Suitcases

I love the concept of a suitcase whose contents tell a story about where it’s been and where it might be going. Crafted in 1:12 scale, I like to envision them as nutshell dioramas. I make each structure individually from basswood, then use paint, paper, leather, and other materials to create a unique, vintage-style suitcase. The majority of the contents are also handmade, carefully chosen to reveal the journey of the suitcase.

Sidewalk Joy Suitcase

  • Miniature toy case with pink mugs, pin swap stickers, a small painting, plastic animals, and bookmarks on a wooden surface.

    A Suitcase filled with Sidewalk Joy

    Sidewalk joy is about curated little spots of joy in front of people’s homes, businesses, tucked away in public spaces…Little Free Galleries, spots dedicated to exchanging pins, rubber ducks, pencils, key chains, seeds, toys, puzzles, mugs…This suitcase honors the woman who is a huge driving force and supporter of this whimsical and community-oriented movement, Rachael Harms-Mahlandt aka PDX Dinorama.

  • Two women standing outdoors in front of a building, holding a purple box labeled 'Pin Swap'; they are smiling and dressed in casual coats and boots, with one wearing glasses and the other carrying a camera and a yellow purse.

    A Lifesize Pin Swap

    Here is a lifesize version of the miniature pin swap inside the suitcase. Pictured is Miriam with Rachael Harms-Mahlandt, PDX Dinorama, who built and generously donated this Pin Swap to my children’s school. Read more about the Sidewalk Joy movement at https://worldwidesidewalkjoy.com/

  • Close-up of a hand holding a turquoise suitcase with metallic accents against a tan background.

    Suitcase Top View

    I like to use magnetic closures on my suitcases for a practical element, as well as handles, lock plates, and keys

  • Close-up of a miniature leather turquoise suitcase with a lock and a latch, placed on a brown surface.

    Suitcase front

    Covered in turquoise leather

  • A colorful miniature open suitcase containing small books, toys, a framed painting, and paper flowers.

    Suitcase open view

    Handcrafted dinosaur, painting and frame, flowers, books, and purchased “rubber” ducks

  • A small, colorful box with pink miniature teacups, a pin swap with various pins that say "Sidewalk Joy," "Trans Women Are Women," "I heart werewolves," and "Joy is Resistance."

    Suitcase Open Top

    Purchased and painted mugs, portrait of “Harriet the Bee” in a nail charm frame, handcrafted “pins”

The Mouse Bride’s Suitcase

  • Miniature white metal bed with curved design, set on wooden surface, with sewing supplies such as spools of thread and a pink suitcase, beside a teal decorative wooden cabinet with floral details and three miniature dresses in the background.

    The Mouse's Trousseau

    This suitcase and “trousseau” items were sent to a friend as part of a gift exchange in 2025. The silk interior was hand dyed, left over from the flower girl dresses from my wedding. The result was a very feminine and sweet suitcase.

  • The quilted silk interior holds playing cards and books for the journey, wine, a marriage portrait, and fine lace

    The Bride's Suitcase, opened

    The quilted silk interior holds playing cards and books for the journey, wine, a marriage portrait, and fine lace

  • Small white metal bed frame with decorative swirls, surrounded by a miniature pink suitcase, lifesize spools of thread, packaged miniature bedding, and three miniature white dresses.

    The mouse's trousseau

    Fresh cotton sheets and a silk coverlet accompany the bride’s suitcase

  • A person holding a small wooden suitcase with a key charm, a luggage tag, and leather straps in front of a vintage white metal bed with white dresses hanging on a green painted wardrobe in the background.

    Suitcase top view. I love to include luggage tags in miniature to show where the suitcase has traveled!

    Hand crafted and aged luggage tags, magnetic closure, buckled luggage straps, a handle, a lock, and a key

  • Close-up of a small, weathered wooden suitcase held by a person's hand, showing brass hinges and dark feet, with a blurred background including a bed and a gradient of pastel colors.

