Caravan Dreams

This week, I've mostly been obsessing about all things Caravan related. I've spent a disgusting amount of time on the internet soaking up some amazing caravanny inspiration and making one or two caravanny purchases. I am currently awaiting delivery of some Mod Podge (to carry out inner cupboard and door makeovers with wrapping paper/wallpaper, inspired by this and this), plus some amazing sticky back plastic that I found on ebay (see here). Oh and I'm bidding (with fingers and toes crossed) on a sweet little 1970's cutlery tray to house my most extravagant Connievan purchase (see here). My oh my, I am having SO much fun!!

On Wednesday afternoon I spent a truly pleasurable few hours with Connievan, it was great being able to walk down the road to her with Little B (she's about a mile away). I made us a little packed lunch so that we could eat when we got there, and I took down the two cushions that I made last month. It was a sweet moment when I put the cushions in place, they look amazing with the crochet blankets look.....

The colours match incredibly well to say that I made them without actually seeing the blankets.

The blankets have been in the 'van all winter (forgot to fetch them out), and thankfully they are absolutely fine. Connie has a wee bit of a damp issue on one of her side panels, but it's kind of inside the panel itself if you see what I mean and doesn't affect the interior at all. In fact, she is remarkably warm, dry and cosy for a twenty year old gal.

As soon as I arrived I opened up all the windows to let some air breeze through and spent a bit of time cleaning around the kitchen area. Then it was time to begin with a little bit of prettifying, yipppeeeee! I stuck up some lovely little hen hooks that I bought last year using a magical "No More Nails" type of adhesive, wow, what great stuff that is! I had plans to put up lots of little pictures that I've been collecting too, but forgot to bring the blutack with me, so that will wait till next time.

I also did a little bit of outside prettifying too.....remember me telling you I'd bought some flowery stickers? Well...........take a look................

♥

Ta-dah!! I put a few around the door, plus some on the front and back. I couldn't go too mental with it as J has already been raising his eyebrows at  the whole idea of me sticking things on Connievan. So I had to be restrained, but they do look so sweet. A bit silly maybe, but I don't much care, they make me happy and that's what counts.

Now then, are you familiar with the Little Grey Rabbit books? They're the sweetest, most adorable books written in the  1930's by Alison Uttley and illustrated by Margaret Tempest. I LOVED them as a child, and the top two books on that pile there are from my own childhood collection, published in the early 1960's. The others were bought for me from a car boot sale by my mother in law for 50p each, and were published in the '80's.

The characters and the stories are enchanting (I re-read them regularly even now as an adult), but it's the illustrations that really make my heart squeeze.

Oh sooooo incredibly sweet, don't you think? That wonderful patchwork quilt calls out to me every time!

Little Grey Rabbit lives in the cutest woodland cottage. It's furnished simply, with brick floors, green painted windows, buttery yellow walls and THE MOST ADORABLE blue and white gingham curtains.

For some reason I have always loved these curtains. So it'll come as no surprise to you if I tell you that I am making blue and white gingham curtains for Connievan. Yeah, you already saw that coming didn't you?

I bought a great long length of gingham fabric from Ebay last year and made a start with them, but didn't get too far at the time. I'm determined to get them finished this week though, as we're taking Connie out on a trip next week.

Would you like to see where I'm at with my curtain revamp?

Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the nifty idea of combining blue and white checks with a little bit of red floral and a dash of ric rac. Do you like?

The floral fabric just runs as a band across the bottom, to add an extra bit of va-va-voom to the whole effect. I confess I am quite madly in love with them. It's proving to be a tough ol' job though. I'm keeping the original curtains as they are lined and in good shape, and am *simply* stitching the gingham panels on top. It's not easy. I tried to do the first one with the machine, but the curtain fabric was too thick (it's a thick velvet) and it all went pear shaped. So I painstakingly unpicked the dreadful machine stitching and began the whole thing again by hand.

It's laborious work, and probably my least favourite type of sewing. Little invisible hemming stitches, hundreds and hundreds of them. Thousands probably.

I sat last night in the Big Chair by the bay window and managed to do one whole curtain. Only nine more to go then. But as I sit and stitch, my mind wanders off into Caravan Dreamland. I start to think of fairy lights and paper lanterns and pretty floral bunting and dotty tablecloths and stripy picnic rugs and granny square blankets and piles of squishy patchwork cushions.....it's so happy and colourful and cosy and carefree in Caravan Dreamland!

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ps I've got a Caravan Dream board over on Pinterest if you want to go have a peek

I also found a couple of fabulous websites yesterday whilst getting lost in Pinterest, they are full of lovely caravanny things.....

http://getcampie.com/

http://littlevintagetrailer.com

pps one last thing....you can read my original post about Connievan here. I'll take some more pics of her interior soon to show you. I love her SO much! ♥

xx

Edit to add :: Thanks for the pincushion love, I made it a few years ago using the Anna Maria Horner pattern here.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

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[bev]

Hi Lucy, how is Conivan coming on? I watch with excitement on your updates. Today I am SO excited I too will collect my first Caravan. I havent slept a wink so will be a very tired puppy later but it WILL BE SO worth it!! I have dreamed since being a child of having my own one day. SO FINALLY hubby has agreed the time is right for one. I cant wait for our first trip. Hoping the sun will eventually show its face this summer! Hoping to have my first brew later today even though it will be from a flask! Keep up the good work and I will continue to watch! :)

[Kathleen]

Hello Lucy,
Kathy here from the USA.
I love your blog and check every few days. I have crocheted a few of your lovely bags and other little treasures. I am very interested in your crochet tour and have visited the website. I have requested more information so who knows maybe we will meet in France, bye for now.

