I know that people often say to give a nice silver frame -- but I wouldn't want one so I wouldn't give one. :) Would it be appropriate to give something like a large classic crystal bowl? that's something I would appreciate receiving!

How about a gift certificate to a nice restaurant? When ppl say no gifts, that's what I give. I presume they don't want gifts because they have enough stuff and don't want more.

Or how about a donation to the something like the Audubon Society in their honor? Or a coffee table book on bird?

I've seen those pictures of your baskets and those are beautiful, I can't imagine anyone not being able to use something like that, so I love the basket idea. Maybe fill it with homemade bird seed treats?

Dedtired has a good idea with the restaurant gift card, everyone has to eat and that might give them a night out when adjusting to life as a family with kids gets to be interesting. Or maybe they could send the kids out to eat and they could have a quiet night at home, LOL.

I also like Peppi's idea of a donation. That's what I always asked for in the office Christmas exchange, a donation to Toys for Tots or the local Children's Gift Fund, or our animal shelter.

Annie

dedtired, a gift cert. to a restaurant doesn't make much sense because, aside from not knowing their food preferences, they live more than an hour drive from here and I don't even know what township .

pkramer, I definitely like the idea of a bird book!

annie, of course I'd like to weave something special for them, and like the idea of filling it with bird things.

Thank you all for the suggestions! My plan is to weave them a special basket and fill it with bird-related things. I'm trying to surreptitiously discover their wedding theme and colors to give me ideas on what to weave, but am not having much luck. I figure (hope!) I can't go wrong with autumn colors, so I'm designing in my head with that in mind.

Thanks again!

party, I'm sure they'll love it and find some way to use one of your beautiful creations. I think autumn colors would be lovely, many people get door wreaths, mum plants, etc. in the autumn regardless of the decorating scheme, so I figure, like you, that you can't go wrong there.

Annie

Thanks, Annie! My friend let me know last night that they're doing a Victorian theme wedding and that he'll be wearing a tux w/ tails! He didn't tell me their colors though. :p Now I'm wondering if I should make a Victorian-style basket, which is typically "frilly", usually flared and highly decorated with fancy handles and rims. Since my friend is a mathematician, I was originally thinking I'd make something more modern with a complex twill pattern that he could appreciate.

I guess the next question would be: do I wrap the basket gift?! If not, then I guess a Victorian-style basket makes the most sense.

PS: I also thought of just outright asking if they need a basket for anything and make it accordingly ahead of time! (e.g., to use as a money box). However, if they say 'no', then I'm back to square one. lol!

This post was edited by party_music50 on Mon, Sep 30, 13 at 8:30

I finally decided what to weave... I wanted it to scream autumn, and it's fully twilled because the complexity is something the mathematician would appreciate. :O) It has a cathead base -- meaning it arches up and sits only on the four corners. I think it's a very pretty basket!

I would treasure that basket! It's beautiful.

/tricia

It would be difficult for me to part with that basket, and I do love the colors, although I would not have thought of autumn if you had not mentioned it. I love the feet also!

Lars

It is the perfect gift. A beautiful piece of art from the artist. I love the shape and the colours.

~Ann

Thank you Tricia, Lars, and Ann_t! I know that most people don't care much about baskets, so it makes me feel good to get some positive comments.

Lars, this may be a case where the colors are showing up strangely on the monitor. The actual colors include dark green and burgundy -- but they appear more like blue and fuchsia on my screen.

Ann_t, this friend definitely does view my baskets as art... I just hope he'd like one! lol!

That's a gorgeous basket, I love the pointy corners and the swirl, so clever!

That is a beautiful basket and such a thoughtful gift. Wow. I have several sisters who are basket-aholics so I'll have to show them this - one of them started learning how to weave -- just love the colors, such a nice gift. Hope you had/have fun -- would love to hear how it went.

I agree, that's a beautiful and intricate basket. I'm sure your friend will love to have it and it will mean more since they know who made it.

Annie