Thursday, February 28, 2013

Just Sayin'


                       

I think I must have discovered this little treasure on Pinterest. I know it comes across as a little bit rude, OK, a whole lot rude, but it still makes me laugh. You see, when I wanted a vintage trailer everyone kept saying, "But why do you want a trailer? You already have a cottage!" Apparently Maxine had run into these same people, haha.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Pillow Talk

As you probably know by now, I am a pillow person! Oh yes, the more pillows the better. Even my blog header features pillows! They are so quick and easy to make. For the white, flowered ones I just cut up a vintage embroidered runner. I was able to make two from the same runner. The easiest cushion I made involved folding a regular bed pillow in half, wrapping it with gingham fabric, and securing the ends with elastics. It's a great bolster pillow and I use it to fill in the gap between the end of my couch/gaucho bed and the wall. It's hard to spot in this photo as it is tucked in behind the flowered pillow (underneath the curtain).


If you are wondering about those large pillow shams, they are from the Bonheur collection by Brunelli. First I bought the shams, then I decided the reversible quilt would be a nice addition. Another day I picked up the bolster! A comfy bed in a vintage trailer is the best place to curl up for an afternoon nap :)



Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Teeny Tiny Trailer Tea Towel


One of the first things I made for my vintage trailer was this tea towel with a trailer motif.  I was inspired to make one after I read Sisters On The Fly by Irene Rawlings. I found a piece of striped fabric and cut out a trailer and window using a pattern that I free-handed. Then I used some "Stitch Witchery" to bond it to an old tea towel. I finished it off with a few running stitches to outline the window and door. A big red button serves as the tire. Lastly, I trimmed the towel with some ball fringe. I'd like to tell you it only took me  a few minutes, but that would be lying. I must be the slowest crafter because if my memory serves me correctly this took at least two hours to make :). Here's a close up:


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Colorful Curtains

I was just looking over some of my trailer photos and it struck me that some people might think I own more than one trailer due to all the different curtains. No, just one tin can! That is more than enough to look after, LOL. Most of my curtains came from the local thrift store, that's why they're all a little different. The back window is covered with a white, lace trimmed valence, while the side windows sport tea towels. Huge expenditure here-- each towel cost $1.25!



Up front, in the dinette I have curtains that are made from a vintage fruit print table cloth (another thrift store find). It was painful to cut up that cloth, but I used every scrap of it! Some to make a cushion cover (see top photo) and some for tie-backs.
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Lastly, another vintage valence with a fruit motif graces the front window. It may seem a bit busy but strangely enough all the colours and patterns seem to work.




Saturday, February 23, 2013

Eye Chart Art


Here's a quick and easy craft to make. Just in case you need to test your eyes, make your very own eye chart! Go to http://www.eyechartmaker.com/ and type in your message. (I like to have a saying with 28 characters, otherwise it will add random letters at the end to fill it up to the maximum of 28.) Mine says "Happiness is a 69 vintage trailer". Then just print it off on scrapbook paper and frame it. My frame was purchased at the local thrift store and I gave it a couple of coats of Blue Ocean Mist by Krylon. Easy peasy!                                                                                   
                   

 

Friday, February 22, 2013

Beach Glass Bonanza



Yes, I call it beach glass. I figure you find it on the beach therefore the term "sea glass" just doesn't seem right. But whatever you call it, I think you will agree that this is a pretty good haul for one evening at the beach. I have never found an old marble before, but I did that night! So what do I do with all this glass you might ask? Not much. I have filled some mason jars with it to use as door stoppers at the cottage. I also give some to my students each year after I read the beautiful story,  The Story of the Sea Glass by Anne Wescott Dodd.




It doesn't seem to matter how much I have at the cottage, I never come back from the  beach empty handed. My favourite pieces are the blue or aqua ones. I also have a small dish filled with beach china. But that's a post best left to the summer when I am back at the cottage and can get a good picture of it :)



Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Camper Postage Stamp


Did you know that Canada has a postage stamp with a camper on it? I discovered this quite by accident last fall. How cute is that green VW camper with a red canoe on top, and our Canadian flag draped across the back window?