Unique wearable art that promotes the Coastside is found at The Squash Blossom in Half Moon Bay.

by Mary E. Knippel

January, 2011 — At The Squash Blossom — tucked five steps off Main Street at 707 Mill St. — Sharon Czarnecki creates unique wearable art that promotes the Coastside. “I just felt we needed more things that celebrated our town,” Czarnecki said, standing next to the impressive embroidery machine she uses to produce her distinctive merchandise.

“I’ve always been a sewer,” Czarnecki said. “Before they had monogramming machines, I made my sewing machine monogram. I forced it to do what I wanted it to do. That’s something I’ve done for a long time. I’m a creative type and like to do different things. … I upholstered my car once. I think you can do almost anything you want. I’m not a graphic artist. I just learn the tools that will help me do what I want to get done.”

“I tried to do an assortment of things,” she said, “what people would want to wear … or give as gifts.” Czarnecki uses only 100 percent organic cotton, with the exception of the fleece, and all monogramming takes place on the premises.

Czarnecki helps customers transform their designs from concepts into three-dimensional wearable art. A simple embroidery project may only involve typing letters into the keyboard on the embroidery machine and take a matter of minutes to complete. A more complicated project may take weeks because the design or image must be digitized — a process that creates a pattern for the embroidery machine to follow, dictating the thread choices and type of stitch. The availability of the item to be embroidered is also a consideration.

Choosing from canvas bags, scarves, aprons, towels, caps, apparel and, of course, T-shirts, every member of the family — from Dad, Mom, Sis and Brother, right down to the tiniest baby — can wear a bit of the Coastside. Special logos depict the beauty, industry, and leisure activities enjoyed on the coast. You can almost feel the excitement of the ocean as depicted in the Mavericks and the Half Moon Bay Crab logos. Golfers can enjoy a pumpkin golf ball perched and ready to soar, while wheels of all sizes are well represented in the Coastal Trail and Skate Park logos. The splendor of all that is the Coastside is seen in the pumpkin and floral logos paying tribute to our many acres of agriculture.

If Czarnecki had to pick a particular item as her favorite, it would be the onsies. “They are just so cute,” she said. If you have a new baby in the household, Squash Blossom can embroider a one-piece bodysuit for babies that will melt your heart. She can also fashion a crest for a wedding announcement to reflect the occupations or interests of the bride and groom.

A fan of gourds for some time, Czarnecki’s collection of antique glassware greets visitors as they enter the shop.

A resident of the Coastside for over 20 years, Czarnecki came to visit a friend and never left. The Squash Blossom opened its doors in July 2010 and business hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 650-726-6300.