Avery's Beaded Nantucket Basket with Schooner and Lighthouse Scrimshaw and Dark Green Staves, Reed Rims and Cherry Bases and Handles

My daughter Avery with her Beaded
Nantucket Basket with  Scrimshaw. I made this for her during the Fall of 2013 and gave it to her as a Christmas Gift in December 2013.

The Beginning.
My daughter Avery is an artist so I took a risk and decided to do a completely creative basket for her and I really went outside the Nantucket Basket Box with this One!! I started off with a gorgeous Cherry Base and decided to use a dark green staves on the 8" purse mold.

I really liked how it looked so I kept going!!

I added Glass Mariposa Beads and Gemstone Malachite Beads between layers of Yarn and Cane

I even added layers of Lapis Lazuli and Malachite Beads
with yarn and cane for the Lid

Next I worked on the Scrimshaw. This was only my 2nd EVER Scrimshaw but I had worked on some drawings for it during the Gloucester Schooner Festival during the Summer of 2013. I had worked up a little design from some quick sketches I had done during the races, and I decided to go with it.

I even Scrimshawed her name on an
old Piano Key for inside the Lid

Close Up of the Scrimshaw. I used an antique piece of Ivory Blank and India Ink, scribing with a Scrimshaw tool I bought on Etsy. I was a little scared when I did this because I didn't want to make a mistake with it. I was reasonably happy with how it came out. I would do more scrimshaw in the future. I really like the look of it with the black and white next to the basket and it matches well with the bone findings I used.

This is the Basket, the day I gave it to her in December 2013

Close up of Lid

Avery's Basket next to Emily's Basket
while still on the Workbench

I realize this Basket is non-traditional and many might not consider it a Nantucket basket but I did it in the same style but added more decoration and beads. I had always had the idea in the back of my mind to add beads to the Nantucket Baskets similar to the Pine Needle Baskets I do and I am happy with the cross pollination. I would make another one someday!!

Happy Basket Making,

Melissa Abbott

Photos of the Making of a 8" Cherry Nantucket Purse 2013 with Carved Bone Whale by Melissa Abbott

Finished Cherry Wood Basket with Bone Findings and Whale Carving
by Melissa Abbott 2013 - Gloucester, MA

Putting the Staves on the Basket

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I use elastic bands and a Spray bottle of warm water to mold Rattan Staves to
Nantucket Basket Mold

Starting the Weaving

Staves on the Mold next to a finished
Maple Nantucket Basket

Close Up of Weaving

Getting the Weaving as tight as possible

Taking Shape

Molding the Cherry Wood Rims 

View of Back Hinges

Side View

I lined the basket with some oriental quilting fabric using velcro so it is removable

I finished this in September 2013 after working on it during the Summer.
I gave it to my stepdaughter Emily for a Christmas Present this year.

This is a photo of Emily Opening the Nantucket Basket surrounded by her children at
Christmas 2013.

Peeking inside!!
This purse, made from Cherry and Rattan will last for years to come and can serve as a wonderful summer basket purse!

Happy Basket Making, 

Melissa Abbott

Gloucester, MA

Process: Working on Cherry Nantucket Basket Purse - September 2013

Getting the Staves on the Mold

Staves Finished and Resting

Start of New Basket with one already done