Obsessed with Baskets

I am obsessed with baskets lately.

Picnic baskets in particular.

And old tool boxes, chippy chairs and enamelware. Old rusty stuff and teapots. Garden tools and dolls....and....

Oh yeah, this post is supposed to be about my obsession with baskets! Typical wicker picnic baskets, pie baskets, large picnic baskets, and woven picnic baskets. Oh, did I mention that they are all vintage baskets? What other kind are there?!

I just can't seem to resist the aged, honey color of woven wicker made into a basket. I was out picking at a street long garage sale event, trying NOT to buy anymore picnic baskets when I spied the gorgeous one above. It is a bicycle basket with openings on each side to hold a thermos and a wooden compartment in the middle for other picnic goodies. The gentleman at the garage sale said it was made at the Webster Basket Company in Webster, New York where his Aunt had worked. My research came up with a phone directory listing for the company when it was on Donovan Park that dates back to the 1930's! Not sure of the age for this basket but it is quite unique and quite old.

At the same street long sale I found this wooden berry basket. Simple and primitive, it looks hand made.

This orchard fruit basket brings back memories of the 1900's farmhouse that I lived in when my girls were little. The house was built along Lake Ontario in an apple orchard next to an orchard lane with a row of poplar trees. These baskets were always filled with apples for sale in the apple farm store across the street. I thought nothing of them then, but now, 25 years later, they are vintage and collectible!

This large basket with a lid found at a local barn sale, is another orchard basket I could not resist. The stamps on the top indicate that this was a basket for cucumbers. The top makes a great wall hanging as a base for anything you can think of to attach to it, perhaps the base for a wreath.

This great basket is more like a suitcase which could be used as a picnic basket.

I chose to fill it with different items from my shop for a unique vignette on my dining room bench during the holidays.

I also love market baskets. Large, painted white and crackled and chippy painted market baskets.....

Primitive grapevine baskets, also painted and chipped away over the years....

And unique, different baskets made from unique, different materials. Like this denim fabric basket woven between a sturdy metal frame with a twisted wicker edge and handles.

Then there are the really unique ones, like this floral funeral basket. It was left at our house when we bought it. These large baskets complete with a metal insert date back to the early 1900's and have a Victorian flair. They were filled with floral arrangements and set on the floor around the casket. Perhaps it was left here by the original owners who may have had a funeral service in our home, which was the custom then. My house was built in 1870 so this basket holds a little piece of history....

I started with a great basket and so I will end with one. This basket is a 3 tier basket great for holding sewing or knitting, craft storage and even a light picnic lunch.

It was a favorite of the previous owners' and she was reluctant to give it up. It dates back to the 1940's and is quite unique. It has three compartments, two that are removable, and a lid for the top one.

These are all available in my Etsy shop NaNa's Things. There are 28 baskets of all kinds listed there. There's a widget on my sidebar that will take you directly to my shop.

I bet you will have your eye out for baskets next time you go thrifting!

AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these great blog parties:

Share Your Cup Thursday
Thursday Favorite Things
Sincerely Paula's No Rules Weekend Blog Party
The Blog Hobnob Link Up
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Home and Garden Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday
Show and Share Party
Strut Your Stuff Saturday Link Party
Masterpiece Monday
Etsy Cottage Style
Amaze Me Monday
Knick of Time Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
A Little R and R