I had a flashback while I was making the Kentucky Eggnog recipe for this issue. I was reminded of Christmas Eve day in Kentucky in my childhood home—my mom scurrying around the house setting the table for Christmas Eve dinner and my dad in our small kitchen making eggnog. It was a standing tradition that we invited all of our neighbors to come by Christmas night for a light bite and my dad’s famous eggnog. I can still see the empty eggshells in the carton on the counter, smell the bourbon, and hear the shrill of the mixer throughout the entire house.
This month, I wanted to share a few favorites that have been in my family for a long time. Southern Cashew Crescents is a modern twist on my grandmother’s Pecan Crescent recipe. I found it in her recipe box, so I had to use it. I simply replaced the pecans with cashews. The delicious Holiday Coconut Cake is also at the top of my list. I’m not a baker, so if I can make it, anyone can. Pretzel Wands will dress up any dessert bar and can be a great party favor.
Enjoy your family togetherness, make some memories, and spend some time in the kitchen—it’s a pretty awesome place.
Southern Cashew Crescents Recipe
Makes about 2 dozen
2 sticks unsalted butter
4 tablespoons powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 cup cashews, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Beat butter until creamy. Add sugar, salt, flour, and cashews.
Shape into crescents. Bake crescents on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 20 minutes or until firm. Do not brown. They will crisp up as they cool.
Roll baked crescents in powdered sugar to cover completely.
Kentucky Egg Nog Recipe
Makes about 9 cups
6 large eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup bourbon
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Cinnamon or nutmeg for garnish
Separate eggs, reserving whites for later.
Beat egg yolks in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add sugar very slowly (about 10 minutes), beating on medium-low. Add bourbon very slowly (about 5 minutes). Add milk, and continue mixing, about 2 minutes, until thoroughly combined. (Place mixture in a large bowl to free up mixer bowl for the next step.)
Beat egg whites until stiff, not dry, and fold into egg and bourbon mixture. Rinse out mixer bowl, return to mixer, and beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into the egg and bourbon mixture. Chill for several hours or overnight.
When serving, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.
Be sure to stir or shake before serving. (The Egg Nog will settle overnight in the fridge.)
This recipe can easily be doubled for gifts or for a larger crowd.
Pretzel WandsRecipe
Makes 40 to 45
2 (10-ounce) packages white chocolate melting chips
1 bag of old-fashioned pretzel rods
Assorted sprinkles
Paper plate
Melt chips in a microwave-safe bowl (50% power) or in a double boiler over low heat. Dip pretzels halfway into melted chocolate, allowing any excess to drip off, and apply sprinkles to each one over a paper plate. Place immediately on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, and chill. It will take about 30 minutes to set up.
Learn from Leslie: For smaller wands, break them in half and dip the broken end.
Holiday Coconut Cake Recipe
Makes 1 (9-inch) cake
For the cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
For the frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature – 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature – 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract – 1/4 teaspoon almond extract – 1 pound (16 ounces) powdered sugar, sifted – 1 to 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Note: 1 [14-ounce] bag of shredded coconut will be enough for the cake and frosting, as well as for decorating.
Prepare the cake:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans and then line them with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper, and dust lightly with flour.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and coconut. Set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together buttermilk and oil.
In the bowl of an electric mixer with paddle attachment, beat sugar, butter, and vanilla on medium-high speed until mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until well blended. Continue beating until the mixture is very pale and nearly doubled in volume, another 4 minutes.
Reduce speed to medium-low, and add a third of the flour mixture, followed by half of the buttermilk mixture, and mix just to blend. Add another third of the flour mixture and remaining buttermilk mixture; mix just to blend. Add remaining flour mixture.
Divide batter among the cake pans, and smooth the tops. Bake in the middle racks until they are lightly browned and begin to pull away from the sides, about 35 to 37 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes; invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
Prepare frosting
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and almond extract on low speed. Add powdered sugar, and mix until just smooth. Do not whip.
To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut, and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. For best results, chill for 30 minutes before slicing. Cake also can be served at room temperature.
The Sylvesters’ halls are typically decked a little later in the season than most homes. “It’s the cobbler/shoe situation,” says Sybil Sylvester, a beloved Birmingham floral designer. Only after her many clients’ homes and businesses are dressed in their Christmas finery does her personal holiday décor come out to celebrate. And celebrate it does! The Sylvesters opened their home for the 71st annual IPC Holiday House Tour last year, and even though the event was virtual, Sybil and her husband, Bill, did not skimp on a single ornament or decoration. Every inch of their 3,500-square-foot townhome was festooned with fresh greenery and intriguing magical wonderlands incorporating bright color, sweet treats, playful patterns, and fanciful collectibles the couple has amassed over the years—a perfect expression of Sybil’s own artistic creativity and joyful persona.
