Friday, April 08, 2016

Samsonite Sewing Case

I'm joining Soma of Whims And Fancies today with her Wandering Camera series.

Camera And Photo Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

Thank you Soma for hosting, I've been taking all kinds of photos this past month trying different ISO settings. These photos are as I took them except for cropping and/or straightening. I put together a collage at the end, but the photos I've shown in this post are the ones I like the best.

I'm also joining up with JemmaLauraStacey and Laura for ...

http://www.athomewithjemma.com/2016/04/thoughts-of-home-on-thursday-9_7.html#.VweypfkrLIU

Thanks for hosting ladies!

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This is a little Samsonite travel case my father gave my mother years ago.


He even had her initials applied to the clasps. 


Mom loved this case, which is a perfect vanity case with a tray set in the top and a deep bottom. It's quite heavy for its size, but all luggage was heavy back in the 50's and 60's. My sisters and I loved this case because it was like opening up a little private room complete with mirror. Mom would even take this camping, so it was a treat to be allowed to use her case to get our hair brushed in the morning with this propped open on our camp cots.


My brother found it in our parents' house while clearing things out, and he brought it home for me when he was visiting. It was in a small basement cupboard under the stairs ... and it reeked of mildew or something (a smell that permeated the basement of the awful little house my parents bought to downsize). 


I didn't know what to use it for ... much too heavy to want to use as a travel case (probably over the carry-on weight limits these days). I set it up in the bathroom with pretty soaps for a while, but it just seemed impractical, so it got tucked into a cupboard at my house too :(


I didn't want to leave it unused and taking up valuable cupboard space. It was too cute to hide away. Putting the soaps in it took away the awful smell thank goodness. Then I saw on Pinterest how someone had used a similar case as a sewing basket. Perfect! My own sewing basket was tiny and I couldn't even close the lid anymore. I immediately dragged out Mom's case and transferred my sewing bits and pieces to its spacious tray and into the bottom. It's rather heavy to use as a sewing basket, but being able to fit everything in there that I need is wonderful. I only have to carry it up and down the stairs at the most. And (so far) I can snap the lid closed making it easy to carry.

top tray

bottom cavern ... elastic pockets all around the edge too!
Even the top tray has a hidden tray in the centre ...


I keep sewing machine needles in the hidden section.


Everything I had in the small basket and more fits into the new case. I have a few pairs of scissors. A couple from the thrift store, small embroidery scissors, Mom's and mine :)



An old small candy tin for pins ...


A needle "cushion" I made for my needles. I've never made another, although I'd like to one day. I made this pinwheel square up when I was learning how to quilt. And a little thread catcher that folds flat for the storage.



When I was really getting into sewing when I was quite young, my mom gave me her mother's thimble. Mom said it was too small for her fingers, so I may as well have it. You can just see the printed number for size "4" on the lower edge. Now I think thimbles are just marked on the package as small, medium or large.



Eventually it became to small for my finger as well, and I was forced to buy a new thimble. Mine isn't nearly as pretty as Grandma's. Don't you love the personal aspect of thimbles? All those quiet hours that a loved one spent sewing, thimble on the finger, thinking of whatever you think of when your mind is able to rest and wander.


This little piece was a quick toy I made for my infant daughter when I was sewing one day. It was made to occupy her while I sewed and came in handy many times. I've always kept it in my sewing case  and I always will  :)


A circle of China men holding the silk pincushion. My eldest sister bought this for me one year from the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). I was touched that she thought of me when she was there (I was too young to go to the CNE on my own at that time). It's about 40 years old now.


Oddly enough, my dad gave me this little trinket ... a "Daisy Knitter". You turn the little knob in the centre and the spikes come out around the edge. You then wind yarn around the spikes to make little daisies. I've never used it, but it sits in my case always.


I'm really happy with my sewing case now. I just have to remember to put things back in there when I'm finished! I tend to spread my projects far and wide around the house as I set up in various corners of my home :)
Thanks for stopping by,

Wendy



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Here are the collages of various settings ...












36 comments:

  1. Hello, the case is a happy memory of your Mom. It is great you are able to use the case as a sewing basket. I love your icy images! Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  2. What a delightful story of your sewing box with beautiful portraits of the contents.

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  3. I love your sewing box Wendy you would think it had been made for that purpose, I like the look of the daisy maker do try it out and show us the results :) The photo's are all very impressive. Have a great weekend. :) xx

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  4. Good morning, sweet Wendy! Or should I say afternoon :)

    Your sewing case is absolutely delightful and the memories attached to it are ever so precious. Thank you for sharing such a sweet treasure with us.

    Weekend blessings to you! Hugs!

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  5. My mom had a blue case like that, I have fond memories of that one too :) Glad you are using yours to sew with!!

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  6. My mother's was beige and it too would be perfect as a sewing kit.
    Thank you for the inspiration and for sharing this at TOHOT.

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  7. My mother had a blue train case similar to yours, doesn't it remind you of Doris Day in some of her movies? Your mother's has made a useful sewing case, I have had the same sewing basket for over 50 years and it's not near big enough.

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  8. I think I mentioned earlier that I use an old train case as a sewing basket, too. The one that was given to me for my graduation is one that my daughter is using (for the same purpose) and I thought it such a great idea that when I saw one in a thrift store, I snatched it up. Yes, it's heavy, but such a compact and useful case. The daisy maker is an interesting piece of equipment - I've never seen anything like that.

