Summin' up a year of projects...

It didn't feel like I got much done this past year, but here is the sewing version of my year's worth...

Not to bad :)  I'm happy with it!

And the big project of the year, that was mostly non-sewing related (however, quite a bit involved sewing now that I think about it)...

...it's definitely the most fun too!  Thinking of doing it again, to an Airstream this time!  That'll keep me busy for a few months ;).  On to 2013 and lots more fun!!!

TA-DA!!! C'est Fini!

This is how it all started...

After four weeks of craziness, our little project is ready to roll!  It has been a labor of love and SOOOOO much fun!  I can't imagine a more perfect get away for our family, and we are so excited to go and do and see in our mobile beach house :)

 The fish net and flip flop lights is still a favorite part, and we LOVE how the aqua polka dot home decor fabric was a perfect match for the exterior and interior colors!  The bunk above the couch has an awesome circular the-dye home decor print covering that mattress!  Such fun!  Just makes you smile and take a relaxing breath!  LOVE it!

 The double layer of curtains was a definite must!  It would have been "ok" with just one or the other, but having both just sets it all off perfectly!

 And what's clamping without some chevrons??!  And a magnet board to boot!  And a hanging lantern sunshine- a beach must have some sunny days :)

 The kitchen orange was just what we wanted and our accessories added to the joy!

 The floor- VCT checkerboard- one of my favorite parts!  And I did it all by my little self- woohoo!

 Full length of the couch- so cozy!

 Fun all around :)

The sign was from the thrift store- we turned some arrows around, painted it, and made our "favorites" directional sign.  Then the beaded lamp jumped in my cart at Hobby Lobby yesterday!  It was too perfect- we had to go to 6 stores, literally, to find the special bulb for it though ;).  But it was the finishing touch to make us smile, with the purple lantern lights too!  What a great combo!  

For us, it's just what we wanted- now for some serious camping fun!  

Closer, closer...

The curtains are DONE!!  The orange canvas curtains are to help keep the light out in the wee hours of the morning :).  I added a turquoise ricrac and then a deep lime green embroidery and sequin ribbon as trims.  The hot pink rope are the tie-ups- I love curtains that tool up and tie!  So cute! 

 I made and embroidered this beach definition pillow!  It'll be fun on the couch- once there are cushions again :)

 The dinette side- I went a bit crazy with fish net and flip flop lights!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!    We love the top cotton curtains too- beach huts, boats, and perfect fun for our trailer!

 Lastly, the FLOOR!!  I scoured the internet for a good checkerboard floor!  You would never believe how hard it is to find!  All the adhesive tiles are junk and it is nearly impossible to find a better quality "tile" in black and white!  I thought it would be the easiest part, but proved to be the most challenging- just searching for the right thing!  I finally scored with Home Depot- believe it or not, this is commercial flooring, like in schools.  I applied the adhesive and then went to work putting down each tile and measuring and cutting the itty bitty pieces for the non-12 inch spots!  But I could not be more thrilled with how it turned out, even though it is not perfect!  It is heavy duty, durable, and it looks stinkin' cute, so I am happy! 

Now back to the sewing machine- upholstery in progress :)!!

Progress...

I haven't been taking too many pictures lately, but this is how the trailer looked at the end of last week...  once all the cabinetry was taken apart, painted, and everything put back together!

 Electrical is finally fixed- we have brake lights and all new border lights!  Woohoo hubby and family!  We also fixed a problem with the water tank.

 I have scrubbed and cleaned til my hands and back hurts :)  But everything is spotless- these pictures are before that, obviously!  The bench is fixed and now to start decorating, making curtains, install flooring, work on sink plumbing, rekey the outdoor compartment, and a few other things :).

We got brand new tires so we are getting so so so close!  I am so excited to get this finished up- upholstery fabric came yesterday, so another 12 hours of trailering today :)  More pictures to come soon!

The floor...

I really did not intend to rip the entire floor out- just a tiny bit of the entryway corner.  But it all just happened :)  

Here we are thus far- getting there!  "Shark" fixed and undercarriage painted! Inside taped off and ready to prime.  Woohoo!

What a Day 5!!

Oh boy, was today busy!  The blue took three coats and the orange took SIX, count em, 6!!!  For serious :)  Here's progress along the way...

One coat of each->

 Two coats of each ->

 Blue done, now on to the orange :)

 All done, tape off!!  Added some wave splashes, stood back and realized the wave looks more like a shark!  HA!!  So I'll be free handing waves instead of a straight blue line tomorrow :)  Go figure :)  And quite a few touch up places needed where the tape took off more than it should have.  Overall, I'm happy so far...

