By Beth Hester
Featuring goods and products created right here in Coastal Virginia
August Table – Block Print Linens and More
Luxe farmhouse meets Parisian boho in this lovely collection of handcrafted block print table linens, kitchen towels, scarves and bandanas. Reminiscent of freshly laundered heirloom linens billowing under a blue sky, these surprisingly affordable luxuries are simple and breezily elegant. Corporate innovation consultant Carrie Earle Allen, co-founded August Table in 2018 in tandem with her architect husband Krister Allen. Inspired by fond memories of lingering Virginia summers spent at her grandparent’s property near the Chesapeake Bay, Carrie turned her passion for design and entrepreneurship into a thriving retail and wholesale online business, where every creation revolves around encouraging people to make memories by sharing good meals and good times around a common table. Carrie’s hand-drawn designs are transferred onto wooden blocks by artisans in India who are proudly continuing the country’s ancient block printing and textile traditions. The delicious designs are printed on 100% mill-made cotton using natural, environmentally friendly dyes. Currently, Carrie and Krister run August Table from their circa 1860 farmhouse in White Stone. Plans for a storefront and café are currently in the works. Stay tuned.
Learn more at AugustTable.com.
Ironclad Distillery
Bourbon is a family affair at Ironclad Distillery where Stephen, Owen and Kara King produce their aged and cask-finished libation by using 100% Virginia-sourced products. Even the nibbles served in the tasting room come from local farmers and family-owned country stores. The distillery, store and tasting rooms are housed in the historic S.W. Holt & Co. warehouse built in 1913, which is located near the southern tip of Newport News, overlooking the James River. The location is within view of the mouth of the James, where one of the most famous naval battles in American history, the Battle of the Ironclads, took place. That bit of history inspired the distillery’s name and informed its visual identity and mission: “To produce bourbon whisky that is accessible in flavor and price, while being of the highest quality of production. We make authentic bourbon. That’s it. Nothing else. We stick to our guns. That’s our Ironclad rule.” Make a reservation to sample Ironclad’s craft bourbon and bourbon-based cocktails. There’s a flavor profile to suit bourbon lovers of every stripe. Book a tour, and stop by the distillery’s shop where their range of bourbon, and bourbon-related merchandise can be purchased. Cheers!
Learn more at IroncladDistillery.com
SEiGLER Custom Fishing Reels
When Wes Seigler retired from professional cycling, he combined his love of good industrial design with his love of fishing to create several angling-related companies. Ultimately, he founded SEiGLER Fishing Reels, a business born from the desire to design and manufacture the types of high-end, innovative, purpose-built saltwater reels that he’d dreamed about. Along with his wife Liz, who is SEiGLER’S office manager, Wes established a manufacturing plant in Virginia Beach because of the local talent base, good infrastructure and quality of life. SEiGLER manufactures conventional reels and fly reels machined from solid, billet aluminum. SEiGLER is known for their quality lever and star drags, top shelf components, and their responsive and personalized customer service. The reels are works of art that fish hard, and they’ve developed a large fan base that includes legendary OBX fishing guides Captain Brian Horsley, and Captain Sarah Gardner who say of SEiGLER’s products: “Wes puts his heart and soul into his reels, and he’s not afraid of innovation. The reels are easy to maintain and they’re tough. We take them to remote locations, because we know they won’t let us down.”
Learn more at Seigler.fish
