preserves jars.

If you know me by now, you know I have a thing for jars { just two examples here and here }. So, I just had to share these two new preserves jar finds that I found. The Luxe Canning Jars from Jayson Home have a great vintage appeal and I love the classic gold tops. And, I’m sure you’ve seen these blue Ball jars that have been popping up all over the place, in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the first perfect Mason jar. I know these will be a big hit for 4th of July parties this year.

If you find any hidden gems I’m missing, I’d love to see any other fabulous jars that you find, too!

#southernchat: jars & canning.

If you know me well {or .. not so well} you know that jars are simply one of my favorite things! When I was little, I loved playing in my grandmother’s pantry because she kept nothing in it’s original packaging but instead transferred everything to be stored into various sized glass jars, which were labeled and reminded me of a candy store – it was beautiful. And today, I do the same with many of my baking ingredients. And, of course I package my own IceMilk Aprons in their very own jars as well as a nod to this special fondness I have.

Funny story. So, I get preserves jars by the truckload from a small town grocery store or from our local hardware store to hand pack each of my aprons. My husband is kind enough to go there and load them up in his pickup truck and bring them home for me. The folks at the store are certain we are moonshiners. It makes me laugh every time, though I have kind of gotten into the Moonshiners show {anyone else?} …

Canning and preserving is on the list as one of the top 10 trends of 2013 and is oh-so-chic! With farming and farmers markets being so popular these days, I’m not surprised! Williams-Sonoma has a special section on their agrarian site just for Canning & Preserving. Mason jars are being used on everything from weddings to packaging to entertaining. Blackberry Farm has a preservationist on staff. So, whether you love Ball, Mason, Kerr, Weck or other jars, take your pick and jump right into this fun, southern-inspired craft. Some of my favorite things come in jars and I included them above for you to enjoy, but I’d love to know what else you have that I haven’t yet discovered! I hope you’ll join in our #southernchat this week to talk about all things  jars, preserving, canning & more!

#southernchat: jars & canning (Monday, 2/18/13, 9:00 pm est)

Q1: When you think of jars, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Q2: What kind of jars are your favorite? Brands, shapes, sizes & more!

Q3: Have you ever tried canning & preserving? If not, would you give it a try? If so, any tips to share?

Q4: I shared some of my favorite things in jars, so what are your favorite things in jars?

Q5: What are some of the most creative things you’ve seen done with jars?

{ If you’re interested in sponsoring the southern jars & canning chat, or to learn more about #southernchat, to be a guest or host another giveaway, click here to learn more!}

Jars + Canning:
Phickles Pickles, Emily G’s Jams, Bella Cucina pesto, IceMilk Aprons, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Sea Salt, Blackberry Farms Grain and Nut Granola for Williams-Sonoma, Canning for a New Generation book.

a pantry appeal.

One of my very favorite things when I was young, was playing inside my Grandmothers pantry.

It wasn’t very large, just a simple nook with two shuttered doors, but inside was a world of entertainment and exploration. Grandma had a thing about organization, repurposing and efficiency. The shelves were lined with glass jars and canisters of various sizes, each plainly labeled in her handwriting.

My Grandfather worked for a restaurant in South Florida and many of the larger glass canisters were from marachino cherry supplies at the restaurant, the perfect size for basics like flour, sugar and the likes.

My sister and I would spend hours organizing and sorting through the jars – from red hots to butter mints, powdered sugar to brown. Never was the pantry without such staples as Grapenuts and gingersnaps.

To this day I love the allure of an organized pantry, much like an old general store. What is your favorite pantry tip?

images via : pinterest / and here / design public /  design*sponge