I can't really say for sure when it was I first fell in love with vintage Train Cases, but from an early age I found myself drawn to them... No doubt, at least in part, it's because my paternal grandmother always traveled with one to Southern California during her rare visits with our family.
She didn't come to our home very often, only a handful of times that I can recall. She preferred to live alone and liked it. Still, I looked forward to her visits and accompanying my father to the bus station (her only means of travel) to pick her up. I couldn't wait to carry her outdated and well-worn luggage back to our car for it smelled of perfumed talc and and dime-store cologne. Lavender, I think.
I've refurbished and refashioned vintage train cases for years now. I shared with you back in 2009 I first decided to paint a vintage train case back in 1997 after seeing some luggage painted in a painting/craft book (see below).
The inside of the suitcases were never shown, although some very complicated directions were given for lining one. After reading them through I quickly abandoned the idea and never thought about it again for about five years. Today the rest is history. You can read more HERE.
I've lost count just how many Cases I've transformed to date. I only know that each one is fun to create even though they take many, many hours to complete.
I choose to only do a few each year because of the cost and time involved. Still...when one is finally finished I already start dreaming
of what the next one will look like.
This latest Case is a new style for me to makeover! It's very petite and instead of painting it white, off white or my favorite shade of pink (custom matched from a wall paper sample many years ago) I decided to try a little experiment.
Just for fun......................
My pink paint seemed too PINK (say it isn't so!) and yet my soft white paint seemed too, well, white! I got this brainiac idea to use two parts off white paint and one part pink paint and mix it all together. What I got was this fabulous pale pink color that I'm just in LOVE with. Still my pink...just softer!
After base painting the outside and letting it cure I decided to try lining this Case with French Net Lace. Certainly more costly than cottons...but I think it turned out very romantic and pretty. I'm so glad I decided to try something new and different for a change! Added a vintage painted heart locket, some old ribbons and lace, vintage buttons, an old millinery flower/rose, a vintage skeleton key before moving to the artwork on the outside!
These days I do the hand painted roses last! They are my favorite part!
This one MIGHT go on eBay...or I might just put it on my A Gathering Place website (SOLD...thank you, M!) Not sure yet! Either way it will find a new home soon!
Today I'm linking up with the following ladies for the following
super-fabulous blog parties:
Debra from Common Ground for
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Kerrianne from Shabby Art Boutique for
Shabbylicious Friday
French Country Cottage for
Feathered Nest Friday
Such fun! Hope you'll check out all the FABULOUS offerings! Such talent out there and soo much inspiration1
super-fabulous blog parties:
Debra from Common Ground for
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Kerrianne from Shabby Art Boutique for
Shabbylicious Friday
French Country Cottage for
Feathered Nest Friday
Such fun! Hope you'll check out all the FABULOUS offerings! Such talent out there and soo much inspiration1
Happy Friday!
Love to you...
