Update, the sun is out and it finally feels like Spring!

I have not been on here for quite some time, due to the very cold weather (according to weather reporters its the coldest March since 1952!) But over these last two weeks I have braced the cold and made further progress with Bluebell!  I had some help from a very nice chap who painted the interior of the caravan, so now it is a perfect white inside!!   Excuse the mess, I shall take some better pictures very soon!

I am so excited as I have also purchased the fabric for the upholstery and curtains, a very talented lady, Jeanette who runs a great shop in Babbacombe called Kitsch In Sync is undertaking this mammouth task, I absolutely love her shop, and if your out and about in South Devon I would thoroughly recommend a visit, it's full to the rafters with vintage and vintage inspired handmade goodies!

I was given the most amazing roll of wall paper from a lovely lady called Pauline, queen of shabby chic furniture! This print is fantastic, its a collage of caravan's, old holiday snaps and tourist attractions.  I have used this paper by to make a feature wall, as you can see from the photo's below. 

(above) I found this copy of an old map that I thought fitted in well with the British caravanning holiday theme. As a child going on long journeys or holidays with my parents, you would often find me map reading in the back of the car.

It still is quite a mess on the inside but slowly its coming together.  Next week I am planning to wash the caravan, then start preparing her for the exterior paint job!!

After investigating various paint makes and methods (and consulting with some other caravan decorator enthusiasts The Cocktail Caravan) I decided to use metal hammerite paint.   £45 a tin!! Luckily it was my birthday in March and my super useful brother bought me a b&q gift voucher, which helped no end!  I have so far decided to paint the whole caravan exterior white, then I will decide what colour to do next possibly a light blue to continue the inside theme outside, watch this space!

I couldn't resist this fab stag head coat hook, again another bargain item bought in the sale for £4.50 and it's china! Its amazing if you actually spend a little time and energy looking for the items you need, you can find most of them second hand, half price, up-cycled and handmade.

Bargain of the month! Cherry retro pitcher and 6 glasses in perfect condition, with original box, from the lovely Dee Dee's Retro Delights!!! (She also organisers fairs don't you know!) I will upload a link to her asap! Perfect for serving drinks on a hot summers day, I think you will agree.

Signing off now, thank you for reading and pop back soon for the next instalment of Bluebells progress! x

So it's my mission with this caravan is to buy everything second hand, up-cycled or vintage, for most of the caravan essentials this is proving to be relatively easy from finding vintage kitchen utensils at car boot sales and charity shops to buying someone's second hand vinyl flooring.

And this is my latest purchase a lovely lady sold me her old vinyl flooring!!! I think this is going to look fantastic in the caravan, I also have a brilliant rug, with all the relevant colours of the caravan theme, I will up load an image very soon.

2nd bargain of the week this great vintage enamel pot, for just £3! Its really tiny and probably completely impractical but its so pretty, I think it will go well in Bluebell.

The one thing I'm struggling with, (bearing in mind I'm doing this all on a small budget) is sourcing vintage material for the curtains and seats every piece I come across is not big enough for what I need.  I think I will have to buy the fabrics new, although the good news is that at the moment time is on my side so I can afford to look out for any remanents that maybe suitable.

The great thing I've discovered is being able to talk with other like minded caravan enthusiasts from across England, who are also embarking on similar ideas, as me.  I've found a brilliant blog from a lady called Sharon she does up various caravans and sells them on, its full of lovely photos and advice this is a link to her facebook page where you can follow what she does here.

Here is one of Sharon's vintage caravan's 

January blues!

So today as the sun is out I thought I would pop out to the caravan, I haven't seen bluebell for a couple of weeks, and I was getting withdrawal symptoms!

So my daughter and I braised the cold to check out the caravan. We ripped up the carpet in the main part, took off the bathroom cabinet and also unscrewed the side seat boards. Not really very much excitement to report today, ripping up starting the big renovation!

I have vowed to get this project started, so we can be ready for early summer! I want to start putting ideas together for children's parties, holiday hire, wedding and hen party hire. I found out about an exciting event taking place on my birthday Wedfest a local event to showcase wedding sellers with a difference! So I'm keen to go along and see what other people are doing hire wise and hopefully get some ideas to maximise my business.

I follow a page on Facebook called 'vintage caravans' they had some brilliant photos on their page of an American couple who have done their van up, take a look below, the only trouble is I keep changing my mind about re decor of blue bell!

I've included a photo a Tina by Loui Shabner, which was given to me this week by a lovely lady at work. Perfect for the next 60's / 70's inspired caravan! Watch this space campers!

Getting ready

Although its quite cold dark and wet outside I'm starting preparations for decorating the caravan. I received this book today as a belated Christmas present from my parents, it's just fab!!

The plan is to have the van ready for the 22nd & 23rd June Crikey, so that not only will I stay in it but also have it ready to rent out.

I plan to hire the van out for children's parties cup cake making, art and glitter parities as well as nail art, dressing up and much more. We will bring the van to your home, hook up to your electrics and hey presto pop up children's party!

We will also be available for holiday hire, hen party hire, wedding hire and any other hiring needs you may have! Details will be available soon so watch this space!

Crikey it's Chrismas!

So excited! Look what my brilliant work colleague bought me for crimbo!! So pleased

Naming

Name time, so I have discussed this idea with a friend when chossing our name and she came up with Bluebell with I think is just perfect! We both thought that Bluebell was an old sounding name and also perfect for the colour scheme and personality of the caravan.  Here are some images for inspiration. 

Maybe I can park the caravan in Bluebell wood?

First glimpse!

Ok so here are some photos of the caravan, there is a lot of work to be done but this will certainly keep me busy I've the winter months!