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  9. I love your sewing box. We had a similar one growing up that went with us on every single camping trip. Ours was called "the blue box". It's great that you can use it for something useful yet have so many memories right there with you. I love the thimbles, it's so nice that you kept the one from your grandmother all these years. Love your photos.

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  10. I have one of those cases in the exact same color and probably the exact same smell!!! I got it at a garage sale. I even have one of those daisy winders that I've never used! I love that it belonged to your parents. I remember my parents had a tan one for years and Mom got rid of it. I wish I had it now. But I do have the suitcase that my Dad carries his belongings in when he got out of the army in 1957! I'll always treasure it!

    Cindy Bee.

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  11. What a clever transformation and such great images! Your post is such a happy addition to Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Thank you SO much for sharing the joy.
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  12. It is SO satisfying to find a way to utilize something special in everyday life!

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  13. How great that you have found the perfect use for your case - it holds loads and I love how it looks; I'd be happy to put up with the weight just for that. You are lucky to have this sort of stuff - we moved across the world and stuff was jettisoned along the way. Also, I like your icy pictures a lot.

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  14. How times change. I remember those 'beauty cases' as we called them. I had a simpler (cheaper) version and used to take it as hand luggage. What a good use you have made of it, perfect for a sewing case. I can see you are very organised.

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  15. I remember those cases , yes first thing I thought of was a sewing kit when you said you didn't know what to use it for lol ! Great photos and presentation of them . I like playing about with depth of field most of my other setting are all set as I take mostly nature shots . Like you I also like to play around with the photos after and see what different and interesting ways I can make them look and or present them . Thanks for sharing , have a good weekend !

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  16. I'm so glad that you found a way to repurpose your mom's cool Samsonite travel case!

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  17. Your Mom's Samsonite case made a wonderful sewing case Wendy. The story behind it is so great and makes the case a precious memory keeper. I love what you wrote about thimbles: "All those quiet hours that a loved one spent sewing, thimble on the finger, thinking of whatever you think of when your mind is able to rest and wander." It's so true about hand sewing. Even machine sewing too.
    Isn't it amazing how much changing the ISO setting changes the whole look and mood of your photos? They are wonderful photos and thank you for showing all the different versions in your collages!

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  18. I can remember having a blue one very similar to your Mothers, have no idea what happened to it. Using your Mom's case for a sewing case is a great idea.
    Enjoyed your photo collage.

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  19. Hi! That case is beautiful and special! How wonderful that you can now use for your sewing things and tresure it every day! x Teje

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  20. I remember those types of cases. In fact, someone in my family -- though I can't remember who, had one. Maybe my Mammaw. Great that you are putting it to use rather than hidden away.

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  21. It was such a busy day and I am so glad that I waited to read your post until I was done with everything. What a wonderful way to use your mum's old travel case and also to keep those treasures. Beautiful photos and I love the anecdotes. Collages of the different settings are fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing this special post on Wandering Camera, Wendy!

    -Soma xx

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  22. We had a blue Samsonite case just like your green one! I love what you have done with yours, and it makes me wish I still had the one that belonged to my parents. Great photos!

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  23. What a fabulous use for your Mum's case... Lovely to be able to use it. Great photos too Wendy!

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  24. A great use for the Samsonite case. It's so beautifully organized, too!
    Lovely pictures!

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  25. I love your photos. That case of your mum's is perfect for your sewing things - so beautiful :)

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  26. How lovely to enjoy your mams sewing kit ! I hope the weather improves for you soon ...over here we are feeling quite spring-like !
    Gail x

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  27. Aw Wendy this post made me smile. A lovely idea to turn your mothers vanity case into a sewing case. Full of happy memories & treasures for you too xx

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  28. I remember these type of cases, they were all the rage a few years ago, weren't they. It's lovely that your mum's case has been given a new lease of life and that it's still being used whilst bringing back lots of happy memories for you.

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  29. You're making great progress, Wendy. You'll be a master photographer in no time. And I do like your green case. Very much.
    Amalia
    xo

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  30. Such a perfect use for your mum's vanity case, and with so many memories stored inside 😊
    Jillxo

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  31. What a lovely way to use your Mom's case, Wendy! I love all the sweet little treasures you have from loved ones, too. It's wonderful to have your Grandmother's thimble. So sweet. Your photos are lovely, too. Hope you have fun sewing and taking photos this week! xo Karen

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  32. What a great idea to use the case for your sewing supplies! The tray is nice too! Hope you have a nice week. :)

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  33. Good Morning Wendy,
    I don't know what happened to my week-where did it go? So here I am and enjoying the wonderful use you have found for this darling vintage vanity case!
    You know how much I appreciate how you incorporate things from the past with uses of the present. You are so savvy that way, it stores your sweet Grandmother's thimble, memories, and your modern day sewing treasures.
    The collages you have created are beautiful works of art, my dear.
    This was a treat to visit you this gray and damp day.
    Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home, but most of all thank you for being you and sharing your friendship!
    xo
    Jemma

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  34. really nice stuff ,glad you kept your memories with such love and care they worth it

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  35. What a great way to use it now . . . and a sweet way to keep your memories alive and well.

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  36. What a wonderful case Wendy! And love the nostalgia and story behind it. And what a brilliant and perfect use for it now. Got to love those wonderfully well made treasures!! Love the collage photos too. ;)

    blessings my Dear. xoxo

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment, it's nice to know when you've stopped by! :)

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