My custom-made handcrafted Nantucket Lightship baskets and Nantucket handbags are available ONLY via custom order from this website, or already crafted and ready for immediate purchase at my collectible basketry website, Simply Baskets.
Unlike mass-produced imported Nantucket-like baskets, mine are not available at any other online venue, souvenir gift shops, gift basket shops or flea markets. These are not wholesale Nantucket baskets!
More than a decade ago, I decided to concentrate my studies on the crafting of Nantucket Lightship basket and of the Nantucket Lightship purse basket.
Basket weaving is such a diverse art form, with so much tradition, history and unique natural and elegant beauty. The more in-depth research I did on various basketry forms, their evolution, history and unique construction methods, the more intrigued I became.
Nantucket Lightship basketry, with its distinctive look and long held historical and unique construction method immediately grabbed my attention and passions! Combined with my love of working with exotic woods and my attention to obscure details, I found my direction.
Now that I am able to work from my home studio as a Georgia artist, I can devote more time to designing new creative styles of Nantucket Lightship baskets and Nantucket Lightship Purses, with an emphasis on top-quality construction . I do not employ assistants or apprentices to work on any portion of my authentic Nantucket Lightship Baskets. I work solely alone, which ensures a very high-quality investment-grade Nantucket Lightship basket or Nantucket Lightship Basket Purse for you, which will
I am enjoying incorporating exotic tropical hardwoods in my traditional Nantucket baskets and Nantucket purse baskets and using decorative weaving techniques for the more contemporary basket forms to give a more textured and unique look to the basket itself.
All of my Nantucket Lightship Baskets incorporate only the finest in Nantucket basketry materials and I use only the highest in quality basket supply. Hardwood bases are lathe turned, chamfered and/or beveled on both the top and bottom. The traditional cane staves are chosen only from prime Nantucket grade cane, and the cane weavers from the most select in Nantucket grade cane. Hardwood staves are sawn to the desired thickness, then hand beveled and tapered, then sanded prior to being steamed into the desired shape for the basket mold.
The rattan or hardwood basket rims are exquisitely carved and finished, hand tapered and beveled, then steam bent in a steamer and formed to a traditional Nantucket wood rim mold for a perfect fit to each and every Nantucket basket or purse.
I do not artificially stain the Nantucket baskets and Nantucket basket purses to give the illusion of age (patina). The practice of applying a stain to a Nantucket basket or purse by mass production companies is done solely to fool buyers into believing they are purchasing an older Nantucket basket. This practice is not condoned by professional Nantucket basketry weavers.
Authentic Nantucket Baskets will develop a rich, dark NATURAL patina over the years with loving use.
Keeping my costs down by not offering printed brochures, and not having to pay the higher cost of living on or near Nantucket Island allows me to offer my Nantucket Baskets to you at much more affordable and reasonable prices than those priced on the Island of Nantucket.
Each Nantucket Basket I craft is crafted with seasoned skill and attention to both inessential and essential traditional details, as were the Nantucket baskets of old. Each Nantucket basket or Nantucket basket purse is an individual piece of art, signed and dated by me on the base. My attention to detail is second to none and sets the Nantucket baskets I craft apart from all others!
Many of my Nantucket Lightship baskets and purses are being enjoyed and in use today by buyers from all over the United States and the world. Some of the countries I've shipped to over the years include Japan, Canada, Austria, Germany, England, and even a U.S. service base in Cuba!
A small selection of my Nantucket baskets and Nantucket purse baskets have already been crafted and are available for immediate sale at my Simply Baskets Basket Shop! As time allows, I will be adding more Nantucket Baskets and Nantucket Purses to this shop immediate purchase.
I was a member of the Nantucket Basket Makers & Merchants Association (now defunct), the National Basketry Organization, the Association of Michigan Basketmakers, the Indiana Basketmakers Association, the North Carolina Basketmakers Association, the Missouri Basketweaving Guild and a charter member of the Georgia Basketry Association.
Visit my Basket Shop at:
Many Christians claim a particular verse in God's Word (The Bible) as a personal and moral compass in life. For me, the well-known "Virtuous Woman" speaks to me personally as I strive daily to please God in all I do.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (New International Version)
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
