Monday, January 2, 2012

The Nautical Bracelet- Skipjack's Mariner for Men and Women

Nautical rope bracelet with steel shackle now available at Skipjack

Add a splash of color to your wardrobe with the new Skipjack nautical MARINER bracelet for men, women and children too... the perfect accoutrement for your coastal lifestyle available in five great nautical inspired colors! This affordable nautical bracelet features a reef knot tied with durable nylon cord and uses a stainless steel shackle, making it easy to get on and off. The Mariner bracelet is perfect for boaters, surfers, beach goers or anyone that enjoys being in or around the water- quick drying nylon and stainless steel shackle won't rust! Bracelets are available with small (7/8" long) or large (1-1/8" long) shackles in light blue, navy, white, red and black nylon cord. Now also available with a polished brass shackle in the large size only!

The Skipjack nautical bracelet available in five nautical inspired colors.

Bracelets are sold by their actual length to the half inch. For best fit measure the diameter of your wrist with a cloth measuring tape or wrap a piece of string around your wrist and then measure the length of the string against a ruler. We have found most people select a bracelet 1" - 1-1/2" larger than their wrist size. Please call or email for sizes smaller or larger than listed. You can call us at (757) 399-5012 during store hours or Email us at skipjacknauticalwares@gmail.com.


The Mariner bracelet is perfect for boaters, surfers, beach goers or anyone that enjoys being in or around the water- quick drying nylon and stainless steel shackle won't rust!
Visit Skipjack's nautical jewelry department for other nautical and beach designed jewelry at Skipjack Nautical Jewelry and their selection of nautical apparel at Skipjack's Nautical Apparel

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Nautical Jewelry- Classic Sailboat Designs in Sterling Silver by Barbara Vincent

The "Schooner" sterling silver nautical sailboat necklace and pendant by Barbara Vincent.

Set sail in style with classic sterling silver sailboat jewelry by Barbara Vincent- the perfect accessory for any night on or off the boat. These distinctive nautical sailboat designs reflect her passion for fine sterling silver jewelry and celebrate the designer's enthusiasm for sailing and coastal lifestyle.



Barbara Vincent's "J boat" in sterling silver

The "sloop" classic sailboat pendant in polished sterling silver.


Choose from Barbara's J boat, sloop, schooner and sailboat racing with spinnaker flying and her most recent design simply titled "Hope." These nautical designs are available individually as pendants for necklaces or as a collection. (see pictured below) Complete the look with matching sterling silver sailboat earrings.


Sailboat "HOPE" sterling silver nautical necklace



The nautical sterling silver sailboat collection by Barbara Vincent available at Skipjack.

The Barbara Vincent sterling silver sailboat collection is available today together with other fine nautical-inspired jewelry at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery. You can purchase these exceptional and affordable sterling silver sailboat pendants and earrings at Skipjack's webstore by following the link above or at their waterfront showroom located in historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. Either way, you'll sure to sail away with this wonderful collection of sailboat jewelry.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

American Folk Art: Joe Marinelli's Colorful Folk Fish Carvings

Folky Grouper three dimensional wall hanging by Joe Marinelli 

Joe Marinelli has carved fish for more than 15 years and his folksy style fish are creations he's developed throughout that time. He loves to carve and paint in a folk art style with exaggerated fins, lips & eyes and decorated with bright Island/ Key West colors. Joe's favorite fish to create is a hanging full scale three dimensional carving of a grouper. What's not to love about these colorful Island inspired fish...they're folksy fabulous!


The Great Marlin Fish cabinet by Joe Marinelli.

"Woodworking is part of me, Joe stated. My grandfather was a cabinet maker from Italy." He started building his own furniture when he was 22 and over the past few years started incorporating fish carvings into his furniture. His inspiration for his fish carvings comes from time spent kayaking bodies of water around his lake community in Millville, New Jersey. He observes nature through his frequent outings and interprets them into his dynamic folk art style.



Joe Marinelli's "Folky Fish" carvings on board and painted in colorful Key West colors.

I first discovered Joe Marinelli's folk carvings in an art magazine article that featured his carvings with other American folk artists. I loved them and had to have them in our gallery. There colorful, folksy, a bit outrageous, contemporary, unique and I love to look at them each and every day. They will fit well  into just about any American folk collection.


Folksy Sailfish carving on board with weathered paint finish by Joe Marinelli.


Joe's folk fish wall art and furnishings is the perfect art creations for the coastal home with it's distinct marine subjects and colorful tropical colors used, indicative of  buildings throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean Islands. I can see these used in so many interior applications. Even though Joe's art style is somewhat defined, each of his pieces are one-of-a-kind originals.


