Campers...

I stopped to visit with my friend, Rhonda, at Crazy Quilters shop today.
Look what she ordered with me in mind!!! Amy Bradley Designs' "Campers".

You do know that one of these will be silver when I make it, right? It's going
to be the one with the palm tree and flamingo...and a Corgi...and a black Lab.
Definitely added to my "To Do" list!

Another showing today. We'll be heading out for a while with Tag and Bella,
but when we get back, I'm definitely going to spend the rest of the day playing.

On The Road With Tag, The Roving Reporter...

Mom usually only lets me write one post each week, but I 

had so much to tell you that I asked if I could write again.

This travelin' with Mom and Dad is really fun stuff!

 While we were at Airstream, I met a cool guy named Stephen.

He would stop to say "hello" to me every time he saw me.

Mom explained that if he got down on the floor, he'd get to 

know the real me...The Master Of The Wet Willie!

It's a callin', I tell you! I can't help myself around kids.

 Stephen got down on the floor and I moved into high gear.

Nothin'...and I mean nothin' makes me happier than hearin' kids giggle.

Stephen didn't disappoint. He laughed out loud when I jumped on him. I'm

glad Mom got his folks' and sister's names, too. Maybe I'll see him again.

Man, I'm gonna miss him.

This is where we stayed last night.

It's another campground that will go on our "favorites" list.

D & W Lake Campground in Champaign, IL.

Mom and Dad said, "Five Stars, Tag!"

There is lots of space between campsites, and l@@k carefully...

There was another Airstream in the campground! Woot!! Woot!

They had a big dog that wanted to visit me, but we kept our distance.

We didn't want to get anythin' started, you know.

Another place to rest and recuperate for the final leg of our trip north.

We'll be in Wisconsin this afternoon, and Mom is going to a pre-reunion

party tonight. I'll be hangin' out at the campground with Dad and Ceri.

Only two more sleeps until Mom's sister comes to pick Ceri up, so I

want to give her special attention before she moves to her new home.

Well, that's all for this week. I'm going on break until my next Tuesday post.

See ya later!

Cool Campers...

We saw every make, model, size and iteration of traveling abode while we were away for the summer. We were invited into large motor homes, impressive fifth-wheels and other Airstreams, but the ones that always drew my attention were the little, cute ones.

When we stayed at the Rock Island/Moline KOA in Illinois we were pretty much cheek-to-jowel with the other travelers. (The campsites were minimal allowable size and close together.)

Late one afternoon, this truck pulled in with a little (I suspect home-built) trailer behind it. My mind immediately transported to my childhood and memories of piles of old Popular Mechanics magazines usually stored in a window box in our front entry. I remember seeing photographs and plans of things like this little camper. I always thought it would be an incredible feat that someone could take all the raw materials, assemble them in an artful manner and create a mobile place to rest ones head after a day of traveling.

This couple pulled into their campsite, retrieved coolers and chairs from the back of their truck, and within a matter of minutes they were enjoying cheese, crackers and glasses of wine. The little camper had a comfortable bed in the main compartment with windows on the doors, a roof vent on top and (check out the arrow in the photograph). the back hinged opened to reveal a covered kitchenette! I love the quilt on the bed...and the pillow shams had moose on them! There was no bathroom consideration, but all the KOAs have bath houses to cover personal hygiene matters, so that's not a problem.

I was so fascinated that I just had to snap photos before they left the campground the next morning. I thought you might be interested in seeing cool campers, too. So, from time to time, I'll share photographs with you from our travels. When possible, I'll show you the insides, but mostly you'll see exteriors. (I hate to impose on our temporary neighbors.) Consider this the first installment.

My Cool Caravan...

I've grown quite interested in all things "camper" lately. I love our Airstream Flying Cloud, and have had fun fitting it out to make it personal and comfortable for Handsome and me - and occasional visitors.

I recently came across this book filled with wonderful vintage units. The best part is that in addition to exteriors, it also gives style notes about the interiors. Many of them now sit comfortably nestled in their owners' backyards.

The book is called "My Cool Caravan" by Jane Field-Lewis and Chris Haddon. (The title is a link to Amazon.) Hilary Walker's photography really makes the whole book. The text is filled with historical information about each camper, and then information about how it was restored and/or furnished.

This is the Eccles Aristocrat camper. The interior reflects the Art Deco period - and I think it's one of my favorites in the book. Most of the campers are located in the UK, but the book features a few in the US as well.

If you click on this picture, you can enlarge it to see the beautiful ceramic piece that radiates heat from the little furnace unit. (Actually, clicking on any of my photos will enlarge them to show better detail.) I also love the nautical blue of the exterior.

This little camper was hauled into the back yard of two lucky little girls and is used as their playhouse.  It's called a Diddy, and the owners practically stole it in an online auction when the owner forgot to list a reserve price for it. (They only paid 150 British pounds for it!)

"Constance", named after the middle name of the owner's granddaughter, was restored for multiple purposes. It's their granddaughter's playhouse, a place for grandma and grandpa to share coffee in the morning, or as a place for grandma to sit and read the afternoon away. (This is my other personal favorite.)

I think my friend, Brenda from Cozy Little House blog would adore this particular camper!

Look how the owners tucked it into their backyard landscape. There's a little deck in front and plants all around that really ground it to make it look like it's been there all along. I especially love the three pots standing guard at the front door.

I'm really having fun choosing (and making) things for the Flying Cloud, but after looking through the pages of this book, I might have to rethink some of my choices and go more in keeping with the history of the Airstreams.

If you get a chance to page through a copy of this book, make sure you have the time to really sit and enjoy it. Man, talk about eye candy! It would make a fun coffee table book, too. Then you could pick it up again and again for inspiration for your own camper - or even for your home!