The Blessing Basket Project seeks "to reduce poverty in developing countries by paying prosperity wages for artisan products," which include woven baskets, bowls, fans and hats. And who couldn't use the storage a basket can provide?

It seems as if no matter the size of our homes, we always need (or want) more closet or storage space. But in the absence of that extra room, you can always use a basket.

It's the mission of the Blessing Basket Project (blessingbasket.org) "to reduce poverty in developing countries by paying prosperity wages for artisan products."Those products include woven baskets, bowls, fans and hats, among other things, from Bangladesh (made of date palm leaf and sea grass); Ghana (made of elephant grass); Madagascar (made of Mahampy, aka sedge); and Uganda (made of banana leaf and sisal). It takes weavers between one and two days to weave these works of art, which are unique and affordable.

It's amazing how much extra space an over-the-door rack creates. Lots of ideas are available at the Web site, www.containerstore.com. Take a 5-hook rack, for instance. You can hang bangles, scarves, necklaces, bathrobes and handbags on it. Towel racks are good for maxi dresses, jeans, tablecloths, blankets and, of course, towels. Place flip fops, stuffed animals, yarn, socks or hosiery, and swimsuits in over-the-door shoe racks.Other solutions include hampers for laundry, towels, blankets, toys and items to be donated; and a wall rack for canned goods, soda bottles, baking ingredients, plastic wrap, aluminum foil and sandwich bags. I had a feeling that doors could do more than just open and close.

Suddenly I came to the realization that I have a basket in almost every room. I have a fruit basket on the kitchen counter.Another two baskets store my spices and condiments in the pantry. Instead of trash cans in the bathrooms, I prefer small baskets. Tiny ones filled with potpourri double as decor and air freshener on my bathroom counter. My bath products in the linen closet also are in baskets.And proof of how far I've gone with these as a storage solution is that I even shopped for a manly basket to put a few of my husband's personal products in. He resisted at first but ended up falling for it!The baskets aren't all the same size, of course, nor the same style, which is what I love most about them. They are stylish, functional and can serve many different purposes.If that makes me a basket case, then so be it. After all, isn't admitting it the first step?