A Festive Welcome
Dramatic black-and-white wallpaper creates a festive atmosphere year-round in the home’s entry. With Christmas décor layered on top, the space feels like it’s holiday party-ready 24/7. Garlands wrapped in twinkle lights swag both handrails along the stairs leading to the second floor. A variety of ornaments tuck into each garland and also peek from the top of the Sylvester family’s handmade stockings. “They are embroidered and beaded on velvet—each one unique,” Sybil says. “Whenever a new member joined our family, my close friend and longtime colleague, Joyce Hudson, would lovingly stitch a new stocking.”
All Aglow
Sybil’s tree is exuberant with Christmas joy. “I always top it with my petit-point angel tree topper,” she says. “The topper is then surrounded by a whole choir of tiny, wooden, painted German angels that I have collected for over 50 years. There has never been a Christmas without these angels celebrating the season.”
Sybil hangs wreaths on doors, windows, and art, and swags garlands on walls, chandeliers, and stair rails. “The majority are a heavy mix of spruce, cedar, fir, and pine—all fresh and fragrant,” she says.
“To me, it’s all about layers of traditions, along with their accompanying memories. This is the spirit of Christmas.”
“Incorporating a tree is always tricky,” Sybil says of squeezing the holiday must-have into an already fully furnished room. “Last year, we had to shift furnishings around.” A recurring holiday tradition involves adorning the living room mantel with flowers—peach amaryllis blooms with branches of red Ilex berries mixed with other colorful blooms and greenery, arranged each year in Sybil’s favorite A’Mano vases. “They complement the Dale Chihuly painting,” she says, adding that the artwork is the famous glass artist’s impression of his glorious ceiling installation at the Bellagio Hotel. A colored glass-ball garland echoes the painting and acts as a literal connection between the flower arrangements. “Sybil is always working to create an ‘Art in Bloom’ moment,” Bill says.
Gnomes Gone Wild
On the Sylvesters’ screened porch, multi-color twinkle lights, garlands, wreaths, and more encapsulate the space in childlike wonder and cheer. “The gnome village is an example of me letting my imagination come out to play,” she says. Personifying the little elves, she continues, “They built and planted a cabbage farm on my porch table and then invited all of their elf and mushroom friends to bring their trucks and crash the party. And they kept on with their celebrations until there wasn’t a surface left to decorate.”
“A gang of gnomes came in and took over my porch as if it was their own. They strung lights in every direction, creating the effect of looking into a snow globe.”
SYBIL SYLVESTER
When Work is Play
Tartan plaid slipcovers (created by Sybil’s lifelong friend Jennifer Given) envelope the contemporary white-and-mirrored kitchen’s chairs, counter stools, and even the light fixture in traditional red-and-green holiday pattern. “Jennifer stitched and installed the slipcovers, and they add so much cheer to the kitchen, just as I’d hoped,” Sybil says. She then placed a “bonnet” of Christmas greenery on top of the light fixture, creating the look of a floating gift box overflowing with fresh greens. “Tucked around are favorite Christmas vignettes and collections, including Santas, stuffed animals, angel orchestras, antique children’s cars and trucks, and red-and-white polka-dot mushrooms,” says the floral designer. Gabby, the Sylvesters’ 8-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, “rules the roost and moves from one comfortable perch to another,” Sybil says.
Festive and Fun
Floral designer Sybil Sylvester offers her tips for filling your home with Christmas cheer.
Timing. Sybil usually decorates her home around December 15th to ensure everything is still fresh on Christmas morning. However, to make the deadline for the IPC Holiday House Tour, she had to decorate by December 1st. “When it comes to hanging fresh greenery, later is always better,” she says. “Last year, it was a struggle to keep it looking good. By Christmas Day, the tree was raining needles.”
Say “Yes.” Sybil lives by a single rule when it comes to choosing what to decorate with: “Use the things you love and that are meaningful to you. Period.”
The Bare Minimum. “If nothing else, be sure to dress your front door, the mantel, and your dining table,” Sybil says. “These three places will always make your home feel festive.”
Accessorize. “Think of pairing your holiday décor with your home’s year-round look, just like choosing the right pair of earrings for a dress,” says the floral designer. “You want everything to work together.”
Fresh Ideas. “Seek creative ways to use smaller wreaths inside your home,” Sybil says. In the kitchen, she hangs boxwood wreaths from tartan ribbons on white cabinet doors.
