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Monday, February 7, 2011

Slippin Southern Giveaway {Feb 7 - Feb 13th}

I am super stoked for this weeks giveaway.
Born and raised in the south, makes me partial to charm of southern words.
When I stumbled upon Slippin Southern, it was like taking a long refreshing sip of ice tea on
a Florida summer day.

Gregory was so kind do a little interview with me {Barbara Walters I am not, hehe}.

- Share a little about yourself and your shop.
I was born and raised in Milton, Florida in the early 60s, a click over the Alabama/Florida State line. Graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and had a full career as a graphic designer/art director in Chicago for the past 25 years. My lovely wife and creative partner, Susan, whom I met in Art School, is the creator of Middleburg Folk Art Studio (Middleburg) on Etsy as well. I also co-run another Etsy shop called The Barn of Middleburg. About a year and half ago we purchased a charming, yet dilapidated, 19th century farm house in Eastern North Carolina called Nehucky Farm. We are in the process of bringing the old girl back to life while running our Etsy shops. We have two children that are nearly grown up that live with us too. We also have a pug dog, a cat, two bunnies, a hen and rooster.

Slippin Southern is all about Southern sayings and lifestyles. Everything moves slower in the South (the people do, traffic does, transactions lol, etc). Everybody goes home at 5:00 pm. No one works on the weekends. People do things to cut corners where ever they can to make ends meet. Hence, I think that's where a lot of our sayings come from like Y'all, Fixin' and Darlin'. It's a culture of having a lot to do with limited resources.

- What drives your creativity?
Trying to sum things up in a little space with a few words; wrapping up ideas in pictures. Figuring out how to get to the "ah-ha" moment. I had a professor named Mr. Duke who really inspired me when I was in junior college back in Pensacola. He was a department head/ really inspiring. As far as art goes, I'm a big Grant Wood fan. His rural themes and landscapes are just so reminiscent of my child hood and upbringing. "American Gothic" is probably one of my favorite pieces at The Art Institute. I also love a good cigar and a good deal at the flea market!

- Describe your perfect day.
Okay, my son and I go for a 6:30am one mile run on the dirt roads around the farmhouse; soaking up the sights and sounds of the rural early morning. Next we drive over to the Dunkin' Doughnuts for a dozen assorted and four of the biggest, and hottest coffees money can buy. We surprise my wife and daughter with breakfast in bed, and make plans for the rest of the day. We agree on BBQ in Kinston, but I want to kayak up the river instead of driving. I'm good for about ten of the sixty miles, so they pick me up and we get some great pulled pork sandwiches that afternoon. Next we drive over to Chapel Hill for an antique car show and a smokin' cigar (no pun intended). We recently went to see "It's a Wonderful life" at the Byrd theater in Richmond on Christmas Eve, so if I could get the same thing going on in Chapel Hill that evening with "Diamonds are Forever" I think that'd be a perfect day.

- Bought anything cool lately?
Yes, the farm house I mentioned earlier. The oldest part of our house was built in 1880 with the newer front added on in 1901. It is the family farm house for a 300 acre farm in Eastern North Carolina. It once housed and employed over 100 workers and their family. It is a 19th century farmhouse with a 2 over 2 layout and has 12 foot ceilings. We are in the process of renovating it. We love working on the house on the weekends, studying how it was made and then re-building floors and porches back the way they used to be. It's a work and love in progress.

- Where do you see your shop in a year?
I hope to have at least 100 items for sale that are truly Southern in concept. There are a lot of Southerners displaced all over the US and abroad. And you don't really think much of Southern lifestyle until you are not in it anymore. It is like comfort food for your ears. Along the way there are many other items that interest us that we will be making because it's hard to get them like our "Ampersand" and "Grits". It's my love for typography that won them over in my mind. I have plans for several oversized items, sorta display inspired that would look great sitting on a shelf or hanging on a wall with our southern phrases. I also have several words on the near horizon like "Shrimp," "Dixie" and "Boot Scootin'." And we are always listening for more...
Speaking of listening for more suggestions, Gregory has a fun and unique to hold this giveaway. He wants y'all to come up with a fun new word sign. Things to think about before commenting, it needs to be "southern" in theme, charming, fun, unique, and lets keep these family friendly. Winner will get their word created and sent to them. Um, pretty cool.
PLEASE ONLY TWO SUGGESTION PER PERSON.

