Shasta Dreams & Avalon Wishes

Cushion Covers for Ethel!

2012-01-28T11:55:00.000-05:00

My husband finished making covers for the bottom cushions. I think he did a GREAT job! Better than I could've done.

It's a very thick vinyl that he had to stitch by hand. Needless to say, he managed to stab his thumb a few times with the needle...OUCH!

I guess that fabric draped over the back is a fabric swatch for maybe the top cushion? Progress is being made!

It's Been a While!

2012-01-19T11:10:00.000-05:00

Wow, can't believe I haven't posted anything on here in so long. Well....yes, I can. The truth is, I have done NOTHING to Lucy in a long time. She is in PA and I am still in FL :(

My husband has been getting very domestic without me there and has started hand sewing new cushion covers for Ethel. Hand sewing because he found some very thick commercial naugahyde. That and he doesn't have the sewing machine. Except for some painful jabs to the thumb, I think he's coming along quite well. When he sends me pictures, I'll post them here.

On the Lucy front, despite not being up there to work on her, I did recently acquire a couple things that I can't wait to put in her. My littlest son gave me an I Love Lucy mug for Christmas and I was told it is to go in the camper. (Ok, will do!) I also found, on clearance at Barnes and Noble) a large, round I Love Lucy clock. Not sure where I'll hang it yet, but it's going up! Oh, and my sister gave me an I Love Lucy tshirt to wear when I am working on her. Very cute stuff.

I am still worried about Ethel, though. My husband seems to have several different colors going on inside her...he doesn't think so, but he's a guy and we all know how they can be when it comes to colors and decorating!

Well folks, don't give up on me here...I promise more posts will come as soon as I can get my butt up to Pittsburgh!

Nothing major yet

2011-10-21T23:11:00.000-04:00

Well, I haven't been able to do any real work on Lucy yet since I'm still living in Miami and she's in Pittsburgh...but the time is getting closer.

I added some Steelers throw pillows and a couple strands of white LED battery powered lights for atmosphere. The real work has been done on Ethel...

Buddy painted a fresh coat of gold around her. The little pieces of paper stuck to her side are paint samples for different shades of white.

They all look the same to me.

That long blue thing next to a long black thing is Buddy's shell. A type of row boat. It needs repairs, too. The black thing is a large tube that he's keeping around for Aidan to play in. It would all be fine except for the fact that the tent for our wedding reception has to be set up in the grassy area in front of Lucy and between that boat and tube and that tree. I think it's going to be a tight squeeze. Ethel will get relocated out of the driveway....I hope....?

That's all for now. The girls have to take a backseat until the wedding is over!

My first real time with Lucy

2011-09-13T13:20:00.003-04:00

Last weekend I finally got back up to PA and was able to really check out Lucy. Aside from having really awful flooring, she's not bad. Not bad at all, if you don't also count the exterior.

This is her little spot in the yard.

After wiping her down with disinfectant, I couldn't wait to go to Walmart and see what I could find to start sprucing her up. I figured that since her name is Lucy, she needed to have some red in her. And being in Pittsburgh, she also needed some Steeler stuff, too!

I found this cheap doormat at Walmart ($3!). I thought it was kind of retro and would be cool.

A red valance...and the matching red curtains I hung under the counter where there's just a big gaping open space. That silver thing in the back is just thrown over the old AC that we're probably going to remove and replace with a window. I don't think my Lucy needs an AC. She's going to be pretty basic and low maintenance.

The cushion covers are AWFUL! Orange and brown NAUGAHYDE! Yup, I'll have to get those suckers recovered! The cushion up top was found at a garage sale. It's fine and serves it's purpose. I'll probably make a simple cover for it out of a sheet or something.

Throw a couple Steelers pillows on the couch, a Steelers garbage can, a Steelers throw rug and maybe a Steelers blanket and she'll be ready for the season! Wish we had satellite...I'd LOVE to hang a flat screen TV in there to watch the games on!

(sorry for the sideways picture) I added a Lucy license tag that I got in Jamestown, NY (birthplace of Lucy) and a calendar I found.

I plan on removing 2 of the light fixtures. That is a working gas light over the table. I found that red desk lamp at Walmart also on clearance for $4. Such a bargain!

She sits right next to the woods, all tucked in and cozy.

I also got some new screening and spline, but ran out of time. Guess I'll do some window work next time I get up there.

Now, to check out Ethel...

Personally, I LOVE that curtain, but Buddy isn't quite sold on it yet. Maybe the flowers are too girly for him? She's painted inside, but still needs something done about those icky cushions. And a new tabletop would be nice, too.