Folksy Grouper by Joe Marinelli can be viewed from the upper entry level at this Virginia Beach coastal home.

You can see more of Joe Marinelli's Folk Fish creations in person at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery in historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia or by visiting  Joe Marinelli on Skipjack's web gallery by following the link above.
For more American folk artists works, visit Skipjack's American Folk Art & Sailor Art.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Handmade Bellropes and Lanyards- A Sailor's Art

Schooner Virginia ship's bell with lanyard. Photo by Diane Murphy.
The bell rope, also referred to as a bell pull or bell lanyard is a piece of fancy work attached to the clanger of a ship's bell. It is a necessary accoutrement to the ship's bell, both for function as a way to ring the bell as well as ornamentation as a symbol of pride.

According to Vince Brennan of Frayed Knot Artworks, the ship’s bell is considered the 'heart' of a ship. Ship's bells are almost mystical objects, especially for as superstitious a lot as are sailors. They are polished before all other items and are the last thing to be removed when a ship is decommissioned or scrapped. US Navy vessels have their names engraved on their bells and when a ship is struck from the list, the last Commanding Officer usually receives the bell for safekeeping.

Bell lanyard made by Vince Brennan for the Zuni Maritime Foundation. Photo by Joe Elder
For information about 12 inch ship's bell bell rope or lanyard by Vince Brennan (pictured above) follow this link to this item at Skipjack Nautical Wares Nautical Hardware.

The bell-rope is a symbol of the Pride in the ship taken by the crew... battleships and other major vessels will usually have the fanciest bell-ropes, often the product of several hundred hours of labor by one or more expert knot tiers. The more detail and embellishments, the more respect it engenders.

Exceptional bell lanyard by Marty Combs.

Crafting fancy rope knot work such as  bell lanyards was mastered by sailors during the height of sea trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. For long extended times, sometimes years, a sailor was at sea.

 On whaling expeditions, little of that time in comparison was actual whaling work and sometimes months would pass between sightings. Sailors had hours upon end of idle time and some chose to create trinkets and art. Examples of sailor’s art work are: scrimshawed whale’s teeth and bone, fancy rope knot work, wood and ivory carvings such as whimsies, cane heads, pie crimpers, pipe tampers, fids (made for splicing rope) swifts (yarn winders), corset busks and many more interesting and beautiful pieces.

Handmade fancy knotwork bellrope or lanyard by Joe McNelis.
For information about handmade fancy knotwork bellrope or lanyard by Joe McNelis, follow this link to the item  at Skipjack Nautical Wares Nautical Hardware.

Whether you desire to dress up your ship's bell on the finely fitted yacht or simply a bell hanging by your door, handcrafted bell lanyards are symbolic as a part of maritime tradition and pride.

 Visit Skipjack Nautical Wares Nautical Hardware for our current selection of handmade fancy knotwork bell lanyards available today for your ship's bell.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Complete Your Nautical Room with a Navigational Chart Lamp Shade from Skipjack


Navigational chart nautical lamp shades- the perfect product to dress up your nautical room.


Nautical chart lamp shade on buoy lamp
Looking for an easy way to dress up and personalize your coastal/nautical interiors? Well here’s a style secret used by designers to create local interest to the finely-fitted nautical room. Replace your old lampshades with a custom-made nautical chart lampshade using a navigational chart from your local or favorite coastline. You can select from 1,000-plus U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts created and updated by NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). Nautical chart lampshade not only create a great look to your room, but also becomes a point of conversation as you study the lighted charts, similar to viewing a terrestrial globe! Visit the NOAA site by clicking on this link to find the right nautical chart for your local waters.http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/OnLineViewer.html

nautical chart nightlight
Skipjack offers custom nautical lampshades constructed in our own design center located in Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA. We use only the highest quality materials including authentic NOAA navigational charts. Each shade is trimmed with a muslin-colored grosgrain ribbon and features a washer top for attachment to any standard lamp. We can duplicate the size of your existing lamp with the only limitation being the size of the navigational chart. Visit our website by clicking on this link for additional information and costs of producing your custom nautical chart lampshade. We also produce a nautical chart nightlight and offer a great selection of brass and hand-made nautical lamp finials to adorn your favorite lamps.  Nautical lampshades, lamps and lighting from Skipjack


Skipjack's nautical chart lamp shades is the perfect accessory for the nautical themed room in your coastal home.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Skipjack is the Place for Nautical Gifts for the Holidays

We've selected some of our favorite nautical gift picks for the holiday season featuring easy gift options for anyone on your list!