Still lots to do- paint trailer part black.  Get new hub caps, sand and paint wheels, put reflectors and lights back on- make sure they work!, so forth and so on :)  Pushing to get the outside done by this weekend!  Hoping, hoping!

Days C and Quatro

So here's the low down...

Day C was a second coat of white in the morning, then errands getting more paint- the fun happy orange and deep aqua teal paint- and then a third and FINAL white coat in the evening!  I had everyone out helping me on that last coat; we had the music blaring and it was a blast!  I love moments like this- just pure heaven!  That's the whole reason I wanted to do this redo by ourselves, so we could make it fun and US!  

Day Quatro was all about un-tapeing everything that was taped for the white and re-tapeing it the opposite way for the colors.  :)  I was hoping to get to the colors, but life took over and they will have to wait.  Not too long though...  I can hardly wait to see the bright happiness on it!  And my artistic little is making the inside of the door all painted fun!  It makes me smile to see it coming together!  Once the outside gets done, we'll have more cut out for us!  But it is so fun doing it bit by bit and will make camping all the more fun to be part of the whole process of making it OURS :)

DAY 2...

Today was a bit crazier...

I was very collected about going to get paint today when my hubby threw me a curve ball!  He polished a small section of the camper.  WOW, did it shine!  We love the look and after much deliberation, decided to try to have the part that was going to be white, be polished aluminum!  You can see the shiny little section right under the top brown stripe on the left side of the photo.  I had already taped the bottom stripe/wave off.  So we changed gears and I went to purchase a whole bunch of Mother's polishing goop.

We all got busy after everyone was home, using some SERIOUS elbow grease!  I may not have use of my arm tomorrow- but wait, it gets better!  We got the bottom part of three sides done and moved to the last side.  Wouldn't ya know it, but the oxidation was too much, no matter how much was rubbed and polished, we couldn't get it as shiny as the other sides.  I had had it- we made an executive decision- this is "my" project (hehe), right- and I got back in the car to go purchase the white paint.  After trying a couple of places for colors, and having to repeat myself twenty million times that I did NOT want automotive or industrial paint, I think I finally found the option I want.  Sooo, I headed back home with the Rustoleum glossy white and got down to business painting :).  Deep into the dark again...

one coat down, and we'll see what tomorrow brings...

DAY UNO...

Ok folks, after much research, I figured out the safest and cheapest way to clean the paint up is a pressure washer.  I rented a HOT one from the local rental shop. This was a serious machine- almost as tall as me and so heavy they had to put it on a trailer that I had to rent to bring it home!  I just wanted the chipping paint smoothe enough to be able to effectively paint over.  Well, what an experience!  I got almost done washing the whole thing and was pretty happy with it when I got the nozzle too close, or so I thought, to the camper.  All of a sudden, the paint melted!  I couldn't believe my eyes!!  It was like I was coloring with a gray crayon on a white page- just incredible!  So needless to say, my fun had use begun!  Four hours later, deep into the dark, we finished getting every last drop of paint off!  WOW!  I am still in shock that it all came off!  So here is the new and improved, no more white paint, teensy tiny camper:

So on to the next thing!

My new project!

Well, now, you know I can't go too long without a camper :)  After selling our Blue Zoo, we took our hugungous camping trip this summer with a 5x8 u-haul.  Not a good experience, the u-haul part, that is :)  HA!  Oh, the stories I could tell!!But you'd be here all day, so I will just say that we desperately want another motorhome , but the one we want is way out of our ball park at the moment, and for our "toys", we like to pay cash.  So, the search was on for another option...

I have always wanted to build a house, and since that will most likely never happen, I figure remodeling an old trailer would be close.  I did some on the last one, but not all.  I wanted to do it ALL!!  Oh yes, call me crazy now!!  So weeks ago, I began searching.  Hubby was searching too, just for bigger and better.  I wanted cheap, cute and fun!!  Well, two days ago, I found it!  I went to a wonderful lady's home who actually had 2 for sale.  I was interested mostly in the 1950's Shasta, but after seeing it I knew it would take me years to finish, and I only have a month.  So I looked at the second one and knew it was the one!  The bright orange appliances did it :).  There is no potty, but we can always stick a potty in it- it's pretty much a glorified tent, and since I DON'T do tents, that means I can go camping ;)!  Yippee all around!!  I think this may just keep me busy the next little bit! hehe!  Like I have nothing else to do, but you know, staying ridiculously busy keeps my stress level down, funny but true.  So in the midst of finishing 4 quilts, I will be popping in every few days with the latest renovation post!  We are still searching for the perfect name! You'll soon see that she will have a lovely, quint, beach theme- not "wild and crazy spring break beach", but "calming, black sand and soothing waves beach"-Northern California beach, ahhhhh!  I can hear myself relax already!  Here's my color scheme:

And here is our teensy, tiny trailer:

It's 12 feet long and was dirt cheap.  Thank goodness, so hubby will let me do what I want this time.  So I am going all out with my creativity and tight budget, and it will be stinkin' crazy cute when I get done!

