Baskets have been used for thousands of years to express love and
appreciation.  The pagan goddess, Eostre, probably came up
with the original gift basket idea when she carried sacrificial plants
in a basket.  This may be the origin of our own Easter basket
tradition.

All of us have used baskets as containers for one thing or
another.  My granny used a basket to collect eggs from the hen
house and a different basket to get vegetables from the
garden.  Baskets have been used to carry supplies on
horseback, mules, camels and I’ve even seen pictures of dogs carrying baskets.

Making a basket today is done essentially the same as it has always
been.  It’s nearly impossible to weave a basket with a
machine so baskets are handcrafted and have been turned into an
art form in many areas.  Even commercial basket makers, such
as the Longaberger Company are handmade.  Many of their
artists proudly sign or initial their baskets.

Hand crafted baskets are a joy to own and increase in value as
collectible items.  The attention to detail makes baskets
ideal to use as gifts that can be personalized to fit the desires of
the recipient on any occasion.  Baskets can be focused on
particular themes, anniversaries or holidays.