Traditions bring families and communities closer together. They give us something to look forward to, to reminisce about, and to enjoy in the moment. The Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour is one of Birmingham’s longest standing holiday traditions—one that has been passed down among volunteers and church members and enjoyed by the community for decades. This year, friends and neighbors will once again open their doors to Birmingham to mark the tour’s 72nd year. Whether this has become an annual tradition for you or this will be your first time to attend, it’s a tradition worth starting—and keeping.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. JOIN THE CHURCH FOR AN IN-PERSON HOLIDAY TEA AND VIEWING OF THE VIRTUAL HOMES TOUR. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT IPC COMMUNITY MINISTRIES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Photos by Jean Allsopp. Styling by Christina Brockman
Frank and Tony are crooning classic Christmas songs; cheesecake is baking in the oven, filling the house with an irresistible aroma; miniature pumpkin breads and spiced tea mixes are being packaged and beribboned for gift giving while childhood ornaments are lifted from tissue paper to decorate the tree—all these are treasured parts of the holiday season for Jennifer Hunt, her husband Buddy, and their two school-aged boys. For Jennifer, it’s all about keeping the family traditions of her small hometown thriving in the big city. “I grew up in Russellville, Alabama, and was raised with generational recipes, heirlooms, frequent entertaining, and a true sense of community,” she says. In their Briarwood neighborhood of 35 houses, which ends in a cul-de-sac, the Hunts have a taste of small-town life every day with its close-knit and supportive spirit. During the holidays, neighbors put treats in mailboxes, and an annual Christmas party rotates among families. “This neighborhood is a hidden gem in Mountain Brook,” says Jennifer. “Some people don’t even know it exists!”
The formal dining room includes a Christmas tree, as well as a mix of handed-down furniture and finds. In her décor, Jennifer prefers structure with white walls, clean lines, her favorite hues (green and blue), and lots of books. “I am book-obsessed,” she says. “They bring visual interest and pops of color to a room. Jennifer’s tablescape consists of Haute Home scalloped place mats, her grandmother’s china and etched crystal stemware, vintage gold flatware, napkins given to Jennifer’s parents as a wedding gift, and custom place cards and menus from Dogwood Hill (with art by Lucy Young). A low, lush floral arrangement bursts with seasonal greenery, paperwhites, pears, and a mix of flowers.
When it comes to her personal holiday decorating and entertaining style, she leans towards the classics with red, green, and gold accents and lots of fresh greenery and family treasures. “I love blue and white in my everyday décor, but I still want those traditional colors at Christmas,” says Jennifer. And she has a tried-and-true approach for recipes and tabletop ideas. “I’m obsessed with china. While other girls were dreaming about their wedding dress or cake, I was focused on selecting my fine china.”
Jennifer often creates flower arrangements from cuttings in the garden mixed with blooms from Trader Joe’s. For special events and parties, she calls on Christina Brockman, who dressed the space with abundant greenery on the chandelier and window, as well as in the kitchen island arrangement. The breakfast area holds a petite tabletop Christmas tree trimmed with preserved oranges, mini red bows, and candy canes. On a red ticking tablecloth made from fabric found at King Cotton, Jennifer paired gold chargers, bamboo flatware, green napkins, and red Lenox dinner plates, along with a custom salad plate. She added candleholders from Mary and Wilma and custom paper goods by Dogwood Hill featuring art by Sarah Robins Powell.
Jennifer settled on the classic and versatile Lenox Solitaire because it can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. She also enjoys using her grandmother’s china with its green botanical detailing and gold rims (Arcadia Green by Franciscan) for more formal holiday gatherings. For everyday meals, Jennifer mixes in festive gold and red pieces. including custom salad plates with a boxwood in the center, designed for Anthropologie by Inslee Fariss. Inslee also happens to be one of the artists who works with Jennifer’s company, Dogwood Hill, a semi-custom stationery and wedding papers firm she started in 2015.
LEFT: The Hunt family: Davis (age 10), Buddy, William (age 7), and Jennifer.
On Christmas Eve, Jennifer turns to her repertoire of true crowd-pleasers, such as cranberry balsamic pork tenderloin, brown sugar bacon and green beans, mashed golden potatoes, Ashley Mac’s Baby Bleu Salad, and her grandmother’s beloved cheesecake, of course. From the recipes and the china to the gifts for neighbors and the holiday décor and parties, Jennifer’s Christmas traditions are sure to be handed down and cherished for generations to come.
“Entertaining can be a breeze if you are well-stocked. I keep a closet at the ready with pressed tablecloths, place mats, napkins, silver, and gold and stainless flatware. That way, even impromptu gatherings don’t cause stress.”
Jennifer Hunt
The tree is decorated with childhood ornaments and ones from the family’s travels. Gift wrap from Dogwood Hill covers packages underneath. Nutcrackers and Santas from Jennifer’s mother stand sentry on the coffee table and side tables.
Many inspired ideas spring from a discovered void in the marketplace, and the same applies to Jennifer’s creation of Dogwood Hill, a semi-custom stationery and wedding papers firm she founded in 2015. One year, Jennifer waited a tad too long to order the custom Christmas cards she was envisioning, so she tried to search for alternatives. Everything was either cookie cutter or had too long of a lead time. For the CPA and art dealer, a light bulb flashed, and she came up with Dogwood Hill. With a collective of 30-plus artists and an in-house design team that creates unique products to reflect many distinctive styles, the company offers something for everyone and every season of life. Plus, the delivery time of 10 days or less and the reasonable prices resonate with customers.