We're also offering FREE STANDARD SHIPPING for all purchases totaling $100.00 or more through December 20, 2010, so shipping is a breeze! Standard shipping is generally USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground and all in-stock orders should arrive in 3-7 days.

Nautical Code Flag Acrylic Drinkware. 

Guaranteed to help you navigate in style! Barware has just become more entertaining. Inspired by the Code Flags themselves, Skipjack brings you a unique line of Nautical Drinkware from Up2Code. Say Cheers, in a new & entertaining way. Our drinkware is sure to launch lively conversation at parties or anytime, and will amuse the saltiest of sea dogs and landlubbers alike. Each adorned with their nautical signal flag and double entente meaning. The limes in the gin & tonics won’t be the only twists! Perfect at home, on the patio, at the beach or on the boat. A great addition to any home decorated with a coastal or beach decor style. Dishwasher safe. Made in the USA & Canada. Special price: $19.95 set of four 

Blue Crab Beach Bag, tote or Coastal Weekend Purse

Possibly the biggest, roomiest, most useful everything bag a gal can own -- made of tough acrylic fabric that wears and wears and holds oodles of stuff.
The artist has decorated this huge weekender from a very lively blue crab caught in the Chesapeake Bay. The vibrant shades of blue on tan with red pinchers makes a dramatic statement. Enlarged to unearthly scale, the image is guaranteed to either 1) elicit compliments, or 2) warn strangers of your cranky temperament and thereby preserve your personal space.
Just how big is it? Fifteen inches high, 16.5" wide, 5" deep, with 26" straps. Magazine-size double thick outside pocket, handy checkbook pocket on the inside, and fastened with a magnetic snap. If you love this particular lining fabric, order up quick as there's not much available. Also available as a 19" X 19" pillow for $49.00.  Blue Crab Beach Bag, tote or Coastal Weekend Purse  $65.00  Another great gift idea is our Chesapeake blue crab tote filled with Blue Crab Bay products and spice up their Christmas and holiday season!

Skipjacks- 12oz. Spicy Honey Toasted Peanuts

Skipjacks- Extra large Virginia peanuts (from the peanut capital of the world here in good old Virginia) blanketed in a crisp honey-toffee coating spiked with Blue Crab Bays Chesapeake Bay Seasoning. A deliciously addictive snack and a perfect holiday gift. 12 oz tin. All natural.  Also, try our sea salt nuts and other varieties of Blue Crab Bay Co. products  $7.50




Skipjack's wine stopper is a perfect gift for the nautical wine enthusiast made with a hand-tied Turk's head or monkey's fist knot. Perfect for use in the nautical/coastal home and on your private yacht. Clear urethane finished knot for easy maintenance. Made by one of our artists right here in Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA. Great stocking stuffer too! $14.95


Silver sand dollar earrings by Patty Anderson

Delicate but beautiful replicas of a treasure from the beach by Patty Anderson. These sand dollar earrings  compliment any beach-inspired apparel and also matches Patty Anderson's exquisite sand dollar belt (See below). $36.00.


Pewter sand dollar belt buckle with over 14 belt colors to choose from. By Patty Anderson.
 
Sand Dollar Buckle. Pewter sand dollar buckle with your choice of belt color. Shown above with White Silver Tip Gator belt. Match it with the sand dollar earrings. Each belt features an exclusively designed buckle inspired by the beach and sea. Using CAD (Computer Aided Design), Patty Anderson buckle designs are converted into molds, and molten pewter is poured into the mold to yield the finished product. The result is an exact, high-quality duplicate of her original three-dimensional design.
Pair the buckle of your choice with a leather belt in any of 14 colors. The choices range from the classic subtlety of Chestnut Brown to the bold statement of Sunshine Gator. $120.00


Nautical mirror re-purposed and created from an authentic aluminum porthole.
 
An authentic large opening ship's aluminum porthole with 3 dogs that we have recycled from the shipping industry, expertly re-purposed into an impressive nautical mirror. These portholes are made from aluminum and to the highest marine specifications, salvaged from British and European ships built in the 1970's/ 80's. Aluminum portholes are much lighter than their brass and bronze predecessors which makes them usable as a wall hanging in any nautical/coastal interior. These portholes are paint-able and we have a number available in a bright red and blue paint finish. The diameter of the glass is 16 inches. The overall diameter is 22 inch The weight is approximately 32 pounds. Special Price now for a limited time only and while supplies last at $195.00


Skipjack's bay rum and lime soap.

