The Stuff Of My Dreams

I treated myself to a new book last week after seeing some of the pages reproduced in Coast magazine. I've always had a major passion for any type of thing that can be prettified and turned into a cute little homey hideaway, you know, sheds, summerhouses, beach huts, caravans, camper vans and the such like. Have never owned any of these things mind you (excepting a very small shed full of spiders and dirty underused garden tools), but ooooohhhh I've certainly dreamed long and hard about these sorts of places. I just love-love-love the whole idea of creating a Cosy Happy Place in which one can while away some hours and be surrounded by cosy cuteness. Comfy seats, cushions, blankets, dinky little curtains hanging at dinky little windows etc. And if this Cosy Happy Place happens to be on wheels and can take one away on holiday too, then woohoo so much the better. Yes, this is the Stuff Of My Dreams.

This book really is visually very lovely indeed. The blurb on the back tells you that the book contains "forty stylish caravans of all vintages from across the world. Packed with inspirational photography. Exploring how people refurbish and customise their caravans. A visual voyage into the unexpectedly stylish world of modern caravanning". 

Ooooo Ok, so quite a quirky but very trendy-cool subject then. Cos it's all about style and vintage and being cool, obviously.

But you see, personally I'm not too fussed about the Vintage Credentials or about being Cool or Trendy or Stylish. No, just show me Interior Prettiness please. I want to see dinky curtains and brightly coloured melamine plates......

........pretty tins and lovely cutlery, and oh oh yes some bunting too, and if there could possibly be a blanket or two I would certainly be jigetty-jigging with the pleasure of it all.

 

Ah yes yes yes!!!! Page twenty and I see a crochet GRAnNy BlanKet and I'm oh so happy, doing a jigetty-jig!!!!

Aren't these images just adorable? Heart-skippingly lovely and sweet and the stuff that my Cosy Happy Place dreams are made of. For sure.

Would you like to know more about the delightful vintage caravan on these pages??

 

Here she is....she is called Constance, and is owned by a very nice lady called Lucy (haha, no not me, although I wish). Now Constance is no stranger to me as it happens, I have come across her before in fact, over in Flickrville.

Yes, I have drooooooled over the above image of Constance's interior more times than I can remember.

 

I have swooned over that blanket. And the cushions. Curtains too.

Oh and the bunting, the floor, the Greengate tins, the spotty tray. Yes I have swooned, admired, desired and been inspired by Constance for a long time now. She is the Stuff Of My Dreams.

I emailed Constance's owner last week and told her how much I was in love with her caravan, how the Granny Square blanket made me go weak at the knees. I asked her pretty-please could I share these pictures with you all, cos I wanted to show you the Stuff Of My Dreams. And she very kindly said that Yes I could most certainly bring Constance to Attic24 to show you all.

But that's not all.

No, there's more.

As well as the lovely Constance, Lucy also has a fleet of amazingly adorable VW camper vans that she hires out through her company Snailtrail. Oh my friends, you are going to LOVE these campers so much....take a look at some of the interiors....

 

First up we have Betty, doesn't she have the most beautiful interior?

 

This is Elsie......oh her blankie is so so so yummy in all it's grannified squariness!

 

And this is Flo...oooooooo spots and dots and great big granny squares and mugs of tea with jammy croissants!!!

How FAbUlOus!!!! 

How beautiful and fun and inspiring and heart-skippy these pictures are!!!!!!!

OK, I shall stop exclaiming now, shall calm myself down and talk in a normal voice.

Now then....as you may or may not have guessed by now, this post does in fact have something more behind it other than me just hyperventilating over other peoples caravan/camper interiors.

I shall not beat about the bush....shall tell you without further ado that on the 1st of May we made a New Purchase for our little family here at number 24. Rather a big New Purchase.

Yes, we bought ourselves a Caravan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just an ordinary type of English caravan you understand, nothing cool or trendy or vintage.

But she is ours, all ours, and we are so so so so so so so so excited here at number 24!!!!!!!!!!

She's 18 years old and has been lovingly used by two families (brother and sister) and is now about to become the Stuff Of My Dreams. 

You see at the moment she looks quite ordinary, a little shabby, a little tired.

 

Inside she has some rather dubious carpet and quite a lot of dusky pink and beige going on.

 

But in my Minds Eye I have already given her an Attic24 makeover, I can see her so clearly!! (remember The Chair, remember how clever my Minds Eye is??!) She is going to be made to look beautiful, colourful, cosy, happy, heart-skippy. Yes, I can assure you I've got it all worked out already. Can't wait to get started.

We're taking her out tomorrow, we are spending our first night caravanning at a local site in the woods near Bolton Abbey. I hope it's going to be the first of many, many happy days (and nights) spent holidaying with her, I really do.

