Suitcase Sightings

One of my favorite Tacoma artists, Christopher Hoppin, emailed me to let me know about the final event of the Suitcase Sightings project in Tacoma. And since I love his work, I decided to go. I already have some of his work adorning my kitchen & thought I could maybe make room for just one more. So off Jewel and I went to check out the suitcases.


I saw this little case in the silent auction & thought it might be just right for Katie's Judy Garland collection. Happy Birthday Katie! When you come home for Christmas we will have to go visit it at the Museum of Flight because it is one of the 30 pieces that has been selected to be displayed there through February 4th. I met the artist, Vivien Kleiner, she made it with her daughter Jaquelyn. Their inspiration was Jaquelyn's return home from Kansas.

And then the bidding for the live auction started. I planted myself and waited for Christopher's suitcase to hit the block. I had an idea of how much I wanted to spend, but was ready to go higher. I opened the bidding, I was determined to get this suitcase & people who have been to auctions with me know that I don't like to lose. Someone from behind me bids. I bid again. They bid, I bid. They bid. I bid. They bid. I bid. Ok, I am now leaving my comfort zone, so I start thinking a little before my bid. My enemy does not. Against my own best advice I keep bidding, slower now, but I keep bidding. Finally, I give in, I give up, I quit, before this turns into another Raku Party. Oh well, at least Christopher has a new fan & someone else will get to enjoy his work in their home. I look over to see my nemesis and who do I see ... Teri Placentia. Teri is a friend, Katie's drawing teacher in High School and was the hostess of the before mentioned Raku Party. My first instinct was to leap the 14 people between us and punch her lights off. Then, I regained my sanity since she could probably flatten me in a fist fight. At least if I couldn't take the bag home, I know it will have a good home that I am allowed to visit, generous of you Teri.


And the winner is .... ME! Finally. I think I got the most beautiful suitcase there, Pair O Dice, by Connie Diffenderfer & Jacque Willis. They are stained glass artists & you know I have a thing for glass artists. It has some fun secret messages embedded in them. This too will be going to the Museum of Flight with Katie's case & Teri's case.