~TRAIN CASE MAKEOVER & MORE FUN PROJECTS~

Springtime weather is teasing us in Oklahoma and I'm loving it.  When it's sunny outside I get sooo much done!

For the past few days I've been working on a special order Gathering Case (Train Case) and I've been waiting patiently for it to dry enough to photograph it for you.  The artwork still hasn't cured 100% so I'll just give you a sneak peak at the inside....  I love old Cases made over in soft white and this one came out flirty and feminine as the buyer ordered it layered with French Net Lace...  Hand painted pink roses accent the top and sides of this one making it one of my favorites to date!

The one you see above is one I made for my booth space at Serendipity Market.  This Case is soft white and lined with a natural cotton/linen blend

  I just finished the lettering/artwork on the outside and after it dries it will have a protective coating and then it's off to market!

Love this French Graphic!  Another great find from Karen at TGF!  She uncovers the greatest things!

 I love refurbishing vintage train cases and old luggage, but this is the first full-sized suitcase I've given a makeover to in a long, long, LONG time!  It's work I tell you, WORK!!!

 Here's a French themed feather pillow made with the same fabric! 

Love the graphic...it also came from Karen over at TGF!

Last week while shopping one of our thrift stores I found this amazing loose-weave linen skirt for $1.49 (half of the $2.98).

It had this great godet skirt (sometimes confused with a gored skirt) and I loved the natural color.  I had an idea of making a lamp shade cover out of it since all the work of romantic ruffles and the like was already done.

I measured how long I would need the shade cover to be and sliced that much off from the skirt plus 2" at the top for some gentle fraying...

I used a Rachel Ashwell shade I found at ROSS earlier in the year for my project.

After the fabric was cut away from the skirt I ran a machine gathering stitch around the top about 1.5" down from the edge and then frayed out a bit of the fabric.  It was then attached to the shade.

There was just enough fabric left on the skirt's top portion and the waist to make a fabric rose and fabric tie and so that's what I did.

I haven't found a lamp for it yet, but I will...that's the next thing I'll be hunting for while out tag-sale-junkin' this Saturday!  Can't wait!

 I've been so busy the past couple of weeks I haven't had much time to blog or even snoop around to see what you're all up to.  Can't wait for a little down time to visit and chat!

Love to you...

~FRIENDS IN FAR AWAY PLACES~

 ~A LAND VERY FAR FROM AMERICA~

Today I am very pleased and excited to share with you some pictures I just received from one of my online friends.  Miss M (as I will call her for privacy reasons) lives approximately 9,700 from me here in America and I find it nothing but miraculous our paths have crossed all because of the internet (I'd like to think God had a hand in it, too!).

Actually...I have to thank eBay for her.  Somehow in the maze of many talented women selling their wares Miss M somehow found me.  She has become as sweet friend over the years and also a valued customer.  I'm so grateful for her and the support she's shown me both personally and in my work.  I just adore her!

 ~BEAUTIFUL MISS M~

(Lovin' her 'Barefoot Roses' Outfit)

The vintage Train Case (Gathering Case) I showed you a couple of days ago was custom ordered by Miss M and it now lives in a home almost ten thousand miles from me.  I just love that even though many miles separate us and our culture is very different, I find it nothing but thrilling to see how much we are alike!  She loves shabby cottage chic decor and all things romantic just like me!!!  All the pictures you see today were taken by Miss M and sent to me in an email!  Isn't her display lovely?

~FILLED and OVERFLOWING~

I guess we aren't so different after all! 

Are we?

 ~PRETTY JARS and SACHETS~

(Some Greeting Cards, too!)

Miss M told me that when her child gets older she hopes to fill up her case with little cards and mementos gifted to her over the years.  How precious is that?

 ~CREAMY WHITE CASE w/Pink Roses~

I'm back working on my studio today getting ready for the "Where Bloggers Create" Party III!  It's all done I just need to spiffy it up a little bit.  Don't want you all to think I'm a big ol' pink pig or anything... (OINK!)

~~*~~

Thank you Miss M for your belief in me and my work!  It means more to me than I can say!  I value you and your friendship so very much!

~~*~~

Blessings to each of you today!  Thanks for stopping by again...  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Love to you...

REFURBISHING THE DREAM Vintage Train Case Restoration

NEWLY LISTED TRAIN CASE

BEFORE HER MAKEOVER

Oh those beautiful vintage Train Cases! Truly the most alluring of all the lovely and feminine beauty related offerings from our past! I just can’t get enough of them! I love not only their boxy style but I love the era they seem to represent. A time when women were women and weren’t afraid to don a suit and crisp white gloves while shopping in high heels and lunching with friends…

I’ve loved vintage luggage for as long as I can remember and first entertained the thought of refurbishing a Train Case back in the early 1990’s. The idea came when I saw the cover of a craft magazine showcasing an old suitcase with hand painted violets. Back then I was always on the lookout for things to use as PROPS for my retail store…I actually never got farther than just base painting the exterior of a Case that truthfully was better suited for the trash! Still, the concept of taking something once highly sought after, (and certainly past it’s prime), and re-purposing it into something usable for today intrigued me. So, I banked the idea but knew that one day I’d return to the vault that stored all my dreams of restoration.

ROMANTIC HOMES MAGAZINE - SEPT 2006

In September 2006 Romantic Homes Magazine showcased the very Train Cases that once had been only a passing thought (“Cinderella Story” called “Hello, Gorgeous”- written by Hillary Black). I couldn’t have been more excited when I saw my work in print!

Since the day I first saw that craft book cover, I’ve transformed almost 100 Cases turning each one into what I call “Gathering Cases” ™! Perfect for holding memories and keepsakes of all kinds! My favorite Case will always be the one I gave as a gift to my only daughter on her wedding day in September ’07… A creamy cottage white beauty graced with hand painted blush-white and taupe-y white roses! It was lined with the fabric of her gown and included lace from my mother’s wedding dress and the ribbon trim from mine…

FIRST REFURBISHED "GATHERING CASE" (circa 2001)

It’s taken me years to narrow down the BEST Cases and the ones to pass on! I’ve included a picture above of the first Case I ever gave a FULL MAKEOVER to (circa 2001). She is warped (that is what happens when you choose a Case that is NOT wood) and yellowed (used the WRONG kind of sealer), but I still love her!

Normally reserved for special orders, I finally listed a newly refurbished Case on my website (first picture above). I hope you’ll check her out! Be inspired! If I can make them then I promise, you can, too!

Blessings to you…Rebecca