Blueberries, Lobsters and my first Aprons

Ten years ago, I visited Nova Scotia for the very first time. I quickly fell in love with the place – the landscape, the slower pace of life, and the people. Back then, moving here permanently seemed like an unrealistic dream. One that eventually came true.

Now, five years into living on the Cabot Trail, I still love the everyday things that make this place special, like blueberries and lobster.

Split image: On the left, a hand holds a bucket full of freshly picked wild blueberries with a rural Nova Scotia house in the background. On the right, a close-up of a blueberry bush with ripe and unripe berries among green leaves.

Wild blueberries grow right behind our house, and I love picking them in the summer. Growing up, we lived right next to the forest, and I have a lot of fond memories of foraging for berries. Coming here and seeing them in abundance felt like a sign that I had ended up in the right place.

Split image: On the left, freshly cooked red lobsters sit on a wooden surface. On the right, a person on a fishing boat bands a live lobster while wearing green gloves, with the ocean and Cape Breton hills in the background.

One of our neighbours is a lobster fisherman. So fresh lobster is never far away during the season. Last year, I even got to band lobsters for the first time. It was quite the experience, being on the boat and wrestling with these fascinating creatures. They are incredibly strong, and you really have to watch your fingers.

These small but memorable details inspired my latest addition to the shop: aprons. Berry Bake and Lobster Feast celebrate two things that feel very Nova Scotian, but they’re also just fun, practical kitchen staples. Whether you’re baking, cooking, or just making coffee, they bring a little East Coast charm into your home.

Close-up of hand-cut paper shapes made from recycled cardboard, including lobster claws and round shapes, laid out on a white surface. These elements were used to create the apron designs.

From Sketch to Screen Print

Like all my designs, these started as cut-outs from old cardboard boxes. I love working this way. It keeps things playful and gives my shapes a slightly imperfect, hand-cut feel. Once the paper cut elements were scanned, I arranged them into patterns that felt balanced but still lively. I experimented with different versions and scales. During that stage, I like to do rough printouts in the original size, ignoring the off-colours and just focusing on the composition and proportions. Since these are my very first aprons, I really wanted to get it right, so I even cut out and taped together a full paper sample to test the pattern before sending it off to the printer.

Side-by-side view of the original pattern printouts and fabric aprons for the Berry Bake and Lobster Feast designs. The blue apron features baking utensils and blueberries, while the orange apron is covered in lobsters and seaweed.

Close-up of the Lobster Feast apron being unpacked from a shipping box. The fabric is natural white with a bold rusty-orange lobster and seaweed print.

From Inspiration to Everyday Use

The blueberry-inspired Berry Bake apron is filled with baking essentials – spoons, rolling pins, and bowls, while Lobster Feast features lobsters, claws, and seaweed. Both are screen-printed onto sturdy cotton, making them perfect for everyday wear.

They’re now available in the shop, and I hope they’ll find a place in your kitchen, wherever you are!

Three Berry Bake aprons, folded and neatly packed in a cardboard box. The aprons feature a blue and white baking-themed pattern and are tied with twine, each with a Kraft paper label attached.

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