check this out. found at a neighborhood thrift store for $20. hard not to have visions of bougie, beach side-greek isle noshing swimming through your head. olives, baguette, double...no, triple cream brie with fig jam, a chilled glass or two of a white and crispy vino. obnoxious, i know. but sometimes fancy pants do fit best, even for a picnic...
thinking about painting the lid with a coat of mustard yellow or a complementary shot of color. fuschia? maybe a milky cream and chocolate brown zebra stripe or stick with the yellow and add a lowercase (e.) stenciled in an old school typewriter font.* whichever choice the basket is sure to become my own, perhaps one of the coolest aspects of repurposing. the search now begins for coordinating plates, napkins and other necessary accoutrement-fun stuff! another thought for this was to use it as a 'tool box' on styling jobs, it'd be perfect for toting everything needed.
i'm a big fan of using things for other than their intended purpose. we're all unique with many reasons to be, so should be our stuff. these are the things that speak for us when we have no words or choose to stay quiet. strunk and white have their elements of style, this is one of mine. choose your voice carefully and never underestimate the ability of your things to do the yakkety-yakking on your behalf, let them shout if you feel like it.

*7.15.12 went with decoupaged chinese newspaper...on the prowl for more baskets to try this other stuff.