Our little Retro Camper ... See her in person this weekend at the Hob Nob Vintage Market in Danville, IL

The End Result!

(for updated views of how she looks in 2015... click here)

 Months of gathering ideas, planning, sanding, priming, painting, power washing and primping and we are finally finished.  What began as a 1970's something Sunliner camper, has become our little home away from home.  We will be taking her on the road this weekend to Danville, IL for the Hob Nob Vintage Market.  We can't wait to see you there!

 Mabel is her name.  That was the name of my husband's mother.  She LOVED to camp and was an RVer up until her last day.  In her honor, we hope to spend lots of time enjoying the road,  and one another, while taking some short road trips together.

It's been so much fun finding just the right things to put inside.  The little afghan was a cast off from the resale shop where I work,  it was actually put in the Salvation Army bag when I rescued it.  Several little holes in a knit afghan can be a quick fix with a little yarn and a crochet hook. And who knew that the chevron pattern would make a comeback!  I made the bird and chevron pillows along with the little banner garland.  (I made a larger one for outside when we set up.)  The original oil painting is one inspired by a spot in Door County and is an original I painted last year.

My friend Cindi spent three days with me sewing the vinyl cushion covers.  They will be easy to keep clean!  She was amazing and her husband Hank was very patient!

The curtains, were from a pair I purchased from Ikea (plain white). I had scoured resale shops for some to repurpose, but was unable to find the fabric that I was looking for.  I got one pair ($9.99/pr ) and cut them into the sizes I needed.  I added little cut pieces I picked up in the remnant racks at Jo-ann Fabrics. (HINT: if you have a smart phone, look up "joann coupon"... and get 40% off one item... I used it for 10 yards of the vinyl and saved a BUNCH!)  In an effort to create 'easy to make' curtains,  I removed the original racks that were meant for hooks, and mounted a rod that would fit into 2 little coated cup hooks...Cafe Style... it worked perfectly.  My rescued industrial machine powered through all of the sewing and made me oh so happy along the way!

The little hoop art you see below is my original design.  While having coffee Sunday, I decided to try my hand at it... I freehanded the little map of the U.S.A. and added some places that I am fond of and have had the good fortune to visit over the years.  I made the little "See the U.S.A." hoop to act as a companion.  The little Ralph Waldo Emerson saying is just a framed card from Trader Joes.  Add some vintage books, postcards, pennants, a little collection of white vases filled with fresh tulips, and you are ready for a road trip!

 As if there weren't enough cuteness going on. While at Ikea, I found this orange and white stripe canvas style fabric... I bought one yard and fashioned it into an awning for the little front window.  I repurposed some left over vinyl piping from the cushions inside to add a touch of yellow.  

Our original plan was to add a little orange stripe... I have yet to do that but think I may leave that to the pinstriping pros.  We will have it done one day.  I hope you can stop Opendoorstudio to see some of what we bring with us to Sell.. On the Vintage Road! (  maybe you will find something wonderful there for YOUR little vintage trailer!

oh... one more thing, Martha is a  proud member of Sisters on the Fly! After a successful solo voyage, she took the show on the road alone and can't wait to meet some sisters sometime next season!
Sister # 3968

The End

Vintage Travel Trailer ... our little home away from home.

Be sure to check out our updated post! More views of her updated interior check out her pinterest board... click here... !
...................

Here is our latest look at "MissMabel" our little camper.... she is getting a facelift with some fun color... inside and out! 

That's me!

Her "Mother's day" stripe

Aubrey 

interior before cushions.

interior of vintage pantone turquoise

 I have so many things I want to decorate her with! So much fun to find things for her interior and exterior too!

     For the awning on the exterior, I am looking in to Marti's Awnings.  Still deciding on the color scheme for that... but I am sure it will have something to do with orange, yellow and turquoise.

Our interior... so bright and cheery!

Waiting on the curtains and cushions

So much to do and so little time!

Some cute stuff and the beginnings of my vintage decor

A view from outside.

An awning for the front would be oh so cute!

    I had fun with a vintage pantone paint chip sample I found years ago...for the colors on the interior.  I was unable to find just what I was looking for in the modern paints so I brought the chip to the home depot!  I found that Behr paint worked best.  Dutch boy was way too thick. but we used it for the exterior blue and yellow stripe.  Thinking of adding a silver stripe below the yellow, and above the yellow... a pinstripe of ORANGE.  How delightful! :)

The long road home.

Happy Trails to YOU, until we meet again!

* photos taken by Aubrey Smith

    

A View of Na-da Farm's Spring Sale 2013

WE had a delightful time setting up at the Na-da Farm sale this weekend.

Preparing months in advance...by renovating our 

little vintage travel trailer, 

we were almost ready to go.

Mabel, the name we have chosen for our little camper, paying homage to my husband's mom of the same name.  She was a camper and outdoors woman at heart.  Although my husband thought we should do the interior in denim and flannel, I overruled and decided to go with a brighter, bolder look.

an overall view of our display Saturday morning.

She looked so cute as our back drop and escape from the westerly winds.  Despite the gathering storm, we continued to set up our outdoor space, collecting a few things that had blown down during the afternoons set up.  ...with the large crowd gathering, we put the finishing touches on the booth.  

We stole a moment to admire some of our favorite shops in the BARN... before the crowds engulfed it!