Skipjack's bay rum and lime soap is spicy and manly!....but women love it as well. Great for salt of the earth types or for an old salt, it conjures memories of vintage sailing ships, the smell of teak and salt air and long naps in a hammock stretched between the main and the mizzen - with a twist of boat drinks, of course! You’re guaranteed to fall in love with this refreshing reminder of the sea. Our favorite! $5.95

Turk's head coasters hand-tied on Nantucket Island, Mass.

Go nautical with this set of four coasters hand-tied using the turk's head knot; made from a cotton/polyester twine; quadrupled three-lead; five-bight turk's heads that go right in the washing machine ... drip dry!  $35.00


Our new palm tree Christmas ornament from the Barbara Vincent collection.

New from the Barbara Vincent Nautical Christmas Ornament Collection. The palm tree ornament is composed of three different metals—nickel, copper and brass with small green glass bead decorations on both sides of the ornament. There is no lead or any other harmful substances in the metals; all metal pieces are designed to be safe, with a minimum of sharp corners and edges. Only lead free solder is used. A great Christmas ornament for the nautical enthusiast. The ornament measures 4 3/4 inches tall and comes with an attached hook measures 7 inches overall. Also available from Barbara Vincent is the sailboat and crab ornament. Looks great on any Christmas tree! $19.95

The Yachtsman Brass Gimbal Lamp with Smoke Bell

The Yachtsman is a traditionally styled, high quality gimballed oil lamp- a subtle yet practical way to illuminate your vessel or nautical/coastal home. Constructed of solid brass, the Yachtsman includes a 4-way gimbal and smoke bell. Comes with a two year limited warranty. Burns any standard lamp fuel. $134.99

The Barbara Vincent sterling silver nautical sailboat jewelry collection.

A great nautical gift for the female sailor in your life is Barbara Vincent's sterling silver sailboat collection. Necklaces are available individually with five different sailboats to choose from or the total collection on a 20 inch sterling silver snake chain with bead dividers. Pendants can be purchased separately at $44.00 each and sterling silver chains are available in 5 different lengths starting at $24.00.


Signal Flags from Skipjack's nautical belt collection.

Our men's signal flags nautical belt is perfect to wear with your favorite khakis, jeans, or corduroys. This cotton web ribbon belt for all seasons has full grain drum-dyed leather billet and buckle ends accentuated by the solid brass buckle. Sizes range from 32 to 46 in stock. This belt is available with your choice of red or white webbing as a background to the signal flag ribbon. Other sizes available upon request. Preview our other selections of nautical designed belts in our nautical wears category. $24.95


Skipjack's nautical dog collars are a perfect gift for you four legged family members.


Dress up your salty dog or cat with Skipjack's nautical pet products featuring a great selection of colorful nautical themed ribbon designs on durable nylon webbing for comfort and easy care.
Collars feature Delrin Acetal side release buckles for ease of fastening and separating and solid nickel plated “D” rings for strength, are available in three widths and are all easily adjusted for length. Our matching leashes feature strong nickel-plated swivel snaps. All of Skipjack's nylon webbing products are easy to clean. Just wash with mild detergent (not bleach), rinse well and hang to dry. Perfect for your nautical dog or cat! Produced in Massachusetts, USA.


Skipjack gift certificate- perfect for everyone.

Looking for the perfect gift. Give them exactly what they want with a Skipjack gift certificate . A white embossed note card personalized with your message will be sent to the gift recipient. Starting at $25.00.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Nautical Lamp Shades: Chart Your Course with a Navigational Chart Lamp Shade

Navigational chart lamp shades- the perfect product to dress up your nautical decor.


Nautical chart lamp shade on buoy lamp
Looking for an easy way to dress up and personalize your coastal/nautical interiors? Well here’s a style secret used by designers to create local interest to the finely-fitted nautical room. Replace your old lampshades with a custom-made nautical chart lampshade using a navigational chart from your local or favorite coastline. You can select from 1,000-plus U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts created and updated by NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). Nautical chart lampshade not only create a great look to your room, but also becomes a point of conversation as you study the lighted charts, similar to viewing a terrestrial globe! Visit the NOAA site by clicking on this link to find the right nautical chart for your local waters.http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/OnLineViewer.html

nautical chart nightlight
Skipjack offers custom nautical lampshades constructed in our own design center located in Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA. We use only the highest quality materials including authentic NOAA navigational charts. Each shade is trimmed with a muslin-colored grosgrain ribbon and features a washer top for attachment to any standard lamp. We can duplicate the size of your existing lamp with the only limitation being the size of the navigational chart. Visit our website by clicking on this link for additional information and costs of producing your custom nautical chart lampshade. We also produce a nautical chart nightlight and offer a great selection of brass and hand-made nautical lamp finials to adorn your favorite lamps.  Click here to nautical lighting and lamp shades.