[Sara - My Merry Messy Life]

Oh, I just love your blog. And your creations! I would just love if you'd take a minute to support my new link party and link up one of your amazing posts! It's a fiber arts party!
http://www.mymerrymessylife.com/2012/06/new-link-party-hookin-on-hump-day-1.html

[Naomi]

Oh Lucy you're such an inspiration - all those gorgeous colours! I admit to having a little squee at them all in the van. I just wanted to add that I'm a fellow Little Grey Rabbit fan, and so jealous to see your haul - but now decided to trawl jumble sales for more of the books. Thanks for the cheeriness you always provide,
Naomi

[Susan Mills]

Lucy, you are having so much fun! We are taking possession of our first very own travel trailer ("caravan" in Americanese) one week from today. I can't wait to start turning it into a cozy, happy little home for us and get it out on the road.

I hope your trip to the sea was fantastic. We'll be headed toward the Rhode Island shore soon.

Sue M.

[Rebecca]

Your happy little blog brings such joy to my heart! Connievan looks more and more like you each camping season. I found the cutest blog with the cutest crochet clock you just have to check out. It reminded me so much of you.

http://accordingtomatt.blogspot.com/search/label/Crochet
(scroll down) it is darling!

[Donna]

Hi Lucy,
Hugs from sunny FL. Just finished a show with my youth community theatre and had a thought for you about your curtains. We sometimes do it to change over a costume piece. Why not add Velcro or snaps to your panels that will go onto your velvet curtain base. This way if they ever need washing you can remove them easily with out having to wash them with the velvet ones attached. It may be a long task sewing so many jumbo snaps or NON-STICKY Velcro but we have done this idea with costumes and it works wonderfully! Love the look you are shooting for and the books. Remind me of Peter Rabbit. I too love books about little animals creatures & fairies. Thanks for sharing Lucy. Enjoy getting Connievan ready for another adventure this year.
Smiles from Sunny Florida, Donna

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Very nice, thanks for sharing.

[Emma @ Bake Sew Grow]

Oh I would desperately love a caravan, or better yet, a campervan of my own! I used to go on caravan holidays all the time when I was little and loved them. I'm from the north of England too - do you go to Scarborough ever? That was one of my favourite places!

[Dinahsoar]

Love all of it but especially the curtains and the flowers stuck on the outside--deeelightful! My husband might be resistant to them though-- like yours. Transporting cutesy and adorable is not mannish in his book and he'd hate the attention it would draw---but I'd love it.

[house insulation]

It's going to look amazing when it's completed. I really like the pillows and bedding. You probably already do this but a big dish with a fill of sodium in assimilates any wetness in the van overwinter. Satisfied camping!

[Edina Dias Souza]

Hi Lucy, i'v been following your lovley blog for some time now, but I never left you a comment sorry,I am just not confident with my english. I come in every week to get inspired and leave wishing to crochet like you. I finally did my first project inspired on your creations.Thank you very much for sharing. If you would like to have a look at my first project, you can find me here. http://www.crafttherapy1.blogspot.co.uk/
Edina
xx

[fee@chippernelly]

My name is fee and I have connievan envy x

[Stel]

Hi Lucy,
I can't find a way to contact you directly via your blog, so hope you get this comment.
I've had requests for an Afrikaans translation of your neat Ripple pattern...would you mind if I do that? I have a large crochet group on Facebook ("Ons Hekel") (=We Crochet) of whom the majority are Afrikaans ladies and many don't crochet in English.
Hope to hear from you,
Stel in South Africa
[email protected]

[Rebecca]

I had those 80s editions of Little Grey Rabbit, I LOVED those books :)

[Taylor]

What fun! The curtains will look fantastic! Look forward to the finished product.

[Emma]

Lovely lovely lovely! And thanks for the flashback too - Little Grey Rabbit books were my favourite as a child.. :)

[piggywhistles]

Great to see the Connievan back in action!! When I was growing up I loved Sam Pig books, also by Alison Uttley. I had never hear of Little Grey Rabbit. I shall be on the lookout for some books.
I am a Rupert Bear girl myself.

[Hope Corrigan]

I'll be in London this summer. Any yarn shop recommendations? Thanks in advance.

[Anja]

Ohhhh ohhhh ohhhhhh ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ohhhhh ohhhhhhhh oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

*AAAA*M*AAAA*Z*IIII*N*G*

Tank you, thank you thank you for sharing!!!!!!!!!

With much love
Anja

[Shelly]

I think that it is just the sweetest little caravan, Lucy! You have done a lovely job prettying her up.

[trillian]

hi lucy. love connievan and what you have done to her. we have had a housebus we convertedtover the years, for 30years. half its original life. just got it back on the road again after 17years in the barn. it has been so great to hit the road again after so long .look forward to reading about your travels. im an avid reader of your blog .you are a very talented lady. love your colourful crochet. im just doing a granny rug for housebus after a break quilting fnr years.you inspire me. trills, nz

[Pom Pom]

I am following on Pinterest now so I can see the caravan dreams. I think Connievan is a very blessed little caravan!