A year or so ago, I was obsessing about those vintage wire laundry baskets that are collapsible. You know, the ones you see everywhere in Blogland? I loved their industrial look. I watched several go for more than I was willing to pay on eBay. I saw some that were too pricey on Etsy. I tracked down a reproduction basket. They seemed to go for a minimum of $75 (rarely) – more often they were well above $100. Each time I bid on one, I would get my hopes up only to see them dashed as the price climbed on out of my range.
I gave up.
The other day I was looking at Craigs List, as I often do, and I saw a listing for ‘Collapsible Laundry Basket’ for $50. The seller lives in a town about a half hour south of ours. I immediately emailed her but didn’t hear from her right away. I figured I had lost out as it had been listed for several days. Yesterday morning, I got an answer back that it was still available.
I told Don he had to come with me. He did.
Here it is. It still has the Allied tag on it, making it certifiably vintage. It’s quite large. Probably too large for our little cottage which is already crammed full of stuff. And I probably had no business buying it. But…come on…do you blame me?
I love it.
The seller’s name was Claudia. Yesterday was her birthday. She took us on a tour of her gardens. We talked gardening, politics, nesting – she lived in California for years, so did we. She’s talking about inviting us for dinner.
It was meant to be.
In the meantime, I’ve seen that Pottery Barn has a reproduction for $149. There’s a vintage basket listed on Etsy for $190. Moda Home has a reproduction for $90.
I think I got a great deal. It’s the real thing and sturdy as can be. It has the patina I was hoping for.
Now I have to decide what to do with it. For the moment, it will sit on my right when I’m sitting in my blogging chair in the den. I would have photographed it there but it was too dark today. What should I put in it?
Quilts and throws?
Magazines and books?
Or yarn for all my soon-to-be Obsession Scarves?
No sense using it for actual laundry. Our stacked washer and dryer are in a closet in the bathroom. We don’t have a pretty laundry room. But go ahead, ask me how much I want a combination laundry/mud room. Don’t bother, the answer is ‘a lot!’
I’m going to let you guess what option I’m going for at the moment. Maybe you can leave your guess in the comments?
Speaking of Etsy, I listed another scarf today:
That turquoise color, by the way, is a bit more of a teal/turquoise color. Sometimes it’s very hard to capture the subtle changes in these gradient yarns.
Update: Sold Out.
Linking to my pal Brenda’s Tweak it Tuesday.
I have a book review posted today, as well. Just scroll down one post for a chance to win a copy of Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know. It’s very funny, trust me.
Claudia, I love it!!! Oh, you are going to have so much fun with that cool piece. And I think I like the yarn in it. But it could hold any number of things. It is the neatest!
And that scarf!!! Fabulous colors!
I have absconded with Mr. Magpie’s IPAD/POD and am making typos all through the Land of Blog. So forgive me, my beloved English teacher, forgive me this horrible sin. I hate typos worse than I haate tremites. ;-)
XO,
Sheila
I hope you get your computer back soon, Sheila!
Score! I was checking out one of these same baskets at an antique mall this weekend but it was out of my price range. It’s amazing it wasn’t snapped up immediately from CL — it was waiting for you. BTW, your latest scarf is beautiful — those colors! Just gorgeous.
Apparently, a woman had called about it, was going to stop by and get it, then she called and said her husband put his foot down and said no. Really? I don’t think I would have let him get away with that.
But her loss is my gain!
Happy Monday Claudia.
That is a great basket. I love it. I think you ought to store your yarn in it just like in the picture. With the little wheels on it you can roll it to where you’re sitting then tuck it back out of the way when finished. You’ll be able to see all of your colors at a glance and it will brighten up which ever corner you tuck it into. You got a great deal on that piece! Congratulations!
Have a great week!
Cassandra from Renaissance Women
You, too, Cassandra! I’m always so glad to see you’ve stopped by.
That’s a nice basket…I can see why you wanted one. No matter what you put in it, if you had my cat, she’d declare that basket as her own and perch on top. I’ve been exploring your blog a bit the last few days and I have to say that your series on small spaces and the referrals to Brenda’s small space have made my day. I l live in a small house and the challenges in furniture placement are really something! ( I have steam radiators too…that really helps, lol. ) I do have a few posts about it on my blog but not alot…I just started blogging at the end of May and I think that I had more on there about gardening over the summer than anything. Anyway I just love your place…it’s cozy and warm and comfortable and lived in and welcoming and colorful etc. Just beautiful…
Thank you, Debra. We don’t have radiators but we have that kind of baseboard heating that sticks out from the wall making it impossible to place any piece of furniture flush against the wall. Drives me nuts!
I will stop and visit your blog! Welcome to the world of blogging!
oh, Claudia! I certainly would stash/store my yarns in it… the eye appeal and the convenience. I just love your scarves and the way the colors work together. Is the yarn varigated? Just beautiful.
Yes, Kathie, it is. I love working with it because every so often another color works its way in and I’m surprised. It works really well for these scarves.
I’d say the yarns will probably wind up in there! They look terrific. If it were mine my knitting yarns would definitely be living in there. I’m glad you placed the magazines in the bottom, it gave me a better perspective as to size. It really is a big piece. Congratulations to you for following up on that! It was meant to be, a lady named Claudia, and a former California resident.
Great deal and it is way cool. Hmmm… loving the quilt and throw AND the yarn. If it wasn’t prone to skidding across the room (and if you had a kitty) I could see it becoming a lovely nest. Perhaps a feedsack liner and then yarn piled high. So many possibilities! Enjoy!
