Baskets galore and a Giveaway!
When my husband and I went to Holmes County a couple weeks ago, we purchased a few lovely baskets from a Swartzentruber Amish family. The Swartzentruber Amish are the most conservative of all Amish--they live a very plain and austere life. Upholstered furniture isn't allowed except for bedding, and their houses are sparsely furnished. This particular family makes their livelihood from selling baskets, which are beautifully crafted and sturdily made. I think they resemble Longaberger baskets, but only cost a fraction of the price.
Here are some of the baskets we purchased. 
This is a lazy susan basket that's on the island in my kitchen. As you can see it holds a lot of stuff! All the baskets have wood bottoms and metal rivets. 
I love the little bow on this letter holder. The creation of the baskets is a family affair--the father cuts out the bottom and puts in the rivets, the children do the actual weaving and the mother finishes the top and adds the rope detailing. 
This post-it note basket is the perfect size for the notes--they fit in tightly, but the notes come out easily.
Now for the GIVEAWAY: I'm giving away the salt and pepper basket below! It's small, but lovely. To enter leave a comment and I'll announce the winner next Wednesday. Good luck! 
If anyone plans to visit Holmes County in the future, let me know and I'll give you the address--the family makes and sells the baskets from their home.
'Til next time,
Kathleen
Categories: Amish, Amish life, Amish art
Tags: Amish crafts Amish Amish life Amish art
The Amish baskets are simply wonderful. I have an Amish friends in Holmes County who also makes baskets. I wonder if it is the same family. Fran
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I can't see we would be allowed the opportunity to travel to Holmes County, so I thank you for another educational look into Amish living. The pictured baskets are pretty and obviously the hands that made them are very skilled. It's easy to appreciate the labor making them requires. Learning the family works together for a completed project as a means of income is heartwarming.
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I love the Amish. The Lord really blesses them!
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The baskets are beautiful!! I have always wanted to learn how to make them. Thank you for your books. I have all of them that all of you have written. I am so hooked. I live in rural MD & we buy our garden plants from the Amish in York Co, PA. In fact, my Mom passed away & I have boxes of quart jars to take to them, as I am sure they can make use of them or know a new bride or another family that can. Keep writing & I will keep smiling!!! Have a blessed day!!!!
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I love these baskets!! We saw some last year in PA which an Amish family made there. They were beautiful, but we didn't purchase one, as I had already bought a quilt and a quillow!! They only allow us to bring so much back to Canada and I maxed my limit. I am going back to PA in Sept. and hope to do a little more shopping, but my husband does want me to us a bit of self control!!LOL!! I have already been sent a free book from Amy, so if I would win a basket, I can use that as an excuse to spend more bucks on Amish crafts this year. Good reasoning, don't you think???
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Those baskets are wonderful. I wonder if they take mail orders. If you can send me the address, I will contact them to find out. The furthest I go is Lancaster.
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I look forward to each day and what you share from the Amish. I enjoy reading about them so much,and you really add to the enjoyment.
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Kathleen,
I love the baskets. I would love to have that basket you are giving away. I love the Amish and the books that are written, I just feel close to them, I really would love to go to Pennsylvania or Ohio and just visit the stores where they sell their things, such as baskets, potholders, anything they make. That is my dream to do that some day.
Thanks,
Debbie
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These baskets are so lovely. Thank you for sharing the pictures with us! It's always so nice to purchase items that are truely handmade.
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How lovely!! Thanks for the chance to win.
blessed be...
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I love these....is there a way to write to them and order some.... these are just lovely. How wonderful would it be to work with your whole family all day. My grown children live about 4 hours from me I constantly long for them. I really think the Amish have the family values I would treasure.
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Kathleen, thanks for sharing the photos of the Amish baskets. What artistic and creative people they are!
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Baskets! I love them and would use them. But they must have a function. That isn't as easy as it sounds. Baskets to me make a house have the home feeling.
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I love the baskets that are made by the Amish. I purchased one last year when my husband and i went to Arthur, Ill. I would love to one day visit Holmes County. Please enter me in the drawing. Looking forward to reading A Man of His Word when it comes out this Aug.
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Those are lovely!
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Kathy! I love those baskets. Now I want to run out and buy more baskets for my house. Can you get baskets from them online? I love the lazy susan basket!!
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Hi Kathy! the b&b looks wonderful. Happy late anniversary! Which one was it for you? Our 20th is this August!
Can't wait to read your new book!
Miss ya!
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Oh...pick me! Pick me! LOVE the baskets! Hey, I have a question for you who are "in the know" in the publishing world. WHY are there so many new Amish fiction books that come out in August & September? I am trying to find one I haven't read yet, but the new ones don't come out until the end of summer at the earliest it seems. It's summer time when people have more time to read, why does the publishing world not put more new ones out in May & June? Last night as I searched the internet, trying to find a new one to order, I got so frustrated! LOL! Hope you can shed some light on this, Kathleen! Thanks--and don't forget me when you pick the winner of your darling basket! LOL!
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Those are lovely baskets. That sounds like somewhere I need to go to look around. I love baskets.
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Hi, Kathleen. I am a basket addict. Met a woman basket weaver last year. Helped me to have great appreciation for the art.
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The baskets are beautiful. I like to put different things on my dining room table and I think they would look very nice.
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I know I wrote a comment the other day but it must be lost in that "great comment area" out in space. I'll write again since we will be going to Holmes County in August for our bi-annual trip and I would love to visit the Swartzentruber home to buy one of those lazy suzan baskets for my table. That looks like a great thing to have. Please send me their address. Of course, I would LOVE to win the salt and pepper basket - it sure is cute.
Thank you and God bless you.
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