location. location. location.
i absolutely loved this month's tie-one-on theme from the minute i read it: local pride. i loved thinking about our town and our space in this world and then letting those thoughts be the inspiration for a new home-sewn apron. at first there were thoughts of our state bird, state colors, etc... but i kept coming back to our beach and the atlantic ocean. (surprised?)
i started thinking about all the time we spend out there strolling the shoreline looking for treasures and had a vision of a beach apron, with the perfect pockets for collecting. i sketched something out and began sewing back in august. i had pulled out all of the light, beachy, white and off-white fabrics from my fabric boxes. a bunch of them were actually some old torn/stained tableclothes that belonged to my grandmother, great-aunt, and great-grandmother — and seemed quite ready and waiting to be repurposed. unable to choose just a few, i ended up patchworking small swatches from them all together making a large front pocket (for the clamshells, driftwoods, etc...) then, behind the big pocket is a little slim white pocket for the small, don't-want-to-lose treasures (seaglass, beachglass, seaglass, you get the idea...).
wearing an apron out on the beach felt just right. it blew in the wind, i could brush off my sandy hands right on my hips and the pockets functioned as they were meant to. (chuck actually was the only one of us to find a piece of green beachglass this particular day and he was kind enough to let me just "hold onto it" for him in the white top pocket)... the tie-one-on deadline for submissions was pushed back from august until october (whew! not sure i would have had it done in time otherwise) and that is when all the local-inspired aprons will get compiled into a photo gallery. i'm so looking forward to seeing all the amazing hometown creations...
your apron is beautiful and really just perfect for the beach. Great job!
Posted by: dorie | September 22, 2007 at 08:44 AM
gorgeous kristin! i thought that local pride was a great theme too and i know i need the extra time - phew!
Posted by: erin | September 22, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Just beautiful... The thoughts, the apron, the photos... You did such a lovely job!
Posted by: Beth | September 22, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Absolutely beautiful! I love your interpretation of this challenge, Kristin.
Posted by: Alicia A. | September 22, 2007 at 07:28 PM
Absolutely beautiful! I love your interpretation of this challenge, Kristin.
Posted by: Alicia A. | September 22, 2007 at 07:28 PM
i love your beach apron! love it. i always want an apron at the beach - so much collecting, no place to put anything. yours is functional - and just beautiful.
Posted by: emily | September 22, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Hi from a newcomer :-) That really is a beautiful apron, but your whole weblog is beautiful.
Posted by: patience | September 23, 2007 at 03:00 AM
Hi from a newcomer :-) That really is a beautiful apron, but your whole weblog is beautiful.
Posted by: patience | September 23, 2007 at 03:04 AM
This is lovely. The subtle shades of the apron in the midst of all the natural elements, the collusion of color and light and movement...just wonderful. Thank-you for sharing :)
Posted by: rose | September 24, 2007 at 01:30 AM
so so pretty. the apron, the beach, the photos, the sky, the girls... i love all of this so much.
Posted by: heather | September 24, 2007 at 12:05 PM
i just love it, too! it's great! totally beautiful!!!
Posted by: Grace | September 24, 2007 at 01:12 PM
the apron looks great.
beautiful blue sky too!
Posted by: kc | September 24, 2007 at 08:19 PM
this is simply breathtaking. at first, when I saw the pictures, I thought they were from a book. beautiful, beautiful!
Posted by: molly | September 25, 2007 at 04:10 PM
everything about this post is stunning. your apron for this challenge is simply gorgeous!
Posted by: kristin | September 28, 2007 at 11:48 PM
Hi, just found your blog. Your pictures are wonderful. I have a thing for aprons and I love the beach apron. What a terrific idea and to use your old table linens and Grandma's fabrics, that's so wonderful! I love the shell accents. My girls and I are big beach collectors. We've only been on the East coast a year (originally a west coast girl), but we enjoyed beach combing this summer.
I'll enjoy peaking in from time to time. Blessings, Danielle
Posted by: Danielle | October 02, 2007 at 09:44 PM
I love your beach apron. it's beautiful!
Posted by: amandajean | October 03, 2007 at 11:23 PM
Love, love, love this apron, and your blog. My library has a copy of the sea glass book -- I reserved it and can't wait to enjoy it. We live in Northern California, about a mile or so from the ocean.
Posted by: Deb | November 04, 2007 at 09:53 AM
i *LOVE* this apron.
you should definitely make more and sell me one. =^-^=
Posted by: beth | November 20, 2007 at 08:55 AM
SO beautiful, both the apron and your love for your work.
Posted by: Tia Curtis | December 20, 2007 at 05:43 PM
Your apron is amazing and the photo shoot stunning.
Posted by: mary | January 01, 2008 at 11:17 AM
I am in love with this idea, the function, the colour scheme, design..everything! And the origins of the fabrics add even more depth to it.
I have a long and deep affection for the beach and beach-combing, and I've never seen a more beautiful apron in my life. Honestly!
Posted by: Amy | January 04, 2008 at 08:47 PM
What a gorgeous apron - I love the colours you've used and your photos are gorgeous!
Posted by: Florence | January 14, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Wow, wow, wow! That is beautiful and inspiring. I want to make one for our beach time.
Posted by: Mary Beth | April 13, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Wow, wow, wow! That is beautiful and inspiring. I want to make one for our beach time.
Posted by: Mary Beth | April 13, 2008 at 03:50 PM