Nantucket Baskets and Regret

I recently thought of my Aunt and her Nantucket basket. If your familar with Nantucket Baskets they are a beautiful work of basketry. My Aunt had a traditional purse with a engraving of flowers on the scrimshaw. A Scrimshaw is a piece of carved bone. Her's was made of carved whale bone. As a child I thought this was so cool. I had visons of a crusty old sailor carving a piece of bone with a pipe hanging out of his mouth. It was actually made by her neighbor down the street.

She invited me and my cousin to the island to introduce us to some of her friends that weaved them. She knew we were into crafts and that it would be a great opportunity. Particulary with the passing down a important part of craft history. By the time we got around to learn she died after a short illness.

We are here only for a short time. I regret not taking her up on the opportunity even though I knwo how to make them know-learning from a artist who lived on Nantucket and took her time to show me how. In my mind I thought she would be around forever. I always think of her when I finish a basket.