Spicher and Co. Vinyl Flooring

Spicher and Co. vinyl floorcloths

I was searching for a company that makes reproduction patterned sheet linoleum for my pantry when I stumbled across Spicher and Co.'s Vinyl Flooring.  This is the look I've been searching for and I bet it would look great in a vintage kitchen or ahem, a little trailer.

Available at Scarlettalley.com

Pearl goes to Sandwichfest

Today was a ton of fun.  I brought the Pearl to Sandwichfest to promote Historic Homes of Cape Cod.  The day started out rainy - as in, severe thunderstorms.  But even so, I had fun chatting with people who stopped by to take a look inside the trailer.  I love how the Pearl brings a smile to people's faces.  I often hear that someone's uncle, or mother or grandfather had one just like it...  It's a great conversation starter and it definitely brings back warm memories.

Do you use your vintage trailer in your business?  If so, please share your experience, photos or links.

Making your own table for a Shasta Compact

If your Shasta didn't come with its original table, here's some dimensions to help in making your own.

The dimensions are 24" wide by 39" long, 27 5/8" high (to top of table).  One end of the table has squared corners the other end (the end that faces out) has 2" radius corners.

The aluminum edge on the table is similar to what can be found at New York Metal - called "nose edging"

Here are some photos to show how the underside is put together:

Our table has metal trim around the edge of the laminate
and has a folding table leg.  The table must slide off of the wall bracket when the leg is folded under.
It does not fold down against the slanted outside wall.

Hardware the folds the table underneath 

This photo shows the hardware that attaches the table to the wall

Making the ol' gal earn her keep

Well, both ol' gals if you include me :)

My son Joshua has helped me set up "Pearl" at the Farmer's market on Tuesday mornings.  I sell jams and other preserves for the Thornton Burgess Society to benefit Green Briar Nature Center.  Some of you may know that I worked in their jam kitchen.  What a treat!  The kitchen dates back to the early 20th century and many of the recipes are from the first proprietor, Ida Putnam.

Photo by Eric Hurwitz

Thornton Burgess, a naturalist, conservationist and author of many children's stories including Peter Rabbit and his friends, used to visit Green Briar to deliver the mail.  The animals he observed along the way inspired him to write his children's stories.  Today, the Thornton Burgess Society owns the property operates natural history education programs for children and adults.  The jams help fund their mission.

Pearl was a big hit at the Farmer's market!  Many folks came over just to take a peek inside.  Under her pink and white canopy is the perfect place to spread out vintage linens and sell Apple Pie Jam, and Martha's Mustard pickles, and Sun cooked Strawberries...... YUM!

Baby moons - check!

I ordered the baby moon hubcaps for the Pearl and they arrived today.  I measured as well as I could and put in an order with Vintage Trailer Supply, crossed my fingers and held my breath.  Our wheels are original, 4 bolt, 13", 3 nubs.  They fit like a glove - just popped right on!  Hopefully they won't just pop right off too :)

Dome Hubcaps from Vintage Trailer Supply VTS-595, $17.94 each

How about these tow vehicles?

Ford Crown Victoria
A little poking around on the web brought up these delicious tow vehicles.  I neeeeed one of these for the Pearl.  Oh well, I can dream.....

Edsel Bermuda Wagon
Photo from Kennebunkporter Classic Rides

Photo from Paintref.com

Ford Thunderbird
Photo from Scotty's Classic Cars

Vintage Valentines wall art

The Pearl reminds me of nothing more than a big valentine.  Maybe its her color, or the fact that my hubby, children and I slaved on it as a labor of love.  But whatever the reason, there she is, my big fat 1200 lb. valentine.

Sooooo, I was thinking it would be fun to hang vintage valentine's day cards over the bunk rail on each side of the dining area.  In the interest of saving money (being cheap), rather than buying real vintage valentines, I ordered the book "Vintage Valentines" by Dover which comes with a CD full of high resolution pics.  My plan is to print my favorites on card stock, laminate them and hang them from a string with mini clothes pins or clips.

