Suitcase & Succulents

Hello friends.

 I've been cleaning this vintage turquoise suitcase here on the deck this past week. 

I really like the handle on this one. 

The other distraction I had this week was three doctors appointments. 

Good heavens that was enough.

While we are on the deck you might enjoy some succulents.

 I leave them out all winter.

Ghost plant and antlers in a funeral basket. 

What's better than that?

I cannot think of the name of this plant but the old handmade stump

 it's on came from an estate sale and has lovely patina.

Edit: The plant is dischidia formosana. 

An astute reader looked it up for me.

I went picking with a friend yesterday and we had the best time.

 I bought a barn door. 

That's a first.

joy and peace

Olive

Cleaning Vintage Suitcases

  Here in the Deep South where it can get to 103 degrees easily in the summer these old pieces of vintage luggage can get quite musty stored in attics, garages, and basements.

 I pick up pieces like these frequently at estate and garage sales.

In my last blog I was not clear on what I do to remove this musty smell.

 Some of you thought the aluminum suitcase I had shown had been used as a cat litter box.

 That was my lack of clarity. 

I would never sell something that was used as a litter box.

Cleaning A Vintage Suitcase

1. Remove any debris from inside the suitcase.
2. Layer two pounds of new cat litter inside the case.
3. Let the litter sit for 48 hours.
4. Remove litter and vacuum the suitcase.
5. Lightly wipe suitcase with multi-purpose cleaner.
6. Clean the outside with bees wax furniture polish or your favorite polish.
7. Do not go for perfection on the outside cleaning-patina is good.

The cat litter removes the musty mildew odor from our hot climate very well. 

I have tried baking soda and it does not work as well.

I had a photo helper today. 

Gremmie loves window gazing like I love vintage suitcases.

linking@Organized Clutter

joy and peace

Olive

Vintage Aluminum Suitcase

I spotted this incredibly cool aluminum suitcase under a table, at a garage sale, a few weeks ago.

 It did not smell good. 

It's been sitting on the deck with cat litter inside it. 

Today it has been cleaned and de-littered. 

No odor anymore.

Bees wax was applied and now it is ready for our booth.

It's a bit rusty but that adds to the appeal for me. 

The handle is heavy.

 I think it has an industrial look.

Today Donna, The Rust Goddess (Distressed Donna Down Home), and I went thrifting. 

 We found this watercolor of magnolia blossoms from 1955.

 The frame is original and is oak. 

Thrifting alone is fine but with a fellow thrifter it is divine.

To see my stack of vintage leather suitcases from 2012 click here.

Linking@Be Inspired 

happy thrifting

Olive

Living Room Chairs

Hello friends.

 I hope you are having a good week.

The chippy green primitive chair in our living room has acquired 

a vintage suitcase and a basket of fall gourds.

I found the white chair at an estate sale.

 It is slip covered but pretty rough otherwise. 

Yes, I nailed a chair to the wall.

It has beautiful primitive curved legs.

 It's a child's chair and was hand carved. 

I think it's a piece of art.

If it was on the floor the legs would be unseen. 

 Dried forsythia is in the urn. 

I dried it quite by accident and liked how it looks.

Ghost Cat Alert!

Sometimes camera hiccoughs are fun.

Linking@Tweak It Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday

joy and peace

Olive

Vintage Suitcase and Fishing Tackle Box

A vintage white suitcase and a small fishing tackle box are two unlikely items to pair together. 

But I think they work when stacked like this. 

The metal fishing tackle box is brimming with fishing tackle too. 

I am selling it just in time for Father's Day.

To see another set of my thrifted vintage suitcases click here.

I hope all of you had a lovely long weekend. 

Thank you to all veterans who sacrificed for our freedom.

joy and peace

Olive

Vintage Suitcase Solution

Shelley Puppy, at eighty pounds, has been knocking over our small table between these two chairs. Vintage suitcases to the rescue. We filled them with magazines and books and that makes them far more substantial and difficult to move.

I already had the suitcases and paid little for them.

 If they are slanted turn one of them around like we did.

I think they fit in just fine in our eclectic living room filled with thrifty finds. 

Would you like to see the puppy?

He is our furry heart. CC went back to her University yesterday after being home for almost a month. She calls or texts (already) and wants to know what her Shelley Boo is doing.

Linking at:

Tweak It Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday

joy and peace

Olive