Coastline Treasures

The most difficult area of taxidermy is mounting fish.  As fish dry, the scales turn brown leaving little color.  The taxidermist not only has to recreate the anatomy of the fish but to also color all over the fish.  Fish taxidermists are artists with skill in drawing, painting, coloring, and sculpting.  Not all these skills are necessary for other types of taxidermists.

Depending on whether your fish lives in warm water, cold water or salt water will determine how it is mounted.  Warm water fish that have tough skins and large scales are able to be skin mounted; the fish is skinned preserving the skin and mounted over a manikin or the fish’s body filled with material that hardens to form its shape.  Cold water fish have thin, smooth skin with fine scales making mounting more difficult; they are usually mounted over manikins.  Most salt water fish are entirely recreated with synthetic materials; cast in a mold and recreated in coloration to appear like a real fish.  Fiberglass reproductions can last for years.  No matter what method you use to display your catch, your fishing décor will certainly make a statement and be the center of conversation.

While on a trip to Savannah Georgia we went on a bay cruise.  We cruised along the shoreline watching the pelicans diving for food and the pods of dolphins swimming frantically.  There was a shrimp boat in the bay casting off some of its days catch into the waters.  These dolphin figurines were such a delight to watch against the beautiful sparkling waters and skyline.

The dolphins raced around the boat jumping up into the air trying to seize these delicacies.  They showed off their physical abilities while prowling for this food; jumping, twisting and turning to be the first one.  They were not afraid of the fishermen or the boat as they had come to know them quite well.  I wondered if this was a daily occurrence for these playful sea mammals.

As a kid I would go fishing with my dad.  He loved to get up in the early morning hours to catch the first fish of the day.  I wasn’t as eager as he was about getting the first fish or putting a worn on the hook.  We would get all our fishing gear together along with fresh worms and head for the dock.  I have to admit it was beautiful, calm and quite.  All you could hear were the birds singing, the breezes blowing and the lapping sounds of the water against the boat.  The vision of the sun rise and all its magnificent colors were breathtaking.   As we took the early morning ride to our fishing destination we would sit quietly taking in the sights.  While fishing we would visit, laugh, me squirming as I baited the hook, and dad trying to be patient while teaching me.  It didn’t matter, at least to me, if we caught anything or not, it was about spending time with my dad.

These were very precious moments spent together.  I often think of them fondly and find myself wanting a piece of that memory close at hand.  To recreate these memories I have added fishing home décor.  Whether I tuck a figurine on a shelf, hang decorative plates or wall décor, they all bring me sense of joy.   You too can bring back memories by adding home accents.

While on a trip to Tybee Island in Georgia, we went on a boat trip taking us through the bay and up the river.  The waters were clear and the sun made each wave sparkle in its light.  We could see many birds; I was especially delighted by the pelicans.  They were fun to watch as they circled then drove to catch their prey.  We could see the occasional fish jumping up into the air and the dolphins playing in the wake of the boat.

What was the most surprising to me where the numerous lighthouses, day beacon and buoys.  At every turn there they were marking the path keeping us safe and leading the way.  I was intrigued by the different lighthouse figurines; some were on the shoreline and some were in the waters.  I was told that the tides make the travel treacherous without their guidance.  What I did not realize was that the lighthouses in water were on dry land at low tide.  I was glad to know that these sea markers were there to safely guide our way.

While taking a drive down the California coast to San Diego I could see the large Mission Bay Harbor.  What a gorgeous day, clear skies, winds blowing, and the harbor filled with sailboats.  It was breath taking, as I don’t remember ever seeing that many sailboats in one place.  We pulled over just to get a better view. The bay was filled with these beautiful boats just gliding across the waters, or so it appeared.

