Retired educator finds a new passion in sailors’ basket craft

Date: 3/30/2022

AGAWAM – Agawam Community Artists and Artisans is shining a light on member Patty Sakellis this month, for her specialty in creating Nantucket lightship baskets.

Sakellis, who was raised in Agawam, later moved to West Springfield to raise her family.

For 13 years, she served as a special education administrator for Westfield public schools. When she retired, Sakellis moved to Dennis Port, on the Cape, with her husband. That is where her passion for Nantucket baskets began.

“Before there were lighthouses, they had lightships,” said Sakellis.

Sailors had to crew the ships that served as beacons to warn other ships away from hitting land. During their aboard, sailors would craft baskets to fill time. Since the establishment of the original Nantucket basket, Sakellis said different versions and additions to the baskets have been made. For instance, Jose Reyes created a Nantucket purse, which is the original basket with a top on it.

While these baskets are mostly made on Nantucket, Sakellis learned how to make them by taking classes near her home, in Chatham and Marstons Mills.

“I always liked them, but when I moved to the Cape, it was another activity and craft to learn.”

Twenty years later, Sakellis now creates a variety of Nantucket baskets.

“I like to make women’s tote bags,” shared Sakellis. The tote bags have leather handles, which she said a lot of people enjoy.

Sakellis described these baskets as “sturdy” and “utilitarian.” Depending on the size and additions made when creating a basket, Sakellis said it takes weeks, oftentimes months to complete one. It depends on the type of materials used.

“If I use scrimshaw, it takes longer,” she said.

Nantucket basket prices can range anywhere from $150 to $3,000, said Sakellis – again, often depending on the material. Ivory scrimshaw is very expensive, she said.

Sakellis travels an hour from her home to Freetown, Mass., to find her supplies, which are limited and expensive. They aren’t the sort of thing that can be found a local craft store, she said.

She gifts most of her baskets to family and friends, along with doing some commission work and custom orders. Her baskets can also be found at a few boutiques on Cape Cod.

During the third annual Arts and Crafts Festival in Feeding Hills on Aug. 27 and 28, Sakellis will be demonstrating and selling her baskets to the public. This event is set to take place at the Polish American Club, 139 Southwick St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

While Nantucket baskets are her preference, Sakellis has taken classes and enjoyed other forms of art, such as acrylics and watercolor painting. Additional hobbies include reading, playing tennis and walking on the Cape Cod beaches.

Sakellis has been a member of the ACAA for three years. Her late aunt, Gloria McLellan of Agawam, got Sakellis involved in the group, as she was a member as well.

The ACAA has since created a scholarship for McLellan, Sakellis shared.

According to ACAA’s Facebook page, “ACAA provides an opportunity to meet and discuss art related subjects and learn. We have a very congenial group.”