what is a tisket or a tasket anyway? i looked up both words on dictionary.com with no results. ever since i started re-doing my front room i have been slightly obsessed with these vintage picnic baskets. this green one is what started it all. i love you little greenie! (who can name the children's book that is from? one of you will know!)
once i brought my charming little picnic basket home, i started to scour ebay... daily. it has become part of my morning routine, pinterest, blogs, ebay, and a cup of coffee. these sweeties are called hawkeye baskets, made in iowa. iowa and i have some connections so these baskets are a little more special than your average picnic basket.
they seem to have some consistent characteristics. most of them have metal handles. their shape seems to be consistently oblong, although i've seen some that are square. their sizes vary, which leads me to believe they might be handmade, not factory made? the brown one on the top is my least favorite. it doesn't jive with the rest of them and seems too new. i think i will actually use that one for its intended purpose!
i love the color and texture that they add to a room. each one seems to be unique.
they kind of remind me of these!
i think this one is a knock-off, actually i'm certain it is, but i still like it. it works for me.
this red one might be my favorite. no, i can't discriminate. i love each one in their own unique way. they are my basket babies.
this one has pretty braided trim, but a plain weave.
they all open the same way and have an elastic strip inside for holding utensils.
some have this tray insert, which i believe was to store pies. what?! you don't bring homemade pies with you when you go on a picnic?! shame on you! (random side note, i have never made a pie. making pie crust freaks me out. i have memories of my mom crying over pie crust.) the pie trays add to their charm and are a reminder of simpler times, the good ol' days.
todays use: keeping a ton of magazines out of sight.
i found this one on 1stdibs.com. it is from 1940 and it is beautiful! i wished i owned one like this. most of the baskets i've purchased on ebay are under $20, although i've seen them get as hight as $150+.
this ad is from 1906, so these babies have been around a while. do you like how the ad states that this one is lined with asbestos? yikes! maybe i don't want one of these older versions.
this picture makes me want to hit some back country roads with some wine, my man, my girl, and one of my hawkeyes! for more picnic basket fun, check out my friend Kelley's blog. if you don't follow kelley, you should. her style was a HUGE inspiration for my room re-do. she recently posted about some adorable finds inside a vintage picnic basket. happy fall friends!
This is just a GREAT post. First, I love that you have this beautiful collection. Secondly, they remind us of those French bistro chairs. Finally, I love what you say in your profile of trying to raise the "best little being" as that is what all of us mothers strive for when we are basically "winging it." Excellent job.
ReplyDeleteHi Amber,
ReplyDeleteI love your picnic baskets. They add so much warmth to a room. I love your big stack...I saw a few of these at the Irvine Valley College Flea market on Sunday. I'm surprised they are still so available. The red one is my favorite too!
xo annie
one more thing...I agree with Mary Ann---I love that you say "raise the best little being" in your profile too! It's so sweet...makes me happy to be running out the door to pick up my sweet 12 year old boy!!
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