Anne Marie's delightful Nada FArm Homemade "shop" so many yummy baked goods here!

Cracker Jax had some cute clothing. Aubrey found something there she LOVED.

Above, Jen from FRESH Vintage has such a bright and colorful style!

Jeanine from Chippy Shabby has a beautiful presentation and tons of beautiful vignettes.

Stacey from Cottage industry delighted with some darling, whimsical  pillows and embroidered creations. 

At the END of the day... we all had a wonderful time, sharing stories with customers, getting to know one another better and taking in the beautiful vistas from the farm!

    The End.

Freshen up a photo using Ipiccy.com ,  a simple photo editing tool for those of us who don't have photoshop on our computers.  These poppies were so happy in my garden last year and they will be really happy printed on canvas on my wall, for everyone to enjoy for years to come.

Flea Market Style Magazine 2013

Thrilled to find out that the AWESOME chairs that I purchased
from the
 Hunt & Gather booth at the Junk Bonanza Fall 2012,
( while at the show representing Etsy and the Vintage Etsy Society Street team) 

are featured in the latest Flea Market Style Magazine ( Spring 2013 issue) !

     

Notice them hanging in the display on the right

The Artist, Charlotte Strait and her amazing work: from Hunt & Gather, Minneapolis

  Here is how they look in my spot.

How lucky was I to have found them!

Art in the Barn 2012

Several months back, I was with friends for our annual trip to Art in the Barn in Barrington, Illinois.  It is how we mark time and how we spend our birthdays together.  Art in the Barn...followed by lunch and a few beverages, lots of talking and laughing.  It is always a delight, and always too short and it makes me think how fast time goes.  Everytime we meet there, I can NOT believe yet another year has passed.

Art in the Barn is a staple of Barrington life.  It has been a festival to benefit the local hospital now, for 38 years. My mother used to attend regularly, her art teacher Dale Wilson, an oil painter, would show his beautiful paintings of the local barns and the countryside.  She could not resist picking up a piece or two to add to her ever growing collection.   The 6th year of Art in the Barn, a teacher from the High School, who was the folk club leader... Mr. Offet and I were strolling minstrels.  We walked among the artisans and show gowers... and played our guitars, and sang when we were so inspired.  

Fast forward about 12 years...Once we were all reunited and our children had grown, we were free to head out to enjoy our birthdays with one another.   Without fail my Sister Leslie, other "Sisters" Jinny and Lee, My daughter Aubrey,  good friend Cindi along with her husband Hank and other wonderful friends throughout the years, Sandy, Jan, Elaine, Pam and more...go back "home" for the festival.  We NEVER miss it.  Rain or shine.  

From year to year the same artists gather, sometimes there is a new artist or two.  This year, a favorite new pair of talented artists was a duo from MyNihilo.com,  a delightful booth, fulled with handmade fiber scarves, and handmade fused plastic totes along with other trinkets and baubles.  What made it even more delightful, was the creative use of  props in the booth.  Springs mounted on a 4"x 4"x6' pole to create a "coat stand" for items to hang from, corrugated metal for their sign, which was created using repurposed metal parts and pieces.   SO CREATIVE!  They had so many great ideas,  the use of old palettes and wood for much of their back drop... but the best part... by far, was the personality of these "Sister-in-Laws".  They could NOT be more darling.  Their quirky and fun sense of humor shone through in their work.  One knits beautiful, long silk scarves out of repurposed saris and silk that was sourced from other countries.  Colorful and lovely, I could not resist purchasing one (only $24)  and it is well over 118 inches of goodness!  

I loved them, and their work so much, that my girlfriend Jinny went back with me... after winning a raffle... (from which she chose the scarf) and chose a beauty!  Yet another girlfriend was browsing there for about a half hour before finding one she loved.  

The colors of the scarves and the originality of the display as well as the lovely personalities of the ladies in the booth, kept drawing me back!

Moral of the story.  Spend time with good friends, Find new friends and artists.  Support local artisans.  Find things for Chirstmas gift giving and help out locally.  ( The Art in the Barn festival proceeds do good works for the hospital.  These artists all donated a percentage of their sales to the cause, Art in the Barn is a festival that takes place in the Fall each year. Usually the 3rd Saturday in September) 

Who knows...someday maybe you will find ME there selling something I have created, Hand painted silk scarves, original watercolors and oil paintings ?  That day... the Circle will be complete.  Going from being a musician in the late 70s or early 80s to buying there for years, to showing there... would be a wonderful goal for me.

Be sure to click on the mynihilo.com link above to see where in the area they are showing!

               
Thanks for stopping by!
   martha
opendoorstudio.etsy.com

OpendoorStudio branches out to include some Handmades

Fresh from the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee Minnesota,

 I decided to do a few upcycled and repurposed pieces.

I have been missing that a bit lately!

 I have added them to my OpendoorStudio shop on Etsy!

 I hope you will stop by to take a peek!

     

New Look... New Logo!

New look... New Logo,

  

 I was thinking, after years of fun vintage finds on the ODS logo, it might be time to create one with an "open door".

Using my little watercolor set, and after a few sketches...one of a front door with a light...one with a little house, yet another of a little camper door...this is the final result.

Let me know, in the comments below, what you think!

 Thanks,

 Martha