What is a Basket Gift Basket?
A basket is usually a square-shaped container, sometimes containing up to four feet (or more) of assorted items, and sometimes filled with water. The basket itself is often decorated with straw or flowers. However, a modern basket is typically made out of polyethylene, a man-made material with various uses in the construction of household and industrial products. Although most baskets are typically made from plant-based materials like grasses, fruits, or leaf stems, other similar materials like metal wire, horsehair, or bamboo can also be used. Baskets are typically woven by hand, with yarn being used as the main material.
Basket weaving began in ancient cultures around the world including Egypt, India, China, Greece, Italy, Mesopotamia, and the Aztecs. Basket weaving developed into an art form during the Classic Maya period in Mexico. This was also the time period when the basket-making technology began to gain traction in other areas of the world including Egypt, India, China, Rome, and many others. Baskets eventually became a central feature in native American culture, particularly among the Native Americans who were originally from what is now called the southwest.
Today, a basket can be an incredibly versatile and practical item. In addition to its traditional function of providing food and survival storage, it can also be used as a container made specifically for display. For example, a basket of flowers could be arranged in a floral gingham style; a basket of greens, herbs, and dried fruit could be displayed on a stand for easy access; or even a unique basket full of seashells could be displayed in a display case. A variety of different materials, both plant-based and animal-based, are used in basket making. These include: cottonwood, pine needles, coconut husks, bamboo shoots, natural fiber such as wool, sisal fiber, stringed fibers such as burlap, jute, sisal cloth, and grasses.
Historically, baskets were used as containers to hold food, but nowadays, they are commonly used to display items such as books, beverages, cosmetics, cutlery, toys, plants, linens, incense, herbs, perfumes, jewelry, souvenirs, trinkets, photos, art, fabrics, and many other items. One type of basket that has been popular for a long time is the gourd basket. Gourds are grown organically, and this allows them to be used to craft elegant basket shapes. They can be found in a wide variety of colors, sizes, textures, and shapes. Some gourds can be woven, whereas most are simply handcrafted into baskets.
A gourd basket has traditionally held fruits and vegetables. Today, however, they can contain almost any consumable item you like; you can use an assortment of sizes, colors, and shapes to create an attractive display. Some people prefer to use an all-wood gourd basket, while others prefer the look and feel of a basket made of a more natural product.
Baskets come in many different shapes and sizes. Some people like to make a display from several baskets so that different items can be viewed. To make your own basket, select baskets that are similar in size, shape, color, texture, and material. You will also need some filler such as shredded paper, raffia, fleece, or fabric. You may want to buy some inexpensive embellishments to dress up the basket and make it look more attractive.