Accessories for Clara-van!

I’ve found a fantastic shop which I’d never been to before – Action, I think it is Dutch but they do the most amazing homewares for next to nothing so I’ve managed to pick up some lovely things all ready to go into Clara-van. Hubby thinks I’m mad when she isn’t done yet but I know if I don’t pick things up when I see them then when I’m ready there won’t be anything I like!

Bamboo fibre crockery (much nicer than the melamine I was thinking I was going to get), wineglasses (le plastic of course!) and a salad bowl and servers:

Image

A stove top coffee maker:

Image

And some fab very light weight, very retro looking storage canisters!:

Image

Caravan Renovation – fabrics for Clara-van!

After a trip to the fabric store to help concrete (or should I say sew up!) my ideas for the decor in Clara-van and hours and thousands of fabric searches on line I think I’ve decided what I’m doing. Right from the start and further decided by lots of inspiration on Pinterest and various blogs I want to do a retro / scandi sort of look with plain seat covers and bright, fun, light, bright curtains and cushions. Here is my current decision, but not promising this won’t change if I manage to find fabric I like more!

For the curtains:

Image

Cover for the seats / mattresses:

Image

Accent fabric for cushions:

Image

 

Meet Clara-van!

Just because we obviously don’t have enough to do we have just bought a retro caravan! I’ve wanted a caravan for ages as tent camping just always seems such a hassle but I do love camping! It will also be hugely handy with visitors in the summer (yes that could be you!) and means we can look at getting Work-away people to help us with all we have going on as well.

We couldn’t go past her as she was very close and cost next to nothing (which is what we could afford to spend!). We went to see her and had a night to think on it then went back and made a list of what we needed to get to get her on the road. We ordered new tires, lights and tow bar hitch. While we were waiting for them to arrive another van of the same make came on the market, we went to have a look to see if it had lots of parts we may need and we managed to get the gas bottle holder, step and gas / electric fridge for the princely sum of €50 – a steal! Sadly the windows were broken so we still need to find a solution for the broken rear window. As to the rest there is a huge amount of cleaning, painting, reupholstering and fluffing but I have great hopes that she’ll be gorgeous when she is done. She is a 1980 Digue (a French caravan maker) 365T. Here she is once we pulled her out of the trees in the woods where she has been parked for the last 15 years or so! Note the moss I didn’t manage to get off on the roof. Hello Clara-van!

Image

Image

Watch this space for the renovation progress!