Parker River Proper was born out of my love for weaving, art, history, and everything coastal New England. I grew up in NJ, went to school in upstate NY then moved to Boston to work in an auction house. From there, I moved to Chicago, Santa Monica and back to Boston to support my husband's career in tech. We've now settled near the Parker River with our three kiddos and two springer spaniel pups (Parker and Calibogue aka "Bogey"). I love where we live. The rolling farms remind me of rural NJ, the marshes transport me to the South Carolina Low Country, where my family now calls home, and downtown Newburyport offers all the shopping, dining and culture you could want.
About Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Nantucket Baskets have their origin on 19th century lightships, which were essentially floating lighthouses, marking the shoals to guide ships coming back into harbor. The story goes that the work aboard these vessels was isolating and somewhat mundane. To pass the time, the sailors would weave in the style we now refer to as Nantucket or Lightship Baskets.
For me, lightship baskets serve as beautiful reminders not just of our trips to Nantucket over the years, the joy of summer everywhere - slow, hot days, sharp grass and soft sand underfoot, jumping into the pool, getting tossed around in the waves, the smell of sunscreen, the gentle support of the sand during an afternoon rest and the golden warm quiet around dinnertime after everyone has packed up for the day. Going to get ice cream with sandy feet. A warm freshwater bath before falling asleep kissed by the sun, with the feeling we might still be bobbing on the water.
Parker River Proper offers modern variations on traditional Nantucket Lightship Baskets. Our baskets are handmade off Nantucket molds using traditional materials and technique. I wanted to create handcrafted baskets that could bring more beauty into our everyday lives. Beverage koozies, jewelry, headbands, keychains, and more.
Thanks for checking out my work. If you don't see what you're looking for please drop me a line. I love working on larger pieces and would be happy to help pick out the perfect piece for you.
Katie
