The Full Nantucket Sign Story

I was born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital and grew up in Madaket, surrounded by the coastal heritage and traditions that make this island unlike anywhere else. My mother founded the Nantucket Sewing Center and ran it for over 30 years on Main Street. My father founded the Indian Summer Surf Shop, which is now Broad Street Surf Shop. Currently he runs an interior shutter business. My work is an extension of my family's commitment to quality that has been part of the Nantucket landscape for years.

After years of exploring different creative paths, I found my calling in an art form rooted in the very history of the island: the quarterboard. What started as an artistic appreciation for Nantucket's maritime heritage became a full-time pursuit — handcrafting signs and quarterboards for homeowners, businesses, and collectors across New England and beyond.

I must give honorable mention to master timber framer Hollis Webb and sculptor Marcus Foley whose work and words inspired early on. They are the island craftsmen whose skills and dedication are matched by their genuine generosity and insight. A special shout-out as well to educator Terry Spriggs of the Durango Maker Lab for sharing his sign-making technical knowledge.

It is amazing to look back and realize the things I learned years ago, almost unconsciously, make such a meaningful difference today. What began in the 90s with the computer application MS Paint was actually a foundational lesson for professional design tools like Adobe I now use to create exact sign previews. At one point, I ventured into web design with WordPress because of a brilliant friend — who is no longer with us — she sparked my thirst for knowledge. Another friend taught me about search engine optimization. At that time, I just wanted to get my music and homemade musical instruments known using the world wide web, but those skills led to working at Anderson Publishing and later to learn how to vibe code. All of these digital skills helped create the website and sign previews seen today.

After studying music in college, I worked for 5 years at an outdoor musical instrument making company in Colorado. It felt rewarding fabricating something that younger generations were enjoying. I learned a lot about the inner workings of a company like marketing, work flow, and production. One of the most rewarding parts of the job was working on a musical instrument design for the company catalog — basically an outdoor-friendly version of a tongue drum.

As an islander, I believe it is important to get off island and experience what the real world is like. Years ago, pre-COVID, this led me to California in search of sunshine, surf, and a job. While there was plenty of great vibes and waves and I could feel myself getting physically stronger, the jobs available didn't pay well and were highly competitive to get. I eventually moved back to the island because I was unable to break into the California job market. I knew I really wanted to work for myself doing something creative.

Not long after I committed to sign-making as my main job, master wood carver Paul McCarthy passed away — a significant loss for the island and for anyone who understood the history of signs here on Nantucket. It has been a reminder of how rare these skills have become, and the responsibility of carrying a heritaged craft item forward to the next generation.