About Us
We have been making Nantucket Lightship baskets for over fourteen years.
While living in Northern Virginia, we occasionally displayed and sold baskets at local craft shows, and in an Artisans gallery. In 1996, the year we won our first award, we were invited to travel to Novgorod, Russia, to demonstrate Nantucket Basket techniques, and to participate in an International Cultural Festival. That same year, we were invited to teach Nantucket baskets in three different locations in Australia, Lorraine’s home country.
Awards
We have participated in numerous large fine arts festivals throughout Florida, as well as the very prestigious Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, Colorado. We have been the recipient of several awards, including:
2008 – Award of Merit - Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, FL
2007 – Award of Excellence - First Place Fiber, Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, FL
2005 - Selected for Judging at the Great Gulf Coast Art Festival, Pensacola, FL
2005 - Award of Merit - Fiber & Leather, Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival FL
2003 - Purchase Award - Lake Wales Art Show, Lake Wales, FL
2003 - Award of Merit - Lake Wales Art Show, Lake Wales, FL
2003 - 3rd Place - Fiber & Leather, Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, FL
2000 - 3rd Place - Lake Mary/Heathrow Festival of the Arts, FL
1999 - Award of Merit - Mount Dora Art Festival, FL
1997 - First Place - Fairfax Council of the Arts Open Exhibition, VA
1996 - 2nd Place - Mold Woven, Belle Grove Plantation, Middleton, VA
Gene does all the preparation work on the baskets, from turning bases, lids and pedestals to making handles for miniatures. Lorraine does all the weaving. We offer a wide variety of designs and sizes, including miniatures. Each basket has a minimum of six coats of finishing oil on its base, handle and/or lid. The body of the basket is finished with a coat of polyurethane.
We regularly hold classes, give demonstrations and make presentations on the history and evolution of the Nantucket Lightship basket.
We also repair and refurbish Nantucket baskets. If you have a basket that is in need of some TLC, call and we will be happy to discuss it with you. We have (successfully) repaired a number of older heirloom baskets, including several Jose Reyes purse baskets. Check out our Testimonial link for feedback on our work.
E-mail us for more information about any of our products, repair services, upcoming classes and shows.