Lovely Antique Sailor Made Knotwork Basket sign making stencil I found this in Maine--that

I found this in Maine--that is certainly not where it came from

but also for the string that carefully secures her pantaloons to her body

this is a hundred times more beautiful in person with a really striking presence

most especially the faces with open mouths filled with tiny carved teeth and painted just the right red inside

I try to avoid buying things larger than a 12x12x12 box will accommodate

Lovely Antique Sailor Made Knotwork Basket sign making stencil I found this in Maine--thatI'm a huge fan of antique sailor made baskets, crafted from fishing twine while out at sea and typically intended as love tokens to be delivered upon return. I love the thought of sailors doing what was essentially macrame in their spare time, and what fine work and lots of labor this one represents. I haven't found a nice example in a long time, and this one is exactly what I look for, very well done, with clean lines, and several different knotting