Jennifer’s entrepreneurial spirit comes from her father, who helmed an insurance business in Russellville, Alabama. Later, she worked as vice-president of financial reporting in the corporate office of Zoë’s Kitchen during the earlier days of its growth. “It was like an MBA mini crash course!” says Jennifer. This type of experience, along with working for Arthur Andersen LLP and later owning her own art gallery, gave Jennifer the confidence to go for it. “I get to use both sides of my brain, exploring my creativity while understanding the details of running a business,” she says.
Before each holiday season, Dogwood Hill partners with tastemakers around the country to collaborate on seasonal collections with one of their 30-plus artists. It’s not just about big names and the number of Instagram followers, although the company has partnered with well-known interior designers such as Meg Braff, Mark Sikes, Amanda Lindroth, and James Farmer. The choices involve more intangible qualities. “Like-mindedness is key,” says Jennifer. “We want to work with people who inspire us, are in harmony with our brand, and are nice!” Going forward, Dogwood Hill is looking into licensing opportunities while also branching out into select branded partnerships, such as one with the Birmingham-based company Bauble Stockings.
Each year, Dogwood Hill chooses tastemakers who team up with their artists to create seasonal paper goods.
1. (Top) Washington, D.C.-area blogger and creative behind @tallwoodcountryhouse, Jenny Bohannon, looked to her farm animals when designing her goose-themed papers with artist Shanna Masters.
2. (Middle Left) Charleston influencer Megan Stokes cued the traditional juniper branches when working with artist Holly Hollon.
3. (Middle Right & Bottom Left) Connecticut-based portrait and fashion photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank’s holiday Santa and golden retriever-led sleigh were rendered by artist Willa Heart.
4. (Bottom Right) Minnesota-based interior designer Bria Hammel partnered with artist Sally King McBride to create the wreaths, magnolias, and delicate blue floral prints.
For Dogwood Hill’s full line of offerings, and to see more from this year’s tastemakers, visit dogwood-hill.com
“Our next launch will be fabrics sold by the yard and ready-made tabletop pieces such as napkins, tablecloths, and place mats. It’s a natural extension of our paper products—and another piece in the art of entertaining.”
– Jennifer Hunt
Dogwood Hill artist Riley Sheehey designed the Nutcracker Garden wrapping paper.
See more of Jennifer and her Christmas creations here.
“Sometimes, we are so eager to get our tree that we go the night of Thanksgiving,” says the homeowner. “We always buy a 9-foot tree at Vestavia’s Mountain Scout Sale (scouttreesale.com). That’s a must.”
The Homeowner
This year, the family’s tree stands tall in their new den recently completed by interior designer Meredith Sherrill, who oversaw the home’s first makeover on the exterior prior to this more recent interior expansion. The owner purchased the home nine years ago with the intent of eventually renovating it. “We loved the location, and the house was well-kept,” she says. “We knew it had potential and that we could make it our own over the years.” And after living in it for a while, the family realized exactly what they needed—a more functional living space that would include a new den and kitchen within a footprint that felt true to the home’s original cottage feel. “I wanted something homey that wasn’t too fancy, where kids would feel comfortable coming in and out for snacks,” the owner says. “I knew that Meredith and our contractor, Cherry & Company, could do the renovation—and do it well.”
As Meredith drew the architectural plans for the new kitchen and family room, which involved moving the dining room into the old living room, she also worked in warm material selections like soapstone, planked walls, and beamed ceilings to give the house coziness without clutter. “We wanted to create minimal, comfortable interiors,” says the designer. “I also wanted to feature some of the great antiques that the owner has collected over the years, such as the beloved dining table that was passed down through her family.”
“I love the outdoors, so I wanted earthy tones and lots of natural light throughout my house. I wasn’t looking for anything trendy. I wanted it all to feel timeless.”
The Homeowner
With the interiors revamped and the holidays approaching, the owner then turned her focus toward seasonal décor. She called on Buffy Hargett of Buffy Hargett Flowers to lend her finishing touch to the home. “I went with an all-natural, green-on-green Christmas scheme,” says Buffy. “People often think they need to have a lot of red to decorate for the holidays, but I like to take a more subtle approach, especially for families with a lot of activity in the house. Green feels soothing. And you can always add in a pop of color, like I did with chartreuse ribbons throughout the house.”
Holiday Visions
Buffy Hargett, Birmingham’s floral and styling extraordinaire, relays her best tips for simple Christmas decorating.
Fakes aren’t a faux pas. “When hung up high, like the wreath over the TV in the den, I prefer to use fake greenery. It’s so far away that no one will be able to tell it’s not real. Plus, watering something that high can just be a pain,” says Buffy.