Excited??

Ohhhhhhhhhh YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Comments

[Jillian]

Fantastic! You lucky things. I have always hankered after a vw camper and now I want one all over again! Cannot wait to see what you do with it! :)

[Heather]

I am SOOOOOOOO excited for you! Does she have a name? She needs an ace name I think :D and she's going to look totally ace in a beautiful (stylecraft!) granny blanket and ooooooh so MANY pretty things!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[sumea]

oh my giddy aunt! i guessed right!!!!!!
remember in my last comment?
congratulations!!!!!!
it's just so right for you and your lovely family
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
enjoy! :o)

[Freakish Lemon]

I cannot wait to see what you do with that caravan.

[Melanie]

Fabulous!

[sumea]

p.s
i'm skipping about in great excitement for you here :o)
can't wait to see what you do with your lovely new travelling home xoxoxoxoxoxox

[annri]

Until I got to the end of your post, I was thinking, "Those people should just give that caravan to Lucy because by the looks of it, it's hers." Then I read that you indeed have your own blank canvas to color!!! Hooray!

[Inga Helene]

Oh, so nice! I just can barely imagine what you'll do with it. Lots of granny stuff will be going on in here, I guess.

Congrats,and I'm so looking forward to seeing what you'll be up to!!!!

Hugs
Inga

[Jenn]

Congrats! Now you just need to give her a name. Enjoy her(even if she looks a little tired and has some not so nice design choices inside).

[`Kelly]

Oooo jealousy is seething out of every single one of my pores! I can't wait to see what you do with it! It'll be so fantastic!

[valerie]

she looks like the start of a fantastic adventure

[Ren]

Congratulations Lucy on your fabulous purchase!!! As a kid we used to camp in a converted school bus - such good memories!! Can't wait to see the beautiful hooky makeover you give it!!! Many happy years to you and your family holidaying it in! Enjoy your first trip out!!!!

[lucy]

I cannot wait to see what you do with this x

[Lesley]

Hello Lucy!
I have long wanted to comment on your blog, so here goes!I'm lesley from far off New Zealand, mum of three grown girls and granny to two wee ones. i was born in yorkshire and recognize a lot of the places you blog about..we used to take frequent trips to Bolton Abbey, and walk to my Nans house along the canal..I love your colourful blog and you have inspired me so much..to beautify my grotty (rented ) house in little lucy ways and to crochet lovely blankies for my wee girls..thank you so much! and congratulations on your purchase...me WANTIE one too!best wishes to you and yours.X

[Katie]

Congrats on the new purchase! Can't wait to see how it turns out. And enjoy your first night as Caravaners :-)

[Andi Pants]

I can't wait to see how you brighten it up!

[Jen]

Swooooon! I never liked caravans until I came across Happy's vintage one. Do you know her? Check it out here http://happylovesrosie.blogspot.com/2010/05/garden-make-over-done.html In fact, a card company wants to take pictures of it to put on greetings cards. How fab is that? Enjoy !!

[Wendy Wager]

I guessed it too - although you will have to take my word for that! You will transform that pinky-beige dullness into a transport of delight and we will follow your progress all the way. Brilliant idea x

[Mrs Bun]

Have a great time now you're taking to the highways and byways. Can't wait to see the banishment of the pink and beige. Bet you'll be planning in your head all weekend.

Have fun Lucy.

Lisa x

[lily boot]

that is so truly wonderful. I am beside mysef with jiggety-jig excitement for you! I too love caravans - spent many a holiday in my grandparents as a wee girl - but having one of our own to prettify! Oh my goodness, you have just defined bliss. Like a giant doll's house only so much more satisfying "cause you fit in it! Have a LOVELY time Lucy and I am eagerly awaiting beautiful updates. :-)

[~buzzybee~]

I am sure you will be able to turn her into an absolute gem! In fact, I bet you've already started crocheting the granny squares!!

[emma]

Oh WOW! Lucky Lucy! I can imagine the transformation, but bet you will exceed my imagination. Though where, I beg, where do you find the time?

[Jacquie]

Oooooh what a gorgeous post !!!
So glad you got time to blog today as I saw your ravelry comment and I've been dying to see your new purchase !!
She will be AmaZing ,caravans are the best!!
Have fun this weekend :0)
Jacquie x

[Sharon Hodgson]

Attic24 hits the road! Can't wait to see the old girl transformed with your amazing colours and ideas.

My late Dad converted an old community ambulance into a campervan and he and Mam had many, many happy trips away, all over the country. I hope you and your family make many happy memories on your travels too.

[anna]

congrats on the camper! its adorable. good thing you have that amazing book for inspiration!