Monday 16 January 2012

In which we raid the lost ark

I was up in the loft yesterday - something I try to avoid - as Mr FHCS insisted we start sorting out the cardboard city up there prior to the move. [I'd prefer to just ferry the boxes unopened to our new loft, like we did last time we moved. It's cold up there, and there might be spiders]. However, it was worth it, because in a corner of the eaves and covered in filth, was this suitcase, presumably left by the previous owners of the house. Or their predecessors' predecessors. We'd never seen it before anyway. Obviously I spotted it and went 'oooh, what's that?' whereas Mr FHCS rolled his eyes and attempted to dissuade me from making him open it with dire mutterings about tarantulas and dead bodies and wasn't it too grimy to bother with?

Grot of ages

It was a tense moment, but no bats or mummified corpses fell out a la Indiana Jones, just some rather anti-climatic bits of sawdust. Therefore I got my way and was allowed to take it downstairs to clean up.

Baby wipes to the rescue once again!

I gave it a bit of leather spray too, although sadly I don't think it's actually leather. It's quite nice though, don't you think? Especially for free.


So now we have more to put in the removal lorry than we thought. But it comes under the useful heading as I can pack things in it! Score!

Lakota x

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48 comments:

  1. It's a nice little suitcase Lakota, sad though that there wasn't any treasure inside.

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  2. The best things are always free! And the mystery and lead up to seeing what was inside (although nothing) sure must have been fun xxx

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  3. A nice little find and free too! It would of been really cool to find something interesting inside.

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  4. I have one a little like this which I vamped up a bit and turned into my cat's pad. Kitted it out with some 70s fabric and she lounges on our porch in it.

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  5. I have a very similar case sitting on top of a wardrobe. Too much to expect treasures inside as well as a free suitcase!
    I miss having baby wipes in the house! I don't miss wiping bums, but I think I may have to buy a pack for their all-purpose cleaning properties! xxxxxx

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  6. Absolute treasure! Sarah xxx

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  7. A bonus is a bonus is a bonus...especially when you're moving house. Hope all goes well for you.xx.

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  8. ooh, i think it's great - what a find! :)

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  9. I have 3 vintage cases festering in our loft - one very similar to that one. Must DO something with them. One of these days.

    Good luck with the move, lovey. xx

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  10. I wish my attic had some treasures. Despite living in my house since birth I have never ventured up there ha! Can't be dealing with spiders lol x

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  11. FAB! It just show's you. Spookily I did something similar :)

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  12. excellent! You can always cover it in fabric or wallpaper if you don't find it exciting enough as it is.

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  13. Hello Lakota

    I love the design of this suitcase. It would be fabulous re-produced in leather, perhaps Louis Vuitton would be interested in the desing.

    I just found your blog, as your most recent follower, I look forward to your visit, the tea will be on the hob

    Helentilstonpainter.blogspot.com

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  14. OMG! I feel for you! During the gales in the midlands I was worried that our roof would be blown off - not because of the damage or cost but because the SKY NEWS COPTER would be flying over in amazement at how much I have up there!

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  15. That is lovely pretty sure its a little 70's number but its great condition what a great find ;-)) Men they have no taste sometimes ;-)) Happy packing, dee xx

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  16. What a cutie! more space to store your treasures ;)

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

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  17. Trip out, it's a lovely case! I have stuff packed away, mostly collectable toys and I want to pull them out and get them out, I have been in a purging mood lately.

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  18. More storage space...and for free! Bonus! xxx

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  19. Great find..well worth braving the visit to the attic. Perfect to store things in!
    We found a few old doors in our attic..though how they got up there, I will never know (as the attic hole is far to small to get a door through :P).

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  20. awww I felt sure you were going to reveal some amazing treasure in there : (
    Never mind a girl can never have enough suitcases xx

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  21. A win win I'd say. And a specially nice bonus that there were no corpses in there!!