So get those creative juices flowing. And if you are not from the south, you have to have friends or family who are, get their help, or at least watch a few episodes of Paula Dean.
Get creative!

I am excited to see what y'all come up with.

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38 comments:

H is for Hillman said...

Southern Belle- In Passion Pink for your little Belles room!
Jhil2626@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

"Bless her heart" is probably my favorite southern phrase! I love living in the south (lived up north for about 6 years and that was enough for me!)

Jami Nato said...

"more butter"
ha

Craftcherry said...

My favorites are "You ain't just whistlin' Dixie" and "Six to one or half dozen the other." I've lived in Texas for 12 years now...and I'm still not sure what either of those phrases means, but I can't help smiling every time my husband or his father say these.

A Few of My Favorite Things said...

Hmmm, I would have to go with "Go whole hog" or "I do declare!" Love southern phrases!

Kelli Blinn said...

"Mmm hmm". That's what my very southern, from Mississippi grandma says all the time. After a good bite of food, after she agrees with something you've said, after she agrees with something SHE'S said. Doesn't matter, its just always on the tip of her tongue!

H is for Hillman said...

don't know if this is southern or not but My grandmother used to always say this to me and she grew up in the south "Love you litte, love you big, love you like a little pig" It's one of my favorite memories of her besides her cooking!

Edie S. said...

"I reckon"
I wonder just how often that makes it into my daily conversations?

Modern Frills said...

"pardon me" or "i beg yer pardon"

Kristina

Modern Frills said...

"howdy"

Kristina

Mande said...

I "might could"....still a favorite of my southern heart. :) I miss the south!

Mande said...

My second favorite and term of endearment for my kiddos, "sweet pea".
Thanks for the chance to enter the giveaway. :) xo

craftytammie said...

I like "come set a spell" and "scrumptious"!

B's Mommy said...

"I Do Declare"! my dear... hee! hee! Love this southern saying.

Alison said...

"Purdy" and "Snug as a bug" are two of my favorites! This is such a great giveaway. Thanks so much!

Brooke said...

"Good gracious," my Georgia born & raised grandmas favorite comment & "firefly" because I grew up chasing them in south Carolina, Georgia & even Texas. It's now even a Yummy drink!

Jenni said...

what a fun idea for a giveaway!

how about "darn tootin'"

Jenni said...

"Lickety split"

Craft That Party said...

Mornin' Folks! - I would loooove to have this for my kitchen so I can look at it while I make some coffee, errr I mean some sweet iced tea : )

Oh my stars!

Nic said...

"It's My Pleasure"

Rory said...

I LOVE the Hey Y'all one...I need it in my house. I would suggest Woo Pig Sooie since I live in Razorback country. Or Howdy!

Ashley said...

I'm always "Piddlin'" around, so I would love to see that word!
{I think it would fit well in my sewing room! haha}

And anytime I see somethin' "Purdy" I gotta say it!

Peg said...

Favorite to call my granddaughters - "Missy Sue".

My little family said...

My husband is from the south and he always says "fixin to." I still don't understand what that really means.

Leonora said...

"GOOD GRAVY!" - my inner southern belle is coming out.

Stephanie C. said...

"winner winner chicken dinner" is my favorite southern saying because its so silly!

Mimi said...

Dawg (Dog) and country fried (steak)! Really cute signs. Love your work

B's Mommy said...

Charmed, I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

How about "Shoot, I reckon" I'm not from the south but have many friends that are:)

Anonymous said...

And another one...maybe "Sawin' logs" that might be cute for a little boys room or somethin:) Thanks for the giveaway!!

lana said...

I say
"hush puppies"
Yummy

lana said...

or "yessum"
-short for yes ma'am

Unknown said...

My grandma always said , "Mend Fences"

Unknown said...

I also like, "Fair to midland"
Not sure if it's southern, but a southern person is who always said it to me.

shea said...

"Yonder way"
I saw your dog run off yonder way.

shea said...

"honey chile"
term of endearment...sweet honey child

Jenny Holiday & Aaron said...

Ohhhh I LOVE everything about this!! Fantastic concept, style, and passion! Super cool!

my two ideas are:

biscuits

scrumptious

Thanks for this fab spotlight and giveaway!!
xo Jenny

Unknown said...

My other one would be pecan pie (pronounced pee-can) ;)