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You can tell a lot about book by its cover

 

white anchor journal

It can be argued that the written word is on the endangered species list. Many public school systems plan to phase out cursive writing in the classroom. Instead instructional time will be spend on teaching students typing and other digital skills. And speaking of digital skills, printed words on book pages are threatened by the alleged ease of electronic readers.

vintage photo album

We reject that trend. We still believe that the written word is valuable and thoughts and memories should be kept somewhere special. That is why we diligently searched for the best way to feature one-of-a-kind memory books covered with reclaimed sailcloth. We were so pleased to connect with Maine bookbinding artist Eric Drzewiankowski who shares the same beliefs. Each journal, photo album and guestbook is hand-bound in Eric’s Biddeford studio.

handmade bookbinding

vintage

As long as there are no shortage of baby or wedding pictures that are

too precious to be confined to a computer hard drive. As long as there are journeys of land, sea or mind that are best captured by written notes; and, as long as the presence of friends or family and comments from guests are worthy affirmations of shared experiences, then those memories can be properly displayed in these quality, classically unique, hand-bound photo album, journal and guest book.

 

Just in time for summer gift giving. How cool is that?

0 Comments | Posted in From Around the Shop By Jennifer DeChant

April is Bucket Bag Month

 

You heard it here first. Sea Bags has declared April as Bucket Bag Month! Who needs a basket when you have a bucket?

bunny in bucket bag

The stout design is great for filling with chocolate candies and pastel colored eggs surrounded by bright Easter grass peppered with jellybeans.

cactus in a bucket

Place your flower vase inside a bucket bags for an instantly festive centerpiece that is perfect during family dinner or casual enough to showcase spring’s finest.

Display rolled hand towels in the guest bathroom. Add cookies to give as a gift. The back panel tracks gift recipients. But, remember, there is no shame in keeping the versatile bucket bag for yourself!

Bucket bags aren’t afraid of getting dirty either. Carry all your Earth Day gardening tools.  Collect seashells while walking along the beach. Just rinse out the soil or sand when you are finished.

flowers in claw bucket

Baskets become obsolete with a bucket bag. There are a wide variety of designs. Each is easy to clean and convenient to store. 

April is the time to say b'bye to wicker and hello to the green of recycled sailcloth!

0 Comments | Posted in From Around the Shop By Jennifer DeChant

From Around the Shop: Spring Comes Slowly in Maine

February 29, 2012 11:11:00 AM EST

Spring Comes Slowly in Maine

It comes this time of year when we realize elsewhere crocus are probably starting appear as a part of spring.  Meanwhile, in Maine, we patiently wait a little longer before the purple harbingers peek from beneath the snow. We know March and April and some of May as Mudseason and the precursor to our beloved summer.

Around the shop during the winter months, we embarked on expeditions to the sail loft to comb through our extensive collection of the recycled sails. We spent quality time identifying the best pops of colors, such as tangerine, teal, lemon or purple to use as accents this season. Most sails are white so colored Dacron is rare.

pop on bottom

FRESH COLOR. Everyday life in Maine is colorful as evidenced by the pop of color on this fishing boat’s bottom. This season we will use rare colored Dacron, inspired by Maine summers.

 

summer satchel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOLD GRAPHICS. Anyone can wear a chunky necklace or an oversized bangle. We capture the beauty in authentic maritime images. These silkscreened, uplifting torus-shaped chain links are straight from the working waterfront.

chain link tote

chain links on log

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Sea Bags, regardless of the temperature outside our seasonal excitement is heating up pending the release of our spring/summer line of products, all handcrafted from repurposed sailcloth.

0 Comments | Posted in From Around the Shop By Jennifer DeChant

From Around the Shop: Have a Nautical Wedding

February 16, 2012 9:16:00 AM EST

Have A Nautical Wedding

St. Valentine’s Day is the most popular day for couples to become engaged. It is heart warming to consider all the people who committed to take their relationship to the next level yesterday. For brides who may pause to bask in the engagement glow or for brides who are already pouring over bridal magazines, arguably one of the first important steps to getting started is considering what type of wedding it will be.

At Sea Bags, admittedly we have a special fondness for all things nautical. It is in that spirit that I offer three aspects to consider when planning a wedding with a nautical flair.

Add water. This suggestion is not to infer that planning a wedding is like mixing a pitcher of kool-aid. It is more involved than adding water and stirring rigoriously. But a nautical wedding should include water in the form of pond, ocean, lake or river. It doesn’t have take place on that body of water but it should have a view (even if it is a peek between trees or through window pane) and ideally a fresh aroma (even if from a scented candle) for ambiance of being by the water. Beach and sand are optional.

navy anchorAnchor yourself. The symbolism of an anchor is perfect for a wedding. The image represents a particularly stable or grounding relationship. It is easy to incorporate this emblem of hope at your wedding through favors and centerpieces. Our bucket bag adorned with a navy anchor looks great hosting a flower vase as a centerpiece or being carried by a darling flower girl tossing petals from it or use it to welcome out-of-town guests by loading it with essentials.

Customize. Don’t compromise your personal style or the expression of your love. Consider customizing totes made from recycled sails for the bridal party. More than the subjective promise of a bridesmaid dress than can be worn again, these totes will be treasured and used for years to come. Let your creative flair show with your favorite colors or wedding date or even longitude/latitude degrees of your ceremony.

bucket bag with flowersCongratulations to newly engaged couples. Maine is a great place to be married. Even if you cannot make it to the Pine Tree State, let Sea Bags add just the right nautical touch. It would be an honor for our products to be a part of your special day. Call us. We love weddings.

0 Comments | Posted in From Around the Shop By Jennifer DeChant

Introduction to From Around the Shop: It is a Tanbark-thing!

shades of tanbark A recent trip to the sail loft above our “shop” on Custom House Wharf was quite revealing. Mysteriously the loft defies the law of physics that proves heat rises.  Behind a thick curtain and up the narrow staircase, there is an extensive collection of sails chilling like fine wine.

Despite the overwhelming appearance, I did notice an organizational system to the bounty of used sails stacked on industrial shelves. The rainbow spectrum of spinnaker material is along the right wall. On top of the billowing mounds of Dacron, there are rolls and rolls of criss-crossed Kevlar.

tanbark on bench

To the left where the afternoon sun pours through the window, I saw a pile of panels in hues ranging from rustic brick to the lighter shades of a faded picnic table. I had discovered (maybe not “discovered” but it was new to me) Tanbark in the sail loft.

The unique Tanbark color was achieved by submerging the sails in tannins which is a compound usually derived from tree bark. During the days of canvas sails, the process was used to protect the sails from rot, mold and mildew. Tanbark is a nostalgic color and a charming look that represents the essence of cruising under sail. 

tanbark duffle on shoulder

Now Dacron sails can be dyed this color. These panels in our loft were cut from retired sails used on large teaching vessels such as schooners or sloops.

Tanbark is not only aesthetically pleasing, but the color reduces glare, and the dye pigment offers improved UV protection over a natural shade. The finish is a medium firm with high quality weaves. The cloth is only available in the heaviest of weights so there isn’t much interest among modern racers/cruisers.

tanbark duffle carried

I am among the first to admit that Tanbark sailcloth makes a handsome and rugged bag. The reddish brown color reminds me of a rustic sunset and the look adds an historical affect to a modern material.

What aspects of life on Custom House Wharf or manufacturing at Sea Bags have you always wondered about?

0 Comments | Posted in From Around the Shop By Jennifer DeChant