    Suitcase, bottom view showing the hinges and the feet I include on many of my suitcases

    Size appropriate hinges and feet

  • A small, vintage-style, pinkish-brown wooden suitcase with brown straps and a luggage tag, placed on a wooden surface.

    Suitcase packed up and ready for the journey

    Suitcase painted in a soft pink and aged for character

  • Toy blue vintage truck loaded with miniature gardening tools, a small potted plant, and a rolled-up towel, surrounded by three stuffed animal mice unloading the suitcase on rocky ground with green foliage in the background.

    Suitcase arrives at its Destination

    Photo and styling credit to Nancy of Miniatures From the Mountain (Instagram, 2025)

The Skinsuit

  • An open miniature trunk with shaving tools, a mirror, false teeth, prosthetic hands, legs, and face mask

    The Skinsuit and Accoutrements

    A trunk is filled with some of the items needed by a werewolf who sometimes needs to pretend she’s a woman, including hygiene items such as shaving cream, razor, mirror, human dentures, and a shaving mug.

  • Decorative indoor scene with a small white table, a wooden chair with a red hoodie, a vintage-style upright trunk, a plush chair with a book, a large oak tree with acorns, bed nook, and a warm light from a lantern.

    Trunk Exterior

    Some days the trunk belongs to RR Hood, and other days it belongs to BB Wolf. Some days you’re a woman needing to dress as a werewolf, other days, you’re a werewolf needed to face the world as a woman.

  • Close-up of a person holding a small sculpted doll's hand against a pink mat.

    Sculpting the Hands

    Hard to believe a werewolf has to put these hands on just to cover her claws!

Snake Oil Salesman’s Suitcase

  • A vintage-style wooden box with a lid that reads 'SNAP OIL MIRACLE CURES'. Inside, there are small bottles labeled with various health remedies, including 'APPLE CIDER VINEGAR', 'GREEN TEA EXTRACT', 'SHARK CARTILAGE', and 'BLEACH WATER'. The box is open on a dark surface.

    Open Suitcase

    A traveling suitcase filled with items that might be sold to desperate people in their time of need.

  • Close-up of a hand holding a small wooden and metal mechanism with a beige background.

    Closed Suitcase

  • A decorative wooden box with a sign on top that reads 'Snake Oil Miracle Cures', and the front label says 'Dr. Veritas Healing Ministries'. The box has a woven pattern design.

    Open Suitcase

  • An open vintage jewelry box with a floral and diamond pattern interior, sitting on a dark surface with a person nearby.

    Interior Hinged components

  • Close-up of a label on a food product with text mentioning vitamins, nutrients, and ingredients. The label is partially visible and slightly blurry.

    Suitcase Left Panel

  • Close-up of a small, decorative box with a biblical quote about health, disease, and spiritual healing printed on the side.

    Suitcase Right Panel

  • Small vintage jewelry box with a sign on top that reads 'Snake Oil Miracle Cures'. The box has a diamond pattern inside and contains small jewelry pieces, including earrings. The jewelry box is being held by a person.

    Interior handles

  • Person holding a small box labeled 'Ivermectin Tablets USP' in front of a display box with the sign 'Snake Oil Miracle Cures' at a tabletop with various small bottles and boxes.

    Deworming medication

  • Small wooden box filled with labeled glass bottles containing various health and detox formulas, such as shark cartilage, colloidal silver, green coffee extract, detox formula, colon cleanse, urine, activated charcoal, and bleach water.

    Potions

A Suitcase for a Scottish Vacation

  • Miniature wooden chest filled with various small objects including a map of Scotland, a small black pouch, a small gray rock, a small orange bottle labeled 'Iron Brū,' a box of assorted chocolates, a red knitted item, and several small wooden sticks.

    Open Suitcase

    A suitcase for someone who dreams of traveling in Scotland

  • Close-up of a person's hand holding a small, vintage brown leather suitcase with travel stickers, against a green background.

