Commission Story: Saddle Bunch Keys Crabs
As you already know, I love making commissions with awesome background stories and I especially like it when it's for a special couple that shares a love for the ocean and experiences life adventures together! This is one such story about Tiffany and Chris...
Tell me about yours and Chris' childhood and how you met
Chris and I grew up a short boat ride across the Indian River from each other, with him living in Melbourne Beach and my living on the river in Sebastian. We had begun surfing and fishing from an early age. Commercial fishing was in my blood due to my father and for Chris, his father figure was a commercial fisherman as well. Even with all this in common, we didn't meet until we were about 20 and 21 through mutual friends. We became friends and enjoyed many surf sessions together for years. We didn't actually begin dating until many years later, after I had completed college and after Chris had begun commercial fishing out of Key West. A short year later, I packed up and moved to Key West to be with him and our 2 month old yellow lab pup, Dixie.
Tell me about yours and Chris' childhood and how you met
Chris and I grew up a short boat ride across the Indian River from each other, with him living in Melbourne Beach and my living on the river in Sebastian. We had begun surfing and fishing from an early age. Commercial fishing was in my blood due to my father and for Chris, his father figure was a commercial fisherman as well. Even with all this in common, we didn't meet until we were about 20 and 21 through mutual friends. We became friends and enjoyed many surf sessions together for years. We didn't actually begin dating until many years later, after I had completed college and after Chris had begun commercial fishing out of Key West. A short year later, I packed up and moved to Key West to be with him and our 2 month old yellow lab pup, Dixie.
Why did you want to have a commissioned piece of the two crabs together on the Saddle Bunch Keys
We have 5 of your prints (the lobster, the octopus, the black grouper, Melbourne beach seahorses, and Bahamas turtles) and absolutely LOVE them. When I found out you did commissions, I immediately requested a blue crab and stone crab on a chart of the saddle bunch keys. We commercially trap both species and our first home is located in the saddle bunch keys.
What is your favorite story together from catching crabs or being out on the water?
We have had many great (and LONG) days crabbing together. I often drove the boat during our first season together. I think my personal favorite story of crabbing, is the day that our motor was conking out when in idle and when going just a few knots... Both of which are necessary when pulling almost two hundred traps. Needless to say, we didn't have any other choice and the traps had to be pulled. So, for the next several hours, I had to navigate through all the traps going about 10 knots and Chris had to work ridiculously hard to keep up with shaking and re-baiting them! It was not a fun day at the time, but makes us laugh now!
We have 5 of your prints (the lobster, the octopus, the black grouper, Melbourne beach seahorses, and Bahamas turtles) and absolutely LOVE them. When I found out you did commissions, I immediately requested a blue crab and stone crab on a chart of the saddle bunch keys. We commercially trap both species and our first home is located in the saddle bunch keys.
What is your favorite story together from catching crabs or being out on the water?
We have had many great (and LONG) days crabbing together. I often drove the boat during our first season together. I think my personal favorite story of crabbing, is the day that our motor was conking out when in idle and when going just a few knots... Both of which are necessary when pulling almost two hundred traps. Needless to say, we didn't have any other choice and the traps had to be pulled. So, for the next several hours, I had to navigate through all the traps going about 10 knots and Chris had to work ridiculously hard to keep up with shaking and re-baiting them! It was not a fun day at the time, but makes us laugh now!
Since then, some of our best days on the water involve our lab pup! She has grown up a salty dog and tries her best to find and even attempts to catch fish too. She hates when Chris is spearfishing, and dives into the water to be close by and 'protect' him.
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Tiffany! Hope to meet you two in person and hang out on the water someday soon!
I'm also so happy to be able to offer this commission as a limited edition of 50, available online now, and in person April 25-27 at The Delray Affair.
~Carly
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Tiffany! Hope to meet you two in person and hang out on the water someday soon!
I'm also so happy to be able to offer this commission as a limited edition of 50, available online now, and in person April 25-27 at The Delray Affair.
~Carly