Make the everyday feel festive. “There’s no reason to move a perfectly good orchid out of the way during the holidays,” Buffy says. “Instead, I add holiday elements such as pine cones and curly sticks to the arrangement to make it more festive.”
Topiaries are timeless. “I just cannot get enough of the myrtle topiaries from Shoppe,” Buffy says. “They are great for year-round decorating, but for the holidays, I like to tie white bows around their stems and fill their bases with lemons and limes.”
Ring the wreath. “There are many ways to use a wreath besides the obvious one,” says Buffy. “Of course, I hang them outside and inside, but I also like to use them as festive ‘collars’ like I did under the fruit bowl in the kitchen. It’s such an easy thing to do.”
Poinsettias are always on point. “They are the Christmas flower for a reason,” says Buffy. “They last forever, but you don’t have to buy just red. I prefer white varieties, and I like to repot them in nice containers throughout the house for a subtler take on the traditional holiday flower.”
Resources:
Architectural and Interior design:Meredith SherrillBuilder: Cherry & Company Landscape: Falkner GardensKitchen Cabinets: Top Grain Woodworks Hardware: Brandino BrassAppliances & Bath Fixtures: FergusonCountertops:Surface 1Tile/Backsplash: Triton Stone GroupFloors: Steve Kelley Flooring Ceiling Beams: Evolutia Upholstery & Dining Chairs: Circa Interiors & AntiquesWalnut Buffet:Maison de France AntiquesPaint Colors:All walls, trim & ceiling: Tapestry Beige (Benjamin Moore) Kitchen Island and Cabinets: Jogging Path (Sherwin-Williams) Powder Bath: Link Grey (Sherwin-Williams) Exterior Brick: White Chocolate (Benjamin Moore) Shutters: Vale Mist (Benjamin Moore)
Rich in history with creativity built upon thrift and tradition, Alabama is replete with phenomenal makers. Artisans working in the mediums of clay, paper, leather, marble, and wood are today’s caretakers of our collective sense of place. The makers featured on the following pages are just a few of the individuals dedicated to translating their artistry into something useful, cherished, joy-inspiring, and very giftable this season. Their dedication to craft makes our state a better place to call home.
Magic City Woodworks
The apprenticeship model is the foundation for all work done at Magic City Woodworks, located on the north end of Birmingham. Step into the shop and you will be greeted with a hearty welcome that immediately sets the tone for the goods you are about to experience. Using wood as the medium, artisans craft everything from coasters and grazing boards to planters and ping-pong tables. Small teams of cohorts come together in six-month stints to learn more than how to plane a two-by-four. They learn that work is good, hard work is rewarding, completing a task and working as a team has meaning, and greeting one another with eye contact matters. As founder and CEO Lawrence Sheffield says, “Work is an opportunity. Work is an equalizer. Work is a training ground for our hearts.” In short, come for the goods, leave with something far more enduring than a gift.
“We want to be the Chick-fil-A of woodworking. What we mean when we say that is our product is our people. Their development is our greatest investment.”
Blake Wilson, Magic city woodworks CO
What to buy
Goods from Magic City Woodworks can be found in the most fantastic places, such as local corporate boardrooms, residential man caves, and even the new Protective Life Stadium. No matter what vision you have for a particular piece, you can see it come to life here.
Birmingham residents who’ve had the pleasure of dining at famed Hot & Hot Fish Club in the Pepper Place Market district or at SpringHouse Restaurant at Lake Martin are well versed in the appeal of Tena Payne’s Earthborn Pottery. Yet these are not the only chefs who handpicked her wares as the backdrop to their award-winning culinary fare. You might be surprised to learn that you can find Tena’s plates, bowls and serving pieces at more than 250 restaurants and clubs worldwide, all produced in-house at her Leeds, Alabama, facility. “The best thing we have going for us is our relationships with chefs,” she says. “Our crafts are alike in that we both use ingredients that come from the ground. My art frames their art.” The adage often imitated but never duplicated is one that most certainly applies to Tena’s goods. Her custom glazing process is what ensures the longevity and durability of every piece that bears her name. After all, the prettiest plates in the world won’t get used if they chip or crack with regular use.
“The best thing we have going for us is our relationships with chefs. Our crafts are alike in that we both use ingredients that come from the ground. My art frames their art.”
Tena Payne
What to buy
Locally, you can find Earthborn Pottery products at Alabama Goods in Homewood (their bespoke line features pine cones and camellia blooms), The Cook Store in Mountain Brook Village, and Bromberg’s, which has its own botanical line. A popular hostess gift is one of Tena’s smaller bowls paired with a box of locally made cheese straws or homemade rosemary-scented cashews. While newlyweds always appreciate plates and bowls to finish out a registry, it’s the platters and serving pieces that are usually the most coveted items.
