Stylish, affordable and environmentally-friendly, Jeanne Beatrice Handmade Market Baskets have graced the pages of magazines such as Coastal Living and the online version of  Vogue.com, to name a few.

Jeanne Beatrice is the brain child of founder Laura Benson. Laura was on a family vacation in France when she realized that the French carried baskets with them everywhere. A lover of baskets, she began to dream of a business that would provide beautiful, durable baskets that women would love to own.

She soon partnered with the High Atlas Foundation, which helps Moroccan communities by empowering them and encouraging self-reliance through various projects. Jeanne Beatrice Baskets are handwoven in small mountain villages of Morocco in a tradition that has been passed down through many generations. Each basket takes 3-8 hours to create and each one is unique due to the handmade process. No mass production here! The baskets are made with readily available, renewable resources such as palm leaves and water reeds, which grown abundantly in the area. Once the baskets are weaved, they are collected and taken to a central location, where the leather parts are added. The leather is treated by either dying, oiling or painting.

When I met Laura online, I could tell that she is passionate about baskets and also about helping others. As a matter of fact, not only does she partner with the High Atlas Foundation, but she helps support Lift Kids and Clean Water Act through silent auctions, proceeds from Jeanne Beatrice Baskets or both. She also is a keen supporter of local resources in her own community. So from Morocco to her own backyard, Laura is definitely doing her part to create a better world. I really admire her for that.

Laura was kind enough to send me the Jeanne Beatrice basket, La vie rouge. When I received it, I pulled it out of the box and fell in love! The wine colored leather handles were made of the softest leather I have ever felt. The basket itself is made with palm leaves. At approximately 23″ wide and 12″ high, it is a HUGE basket! I have it proudly displayed in my living room and it is currently holding around 20 books, both soft and hardcover. The baskets are shipped without extra filler. They are durable enough to survive shipping without it. The baskets are weaved while the materials are still wet, therefore your basket will smell a little like “wet grass”. The smell fades very quickly, though. Also, the bottom of the basket may need flattening due to the process in which they are made, but Laura has directions on her website on how to remedy that.

Laura also sent me a great big Moses Basket to use in my photography, for baby and toddler portraits.She no longer has these available, but she does have the La Terre Baby Doll “Moses” Basket, which is just right for dolls. 

I am impressed by the craftmanship of these baskets and am proud to say that I own a Jeanne Beatrice basket. I truly think that her company will go far. Not only are they affordable for folks like myself, they are stylish and absolutely gorgeous. I smile every time I pass mine in the living room.

Here’s a link to the actual review:
http://monkeysmomma.blogspot.com/2009/09/jeanne-beatrice-baskets-review-and.html