Everyone knows by know that I adore vintage campers and caravans. I search for images on a regular basis to get inspired. The Mister and my dream is to one day own our own vintage caravan and to travel from coast to coast. While sorting through images I stumbled across this cool website Retro Rentals and featured on the site is Constance a 1957 Sprite 14 caravan. Constance has seating which converts to 2 double beds, or 3 single beds. She is 14' long and seats up to 8 at her table (which is removable). There is a cooker (not to be used) and sink. The beautiful rounded shape of her large window bay is really very retro. She has been finished with 50's style flooring and furnishings (curtains/ cushions can be removed if needs be). Constance is really very special and quite a rarity. She is available for photo shoots (see below), wedding day, prom and party hire.
Constance also appears in the book "My Cool Caravan" - written and compiled by Jane Field-Lewis & Chris Haddon, with photography by Hilary Walker. The book shows forty stylish caravans of all vintages, from across the world and is packed with inspirational photography.
You must check out Jane Field- Lewis's AWESOME website "My Cool". On her website you can check out her book "My cool Caravan". Guess what? She also has a blog which features inspirational places and spaces. If "My Cool Caravan" isn't enough for you then check out "My Cool Campervan"... they are both available on Amazon. I hope this quenches your thirst for camping retro style.
I stumbled upon this awesome blog by Oana (pronounced "Wanna") Befort. She is a very talented freelance graphic designer as well as an illustrator. Her blog is full of wonderful illustrations and creations. There are some freebies that I found for the Holiday that I thought you all might like. Here is a sweet little calender and printable gift tags!
I'm definitely getting some artwork for myself... check out some illustrations from her ETSY store.
Everyone must check out her blog! Oana is so super talented and very inspiring. I plan to break out my water colors and give it a try. Who knows.... maybe you'll see some of my illustrations in future posts.
Last Friday my very good friends Mandy and Chris joined me for a Holiday Party at New Bohemia. New Bohemia is a "sister store" to Parts & Labour.... as I'm a vendor for P&L I was invited to check it out.
The party was a vintage 60's theme inspired by "Mad Men". Mandy and I were so excited that we both rushed out to get new clothes. I got the cutest little cocktail dress from XXI and Mandy went more the Mod route and wore a graphic patterned dress. We looked smashing with our bouffants! I tried to get my hair as big as I could. You know what they say...... The bigger the hair, the closer to Jesus. I think I used a whole bottle of hairspray. Never the less I felt and looked great. We all looked great!
We later went next door to South Congress Cafe and had cocktails and yummy crispy gulf oysters with green onions, pancetta, roasted red pepper remoulade. We also nibbled on crab cakes with mango aioli, red chili sauce, field greens and citrus vinaigrette! It was so tasty...I can't wait to go back there with Matt. It was a little on the pricey side but well worth it. Later Mandy and I went back home to my house where we drank red wine and danced to "Thriller".
Matt had the fire pit going and chilled outside with us while we acted like crazy girls. Good wholesome, old fashion fun.
I don't remember what blog I saw it on but I thought it was a really great idea. I think it's nice when fellow bloggers help each other out and support each other. I love the idea of Sponsoring but find it hard to charge or be charged by other people to be seen on their blog. I would like to get more traffic and I know you would like to get traffic.... so lets help each other out by swapping badges. If you like what you see and want to feature my badge on your blog and I like what I see then I will sponsor you on my blog. See how that works? Anyone who is interested please contact me.
Every good party deserves a Photo booth! My friend Mandy from Nestled In Nostalgia always makes it a point to get great photos at every party. She usually sets up a back drop and uses her tripod and timer. Voila! This is a little cuter version of that idea. You could take it to the next level by actually creating the booth.... look how cute this idea is! This would be a hit at any party...I don't think I would be able to get my guests out of there. You can also add some props by making your own clever flare.
Use thick, colorful card stock and Popsicle sticks to create nerdy glasses.
They also sell heavy duty felt at local craft stores and dowel rods. Just add some hot glue and you're set.
I found these cute little stencils online. Such girly little staches...
The more manly version right here.
Here's some inspiration.
Here's a guide if you don't know what the hell you are doing.
These pictures are from last summer when I made my own props.
I just used felt and dowel rods. It was super easy and fun and I break them out at parties.
So my friend Mandy of Nestled in Nostalgia selected me for The Liebster Blog Award. Thanks Mandy! Here's how it works...you are asked 11 questions and then in return come up with 11 of your own questions and choose 5 bloggers of your choice (with under 200 followers) to answer them and so on and so forth. Here we go!
1. If you could be any character in a film, who would you be and why?
Hands down Elizabeth Bennett from "Pride and Prejudice" This is my all time favorite books from one of my all time favorite Authors Jane Austin. It's such a romantic book and very well written. The movie with Kiera Knightly as Jane is exceptionally well played....not to mention Matthew Mcfayden as Mr. Darcy. My favorite part in the movie is when Darcy declares his love for Elizabeth.