A collection of Tena Payne’s finished pottery pieces.
Brooks Barrow
Brooks Barrow works in the medium of limestone, granite, and marble, especially Alabama white marble from quarries in nearby Sylacauga. In his studio outside Montgomery, Brooks chisels, shapes, and forms each piece to best show the natural beauty of the material. “Finding material that shifts decisively is difficult,” he says. “Most stone is melancholy and an indecisive earth tone. If it goes gray, it never quite goes gray enough. It goes through an awkward stage and never grays fully. And if it is white, it has so many impurities that it has its own issues.”
In Brooks’s hands, North Alabama limestone is coaxed into shallow serving platters that feel at once grounded and substantial yet light. The color and shape of each piece effortlessly showcase the contents it holds (even when it might be nothing at all) much in the same way a supporting actor makes the leading lady look so good. The vessels Brooks crafts from Alabama white marble are breathtaking in the simplicity of their shape, allowing the natural hues—pinks, faint forest greens, whispers of blue, and yes, pure white—to glow from within. And the variations of color lend an ethereal airiness, counterbalanced only by the sheer heft of the stone.
“The work is all subtractive. That is why it is helpful to work subconsciously and not overthink it.”
Brooks Barrow
What to buy
Unlike home goods and apparel items which are produced in large quantities, each Brooks Barrow creation is unique. No two pieces of stone are the same, and no two days of working with the stone are the same. Even the sharpness of the carving implements will vary from one piece to the next. In short, when you see an item that you love on Brooks’s Etsy page, buy it. There will never be another. He accepts custom orders as well.
Drawn to function, aesthetics, and quality, as well as enduring and timeless appeal, Radcliff Menge was inspired to create his own hunting jacket when others on the market failed to meet his exacting standards. A self-professed recovering corporate attorney with deep affections for Southern culture and a love of the outdoors, Radcliff created the Tom Beckbe brand in 2015 around his signature Tensaw jacket. A derivation of the Choctaw Indian pronunciation of the famed Tombigbee River (Ratcliff spent his youth hunting the river’s shores with his grandfather), Tom Beckbe represents a sector of the outdoor apparel market that had heretofore been untapped—goods best described as American, Southern, elegant, functional, and genteel-but-not-afraid-to-get-your-hands-dirty.
“Our apparel looks just as great around town as it performs in the field.”
Radcliff Menge, Tom Beckbe founder
What to buy
You need not be an avid outdoors person to appreciate Tom Beckbe goods. The brand’s utility bags, shirts, hats, whiskey totes, and log carriers are universally loved. The leather chef’s knife roll, a collaboration with James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Hastings, lets even home cooks feel more than a little wicked-cool. For a major wow, we suggest the Overland Chest (top photo), handmade in Heber Springs, Arkansas, by the legendary craftsmen of Julian & Sons. Made from American black walnut, it showcases leather-lined drawers and copper tray pulls.
Passionate about good design and an aesthetic that does more to define their brand than defy traditional labels, Brett Forsyth and Brandon Watkins have created something really special at Yellowhammer Creative. The duo came together in 2009 with a side hustle creating show posters and T-shirts for bands they admired. In 2013, a collaboration with REV Birmingham afforded them pop-up shop space on 3rd Avenue North, which increased their exposure and helped launch their company. Today their style has been translated beyond mere ink and paper—they also do graphic design, branding, wayfinding systems, interior design, and more. “We are a full-service creative agency,” Brandon says. “Clients often tell us they want something to look like Yellowhammer, which really has come to mean timeless—not necessarily vintage but rather classic.” Brett adds, “We really draw on nostalgia. That is what inspires us.”
“We have developed a certain aesthetic. Our wheelhouse is kind of this place—something you may have seen before or felt like was always there.”
Brandon Watkins
What to buy
The Yellowhammer shop at Pepper Place is teeming with fan favorites of the brand such as the “It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham” logo they created, which can be found on everything from T-shirts and tea towels to magnets and stickers. Beyond that, the store shows a lot of pride for not only The University of Alabama and Auburn University but also local educational powerhouse UAB.
It all started with a belt Virden Hargrove wanted made. He sketched out a design, and in true get-it-done fashion, his wife, Elle, made it happen. They knew immediately that others would also want these Southern-inspired designs, needlepointed onto all kinds of daily items. As a result, Asher Riley was born.
Mississippi natives, Elle and Virden named the company after their son and their beloved dog. In addition to running the lifestyle brand, Elle is a hygienist, having learned the trade in the military while stationed in Florida. Upon completion of her active duty and reserve days, the couple was finally able to pick where they wanted to start their lives together and create a forever home. Elle explains that The Magic City was an easy choice. “We love the size and the feel here,” she says. Putting down roots here all those years ago paved the way for the Asher Riley brand to really take hold as their designs feature cotton bolls, retrievers, mallards, and state flags. In addition, the couple’s love of the coast finds its way into patterns with mermaids, nautical flags, and bonefish emblems. “There’s almost no limit to what we can create,” says Elle.
