Monday, February 1, 2010

Trash to Treasured

Don’t you love when items around your home tell a story? I’m not really a big fan of antiques, but the older I get, the more I enjoy history.

These suitcases are near and dear to my heart, even though I never met their original owner. My dear friend approached me to paint them. Her mother had passed and she thought they’d make a wonderful place for storage.
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They were just a couple of her mother’s suitcases. Check out the handles. That was the original color. They were primed, ragged and then I painted the lilacs.

Now, Debbie uses them to store her treasured Christmas ornaments. And poignantly remembers her mother every time she opens them.

This table wasn’t actually ‘trash’. My brothers built it for my mom. It was a plain ol’ telephone table (the slot was to hold phone books – remember them?)
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Mom’s house is in the foothills, surrounded by tons of oak and pine trees. When this was painted we were really in a ‘pine green’ decorating phase.
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The top.

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One of the sides.

Now it resides at her cabin near Lake Tahoe and fits in perfectly.

Wish I had ‘before’ pictures of these two projects, but they were painted before digital. Can I tell you how wonderful digital cameras have made my life?

















 


16 comments:

  1. These are so beautiful. I love the suitcases, I wish I had some for old photos. I may have to start perusing the antique stores. You are so talented.

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  2. Wow! I am so amazed by your work, you really are a great artist!

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  3. I found you through Susan's Between Naps on the Porch. Wow you are VERY talented! I know your friend must be thrilled! She is lucky!

    Mary

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  4. You are a great artist. I've got a couple of suitcases you can do for me;>)

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  5. Wow, what an artist...love the pine cones, they look like I could pick them right off the table. Lilacs are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your talent.

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  6. The suitcases are amazing!!! LOVE the table too. Almost gives me the urge to paint :)

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  7. I love those suitcases! They are superb! Well done.

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  8. Wow, you are such a talented lady!! Great job on these!

    Thanks for your comments on my blog also, I was touched (and even forwarded them on to my hubby). So glad you were able to spend that time with your grandson, I'm sure you will always treasure it. And I'm happy to hear that 2 1/2 is just as fun, in a different way. Also, Jayce is actually named after his grandfather, who is also a JC. :) Blessings!

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  9. Good morning, Colleen! Thanks so much for stopping by.
    The two green's I settled on were "Willow Wisp" by Earth Elements for the guest room and "Trade Winds" for our room, also Earth Elements. They are finished and are just beautiful! The family room (great room) and living room is Laura Ashley's "Haystack" and the kitchen and office are Laura Ashley's "Raspberry". It was a nightmare, but it's all finished except for the bathroom and they are going to be all white like the woodwork. The bathrooms are tomorrow. Then Thursday the carpeting arrives!
    I will never paint an entire home at once again, at least while I am living in it.

    What a wonderful artist you are! :) How on earth do you make so many decisions. I do a bit, A BIT, :) of painting, but nothing like what you can do. How I would love to be able to do such things. I love pinecones and save them from our big tree out front and when I saw your painted pinecones my heart jumped. My grand daughter gave me a tiny sterling silver pinecone on a silver chain and I wear it often. I simply cannot imagine being able to do something like that! To be an artist is such a gift!! Beautiful items!! Just beautiful!
    Mona

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  10. I'm glad I stopped by...been thinking about working on a suitcase. Yours are great! Thanks for sharing!
    Cindy at Lakewood

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  11. Great transformations. You do very nice work.

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  12. I love the suitcases, especially the ragged background. You are so talented!

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  13. Wow. You are incredibly talented!

    Stopping in from SITS.

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  14. Those suitcases are amazing. They look beautiful. The little roller works great for preventing bubbles from the mod podge. Thanks for visiting.

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  15. Now see those are beautiful I have a HUGE sentimental Body part it stretches from the top of my head to my toes I can't get rid of thing that for some see clutter I see the person it belonged to.
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE what you did with the cases. I wish I had the talent to paint like that.
    I am looking into doing just that Classes.
    Have a good one Ann/alba

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