"You have bewitched me body and soul." - Darcy
What woman wouldn't want to hear that? Call me and old, hopeless romantic but I could watch this movie on a loop and not get sick of it.
2. If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life (a Forever Uniform), what would it be?
A short, flowy dress for sure. I always wear dresses and feel most comfortable in them. Little dresses are kinda my thing. Typically I would pair it with a cardigan and knee high boots. In the summer it would be with ballet flats or sandals but I also rock the boots in the summer too. In the winter I breakout the tights in various colors. I don't like to match too much.
3. Why did you decide to start blogging?
I wanted to find a way to share my interests with other people that have similar interests as me. I love fashion and crafting and have started a small business making and selling plushies with my brand name
"Nothing but a Pigeon". I wanted to expand on that and explore my other interests. I wanted to share my ideas, thoughts and feelings.... basically I just wanted to put it all out there. There are a lot of really talented young individuals that are reaching out and sharing there creativeness with others and I wanted to be a part of that. I have blogs that I follow on a daily basis because they are so inspirational. I love to be inspired and I want to inspire other people as well.
4. What would be on the menu for your last meal?
Right now I'm addicted to Seaweed salad. I get it every time I get sushi and I just love it. I could eat a pound... those little dishes at the sushi bar they give you isn't enough, it's more like a "teaser" than anything. So yea, seaweed salad for my last meal.
5. How would you spend your perfect day?
This is a tough one.... I have so many ideas to what my perfect day would be. It would definitely involve Matt, Lucy, wine and camping. I would love to go camping in the Redwood Forrest. I miss lush forests and Pine needles. It's much more fun to go camping in the woods.
6. If you could take a one day class to learn about anything, what would it be?
I would love love love to take a photography workshop with one of my all time most influential photographers.... Sally Mann. I fell in love with her and her work in college. Her work has been very controversial but also beautiful and powerful in it's own right. My favorite collection of her work would be known as her most controversial work to date with such accusations as child pornography.The book "Immediate Family" consists of 65 black and white portraits of her three children. The Times named her America's Best Photographer in 2001 and wrote...
Mann recorded a combination of spontaneous and carefully arranged moments of childhood repose and revealingly — sometimes unnervingly — imaginative play. What the outraged critics of her child nudes failed to grant was the patent devotion involved throughout the project and the delighted complicity of her son and daughters in so many of the solemn or playful events. No other collection of family photographs is remotely like it, in both its naked candor and the fervor of its maternal curiosity and care.[13]
I'm so moved by her work which drove me to study and specialize in Large Format Cameras and Alternative Processes. I looked up to her as my inspiration. I would love to take a workshop and assist her in photographic process. I could go on and on about Sally Mann and her work and my love for large format cameras ...... but the best way to describe her and her work and the passion that is involved is to just show you.
7. What is the ultimate super power, and how would you use it?
The Power to Heal.....I think everyone can guess how I would use it.
8. Name the person who's closet you would most like to raid? Real or fiction, dead or alive.
I'm such a cheese dick.... but it would have to be Zooey Deschanel. She is my style icon. I definitely find myself gravitating to that type of style when I'm shopping.I love a good dress that is modest in the bust but also shows off my legs. I kinda like my legs... or at least feel confident enough to "show them off". I usually wear flats or kitten heals but if I need height then it has to be a wedge. I just can't deal with heals. It's not worth the pain ladies. I also wear headbands and bows to spruce things up a bit. I love to feel girly and feminine without looking like a "doll baby".
9. What's Number 1 on your bucket list?
I hate the term "Bucket List"...maybe it's because that movie sucked balls. I don't really have a bucket list but if I had to choose one thing that I would love to do before I die it would have to be something good for mankind. I've always wanted to help protect Loggerhead Turtles.... I know, I know. I have a serious passion for all living creatures and would really love to make a difference in the world. When I was in grade school I wrote an essay on Loggerheads and ever since then I've wanted to be a part of something bigger than me...us, if you know what I mean. Loggerheads are as you know are on the Endangered Species List and their eggs and meat are sold on the black market. Poaching and shrimp nets are the main threat to these Turtles. Someday I hope to be a part of WWF helping to protect nesting beaches and promoting smart fishing. Is that cliche'?
10. What album can you listen to over and over and never get tired of?
Right now I've been listening to The "Submarine" Soundtrack by Alex Turner.... the Artic Monkeys lead singer. It's The best Movie and soundtrack I've heard in quite some time. I listen to it all the time.
"Hiding Tonight"
"Piledriver Waltz"
11. What are your top five beauty products and why?
I like how this products doubles as a cheek stain but also a lip stain. It's subtle berry color that makes me look like I've just come inside from playing out in the snow... all a flush.
