This month's Curated Collection celebrates Summer in the South--and what better way to celebrate than with fresh veggies?  This collection's theme is centered around the joy of Summer's harvest.  

We have selected two kitchen towels that are sure to brighten up any kitchen.  Soft and stylish, these towels will give a vintage feel to the most used room in the house!

The only true way to enjoy the bounty of Summer is to cook up those fresh vegetables for dinner!  We have thrown in one of our classic southern recipes, printed on a Southern Mercantile recipe card, just waiting to be added to your collection.  

​If you haven't tried our Okra and Tomatoes recipe, you should!  It is full of flavor and always a crowd pleaser.  You don't have to purchase this collection to try it out for yourself, just head on over to our Recipe Archive to check it out!  And if you are looking for a few other ways to enjoy your fresh okra this Summer, check out our blog, 5 Ways to Serve Okra!

Since you already know and love our blue enamelware pieces, we couldn't wait to introduce our new line of white enamel in this collection!  We chose the ever-popular rectangle tray, but don't worry, the other pieces will be available online soon!

We hope this collection speaks to you, as it did us.  We always love this time of year and the fresh variety that it brings.  Make a point to shop your local farmers markets this Summer and find inspiration in all that is blooming!

​While you're out and about, use the hashtag #SMfarmersmarketfinds so we can follow along!  Tell us what you're cooking up, and let's celebrate summer together!

In case you hadn't heard, our Tara is expecting a baby!  A sweet baby girl that is due to arrive in July.  Y'all know we couldn't wait to host a baby shower and start spoiling that baby (and her Mama)!

I would like to point out that to we Southerners, a shower, whether it be for a baby, wedding, house warming, etc., is not just about the spoiling. Showers and parties are the perfect way to make someone feel loved and supported by the community they live in, or by the church family they have chose to be a part of. You've never felt so special until you sit and look around a room filled with the people you loved most, who have all gathered to take time out and celebrate you!  The gifts are just an expression of love and support, as we honor the special times and the new chapters in life. (And... the gifts at Southern showers can be abundant and overwhelming!)    

At The Southern Merc, we love a theme! The chalkboard in our Cafe dining room was already decorated with our favorite Oscar Wilde quote and we thought this was the perfect starting point for the party.  Tara loves old books and the vintage feel so we kept things simple by using simple flower arrangements, stacked old books, and this fresh greenery garland.  

All of the fresh greenery was cut from Mr. Crain's yard. The purple butterfly bush blooms were cut from Jorjanne's yard and the pink and white tulips were purchased from the grocery store.  Mixing store bought flowers with things you grew yourself is a great way to keep the cost down and still have beautiful arrangements.  For some tips on making your own arrangements with grocery store flowers, you can check out Roxie's tutorial! We tried hard to pick all of Tara's favorite foods and made sure that every detail would be a reflection of her sweet personality. 

​We keep things pretty simple at our showers so after a time of eating and visiting, Tara started digging in to her presents!  She was so blessed to receive so many beautiful and useful things.

Friends came from near and far, including two of Tara's college friends, which made the day extra special!

The Southern Merc and Fourth and Cherry crew had a blast celebrating our special girl and we can't wait to add baby Lila to our family of littles!  Because of her mother's sweet spirit and ability to love others so deeply, Lila has already won our hearts!

The Southern Merc is full of helpful tips for parties and showers!  Check out our archive to finds great ideas for your next wedding or baby shower!

Our shop is stocked with cute gift ideas for wedding and baby.  Look around while you are here, we'll be glad to send a little something your way!

Last year, I shared with you all my worries about being pregnant again so long after my first two boys and at such “advanced maternal age” in my blog, Pregnancy Worries. I’m happy to finally announce that Perry Jacob Paulk made his appearance on June 12, 2018! I know it’s a bit late to make it an announcement, but we’ve had our hands full ever since he arrived! 

We had such a good time hitting the road in April and visiting with friends, old and new, in both Perry, and Macon, Georgia.  Our first stop was at the Georgia National Fair Grounds in Perry for Vintage Market Days of Central Georgia. Y'all know we love junkin so vintage shows are so fun for us!  It is always too tempting to bring back more than we took!

Just to give you a reminder of the chaos of setup day, here is a little picture I snapped of our pile as we were beginning to set up.  You can see my faithful helpers, Mr. Crain​ (Dad) and Aunt Janet busy stringing lights.  

Just like that I just snap my fingers and poof!  We end up with this!  Just kidding.  Many hours later we end up with this, but the time is totally worth it and I am always proud at the end!  

This cute wheelbarrow and most of our wash tubs went to happy homes and I must say, I will miss them!  This was such a happy little display.  

The very next weekend we found ourselves headed back to the historic Hay House in Macon, Georgia.  What a treat it is to spend the weekend under the ancient ginkgo trees on these beautiful grounds, and we always enjoy any time we can spend above the gnat line!

This was our set up for the garden market.  Plenty of  bright florals, flower pots, and other garden themed decor.

I had a good time showing off my new collection of hand painted bird nests and wood block prints.  I am busy working on more so if you can't catch us on the road, you'll soon be able to snag one online. 

I know all of you that entered to win a gift certificate have been anxiously awaiting to find out if you've won!  We chose one from each show and the lucky winners are: Judy Etheridge and Janet Williams!  Congrats ladies!  Be checking your inbox for your special prize!

See anything you like in one of this week's photos?  Be sure to check out our shop while you are here.  We are stocked with great finds for home and garden!

You have one more chance to catch us on the road this spring!  We'll be at Vintage Market Days of Greater Atlanta May 31 - June 2.  After that, we are off the road until August, and remember, you can keep up with our travel schedule on our website. Feel free to visit us anytime at our flagship store in Ocilla, GA, we just love company!

This month's curated collection is one of our favorite ones yet, and we can't wait to introduce it to you!  We're bundling these hand-picked items to start your summer off right, in true Southern Mercantile fashion!

Our Southern Mercantile Spring Tee features one of our favorite quotes by Oscar Wilde, "With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy?".  Not only is this tee unique to The Southern Mercantile, but it is also a custom design, hand painted by our very own Katelyn!  Doesn't Laurel look cool and comfy in your new favorite tee? 

We chose to do this design on a comfortable v-neck in heathered navy, with bright white print, perfect for showing off the artwork.  

You know how much we love Rifle Paper Co., so we couldn't pass up the opportunity to add in a floral notebook set to this bundle!  This set of paper-back notebooks come with lined pages in three different designs.  Brighten up your home or office with this fun addition.

Last, but not least, we have chosen one of our favorite bracelets to finish out the collection!  Available in three colors, choose the one that fits your personality and wardrobe best--green, grey or plum!  Made from soft leather and shimmery beads, this bracelet is sure to become a staple.  It has two snaps for adjusting, so it should be the perfect fit!

We hope you are as excited about this collection as we are!  Quantities are limited, so be sure to check it out soon!  If you choose to forego the collection, but would still like one of our custom tees, they are also sold separately!