TAJBaskets Made With Love My basket 0

About Tawana

Three names, a lot of cellophane, and a phone that gets answered.

The TAJ Baskets Made With Love business card
The name

T, A and J

T is Tawana. A is Ashunti, her oldest. J is Joi' — her youngest, and yes, the apostrophe is part of it.

It is printed on the card above, which she had made before she had a website, and it is the honest description of the business: a mother and two daughters, making things at home and selling them to people who know them.

“Baskets Made With Love” is not marketing copy somebody wrote for her. It is what she called it herself.

Hands wrapping a row of gifts by hand
How she works

One at a time, and never twice the same

Everything gets bought for the specific order. Nothing sits on a shelf waiting for a customer, which is why there is no price list and why she asks so many questions before she quotes.

  • Weddings and bridal parties
  • Birthdays, at every age
  • Every holiday — including Halloween, which is new this year
  • Handmade pillows, on their own or inside a basket

The Halloween baskets came about because somebody asked her to make some for a raffle. People do not usually think of baskets for Halloween. They do now.

Her own photographs

What the work actually looks like

It starts on the floor
It starts on the floorEverything comes out of the bags first so she can see what she is working with.
Sorted before anything goes in
Sorted before anything goes inColours together, sizes together. The basket gets packed once, properly.
Picking what goes together
Picking what goes togetherSlippers, a plush and the small things that match them.
The basket starts to fill
The basket starts to fillBig pieces to the back, small ones to the front where they can be seen.
Something soft at the back
Something soft at the backA blanket folded in behind gives the whole basket its height.
A pillow she made herself
A pillow she made herselfThe handmade pillows are their own product — and they set the theme.
Pillow first, then the rest
Pillow first, then the restOnce the pillow is in, everything else is chosen to match it.
Pillows go out on their own too
Pillows go out on their own tooPlenty of orders are just the pillow, with no basket around it.

See the whole gallery →

The easiest way to reach her

She answers her own phone

There is no shop, no queue and no order system. There is Tawana, and there is her mobile number.

(423) 394-8569

Call Tawana Find her on Facebook
Ready when you are

Every basket starts with a conversation.

Tell her who it is for and what they love. She takes it from there.

(423) 394-8569
Call Tawana Send a message
Call (423) 394-8569 My basket