    Suitcase Front

  • Close-up of a person's hand holding a vintage leather suitcase with travel stickers, against a green background.

    Suitcase Back

  • The image shows an open vintage red plaid wallet held by a person's hand, with the interior of the wallet visible.

    Suitcase Interior

  • A torn, old piece of paper with red markings and a small green hole, placed on a bright green fabric background.

    Fairy Flag of Dunvegan Castle

  • Close-up of a person's finger holding a small box of candies with red and white wrappers and Japanese text, against a green background.

    Tunnocks Tea Cakes

    Description goes here
  • Hand holding wooden crochet hooks with red yarn, partially covered by red fabric, against green background.

    Bagpipes

  • Small travel wallet holding UK currency notes and a passport, held in hand against a green background.

    Travel Documents

A collection of a few different suitcases

  • An open blue suitcase filled with travel essentials including books, snacks, money, a teddy bear, and toiletries. A map with an inspirational quote is inside the lid of the suitcase.

    Blue Suitcase for a Young Person

    Travel wallet, journal, uplifting books, a message of encouragement, maps, snacks, binoculars, compass, “Ugg” boots, a water bottle, and a bunch of fun money.

  • A small decorated box containing miniature items including a tiny book titled 'Women Who Run With the Wolves', a tiny green book, a small figurine, a miniature telescope, a miniature red ribbon, a tiny shoe, a tiny brown bottle, and various other small objects, some wrapped in fabric or string, with patterned fabric lining the inside.

    Red Riding Hood's Grandmother's Suitcase

    Purchased and embellished ax, handmade “wolf trap”, Dried flowers, portrait of Red and Grandmother by Trina Schart Hyman, Grandma’s cap, boots, “wolf’s bane” elixir, wine, bread, books, and glasses

  • A small, open yellow toy suitcase with a floral interior lining, containing children's books, a teddy bear, a water bottle with a yellow straw, and a small figurine of a bear with a yellow bow, set against a green background.

    Cheerful Briefcase

    A cheerful yellow briefcase for a friend headed back to work, featuring a bright interior Scandinavian print, boba tea, a matching leather folio case, and a few good books.

  • A blue toy suitcase filled with various small items, including a stuffed bear, pink paper flowers, miniature books, a small jar of colorful stones, a pink wallet with a heart-shaped lock, a small bottle of milk, a rolled-up bill, a paper straw, and a box of cookies, with the suitcase open to display its contents.

    Adelaide's Suitcase

    A suitcase for a 9-year-old girl who loves exploring, pink & turquoise, sparkly things, and treats that come in a pink bakery box. Includes a scrap book with a hidden compartment, flowers, magical maps, a unicorn horn, locking journal, milk for cookies, nail polish, and a soft bunny.

A Traveling Musician’s Suitcase

  • A vintage wooden suitcase filled with various items including a small clock, black and white photos, small musical instrument, money, and miscellaneous objects.

    Open Suitcase

  • A person holding a rusty, old metal box with multiple vintage tags attached.

    Suitcase closed view

    Weathered and well traveled

  • Small antique jewelry box with floral and lace design interior, open to reveal empty compartments and two small metal objects inside.

    Suitcase Open, empty

A Christmas Suitcase

  • Hand holding a small wooden box filled with miniature Christmas-themed matchboxes, including a Christmas tree ornament box and an artificial snow box.

    Open Suitcase

    Filled with a collection of vintage Christmas decorations

  • A hand holding an open small vintage jewelry box with a painted interior, inside a room with plants, a window, and Halloween decorations in the background.

    Open, empty suitcase

  • A person's fingers are shown wearing a leather ring with a metal badge attached, and other circular patches on the leather item, resembling a biker vest or similar accessory.

    Suitcase side

  • Close-up of a hand holding a vintage cigarette pack with partially visible stickers, including one saying "Hotel Excelsior Casablanco" and others with various logos and text.

    Suitcase, luggage tags

  • Small, vintage miniature suitcase with a key charm and tag, held in a person's hand.

    Top View