On the BRIGHT side!

Yesterday was the perfect day weather-wise.  It was bright and sunny; warm but not hot with a very gentle light breeze.  I had a doctor's appointment after work and couldn't wait to get home so I could be outside working in the yard.

When I got home, I did an abrupt change in plans.  Instead of yard clean-up, I decided to work on my suitcase. 

I covered my small patio table with a tarp, hauled the case, paint, and brushes outside, opened the case so I could work on the top and bottom at the same time, cracked open the new can of dark blue Tremclad paint, and I got to work painting the metal bands that go around the suitcase.

It turns out the dark blue paint I bought is actually quite BRIGHT dark blue - much brighter than the color already there, but I still think it will look just fine.

It took awhile to get all the metal pieces painted, but I wasn't in a rush, I was loving being outside in the beautiful spring afternoon.  I was on the last band and had to move over to the other side of the table to reach the last little bit of metal that needed to be painted.  As usual my sweet assistant (Molly) lay flat out on her side in the sun, at my feet - after all where Dale is - Molly is..... always.

I knew she was there - why wouldn't she be?  So instead of stepping over her, I decided to set the can on the table first so I wouldn't spill paint on her or anything else for that matter.  The plastic tarp sort of stuck out from the table a bit, and so I confidently placed the open paint can down - only there was no table beneath the area I chose.   Funny thing is I realized the table was missing right at the moment I would have actually let go of the can - but not before I spilled most of the contents of the can, on myself (feet, hands and clothes) and the patio.  Somehow I missed the dog entirely (thankfully).

What a mess... BRIGHT dark blue, not- able- to- wash- with- soap- and- water kind of paint everywhere!

It wasn't my best moment, and very quickly I discovered I was nowhere near adequately prepared to be using this paint as I had nothing around to actually clean this sort of paint from my skin.  I walked around the patio like a surgeon about to glove up for surgery, the gentle light breeze quickly drying the BRIGHT dark blue non- washing- with- soap- and- water paint firmly on to my skin.

What could I do?  I got Gary to let me in the door and went to the kitchen sink where I instructed the poor distressed man to drown my hands with dish soap... smear smear... did I say smear?  After I had smeared the blue mess into every pore in my hands and halfway up my arm, I realised I had made yet another error in judgement.

The distressed man suggested nail polish remover - I had about 3 drops left in the bottle (I've been meaning to pick up more) so I nixed that option and decided that magic eraser might work.  Erase, erase.... nothing! Seriously - it's the first thing I have found that Magic Eraser did not Magically erase!

So it was back to dish soap - please note: dish soap + Tremclad paint = a very sticky paste of whatever colour you are using. Not much colour was coming off so I gave up and reached for the paper towels which immediately adhered to my hands.

I'm here to tell you that we women should never let our polish remover get too low - especially if, like me you are not adequately prepared to paint metal.  Those few drops of polish remover removed 80% of the blue from my hands - the further 20%  was kept as a reminder of my own stupidity!

So now that I know how dumb I really can be without trying - I am quite ready to start using fabric to cover my case.  This should be a whole lot cleaner - I hope!

It's all about the Case - The Future

When I went to choir practice last Thursday evening I popped into the crypt to see how things were going with the sorting and pricing for the rummage sale.  Hard to believe that they could stuff even more things in that space, but they have.

I visited with my friends for a few moments before practice, and I happened to notice another suitcase sitting on the floor beside a bunch of boxes.  This case is not as old as the one I dragged home, and it was smaller and in much better shape.  It wasn't antique, but I'd say for sure it was vintage.

I didn't dare ask about it, in fact I tried not to make eye contact with it - really I did!  I don't think anyone noticed my interest.  I hope not, I don't want to get a reputation or anything like that - but seriously - if it's not sold by the time I get to the sale on May 5th - I'm buying it and dragging it home!

I need storage in my craft room, and I have a lot of plastic totes, but they do take up a lot of room.  I would much prefer this look to that of plastic piled to the ceiling.

Last week we got to dream a little about my suitcase's past.  I know you are wondering what I intend to do with my old relic.

I do have a purpose for it besides storage in my craft room.  I am going to use the suitcase as a display apparatus at my craft sales.

My niche is Victorian Crochet - mostly tree ornaments, but I also have table runners, afghans, bridal accessories, baby items, and some dolls.   The tree ornaments are displayed on a small tree on the table, but the rest just lies on the table.  I want to make the case the display background.  For example - I could have the runners and afghans spilling out of the case.  A part of the lid could hold smaller items like bridal accessories, another part of the lid could have a spot for hanging baby items such as Christening Gowns, Shawls etc.

The case will add an element of time to my thread work that no table adornment ever could.

In order to use the case this way - it needed a whole new look - so I decided to change it's image completely.  I am repainting the metal bands that go around the case with a dark blue Tremclad.  It is a little lighter than the blue on the strips now.