Back in the Saddle...

Well, after two and a half weeks of glorious, wonderful camping with my wild bunch- yes we love it!!- I am back around!  It was a blast- we went to six different areas of the West and even saw Mount Rushmore!!  It was such a great time away and such a terrific thing for our family!  Honest to goodness adventures and we love every minute of it :)  Here's a typical evening that we enjoy---

I'll be checking in soon with some projects I've been working on (before I left) :).  til then---

The Most Beautiful Place in the World...

Sorry I have been MIA lately. I had a wonderful chance to spend quite a while camping (one of my favorite things to do in the world) at one of the most beautiful places in the world.

We went to the Redwood Forest. I adore trees! I am sad to say I have never been there til now. I would so move there in a skinny minute! It was breathtaking- the trees, the mist, the feeling just being there. My favorite was Stout Grove- if you have ever been there, then you will never forget it. I did not get many pictures of the grove- I was too involved in just being there. The pictures in my mind are permanent though.

It was the perfect time to go to the area- there was no one around and it was chilly- perfect hot cocoa weather. I also love me some hot cocoa :) The beaches were empty- I love walking on private black sand beaches- just breath-taking again!!

And the food- I am a seafood girl- that's what growing up in the deep South will do for you! We ate out, seafood, one meal a day. Yes, I got spoiled! We got stuck, due to SNOW, and got home a day late, but it was a marvelous time away. Camping is the best - wish we could earn a living that way, hehe! It's so neat to be together and see so many amazing things in this beautiful world- this trip will be a favorite forever :)

Contest!!

Another chance to mix and match fabrics :) So fun! We love camping! So this was the perfect combination for the great outdoors! The picnic print was my focal fabric with the other colors and prints taking off from there...

Head on over to see fun at http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/lets-have-contest.html!

Here's my combination...

The prints I used:

Lizzy House 1001 Peeps Illusion in Pink

Rain Drops in Water Blue Jack and Jenny

Dot to Dot in Red Sarah Jane Studios

Fly A Kite Ice Cream in Pink

Honey Bee Swirl in Herb Green

Picnic Time on Pink Gingham

Rounabout Dots in Orange Fizz

Mono Pez in Yellow

Hello Pilgrim Butterfly Sky in Blue

Teeny Mushrooms in Cloud Gray

Sketch Crosshatch in Lipstick Pink

Seeds in Gray - Fruit Slice

It makes me smile :) Hope your day is filled with sunshine :)!!

Journey of The BLUE ZOO

When we got our vintage motorhome and had it painted aqua, I knew that this mini HAD to be made! We are camping people, but I am particularly the kind that must have a potty and shower. :) We are so excited about our journeyings for this coming season!

So the quilt- it measures 12"x24". The designs are what we do from sun up to sun down on any given camping day! From biking, to fishing, to board games we fill up our days. Then there is the road, which has dotted white lines, of course, so people can pass us because we are just enjoying the ride most days! Then in the evenings, we have a campfire and roast marshmallows for s'mores, under the light of a gazillion stars! What could be better?! To us, nothing!

I quilted the bottom to be the suns rays and the top to ooze the setting sun. The scenes are pieced, paper pieced, appliquéd and embroidered. The binding is a vintage sheet. I love how the vintage-ness of the motorhome is brought home with the vintage sheet. I could not have found a more suitable fabric no matter how long I searched!

This project was so interesting to me because I started with one idea and went through about 20 revisions, seriously, before it evolved to this. I am very happy with the "Journey of The Blue Zoo" and with the real life journeys it will decorate!

I'm entering the Modern Mini Challenge with this mini :)

The latest project...

has NOTHING to do with sewing, yet it keeps me more than busy :)

But oh, what joy it will bring for our journeyings :)

The before----

Give me a couple of weeks, and you'll see the AFTER!

(The outside is being painted Light Aqua, Medium Aqua and White as we speak!!!) EEEPPPPP!

I can hardly wait!!