “It was truly inspiring work but also challenging.” The original 16 watercolors hang in that home, but you can add the cheery florals to your décor by purchasing limited-edition prints of the originals. The 9 x 12 prints are fine-art reproductions, personally printed, singed and numbered by Lee using fade-resistant archival inks on quality cold-press watercolor paper and are exclusively available for order on Lee’s website.
andrewleedesigns.com
IT’S ONLY NATURAL
Grab a few of these pretty little pouches made with fabrics created by Huntsville artist Sarah Conklin of Feather Wild. Mother Nature’s woodland realms are the obvious muse for some of her simple designs, stylized versions of snakes, flowers, mushrooms and more, which she draws and then prints on thrift-store-sourced fabrics at Huntsville’s Green Pea Press, where she’s a member artist. Whimsical geometrics find their way into her work, too. Her fabrics are also transformed into hand towels, larger bags and scarves.
featherwild-sarah.tumblr.com
Bring joy.
IMAGE BY LYNN JORDAN
SCENTS OF THE SEA
Don’t judge a Bon Secour Candle by its cover. The simple tins may be a bit plain, but get one burning, and you’ll see (smell) why these all-natural, highly fragrant candles are getting noticed by noses everywhere. Owner Lynn Jordan dabbled in candle making years ago and recently picked up the hobby again as a complement to her photography business. The name came straight from home; she lives, takes photos and makes candles on Plash Island at the mouth of the Bon Secour River. Many Bon Secour candles evoke coastal scenes, like the Bushwacker, an aromatic blend of vanilla, coconut, rum and Kahlua, the Beach Baby or the best-selling Southern Sands, where citrus, floral, vanilla and coconut meld together.
bonsecourcandlecompany.com
GREAT GLASS
A spark of surprise is what keeps stained-glass artist Deborah Strawn in her studio, creating her works. When light first streams through a new piece, and the colors and patterns come alive, the happiness of that initial illumination never disappoints. The self-taught artisan has been working with glass since the 1980s, and her pieces can be found adorning an array of spaces—churches, homes, businesses—all over the Southeast and as far away as the Dutch Antilles. Her works range in size from quite large to as small as a photo slide (called Little Sweeties). Find her works at shows and events around the South, and visit her facebook page @DeborahStrawnGlass to learn how to snag one of her pieces for yourself.
@DeborahStrawnGlass
Bringthe heat.
GET FIRED UP
Based in Huntsville, Jala Jala is turning out salsas, pepper jellies and more using only fresh red and green jalapeno peppers sourced from two select Alabama farmers. It all started when a friend of Jala Jala’s “head pepper” Jay Short ended up with a bumper crop of jalapenos in his backyard garden one summer. To use them up, he made pepper jelly and gave some to Short to make salsa. The duo quickly sold all 350 jars of their kitchen creations. After another year of more peppers that went into more salsas and jellies that led to 10 times the demand – they sold 3,500 jars – a business was born. That was 2013. Now, Short is on a mission to share the joys of his favorite pepper, one he learned to love growing up in Texas. “I want folks to enjoy the flavor of jalapeños without worrying about the heat,” he said. “Our motto ‘Know the Glow’ comes from the warmth you get after you eat our products.” In 2017, Jala Jala processed about 2,500 pounds of peppers and put them into 13 different products like Mean Green Jalapeno Jelly, Amarillo Gold Corn Relish, Texacan Salsas and its best seller, Black Widow Blackberry Jalapeno Jelly.
