Guest Post - Suitcase Stories: Great Grandma's Hat Box

At Christmas I received a suitcase that belonged to my great grandma, my sister also received a something special that belonged to Great Grandma!

From my sis -
"Like Michelle, I also received one of Great Grandma's suitcases for my Birthday (which happens to be close enough to Christmas so I got it then). Auntie K loaded up this lovely hat box with some fun sewing supplies including a new iron, fabric, thread, and new scissors! She always spoils me!"

 Love the stripes!

Suitcase Stories: Great-Grandma's Suitcase

The best and favorite Christmas gift I received wasn't something that was on my list. It wasn't something I was expecting. I didn't even know it existed. And it's perfect.

It's a navy and white (one of my favorite color combos) suitcase that belonged to my great-grandma!

One of my aunts held on to my great-grandma's suitcase because she always loved it and wanted to display it somewhere, but never found the spot. So, she passed it on to me. I'm so incredibly grateful that she kept it! I have so many suitcases, but this is the only one with a family connection. It's is never going anywhere.

{I love that it still has the travel tag with her handwriting!}

My aunt also included this fun photo of my grandma, great-grandpa, and great-grandma (from left to right).

{check out all that tinsel!}

Suitcase Stories: From the Side of the Road

I’ve gotten good where I can spot old suitcases like none other.  I rescued these babies before they went to the dump!

My husband and I went to pick up a table for my craft room that I found on Craigslist. The seller was a sweet teacher packing up and moving because of an unexpected job offer she took. She was moving to a smaller apartment so she was cleaning out. Walking up to her building, there were some things by the side of the road and I spotted a vintage green handle and latches of a suitcase. (I’m thinking really what are the chances!  I hope it’s in decent shape – poor thing put on the side of the road). We got the table and the seller helped us bring out some parts.  I told her I was going to check out the suitcase and she told me the funny story of why she had it and why it was on the side of the road. It was a little bent up. She used it for a prop for something in her classroom  and a big 8^th grade boy sat on it. Yep, sat on it. 

Despite being a little bent up, it's in decent shape! 

We were planning to get our kitties soon so I had a good idea for this one. I made a padded insert to turn it into a pet bed. They slept in it some, but now it’s more of a toy box.

{Elwood after his momma’s heart.} 

This wasn’t very long after we got them- they’ve more than doubled in size now! My growing boys!

These next suitcases have to be the most interesting and oldest suitcases I’ve found.

My husband and I went to a rummage sale just down the street from us. We went to a rummage they had there about month earlier.  With the season ending it looked like they now had more of their out buildings cleared out and they lowered some prices to get rid of things.

Low and behold suitcases on the side of the road! Like 6 of them, but looking pretty shabby.  I still looked to see if there were any good ones. Good thing I looked a little harder because I found these beauties (does anyone else think this kind of stuff is beautiful?) I just saw the one at first and then got excited when I saw another one under some more of the junk. I’m pretty sure we moved a concrete block to get at it (my husband is so good to me). 

I love the latches, the airline tags that were left on and how they’re a little closer to a square shape. 

Another thing of interest – they were filled with stuff. Most of which was immediately disposed of for sanitary reasons. Judging by the contents it belonged to a very religious lady! Here are a couple pieces that took me back in time.

Suitcase Stories - Yellow Suitcases and Happy Travels

You guessed it! I like suitcases.Vintage suitcases. I love them. I don't really know why. They're good for storing craft things. They come in beautiful colors. They don't make 'em like they used too. Maybe it's the hunt for them and the joy when I find them. Maybe it's the thrill of a good deal. Maybe it's because there's a story behind them and the people that owned them. I can only image the places in the world that they've been or not been.

This is going to be a series of posts about my suitcases and how they've come into my possession. I have more than only yellow ones you know.

I'm starting out with my first suitcase love (yeah they make me a little giddy) and probably the start of my suitcase addiction and the name Yellow Suitcase Studio. I know you've been wondering about that.

I spotted them at the thrift store up on a high shelf. I was drawn to them. Those two soft buttery yellow vintage suitcases in the lineup of brown, navy and blah suitcases. They were calling my name to be taken off of that shelf; hitting a soft spot in my heart that I could not ignore. I went with that feeling in my heart and took them down. It got even better when I opened them to see the insides were basically untouched. I paid for them and while walking out the cashier said, "Happy travels!" That's my favorite part. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

{the yellow beauties}

There have been many happy travels with those yellow suitcases. Not to exotic places or crazy cross country road trips; but to happy memories.

One of those happy memories is a photo shoot with my lovely sister.

{me and my suitcases - photos by my sis}

{sister love}

Another happy day bursting with love and memories was my wedding day!

{photos by shannon wucherer photography - they're awesome!}

Did you know suitcases are absolutely awesome if you're selling stuff at a craft fair? Well they are. You have an easy way to carry all your stuff and you can use them to display your lovely handmade items.

{suitcases at a craft fair}

This past summer I found a yellow train case to match! It was a happy day spent with my sister at a flea market. Of course we walked out with a big trunk and a suitcase filled with all of our finds. I splurged on this baby. I'm a thrifty girl. I was a little sad the lady wouldn't take less than $15. She even knew I had left and come back for it a little later. I think it's my most expensive and smallest one. Maybe all my other rockin' deals make up for for this splurge? Oh well, it has found the perfect home.

{happy yellow train case}

Here's to "happy travels"!