    Good luck with the move - I remember to trauma of clearing out our loft last year. :0(

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  22. That is awesome! How exciting to find it hidden away in your attic! Now I have a sudden urge to get Pyf up in our atticc and have a nosey round as we've not been up there yet! xxx

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  23. Looks fab cleaned up shame there was no other treasures to be found inside it :)

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  24. Good for you. I found a suitcase like this in my folks' attic. They weren't willing to give it away, so I stored their summer clothes in it and slid it under the guest room bed.

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  25. great find - makes me wish i had an attic.

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  26. I wish I had something in my attic. But I got the Mr. to check up there one day and (No) such luck.

    I think your suitcase was a great free find.

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  27. Attic finds, I thought they were the stuff of the antiques road show only! and whilst your case was empty, I reckon you should put it back in the attic and then leave something interesting/funny in it for the next attic raider to find!
    Righto, I'm off to have a nose round our attic now, fingers crossed!

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  28. Oh I like Max's idea! Perhaps one of your creepy etsy finds? That would scare the crap out of whoever went up in the loft next!

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    1. Hahaha, yes I'll find the most hideous doll I can and scratch a message on the inside of the lid with a rusty nail...

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  29. Alas, I was hoping for an action-packed adventure in Lakota Towers! Oh well, it's nice you found something to pack in!! I Love Grot of ages!

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  30. oooh vintage find? me likey! especially free and it looks lovely once you clean it up, lakota! it makes me want to raid the attic now! who knows i might find a suitcase or two myself! xx susan

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  31. what a gorgeous find once cleaned! I'm definitely in the camp of you keeping and using it, rather than just put it back in the attic for the next set of house owners!

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  32. So what was in it????????? I'm completely obsessed with old, forgotten suitcases from following the Willard Suitcase Project. I just KNOW you will love it ... so addictive and probably not the sort of obsession the Mr will appreciate you diving into right now;)). Sneak a peek!!! http://joncrispin.wordpress.com/category/willard-suitcases-2/

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  33. I love old suitcases- so many things to hold in them and I love stacking them up!
    Good save.
    Marie @
    Lemondrop ViNtAge

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  34. The suitcase did look pretty terrifying originally!

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  35. you really can't go wrong with free, can you!? Nice to see what a little elbow grease accomplished.

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  36. We bought a house last year, and the loft was full of stuff - an old coin collection, lots of 60s records and memorabilia amongst other, more personal, stuff - it was a executors sale, and the family of the chap who had died weren't interestd in any of it when we told them it was still there - told us to bin it. Needless to say, we didn't.

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  37. a total score, I'd say. and useful too!! I found a John Wayne picture that way...hidden away in my house forever.

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  38. I love old suitcases though I am banned from buying anymore as I never seem to put anything in them.

    The only thing we found in our loft was a hand drawn picture with a thank you message on it. I made me rather sad that who ever was given it didn't want to keep it

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  39. Very cool find. Would have been better if there was money in it. I want a metal detector. That would be a good hobby, at least it would give me exercise.

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  40. Great find, I would definitely keep it. I thought you were going to say it was stuffed with cash, now that really would be an amazing find!

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  41. Great job of cleaning it up, lucky no nasties inside. We once found a bag of 1960s baby clothes in out loft by the entrance - we both swear they werent there when we put the stuff in the loft as they suddently seem to appear! Spooked both of us. Scarlett x

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  42. Gorgeous! Well worth the cold and the spiders x

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  43. It's a pretty sensational find for free - more to pack but it'll look brilliant with a pretty label on it to store your crafty things in underneath a coffee table or something :-)

    Jem xXx

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  44. I would have had exactly the same response to you. Shame there was nothing inside (although maybe for the best eh?)but it cleaned up a treat and I love the colour. i think i could clean my whole house with baby wipes.

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  45. An amazing find in your casa, thats super cool.
    Great job on cleaning it up.

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