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BRING THE WILD INSIDE: The Angling Lifestyle

This time of year I turn my attention to cool streams, lazy lakes, sweet tea with mint and angling.  There is always a way to bring the joy of the wild inside – so be it FISH and The Angling Lifestyle!

I collect.

I save (part of the Heritage thing).

I fish.

I come from a long line of ‘savers’  (some may have been hoarders, but I am glad they were!)  Both sides of my family and my husband’s had places like farms and lake houses to save generations of goodies, and all sides loved the outdoors.  I never turned down anything or any opportunity to scour an attic or barn and be gifted (often with laughter at ‘that ole thing’) my finds!  I saved therefore, I collect.

 To save and cherish items that family have touched is a Southern thang!

I love to fish, especially fly fish.  My mate has made sure I have premier equipment- some of my favorites are my Sage 5 wt. and my San Miguel Reel.

You need not fish to enjoy it in your decor — if you have it use it – if you don’t, collect it!  It is soothing decor and it need not be expensive.

Shop flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores and your partners tackle (with permission).

The lamp is new.  The wicker shade makes a nice contrast with the rock wall and the scale of the net in the vintage fishing net, a gift from my best friend’s grandfather who used it in the 30’s &  40’s.  I found this old duck call at an estate sale (yes we have family one’s too) and decided it needed to accent the lamp shade like a finial would.  How about a colorful self hooking lure instead?

I collect.

 I collect antique wooden ice fishing decoys.  They are each tiny works of art as varied and individual as the carvers who made them: catfish with metal whiskers, a turtle and even a frog I have found.  The aged paint and sometimes whimsical nature made me display them on our coffee table ‘swimming’ toward an antique English bait bucket.  The lid is open and perfect for a green plant surrounded with spanish moss (please do a better job than I did covering the plastic pot!!)

We save.

Make an interesting display in your bookshelves, include family memorabilia and at least 3 fish related items.  Here we have a framed fish etching I did long ago, fishing books, a vintage creel* and a carved wooden crappie I painted as a gift for my husband.  You could also use a reel (doesn’t have to be old) and some colorful lures.  The old metal trade sign, German figural beer steins and antique fireman’s hat are all family relics.  *CREEL – If you recall my Post BRING THE WILD INSIDE – Christmas   I filled a creel with red poinsettia and another with red berries, feathers and greenery.  For summer try some silk or real yellow and white daisies for a picnic feel inside.

Don’t overlook the tops of cabinets for display space.

I think a bit of the outdoors makes the indoors more fun!  How about this carved bass nestled with greenery and old duck decoys (use your current decoys-it is out of season) atop a cabinet filled with gleaming silver?   Again, the contrast makes things interesting – like wearing denim and pearls!   The bookcase is an early Texas piece by Otto Brinkman of Comfort, Tx.  My grandmother saw it for sale in 1936 and purchased it for $45.00 and saved & loved it all these years – just as I do.  (See where I get it?)   How about a fishing trophy made out of paper?  GirlHunter  author & cook, Georgia Pelligrini told me about this new store on her blog.  Red    New and vintage  China  have an abundance of fishing themes in plates and platters that not only make a pretty dinner table, but make a wonderful display alone, on a stand in a bookcase or countertop  or hanging on the wall!

Dinnerware by Portmerion  and Red Cabin Pottery ( made in Texas!).

You always have room for a pillow or two – bring the wild inside with color and rich trims, velvets, and suedes.  I handpaint each one on lambskin using different techniques and metallics – then I finish by hand sewing into pillows.  Each one is unique.  The fine leather gives a great texture that mimic the fish skins.  These are available now and will be featured on my new updated website.

My hand painted tin rainbow by Stephanie Woolley of Tailwater Gallery and Flyshop in Taos, NM.
I save, I collect……and I fish.

Here I sit on my vintage 60’s Water Wagon, originally made in Amarillo, Tx!

Be it old or new—–find it, fish it but by all means

BRING THE WILD INSIDE.

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Roads Recently Traveled: Celebrities, Pheasants & Fly Fishing

Skip & Rita flanking special guest, Tim Borksi of Florida at the Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival 2012.

