a perfect summer day: natalie chanin

Every week this summer, someone I love or know or admire (or all of the above) will share their idea of a perfect summer day, real or imagined. Here’s clothing designer and author Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin:

Coffee with the birds is how my day begins. It’s that perfect hour of Alabama morning, when the temperatures lag behind the rising sun. The ground is wet with the dew that will be suspended in the air before the day is out, but right now is content to cling to the flowers in the garden…
 
The familiar swoosh of the sliding door announces Maggie’s arrival to this early morning scene - adorned in tiny overalls and holding a somewhat mangled spade and trowel set. These tiny gardening tools have no doubt seen better days, but their poor condition lends them a great sense of importance. I can’t help but chuckle seeing her familiar look of excitement and determination for the job ahead.
 
The rest of the morning passes in our family garden. During these magic hours the phone fails to ring and hunger fails to arrive, kept at bay by a sampling of fresh fruit and berries.
 
We wash the dirt from our hands and feet with a water hose warmed by the sun. We then head in doors to pack a beautiful picnic lunch. 

There’s a perfect swimming hole less than a mile from the house and lazy shade trees keep our path cool on the walk there. The water is so perfectly clear that you can make out the silver-blue minnows that dart along the bottom and the tiny pebbles that line the bottom are smooth and forgiving to the step.
 
Neighbors, friends, and family join us throughout the day, some swapping stories, playing music and laughing. We spend the afternoon swimming, playing games, and snacking on array of southern delicacies until I notice that Maggie’s little eyes seem to be getting heavier all the time.
 
It is later in the afternoon than I realized, and the sun soon gives way to flashes of lightning bugs on the lawns of our neighbors. This temporarily revives Maggie (chasing lightning bugs is one of her favorite pastimes) but a few blocks from the house fatigue wins out and she asks for a lift. She seems a lot lighter today; I enjoy the sounds of the crickets and the sight of my sleeping daughter on my shoulder as I slowly stroll toward home.

Natalie’s work is nothing short of stunning – you can see her collections right here. You can also make your very own Alabama Chanin clothes based on patterns and techniques in Natalie’s books. In addition to offering perfect projects to stitch while sitting on a porch, the books also feature gravel roads and barns and bare feet -- all staples of my hot Virginia childhood summers. 

Thanks so much, Natalie. Have a lovely summer full of lightening bugs and crickets and swimming.

Comments

[brooke]

this is absolute bliss.

[Erin @ Letter Soup]

That sounds so perfect!

[Renee]

I am such a big fan of Natalie's work. It's so inspiring. Thank you for the chance to read more about her life.