Some of these bring me right back to my childhood classroom valentine's day parties (I know, I'm old)!

Those finishing touches...

Detail of trailer restored by Joe and Robin Lyons of Santa Barbara

There are signs of spring in the air.  I just noticed the sprouts of daffodils poking out from the brown leaves on the side of my house.  So, of course that means it is high time that we start working on the Pearl again.  Last year we completed the bulk of her renovation, but there are a few things that we have left to do.  Well, maybe not have to do.

I really would like to add some baby moons and white wall tires.  If anyone out there knows what size and a source for these that would fit on a Shasta Compact, please let me know.

Another wish list item that I have is an outdoor mat for camping.  Having some trouble here.....I would love a mat with a fun fresh style, but alas, the mats seem to be designed by the same crusty old man that designs the paint scheme on the sides of contemporary rv's - broad strokes of analogous colors.  Someone should really clue the RV industry to the fact that this design was dated 15 years ago.

So here is a possibility:

From www.solutions.com

I also thought it would be fun to make a mat by clicking together these fake grass 10" squares (they come with the daisies):

Artificial grass mat with daisies and clover from Tradeage.com

I also want to add some fun party lights, like these from beau coup:

lantern party lights

Ok, yeah, we still don't have the water tank installed, boring.  Just need to set my priorities - fun stuff,  first, then water tank, electric heater, and fix that "cam over" problem that we had last summer (see our blog from last summer's cross country trip)

Happy Glamping!

Our Canopy has arrived!

We ordered a canopy from Vintage Trailer Supply.  The folks there were very nice to work with.  I wanted to order one of the "classic awning stripe" canopies and they let me special order it in a discontinued pink/white color combo.

We love it!

the top of the canopy is pink and white stripe and the underside is pink

the color of the canopy matched perfectly

Making the bed in a Shasta Compact

Well, some of you may be wondering how anyone can sleep in a teeny Shasta Compact.  I went across country with 3 children, ages 16, 14 and 10 and we all fit!  However, when my husband joined us, it was a tight squeeze.  I purchased a one minute set-up tent at Target and the boys (my two oldest) slept in it for the remainder of the trip.  To see our travel blog:  hasslercrosscountry.blogspot.com

Below are some photos of how we made up the bed.  The original design of the bed included slide out benches that do not meet in the middle (they remain two separate beds).  We wanted the option to pull the benches together to make one large bed.  The solution below is a temporary one, because we were running out of summer before we finished the Pearl, at some point we will work on making a more elegant and permanent solution.

For now though...

When the bench seat and back cushions are laid flat, there is a gap of a few inches which we fill with the decorative pillows so that the flat cushions will stay tightly together.

This makes a fairly large bed - king size sheets are needed.

Under the cushions are 1/2" thick plywood sheets.

Here is what it looks like under the cushions

The plywood is supported by slats which fit into the existing slots on the benches.

There are three slats, we store the table under the bed at night.

Each plywood sheet is stored under the bench cushions during the day.    Being only 1/2" thick, you can't feel them through the cushions (the cushions are 5" thick.

bench cushion back in place

as you can see, my back cushion overlaps the window trim a bit.

Dave is storing the slats in the bench.

Sometimes, we would put the back cushions on the floor, between the two benches and I would put the decorative pillow in the gap between the back cushions and the benches to hold them tightly together.  This way, we had 3 small beds.  Bella slept in the canvas bunk that suspends above the bed.  

I

Done!

Yay!  She's done.  We finished her on Sunday - the last thing I did was shorten the curtains.  Then we packed our clothes in the car and headed off for a cross country trip.  Right now it is just me and the 3 kids, but Dave will join us in San Francisco.  Our plan is to travel the lower states across to California, travel up the California coast and head back along the upper states.  We traveled through the Shenandoah National Park yesterday - today on to Knoxville.  It is so wonderful to be able to use Pearl!
Here are some pics:

Our friend Anita hand knit the beautiful dish rag and towel hanging from range