A red train case, and a celebration

Thank you for all your support and for keeping my neck of the woods in your thoughts and prayers.  We have 346 homes confirmed lost.  Among the newly homeless are a young couple that I worked with at my last job; they had to evacuate on their baby's first birthday and lost everything in their rented home that was just last night confirmed as having burned to the ground.  Here's a photo of the smoke plumes from the numerous fires in that neighborhood and beyond that are still smoldering.  We are so grateful to our hardworking firefighters and all the other emergency personnel -- it's going on a week since this particular fire broke out and they have been on the front lines.  The fire is estimated to be 15% contained, today.

To change the subject to something more pleasant: my friend Angela asked me to make her a train case, similar to the one I made for Rebecca to take to Birdsong.  She was going to buy one and send it to me,  but I actually had just the thing already at home!

This SWEET little Starline train case I found at a thrift store recently; I covered the inside with some vintage wallpaper that matched really well.  The case is super sturdy, beautifully colored, and has amazing hardware!

Angela picked out some ephemera images that she liked, and I went to town decorating it!

Angela finally received it in the mail today -- so, now I can show you!

One of the elements was a from our Birdsong Two goodie bag -- this "square" of quilt yo-yos.

 I also created a hanging tag for the handle.

On it: a mini antique yardage tag on a really cool old clip.

Of course I had to put a bird on it!  I'm so glad Angela likes it -- she'll be using it as a sewing case!  She'll be making me a purse in return, and I will show you as soon as receive it!

In other news: Button Floozies blog has 1,000 followers; to celebrate that milestone, we're having a giveaway of this lovely hand painted button.  Everyone is welcome to enter, here.