All the paper inside the case has been removed (thank goodness for my handy steamer), it removed the old paper and sterilized the interior as well - leaving it as fresh and bare as the day it was made.
I am replacing the paper with a pretty Victorian-type print fabric.  It will be a perfect back drop for my typically White, Ecru and Ivory Victorian Crochet pieces.

The outside of the case is where the most change is going to happen.  I decided that sticking to the "Victorian" look would be the thing to do, so I found some beautiful fabric in multi colors of greens and blues.  I will cover the areas between the metal bands with this fabric, thus brightening the exterior the the suitcase considerably.

Before I do the outside, I am going to sort of mod-podge the labels permanently on the outside of the suitcase with some white glue that will dry clear.  I want the history to stay with the case forever.  It is where it belongs, and if years down the line someone removes the material I place on the case, the labels will still be there so someone else can research the suitcase's history if they so desire.

So now that you know my plans, I'd better get busy and get it done!

Spring Cleaning Anyone?

I hope you didn't rush here this morning  - I take that back - I hope you did rush here this morning, but I hope you didn't do so thinking you would see pictures of a finished project such as a suitcase or something like that.

It really was my intention to have those pictures ready for you today - however thanks to the weather man, and my guilty conscience my plans for the weekend were sort of altered.

It was predicted to be a rainy day on Saturday and because I have neglected my housework for some time, I decided that it might be a good day to try and get some spring cleaning done.  So Friday evening while I was still determined to achieve this goal, I tore apart my living room to the extent that forced me to do a major cleaning effort on Saturday.

As it turned out Saturday was a nice day, the sun even shone, which helped me to get in the mood for cleaning, and so I lit into my work like someone possessed.  I washed walls, ceilings, floors: steam cleaned my furniture, washed and pressed my window treatments.  I even broke out the can of paste wax and waxed the piano, and all the other wood I could find. By 9 pm Saturday I had completely cleaned not only the living room, but also the dining room.

Sunday after church I was all set to head outside to work on the suitcase, but this is where guilt set in.  As I walked through the yard I noticed that the boulevards had not yet been raked, and the gardens still had a lot of leaves from fall, so instead of working on the case, I grabbed a rake and started raking.  Here too, I accomplished quite a bit - not enough to be able to say I'm finished, but at least things are starting to look better out there.

Then it was 4 loads of laundry, ironing clothes for the work week and thankfully - rest (at 10:15pm)!

My home looks and smells wonderful, but I am not moving all too swiftly this morning.  Think I might have used a muscle or two this weekend that have been dormant all winter.

So that's why there are no pictures to share.

I am going to try and remedy that situation this week, because next weekend I plan to tackle my kitchen...

Guess I shouldn't have fired the maid!

It's all about the case - Welcome to Holland!

I have had more fun with this old suitcase than you can imagine.  First of all, it has given me something different to work on than my usual crafting projects, and secondly it has given me something to research.

I love to research - it is one of the main reasons I love to write.  I think in all honesty I love to research more than I love to write, but they are so solidly intertwined that it's hard to determine which is loved best.

It has been fun to look for clues to my suitcase's past.  I am no expert, but I'd be willing to state that this case is early 1900's - perhaps in the 1920's or so... which again is an era that I so love.  I did a lot of research about this era for my book WINTER WHEAT, which you can find here on my blog if you would like to read it.

The last part of research associated with this old suitcase was inspired by a second label on the side of the case.

Harwich
The Connections link
Hook of Holland.

I know nothing of Holland, except perhaps what I might have learned in school - certainly long forgotten now, so I had no idea what Hook of Holland was, or is.

So off to Holland we go.....

The only passenger route  between the UK and the Netherlands is by Ferry across the North Sea.  Like my old label states the route is from Harwich (UK) to Hook of Holland (Netherlands).   The Hook of Holland  (Hoek van Holland) is a town and port located on the North Sea Coast on the north bank of the Nieuwe Waterweg ship canal.  It is literally the corner of Holland.

The ferry service from Harwich to the Hook has been in operation since 1893.  It currently crosses four times a day taking anywhere from 6-9 hours, depending upon the tides and weather conditions.

1930 Harwich-Hook of Holland vessel

Today's Ferry.

 Hook of Holland is still an active thriving port, but it also is home to several Coastal Museums, some with history dating back to the early 1800's.

Here is what a present day luggage sticker would look like...

My old suitcase has taken me on quite a journey thus far.  Because of it I have learned many new things about many different places.  I love this kind of learning - it is the kind of which dreams are made.  Can you imagine the dreams that have been associated with my suitcase? 

If the case was used for business,  might there have been dreams of wealth and prosperity?  If it was used for personal travel - might the dreams have been for a relaxing vacation; a splendid honeymoon; a chance to visit with friends and relations?  What if the case was used for immigration (and it stands to reason that it was) might the dreams it carried be for a whole new life?

To me this suitcase is not just a covered wooden box with latches and a handle - it is someones hopes, dreams, aspirations - all contained in a covered wooden box with latches and a handle!

