By Lisa Shell
What keeps you coming back to your favorite vacation spot year after year? Is it that first deep breath of fresh, salty air? Is it the low rush of waves pounding ashore in the background? Maybe it’s the rustling sound of the wind as it moves through the trees. For Christine Lewis, it was all of those things and more that made her and her husband fall in love with the Washington Coast’s newest beach town — Seabrook.
A transplant from Seattle, Christine and her husband first settled in the Madison Lane neighborhood of Seabrook around fall of 2010. Attracted to the town’s quaint and charming atmosphere, Christine has integrated herself into the community as one of several dedicated Seabrook Town Merchants.
Since joining the Seabrook community, Crafty Christine — as she’s best known — had added to the Seabrook Town Merchants’ many offerings with her craft-centric shop, Siren’s Salvage. Located in a quaint and artsy Airstream trailer, Siren’s Salvage is perched on the sand in the shopping district where it offers vacationers and locals alike with a unique offering of crafts, games, gifts and garb.
When weather permits, campers wait their turn to create one-of-a-kind stepping stones to commemorate their time spent at the beach. Christine hosts workshops daily, and vacationers continue to come back year after year. The stones make a great keepsake, but they also double as stunning additions to any backyard garden. Since Christine introduced her custom stepping stones to the community, the stones have become a Seabrook tradition.
Commemorative stepping stones may be what initially draws visitors into Siren’s Salvage, but it’s the expansive array of gifts and crafts and the friendly atmosphere that inspires shoppers to stay and browse. Everything inside the shop is whimsical, colorful and fun. From brightly colored felt bags and miniature wooden boats to rustic birdhouses, picture frames, handmade jewelry, wallets, totes, dish towels, kids crafts and more, there is something fun for everyone.
One treasure at Siren’s Salvage that’s especially appealing is Christine’s handmade line of bottle cap magnets. The magnets make a perfect gift to give to friends or yourself, so you can remember your trip to the coast every time you open your fridge.
When Christine isn’t at Siren’s Salvage, she likes spending time with her favorite animal — Sir Fluffington, the Seabrook shopkeeper’s infamous chipmunk-chasing, bird-capturing, frisky cat. Famous psychologist Sigmund Freud said, “Cats are connoisseurs of comfort,” and Sir Fluffington is quite comfy in his special “catio” at Christine’s house. Christine’s furry friend joined the family when he was just eight-weeks-old, and he’s been playing hard ever since. Seabrook is a pet-friendly place. You can find an entire shop devoted to your pup, too. The Salty Dog is just up the street from Siren’s Salvage.
Ezra Taft Benson said, “Build traditions of family vacations and trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children.” A perfect family getaway, trips to the enchanting town of Seabrook are made even better when paired with a visit to Siren’s Salvage. Start a tradition with your family by building a garden stepping stone and bringing home a Seabrook treasure you won’t soon forget.
Siren’s Salvage fun little Airstream trailer is located at Front Street, in Seabrook. To learn more about this crafty haven and all of Crafty Christine’s creations, visit Siren’s Salvage’s Facebook page.
