Popular catch for local fisherman is inspiration for North Shore home decor company
Along the Ipswich River, a striped bass made of wood and covered in silver leaf adorns the side of a dory turned flower planter. However, this iconic local fish shining brightly in the quiet of a late summer morning sun was not caught on road and reel; it was created using the magic of modern-day machinery. “We have mahogany, and this one’s cherry,” said Pam Tomlin, artist and owner of Ipswich River Craft. We first met Tomlin four years ago when she launched her North Shore home decor company. The focus then was on signs using the nautical flag for letters. “I met you at the beginning, and after you did the story, we got, like, 100 orders,” Tomlin said.Tomlin said she was inspired by a dream to reimagine what was possible for her company.”I dreamt about the silver striper. It’s kind of crazy, but I did,” she said. Creating the stunning stripers is no easy task. It takes three hours for a computer-aided cutting machine to rout the fish out of a solid block of wood. Each fish is then hand-sanded to perfection and prepped for a layer of silver leaf.”You have to wear white gloves. You have to put it on. If it doesn’t stick, you breathe on it, and it sticks,” Tomlin said. Once completed, the beauty of the elegant stripers can take your breath away. “They look great on houses, over doorways. Or you can put them inside, like, over fireplaces, on doors. I have one on my mailbox,” Tomlin said. The one-time New York-based television producer said her team’s dedication to detail is part of the reason for her company’s success, not to mention the popularity of the local catch to catch the eye of those looking for something a little different for their home.”It’s labor-intensive. It is, it is. But I feel like we’re actually getting better at it. We got, like, our little assembly line now, and we’re able to do it. Now we’re cranking them,” she said. There is a philanthropic element of Ipswich River Craft, as well. A portion of each silver striper sold goes to support Fishing4Vets, a striper fishing tournament held each summer on the Cape to help raise much-needed funds to support outreach programs, services and other critical needs for local veterans and their families.
Along the Ipswich River, a striped bass made of wood and covered in silver leaf adorns the side of a dory turned flower planter.
However, this iconic local fish shining brightly in the quiet of a late summer morning sun was not caught on road and reel; it was created using the magic of modern-day machinery.
“We have mahogany, and this one’s cherry,” said Pam Tomlin, artist and owner of Ipswich River Craft.
We first met Tomlin four years ago when she launched her North Shore home decor company. The focus then was on signs using the nautical flag for letters.
“I met you at the beginning, and after you did the story, we got, like, 100 orders,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin said she was inspired by a dream to reimagine what was possible for her company.
“I dreamt about the silver striper. It’s kind of crazy, but I did,” she said.
Creating the stunning stripers is no easy task. It takes three hours for a computer-aided cutting machine to rout the fish out of a solid block of wood.
Each fish is then hand-sanded to perfection and prepped for a layer of silver leaf.
“You have to wear white gloves. You have to put it on. If it doesn’t stick, you breathe on it, and it sticks,” Tomlin said.
Once completed, the beauty of the elegant stripers can take your breath away.
“They look great on houses, over doorways. Or you can put them inside, like, over fireplaces, on doors. I have one on my mailbox,” Tomlin said.
The one-time New York-based television producer said her team’s dedication to detail is part of the reason for her company’s success, not to mention the popularity of the local catch to catch the eye of those looking for something a little different for their home.
“It’s labor-intensive. It is, it is. But I feel like we’re actually getting better at it. We got, like, our little assembly line now, and we’re able to do it. Now we’re cranking them,” she said.
There is a philanthropic element of Ipswich River Craft, as well. A portion of each silver striper sold goes to support Fishing4Vets, a striper fishing tournament held each summer on the Cape to help raise much-needed funds to support outreach programs, services and other critical needs for local veterans and their families.
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