IceMilk Aprons and The Mercantile.

IceMilk Aprons is thrilled to announce we are now in-store at The Mercantile, a fabulous home design boutique in the Brookhaven neighborhood of Atlanta.

Run by designer Barbara Heath, I personally have been swooning over this store since it moved into the neighborhood and seem to find a new wonderful treasure each time I stop in. They carry wonderful collections like Trowbridge and Match, and have some of the most unique lighting & sofa pieces I’ve seen in all in one place. One of my favorite finds was a small horn spreader that I use nearly every time I entertain (how fabulous!)

Another perk of this tasteful boutique is their affiliation with Taigan, an online membership-only selection of the finest boutiques & wares, coupled with their online registry services.

We are so thrilled to have a home within The Mercantile. Do stop in & peruse!

The Mercantile

1430 Dresden Drive, Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 816-0060

www.mercantileatlanta.com

Copyright (c) IceMilk Aprons 2010

Martha Stewart: An Heirloom Matriarch.

From garden to craft to cooking-from-scratch, Martha Stewart’s MARTHA logo says it all in one intricate glance, embodying everything she is as a person, as a brand, as the heirloom matriarch of our time.

I had the very fine honor of crossing off one pretty hefty To-Do on my bucket list this week,  I was invited as an audience guest at Martha’s Blog Show. A fabulous trip to New York City was just what I needed in terms of inspiration for a brand new year.

As my thoughts wander about amidst all of the heirloom touches that inspire me each & every day – from fashion to cooking to antiques to architecture – I find it important to also note the people behind such things that keep the past in the present for us all to enjoy. There is no denying that Martha Stewart has build her own well-deserved empire one stitch at a time, but to me, it is Martha who has led the heirloom-chic trend of today; it is she that keeps it alive and well in the world.

For Gen X & Y, knitting is the epitome of cool, Food Network is a can’t-miss, everyone wants to grow their own fresh herbs, glitter is all the rage, and KitchenAid Mixers are at the top of everyone’s wish list. It is my belief that Martha has inspired all such things in some form or fashion, constantly keeping them in the forefront of fabulous. The craft of sewing or cooking-from-scratch will never be lost in this world of drugstore costumes and microwaved meals.

So, you may check out the live chatter from the oh-so-delicious #blogshow and always thank Martha Stewart, the Heirloom Matriarch of our day, who inspires things from the past to be savored for generations to come.

Copyright (c) IceMilk Aprons 2010

Heirloom Travel: Thomasville, Georgia

With a brick-laden Broad Street, street lamps afire and a 300-year-old oak tree the size of a city block, the plantation town of Thomasville, Georgia is lost in a world of which we all reminisce.



One of my very favorite places to visit, there are so many things in The City of Roses that you just simply cannot miss, all housed in the charmingly historic downtown buildings of Thomasville.

The oh-so-fabulous gourmet goodie shop Relish is filled with everything to keep a foodie happy and the most fantastic screen door that makes you feel like you’re coming home. Kevin’s is a must-stop for the beau, a beautiful outdoor shop with all things a plantation owner, or one with fabulous taste, must have.

There are many wonderful antique stores to peruse, all worth checking out. My personal favorite is Relics, as there is always something you’ve never seen before and a good bit of architectural pieces. My first visit here was met with the owner snapping fresh green beans into a bucket – how could I not fall in love?

Another thing I adore about Thomasville is their heirloom markers of history. Each of the downtown stores has one posted outside noting the original date of construction and business type that once graced the land – I love the nostalgia.

As for eats, you can’t miss George & Louie’s for some true southern seafood, and on Broad is supposedly the worlds best chili dog (though I don’t speak from experience, I’ve heard it to be true).

Like all heirloom towns, this one comes stocked with the quaintest of barber, coffee, book & bath shops, not to mention a fabric & bedding store; a dapper men’s shop and Firefly (great for kids + unique accessory finds).

As for “to-do’s” – the Museum of History is a must to learn all stories of the local plantations, and to experience one first-hand I adore Pebble Hill and their gorgeous property & cemetery. If you’re going, Springtime is just grand and you can catch the annual Rose Festival in late April or the take-you-back decorations if visiting over the Christmas holidays. And, of course, find the Big Oak for a photo opp you’ll want to treasure.

My only warning is the strong desire you’ll feel to move to Thomasville upon visiting. Do go, to enjoy & do share with us your favorite heirloom moments in the Rose City!

Copyright (c) IceMilk Aprons 2010

Traditions of the New Year.

The New Year brings about a celebration like no other – of reflection, renewal and rebirth. In the midst of the winters cold, a fervent bubbling of anticipation and the best of intentions ahead.

The tradition of New Years Resolutions dates back to 153 BC, as the Romans honored Janus (hence, January) the god of beginnings. With his two faces, Janus could both look back on the past and forward to the future and thus became the ancient symbol for resolutions.

As we look both behind and ahead to set our resolutions for 2010 (see one here), we will be very sure to include some Heirloom Resolutions on our list again this year.

We wish you & yours all the very best in the new year! What resolutions are you making for 2010?

Heirloom Recipes: Turtles.

Wax paper rows of farm-raised perfections, caramel & cocoa hand-dippings with pasture times spent gathering.

May sound familiar if you’ve perused our Pecan Orchard Pleasantries Full Apron. This apron was inspired by my beau’s Granny, whom I was lucky enough to spend a chilly winter day with in the kitchen over the holidays.

Year after year she spends countless days hand-picking pecans from the picturesque horse pasture at their family farm to stockpile enough to make endless turtles for the holidays. Cracking, cleaning, & bagging the whole pecans are just the beginning. This recipe truly is an heirloom in their family, and one that will be preserved for generations to come.