Mesmerized by these small sailing vessels, we drove to the docks where there were dozens of boats.  Some were smaller, some taller, some with simple furnishings and others well decorated with nautical décor.  I couldn’t keep my eyes off them while walking among all the different kinds of vessels in awe as I have never experienced the open waters.  I dreamed of what it would feel like with the wind blowing in my face and being in the vastness of the ocean.  As I kept dreaming, I was planning on when I could make it a reality.

My husband inherited Aunt Kate’s drop leaf table and chairs.  For years we stored it in the attic as it was just too small to use, or so I thought.  Many years went by before we cleaned out the attic only to rediscover this table.  It was a beautiful table from the 1950′s with dark stain and petite claw feet, both sides dropped down.  As we reexamined this table we realized that it would make a great accent table in the entry.

We slid it in place along the entry wall with the sides down to create a narrow landing.  We added a tall vase with flowers and an antique dish to collect car keys on the way in.  Above it on the wall we hung two smaller pictures that were framed and matted the same, one on top of the other.  With very little effort we were able to create a welcoming entrance.

When we think of wall plaques we often think of awards; photos with a plaque labeling the event, trophies, and other accomplishments.  But decorative wall plaques can be much different than these that are well suited for the office.  In 1848, the French used the word plaque as a definition for an ornamental pate or tablet.  Since then, the definition has expanded tremendously; today there are gamut’s of definitions.

Today’s decorative wall plaques come in all shapes, sizes, and materials.  They can be used inside or outside depending on the materials used, metal, woods, or stone.  They can be incorporated into wall groupings of photos or stand alone to make a statement.  Outside they create a decorative element to add to the décor.  When choosing a wall plaque, choose one that will fit into your present décor; classical, contemporary, chic.  Wall plaques add style and dimension to an otherwise flat arena.

I love ships and the open sea; the sky that goes forever, the smells of salt water, the spray of the ocean, and the sounds of the lapping water along its edge.  Ships have been a part of history since time began and a recent trip introduced me to the schooner.  This multi-masted sailing vessel has two of more sails that are parallel to the body of the ship.  They were popular with trades that required speed; slaving, privateering, blockade running, fishing and pirating.

Schooners were most popular in the United States and Essex, Massachusetts was their most significant shipbuilding center.  Essex built more than 4,000 schooners and most were used for the fishing industry along the Massachusetts coast.  These fabulous ships of the 1800′s can be preserved as a wooden model ship; I brought one home and enjoy it every day.

Do you love to spend your time fishing?  Why not add a touch of fishing decor to your abode.  It will be a great way to start conversations about your favorite subject.  I don’t know a fisherman that doesn’t like to talk about their latest catch.  You can decorate your entire home or just a room.  First, you may want to consult other family members to see if their love of fishing matches yours! 

Be sure not to add too many items to a room; if so it could look cluttered and like you were trying too hard.  A few deliberate items will do the trick.  If you have several pictures of fishing trips, frame and mat them identically and display them as a grouping at eye level.  Adding a decorative fishing frame to the room would be a nice compliment.  If you choose to use an area rug with a fishing theme then you will only need a few accent pieces as the rug will carry the theme in the room.  A fishing accent throw pillow, an accent table lamp, a mounted fish, a throw, wall art, or a trophy will continue the theme.  Remember to only add a few of these items to the room.  Judicial placement of your fishing décor will greatly enhance the appearance of your room.

Lighthouses come in different shapes, sizes, colors and designs.  Their designs were practical for the environment in which they were built.  Some lighthouses are built in the middle of water, on a rocky cliff, a sandy beach, or along harbors.  Architects used local materials to build their lighthouses and constructed them to with stand its environment.

The lighthouse decor used for constructing lighthouses is round, pyramid, skeletal, conical and square.  The round designs are often made of brick and painted.  They can be tall or short depending on their location.  The pyramid lighthouse is not used much being made of wood or steel.  A skeletal design consists of a steel framework for little wind resistance.  Finally the square lighthouse encompasses the tower being built into the keeper’s house creating a square look.  There are other shapes and styles depending on where you live.  The designs are endless.