Most of our hunting dies down in late January, but I still had a few upland hunts left and the anticipation of the fishing season to come. We seemed to be on the road a lot in Jan, Feb and March traveling Texas. Along the way we met some fun outdoor celebs: Noted wildlife cook and author of GirlHunter, Georgia Pellegrini http://georgiapellegrini.com , then we attended the Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival in Houston and met the wildly interesting and talented fly tyer and artist, Tim Borski of Florida.  Then to Troutfest in New Braunfels, TX where we had our trade booth and were entertained by keynote guest, Pat Dorsey owner of the Blue Quill Angler of Evergreen, CO http://bluequillangler.com and then to Sportsman’s Finest in Austin http://www.SportsmansFinest.com to have some fun while learning bass fishing tips with Bob Clouser from Pennsylvania and inventor of the Clouser Minnow http://www.clouserflyfishing.com

 

Meeting Georgia at her book signing in Austin. Love the Red! Her book GirlHunter takes this classicly trained chef out into the wild to 'hunt' for her food.

 

Troutfest speaker, Pat Dorsey (center) has over 1400 fly bins at his Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen, CO!

 

Georgia also introduced me to Key of A shotgun jewelry. Skip gave me my 28 ga bracelet for Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Clouser--Not only did I pick up some great tips on fishing bass in heavy cover, but he was nice enough to give me a signed cap for St. Patrick's Day! I had the pleasure of meeting him 2 yrs ago in Houston - charming man!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, at Troutfest I had my booth for Heritage Game Mounts and introduced my new “Trout Skins” pillows.  I handpaint fish and outdoor scenes on lambskin and then sew into pillows of rich trims, velvet & suedes. 

HGM's Booth at Troutfest - introducing 'Trout Skins'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Middle of February found us once again on a fabulous shoot at Gerry & Eldena Stearns’ Santa Anna Hunting Preserve.   Even with the cover down from the Texas ‘exceptional’ drought, the hunt was a success thanks to Gerry’s great dogs: American Field Brittanys, German Shorthairs and a sassy little French Brittany named Lucy.
 
I love dogs.......

 

 

The 3 Schimpff's and pheasant take - Thank you, Rico (my wonderful bro in law)!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eldena does such a wonderful job with the birds: the care and breeding.  And as a special favor to me she skinned a couple of the beautiful  pheasants and told me how to tan them.  We will see how I do!
Blow drying the pheasant after washing in Dawn detergent!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                      HAPPY TRAILS & STREAMS!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Fishing the San Marcos – May 2011

The first of May found Heritage Game Mounts fishing a day on the San Marcos river with guide and new friend, Kevin Hutchison of Hill Country Flyfishers, Fishhead@texas.net.  It was a truly beautiful day as I fished a Llano Bug on top while Skip chose a Swamp Monster sub surface, all tied by Kevin.

The San Marcos River, Texas

We caught the pugnacious Redbreasted sunfish, many Guadalupe bass and a large mouth.  Kevin’s brand new inflatable raft was super comfy and roomy.  The 10 1/2 hour trip was over before we knew it.  A wonderful lunch was set up streamside, with everything one could need for an elegant riparian feast, including the tablecloth!  Kevin takes pride in preparing himself our lunch of grilled chicken bacon pasta salad, Hummas with grilled jalapenos, fresh fruit and brownies.

Kevin sets us up in style & comfort
A perfect setting for a delicious homemade lunch
What I came for!
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Troutfest 2011 Fly Fishing Expo

HGM attended the 2011 Troutfest Banquet and 2 day expo in New Braunfels, Tx .  The event was held on the banks of the Guadalupe River at Rio Raft Resort.  They had a phenomenal turnout and many fly fishing celebs showed up thanks to the hard work of dedicated volunteers under the supervision of Phil Dopson of the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited chapter.

"trout spots" handpainted margarita glasses painted by Rita Schimpff for the silent auction.
Celebrity guests, Dave & Emily Whitlock. Dave made each autograph special with a detailed drawing and personal note.
Celeb, Ed Engle provided river casting instruction as well as entertaining slide show presentations.
John Gierach's 'Ed' on the Guad.
The youngest celebrity, Tyler Befus brought an unprecidented amount of young people to troutfest.
Troutfest 2011 volunteer Gary Lehman, made it his mission to involve youth in the successful expo.