I don’t blame you one bit–it’s exquisite, Claudia! I guess yarn!!! xo Jennifer
Hi Claudia,
Lucky girl…how wonderful that you found the laundry basket. It is a charmer and they are had to find where I live too. I rarely see them. I would fill the basket with home made blankets for the cool fall and cold winter coming.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
I absolutely love the laundry basket, great find! and also the beautiful colors of that scarf.
Seems perfect for yarn next to your chair.
Brenda
Oh, wow! It’s amazing … and huge! I love it and I’m sure you will find many uses for it. I guess I’m showing how much I get around these days, but I’ve never heard of such a thing and can see why they’re popular items. (Geez … I must get out more.)
Dear Claudia, that is a sweet find. I rather like the yarn in the basket. You could sew a liner for it if you like. So many possibilities. Olive
Claudia you found the deal of the year! It’s pretty amazing and I must say I LOVE it with the yarn in there….the colors and textures! The scarf is so pretty (sold of course)! Big Hugs, Linda
OMGosh! That is beautiful! I think I have just a slight bit of envy going on. lol. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Tweak it Tuesday. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-it-pretty-monday-week-18.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Hi Claudia,
Oh you lucky girl you…I’ve wanted one of these forever!!! I think just about anything would look good in it and I’m sure you will find lots of uses. Love your pretty scarf too.
hugs
Sissie
Yarn in the basket was what first popped into my head! And I like that look best, but anything you do will be great. As you said it was meant to be and you’ve made a new friend. Ann
Hi Claudia – yep it was meant to be! I love the look of it empty:) but I’d go with storing your yarn if I had to guess.
Enjoy your wonderful find!
Leann
Hi Claudia, love your new basket! Thank you for the comment on my blog. I have left a comment back to you there.
What an awesome find! I love it. A perfect home for all those yarns!
I love your new laundry basket. I have been wanting one of those for a long time. What a nice find. I love it filled with your yarn.
Love that basket! A great find! I had NO idea that those baskets had gotten so expensive. Over 10 years ago, I found one at a garage sale on an early Saturday morning. I hesitated for a second – but saw a “dealer” coming up the driveway and knew I had to make a quick decision. I paid $10 for it! I had no place for it – but I thought it was pretty cool looking so I had to have it. It’s still up in the attic….hmmmm….now I have to figure out where & how I might use it so I can get it out of the attic! As for yours, I vote for yarn. You’ll get to enjoy it daily and it will be serving a great purpose as you work away on those wonderful creations of yours!
Your basket is beautiful and so charming…..I also like the look of it empty, though I am not very familiar with laundry baskets such as these. Having your yarn on display sounds like a great idea. I have my yarn stored in tubs and tucked out of the way, it would be nice to have it in a neat basket near my chair.
It amazes me how quickly you can knit a scarf, they’re all so beautiful !!!
Oh, Claudia, I’ll bet you wanted to do the “happy dance” when you found this fantastic basket.. I think your beautiful shades of yarn would look magnificent in it.. It will be a very nice conversation piece in your home..
Your scarves are beautiful and so unusual.
Have a beautiful day.
Charlotte
That was a great find Claudia! Price was fantastic compared to what you have been seeing on your hunt for one. I suggest using to display your yarn or projects…anything colorful. Color will draw the eye to the basket and will make for some nice eye candy! I store my yarn in my living room in front of my white fireplace to give it some color. Yarn colors are too pretty to hide in a box or a cupboard! ~Hugs, Patti
I AM reading your lovely posts dear – today I’m explaining my sorry absence regarding comments etc.
Hoping things are well for you and Don – you are often in my thoughts.
Hugs – Mary
So glad you found something you had your heart set on, and made a new friend in the process! it would be lovely with anything in it, I love the idea of blankets and throws. Although in my house, it would be a kitty nest, they claim everything that resembles a box or cubbie. Once, I noticed my tote moving, it was hanging ON THE COAT RACK by the door, and sure enough, there was a cat in there! Never will know how he managed that!
Cats are so funny!
What a great find and deal you got on this, Claudia. I would be loving it, too. I like all of the looks!
Claudia – while scrolling up and down through your posts, I can see how very much I’ve missed while I’ve been consumed with finishing up my summer projects!!! First of all, I LOVE the look of your blog (you’ve got me seriously thinking about making some major changes in mine), and this vintage laundry basket is fantastic!!! Looking forward to having the time to visit more often!
Hugs,
Zuzu
Thank you, Zuzu! This move to WordPress has been nothing but positive.
Hi Claudia,
First of all, my sincere condolences on the loss of your sweet pet. I know how very hard it is to lose an animal friend, and my heart is there with you.
I have an old laundry basket like this one, that was given to me by a friend. I love it. I use mine to old old quilts in my craft room. I roll them up, so that they fit the round shape. All the patterns look so pretty showing through.
xo
Lena
Thank you, Lena. We’re still grieving. I guess that never truly ends, does it? Quilts would look great – and I have a lot of them. Thanks for the idea!
Your new basket is charming, and such a great deal! I kind of like the throws in it, but the yarn would be great too…have to let us all know! Love the colors on the obsession scarf…do you do special orders?
Depends on what the order is, Donnamae! And whether I have the right yarn on hand. Let me know what you’re interested in.
Wow! Nice find! The first thought I had was yarn! Claudia loves her yarn and crocheting! And there it was! Perfect! :) Congrats!
It’s so cool? I’ve never seen one. I’d go with quilts and shawls. Have fun!
That basket is wonderful, Claudia! (And yes! it looks best with that beautiful yarn in it…..) Although full of shawls and throws throughout the winter might be a nice idea, too.
Oh boy are you lucky! I have been wanting one of these baskets for-ev-er!! I like the one at Pottery Barn but can’t bring myself to pay the price! I love yours with the yarn in it. Perfect!