“Legacy. This is where we choose to live out our dreams and create the life we want to pass along.”
Virden Hargrove, when asked what Birmingham means to the Asher Riley brand
What to buy
Coozies for your squad. A leash befitting your princely hound. Coasters for your lake house. Cardholders and wallets for your nephews. Or give a gift certificate and let the recipient pick a one-of-a-kind favorite. Christopher Collection in Homewood (2913 Linden Avenue) stocks a wide array of ready-to-gift Asher Riley goods.
The soil of Moulton, Alabama, plays a rich role in the agricultural and textile history of Alabama. Anna Yeager Brakefield just wants to make sure the rest of the world knows about it. After graduating from Auburn, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in advertising, working on brand accounts like BMW and American Express. When she married her college sweetheart who’d completed his pharmacy degree, the pair moved to Nashville. Anna admits it was hard to find her niche in Music City. “My dad definitely capitalized on that and asked me to just try this (running Red Land Cotton) with him,” she says. While branding and storytelling came easily for this third-generation member of a cotton-growing clan, Anna also dove headfirst into learning the e-commerce side of the business. Her dad recalls a time when you could watch a bale of cotton go into a machine in Sylacauga and practically watch it come out as a pair of jeans on the other side. That type of vertical integration is almost impossible to find in the textile industry, but the Yeager family works to keep their chain as tight as possible. Cotton grown by her dad and two brothers on the 5,000 acres in Moulton can be ginned on site before heading to Virginia to be spun, to South Carolina to be woven, and then back to Moulton (or Tylertown, Mississippi) for the cut-and-sew process. All finished goods eventually land at the new distribution center and storefront in Moulton where they are inspected for quality and packaged for the prettiest presentation, something customers and gift recipients love.
So what makes sheets from Red Land Cotton different from something you’ll find at a big-box store? It’s the process: The Yeagers reverse-engineered a sheet from the 1920’s to produce what feels like something your grandmother may have line-dried and ironed a lifetime ago—sheets that start with a snap and just get softer with age and use.
“More than a bedsheet, more than a quilt, you’re purchasing American values and helping employ Americans. You’re helping keep the textile industry here alive.”
Anna Yeager Brakefield
What to buy
Anna says that their quilts and blankets will be the biggest sellers this season. Towels are also hugely popular; they completely sold out on Black Friday last year. The Red Land Cotton “Go Anywhere Dress” is the perfect beach coverup or bridesmaid gift, while the “Ticking Stripe Apron” will be your hostess-gift staple.
Birmingham is filled with talented craftspeople. Here are a few more of our favorite makers to add to your gift and personal wish list:
Bauble Stockings – baublestockings.com Needlepoint stockings handmade by artists in Haiti along with belts and DIY kits.
Bonnybee Designs – Bonnybeedesigns.com Macrame wall hangings, keychains, jewelry, and place mats.
Canvas – carriepittman.com Abstract paintings and hand-painted bags and fabrics by Carrie Pittman Hill. CANVAS also sells other local goods including Favor Candles and Too Pillows.
Civil Stoneware Inc. – civilstoneware.com Tableware and accessories in modern, matte finishes.
Flint Leather Company – flintleatherco.com Leather bags, wallets, and accessories.
Freedom Soap Company – freedomsoaps.com Small batch, all-natural soap and skin-care products.
Merry by Julie Terrell – merry.julieterrell.com Custom holiday stockings made of fine velvet, linen, and vintage fabrics.
Shop Handmade & Local
Alabama Goods – alabamagoods.com Alabama-made goods including candles, clothing, pottery, and more.
A’Mano – amanogifts.com Handcrafted items that support artisans and producers in developing countries. Offers home décor, jewelry, candles, cards, and more.
“I love seeing a set come to life and a vision realized with my studio photography.”
Lane Weichman
CAREER PATH
Family session with Goodmans by Lane
Lane: I grew up in Trussville and first studied art/photography at the University of Montevallo. I’ve always felt a connection to photos. As a teenager, I studied fashion magazine photography and became interested in the sets and styling. That evolved into what I do today. My absolute favorite thing about photography is that it allows me to capture the little details of someone that may be forgotten about in a few years. Kids grow and change so quickly, and the cute little quirks that they have one year may be gone the following year.
Josh: I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania but moved to Chelsea my senior year of high school. At first, I hated living in Birmingham. However, the longer I stayed, the more I fell in love with it. I think it’s the people that I like the most. There are so many great artists, musicians, and small business owners here. That’s what really makes this city magic.
