When Kristin Anderson arrived in Apalachicola in 1985, the quiet fishing village on Florida’s Gulf Coast really embodied the now popular term “The Forgotten Coast”. Kristin fell in love with the area and saw opportunity and promise in the dilapidated downtown. She bought the historic Orman Building at 32 Avenue D in the heart of the downtown shopping area. At that time, the run-down building had recently housed a pool hall. Kristin turned the ground floor into Long Dream Gallery, a place she had long dreamed about someday opening when she found the “right spot”. Kristin set up her work space in an area in the windows of the Gallery on the street level and went to work.
Kristin quickly became a central part of a wonderful and ongoing revitalization of the unique Florida Coastal town of Apalachicola, helping to establish a nautical museum that owned and sailed the 1877 Gulf Coast schooner Governor Stone for 11 years. Contributing ideas as well as hard work in her own restoration project, she renovated the upstairs into gracious living quarters. In 1999, Kristin sold the Orman Building and moved herself, her dogs, and her studio to a home 3 miles outside of town on Scipio Creek. Kristin renovated the house, a hand made log cabin, added porches, and turned it into a rustic but very comfortable old Florida home. Kristin then added a large studio space to the end of the house. Her studio, Kristinworks ®, is like the shape of a ship’s wheel house, reflecting Kristin’s long time love of sailing and historic wooden boats. Her main design space is at the helm with 5 work stations each with windows overlooking the woods outside her studio. Kristin is a busy and productive artist but if you phone ahead to make an appointment, she will schedule a time when you can visit her at her studio and see her at work, using tools and equipment unique to the smithing arts. Kristin makes her beautiful pieces of 18K Gold, Sterling silver, transparent vitreous enamel, and stones both precious and semiprecious. Her unique work is recognized worldwide.
Kristin has made a comfortable home in those woods at Luna Haven (or sometimes called “Yellow Fly Ranch”).
Long Dream Gallery is now located here in cyber-space. You may visit and shop any time from any place in the world!
Call Kristin’s workshop for an appointment to make a purchase, discuss an order for a custom piece, or just to say “Hi.”
Kristin’s work is also available at a number of selected Galleries around the country. Click here for names and addresses as well as directions to those Galleries and Shops.