And now it will be my hopes, dreams and aspirations that it carries... how lucky I am!

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me...

Next week I'll tell you All about the Case - The Future! 

    

It's on about the case - and a little Geneology too!

It is very difficult to find a person in history without knowing some very basic information.  It's almost impossible to track a last- name -only -person - but I did try and find Hewitt co. ltd. without much success, I'm afraid. 

It appears there were several business that had the name Hewitt in them in the early 1900's in London England.  Perhaps one might be the Hewitt I am looking for, or perhaps not. 

There was a Hewitt co. ltd - that were Beer Brewers....
There was a Hewitt & Sons - who were in the leather business...

And the one I like the best  -  Hewitt and Leadbeater Ltd.. this one is quite interesting.  Hewitt on Leadenhall - Hewitt and Leadbeater?  The word Lead makes me wonder if this is a co-incidence, or has something not been transcribed properly?

If you have ever delved into genealogy you will know how very possible this is.  When I was researching my Mother's family name of Rossnagel - it was spelled so many different ways it was quite comical.  I had a difficult time finding my grandfather on a ship list from Europe, because the spelling of his name was not anything like what it should have been. 

So back to Hewitt and Leadbeater Potters.  Of all the business my case could have belonged to, this is the one I would like to imagine the most.  This company operated  from 1907 to the 1926 and they made Parian Ware, Tea sets, coffee sets, cups and saucers, chinaware, porcelain figurines, and porcelain vases... and DOLLS. 

I was able to find a piece of their work online...

This company was also known as Willow Pottery.... is it possible that they were associated with the famous BLUE WILLOW pottery?  That would make my suitcase so very very special... would it not?

Speaking of Blue Willow Pottery  - I learned something in this research.  My Mom had a couple of pieces of Blue Willow Pottery - I never knew the story of this design until now - it is quite interesting... have a read....

http://www.antiques-bible.com/ppf/term/Blue+Willow+Pottery/definition.asp


Tomorrow we will travel to the Hook Of Holland... the ferry leaves early, so make sure you are on time!

It's all about the case - London England.

Today we are heading off to London England.  I believe that is where the suitcase's journey began.

One of the two paper labels on the side of my old suitcase is handwritten.  The ink has run quite a bit from water damage, I'm assuming, but it still is fairly legible.  This is my biggest link to this suitcase's past, and even this is not enough to get the true history of this old case.

If you enlarge this photo enough I think you will agree it says.

D or W Hewitt Co. Ltd

98 Leadenhall St.

London Eng.

At first I thought it said Leadenhill St, and so I started my research there - but nothing came up.  So I started replacing the letter "I" in hill   - first with a  "A" - and bingo... There is a Leadenhall Street in London, and it is in the heart of the financial district which might makes perfect sense for a company's address.

Leadenhall street is also close to to the Thames River, The Tower of London, The London Bridge, The London Wall, Queen Victoria Street - in other words - "Old London"

The closest address I could find to 98 Leadenhall St was 122 Leadenhall St.

Since late in the first Century 122 Leadenhall St has been a market place.  In the 1300's it was a meeting place for poulterers and cheesemongers. Later it was the place to buy leather, cutlery and later after the Great Fire of 1666, it became a Beef and Herb market.

It has been rebuilt and redesigned many times over the years, and in 1991 it was extensively restored.   One Lonely Planet Review said this about the market.  "It's like stepping into a small slice of Victorian London".  

http://www.leadenhallmarket.co.uk/index.php

I would like to believe that my suitcase has been part of this legacy... and this fits so well with my intentions for this case..... but that's another post!

It's call about the Case - and the travelling salesman!

Do you remember the Fuller Brush Man?  My younger readers will be say "The What?".

As a kid growing up in the 60's the arrival of the Fuller Brush Man and also the Watkins Man was an exciting thing for sure.  We were the fourth house on our street, so we'd see him coming down the city sidewalk, lugging his huge sample case - which was about the same size and shape as my old suitcase.  What intrigued me was the way the suitcase was laid out inside.

What a thing of beauty!  Inside the case was hundreds of sample items of wares for sale.  Every thing had it's section and everything had it's place.  In the Fuller Brush Man's suitcase was brushes and cleaning supplies.  My Mom was very fond of some of these brushes, and my Dad always used the shoe polish brush every Sunday as he spiffed up his Sunday shoes for Church.  Now there is something we don't see anymore!

Imagine my surprise when I discovered this : http://www.fuller.com/  Who knew this company still existed today?

I personally liked the Watkins Man's visits better, because he always gave each kid a new comb - a black men's comb to be exact - but at that age we didn't really care... we had a chance to own our very own comb... for awhile.


Why is she going on about this anyway, you ask?

Because my plan for my old suitcase is for it to be put to work to sell things.  I'll discuss that more later, but bet you are waiting to see the first clean up.

Drum roll please!





Before

  

After some serious sweat equity.

Tomorrow we are going to London England....