Holiday Card with Lane
Cake smash Collins Butler by Lane
Lane in action
PHOTOGRAPHY
Lane: Our girls are pretty much my inspiration for everything. When I get an idea, I always try it out on them first. For example, I do lifestyle dance photos and glitter party photos. Both of those themes are inspired by Lucy’s love of dance. I also do on-location sessions, and I shoot a lot of my work outdoors. Being unique and creative is something that is very important to me. Josh and I joke that most people look at a pretty field and think, “Wow, a pretty field,” but we are both observing the light pouring through the trees and how amazing it would look at sunset. We look for little spots where we could put a subject in to create a photograph.
Josh: As a BMX racer growing up, I would study the photos in my BMX magazines. I was always amazed that people could shoot photos of something that was moving so fast and make it look so great. I spent my free time photographing my racing friends. In college, I got an internship with a music venue that wanted me to shoot photos of concert fans. As part of the payment, I was given access to the shows. Then I started to shoot the different artists that came through, and I fell in love with the fast pace of it all.
“You Are Beautiful” overpass by Josh
Josh in action
Child flossing by Josh
Jason Isbell at the Ryman Theatre by Josh
FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
Josh: I always love getting to shoot Jason Isbell and his incredible band. I think I’ve done 40 or 50 of his shows now. His team has been incredibly kind to me over the years. Other favorites include St. Paul and The Broken Bones, The Flaming Lips, Drive-By Truckers, Brent Cobb, Anderson East, Amanda Shires, and Mavis Staples. My dream project is to document an album coming together in a studio.
LIFE IN SPRINGVILLE
Lane: We love our small-town life. Most of our family lives here now, and the downtown area has a lot of great shops and food. Many of our friends own businesses here. I have a beautiful, open studio space in a 1902 building in the heart of downtown. We homeschool the girls, so I basically work my schedule around them. Most of Josh’s photography is planned months in advance, so it’s pretty easy to work around his schedule. With his concert photography, he usually doesn’t leave the house until late in the afternoon or at night.
For our 2021 Inspiration Home,we partnered with River Brook Design and Construction to bring together some of Birmingham’s top talent. You won’t want to miss all of the amazing rooms, innovative designs, and beautiful custom details. The house is officially open for tours and you are invited. Of course, you will receive a complete resource guide to keep when you tour, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek and a few of our favorite highlights. See you there!
Dining room designed by Mark Kennamer Design
“Our goal was to make the interior and exterior have a cohesive European feel. Extensive consideration was given to the selection of all materials, plantings, and surfaces.”
River Brook Design & Construction
Kitchen designed by River Brook Design
Kitchen with wall of windows and a large waterfall island.
Magic Moments was founded with the sole purpose of providing happiness to children throughout Alabama who are diagnosed with chronic, life-threatening illnesses. To date, the organization has provided close to 5,000 special experiences. Not only does Magic Moments provide children with nonmedical opportunities, such as a family trip to Disney World, meeting a celebrity, or going on a shopping spree, they also offer events to enhance relationships between the staff and families, as well as relationships with other families.
After running an illegal, off-grid rum still in Panama, starting in 2012, Birmingham, Alabama native Hatton Smith II returned to the US in 2018 to start a revolutionary rum business, Campesino Rum.
Campesino Rum can be found in bars and restaurants across Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee in part due to the efforts of several Birmingham bars. “Campesino wouldn’t be a thing without Birmingham,” says Hatton. When Campesino first started, Birmingham bars went to bat for the brand to be approved by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. In turn, Hatton is a big advocate for Birmingham’s food and beverage industry.
While Hatton may not currently be distilling his rum in Panama, you wouldn’t know it from looking at him. Hatton’s formative time in the tropics is reflected in his signature wardrobe. While at Campesino events, Hatton’s uniform emulates the look made popular by The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. For everyday wear, Hatton has his favorite pair of jeans, one pair of boots, and one Campesino t-shirt. “I live on the road, I have to pack light,” he says. While Hatton might not care for material things, he does care about Campesino’s rum being “unadulterated.”
Hatton believes “Rum can be something everyone can enjoy” and is a spirit that deserves the same attention and recognition as bourbon or agave spirits. One of the ways Campesino strives to offer the best quality rum is by not sweetening or coloring it like other brands. Campesino’s growing popularity and Hatton’s wandering spirit might keep him on the road, but when he is home, Hatton’s favorite stops in Birmingham run along 1st and 2nd Avenue North. Places like Cayo Coco, Paper Doll Bar, and El Barrio are used to the rum man frequenting their bar stools.
Campesino Rum can be found all over Birmingham in bars and restaurants like Queens Park, Moe’s Original BBQ, The Lab, and more. A comprehensive list of where to find Campesino and many of Campesino’s popular drink recipes can be found at campesinorum.com.
In a pitcher add limes, sugar, and a splash of soda water to dissolve the sugar. Once incorporated add ice, 1/2 bottle of Campesino Silver X, and top with soda water. Stir and serve