The secret to the recipe, of course, is the fresh, whole pecans carefully made into crosses on a wide sheet of wax paper, turtle after turtle. For a quart sized Ziploc bagful, you’ll need about 2 bags of Kraft caramels and 6 squares of chocolate almond bark.

Simply “cross” the pecans, melt the caramels in the microwave & carefully (will be hot) pull of a spoonful of caramel & flatten and place onto each pecan cross. Once these are all carameled, melt the chocolate bricks in the microwave and again spoon on a dollop to complete the turtles! Allow them to firm & dry and then divulge in some serious, farm raised perfection!

Thanks Granny.

IceMilk Aprons & Saks Fifth Avenue.

Saks Fifth Avenue is made of what little girls dream of, reminiscent of the elegance of only the most proper of ladies dressed to the nines in heels & fur on a snowy-charmed street of the City.

IceMilk Aprons so proudly announces our line of heirloom aprons will be in-store at the Saks Fifth Avenue Atlanta store at Phipps Plaza beginning December 9th as part of the Trinity School Spotlight on Art Artists Market Preview, along with 11 other fabulous Atlanta artists.

We are just thrilled to adorn the luxurious shelves of Saks with a whole bunch of preserves jars each carefully packed with our aprons waiting for you to come in for a holiday visit! Hope you’ll stop in and check out our display as you’re out gift-gathering for the loved ones.

Oh, Peppermint Sticks.

Delectable sticks of soft peppermint delight, Bob’s Peppermint Sticks are a must-have vintage confection for the holidays.

Wooden barrels brimmed-over with small bags of these fragrant peppermint sticks fill your head with reminiscent memories of noching on the simple treats. Wrap a stack with a simple ribbon for a beautiful stocking stuffer or in place of a traditional bowl of dinner mints. Adding a peppermint stick to a mug of cocoa or coffee for a tasty stir, or as garnish in a specialty holiday drink.
Be sure to grab a tiny bag of these sweet pieces of peppermint sticks and add a classic twist to the candy canes of today to freshen up your holiday cheer.

National Tie One On Day (An Apron!)

National Tie One On Day™ is today, Wednesday 11/25, Thanksgiving Eve. In its 4th year, National Tie One On Day is an opportunity to put a little “give” back into Thanksgiving.

My dear friend, EllynAnne Geisel, author of The Apron Book, Apronisms & The Kitchen Linens Book, created this event. The event centers around wrapping a baked good in an apron, writing a note of prayer or encouragement, and tying one on…an apron, of course! and delivering the wrapped bundle to someone in need of physical or spiritual sustenance, a bit of recognition or just a kind word.

Visit her website www.apronmemories.com for more information and to enter the goodie bag giveaway! Six winners!!

I hope you’ll join me and participate! It’s such a win-win. As EllynAnne says,”Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal, and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”

IceMilk Aprons and Urban Cottage.

Located in the preserved & bustling Virginia-Highlands neighborhood in Atlanta, we are excited to have Urban Cottage as our newest Gourmet Retailer of IceMilk Aprons.

Housed in a fabulously quaint cottage set just off the road, Urban Cottage has a myriad of wonderful items, both large & small. Their beautiful furniture is all custom and can be tailored to your every whim – a gorgeous tufted ottoman caught my eye immediately.

You’ll be quick to notice a fabulous selection of carefully chosen books – from cookbooks to home to wedding to idea inspiration – all urging you to flip through. One of my favorite finds was pinched pottery from a local potter in Cabbagetown, with a rustic finish and done in fabulous neutrals. Mother & daughter Silverstein team own this glorious shop, along with the beautifully designed Breathless Paper Co. well worth taking a peek.

We are thrilled to be in the treasure-filled Urban Cottage and excited to have them as a partner – hope you’ll stop in for a visit!

Heirloom Recipes: From Amy Deaver at Lemon Bird Handmade Jams

Part of our Heirloom Recipes Series, featuring foodies, artisans & fabulous folks willing to share their stories, recipes and photos in an effort to help preserve and share these family recipes for generations to come.

Amy Deaver is the owner & jam maker at Lemon Bird Handmade Jams. I found her delightfully packaged and beautifully designed jams online and instantly fell in love. I adore their simple design, beautiful photography and their dedication to using seasonal and local fruits. Here is what Amy had to say:

What recipe are you sharing with us?
I found this recipe in my Grandmother’s file, and I also scanned in the front of the recipe book.

What makes this recipe meaningful to you?
I was really surprised when I found this card in my Grandma’s collection of recipes.  The recipe is for a barbecued brisket and this has been our family meal on Christmas Day for as long as I can remember.  My Dad gets up early and gets the brisket ready to roast in the oven all day long.  While it cooks, we spend the entire day together as a family opening gifts and enjoying our time together.  In the late afternoon, we all sit down at the formal dining table for a meal of the brisket and cheese grits.  This is the one day out of the year when we eat this meal and everyone in the family loves it.  It’s a really special day and time for all of us to be together since we all live far apart.  On Christmas day we all cook together, eat together, and celebrate together.

What photos are you sharing with us?
To save my family (and self) the shots of us in our PJ’s all day on Christmas Day – I’ll instead include a photo of the Great Snow Storm of 2008.  We live in the mountains of Southern California and last year we received about 3 feet of snow in one week.  We were actually snowed away from home for a few days.  Here’s a photo of some of our beautiful snow coming down.

Special thanks to Amy. We hope you’ll check out their delightful line of handmade jams at lemonbirddesign.com!