Ethel has a gas light, too, but no glass for it. I think they must be rare and are really expensive, but we'll keep looking for something.

Hi, Buddy! Hey, who's that in the mirror?

Ethel's upper bunk is folded up.

Overall, Ethel is better on the outside, but Lucy beats her on the inside. Where the Shasta is all particle board, Lucy is solid wood with very little damage or work to do on it.

I had a great time and can't wait to get back up there again!

Getting There!

2011-08-29T11:58:00.000-04:00

She's getting there! I can see that the new cushions will have to be bigger, so no using the old ones as patterns. And I think that table will become a different color...but Ethel is definitely looking better than she did when Buddy pulled her out of the AA Forest.

Ethel's got new a new floor!

2011-08-26T10:21:00.005-04:00

I didn't think the pomegranite flooring was going to look right, but I must say...I think Buddy made an excellent choice for Ethel.

Birch is Beautiful!

2011-08-13T10:14:00.001-04:00

I feel like Lucy is my "baby"... I had an instant pull towards her the moment I laid eyes on her warm birch interior. Reminds me so much of our place in Lake Placid (a 1950's Hicks with addition built on). What's nice, but also kind of kills the whole retro feel is the fairly new countertop. It's nice to be sure, but it's granite. I'm hoping that I can still manage to play up a retro look despite that one glaring piece.

Her birch walls have very little damage. We will probably give them a light sanding and a fresh coat of urethane to protect them and bring out their glow again. I love the fact that, like the Hicks, her wood is solid wood - no particle board like in the Shasta. No paneling. Just beautiful, warm and cozy birch. I can imagine camping in her when it's cold outside...

I just don't have any good interior shots of her yet. Maybe I can persuade Buddy to take a few for me so I can post them here.

Nice Retro website

2011-08-13T09:59:00.000-04:00

Found this PLACE while looking again for retro fabrics. Could come in handy later.

Lucy, you're home!

2011-08-08T08:06:00.002-04:00

Some shots of Lucy on her way home...

She has a working, original gas light. It may work fine, but it still makes me nervous.

And she's home!... tucked away into her own little corner of our yard. I think she's looking forward to what the future will bring as much as we are!

Lucy and Ethel

2011-08-07T17:20:00.001-04:00

They finally have names...the '68 Shasta will; hereby be known as Ethel, and the '66 Avalon is Lucy. Fitting since Buddy went up to the AA forest to bring her home on Lucy's 100th birthday.

They're both fine old gals and I plan on having more fun times with them than bad, so yes...Lucy and Ethel...Can't wait to be able to do some work on both of them - SOON!

Progress

2011-08-02T20:22:00.000-04:00

Buddy has been working hard...he's got some of the wood replaced. Looking good!

Looks a little cozy to me...

The "kitchen" still has a long way to go.

My sister found this little bird feeder and added wings and an alligator to it. Love it!

...and our family grows...?

2011-08-01T08:07:00.000-04:00

This just in....we are now the owners of a 1966 Avalon....!

Try googleing it. You won't find it. You'll find Avalon popups made by Coleman, but you won't find this one.

I've seen it already. It IS a pretty sweet little trailer. I guess after showing each some love and getting them respectable, we can decide which we want to keep and maybe sell one?

Flooring

2011-07-27T08:59:00.001-04:00

Personally, I don't think we're ready to do the flooring yet, but Buddy seems to think we are. He has replaced a lot of wood so far and things are really coming along.

Here are a few tiles we were thinking of...oh, so many possibilities! At first I just wanted black and white check...but now, I'm not so sure!

They are in no particular order! I think I like the first two together, still kind of neutral.

It's Begun

2011-07-13T07:43:00.000-04:00

My fiancee started tearing her apart last weekend...

I like that the lights still work!

A lot of wood replacement, but I think that's the best route to go anyway, instead of trying to patch things.

Proceed With Caution!

2011-07-09T12:10:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, I finally got to see our Shasta in person. She needs A LOT of work, but I am looking forward to starting it. The following pictures may scare you - be warned!

The cushions will be totally new. No way would I every even think of keeping those!

We looked for curtains, but didn't see anything that "grabbed" us. Not a big deal because at this point, I think curtains are the last thing we need to be thinking about!

3 jalousies need to be replaced, as well as all the drawers (which are rotting particle board).

We want to use tin squares for the backsplash. Debating on whether or not to just strip the panels and paint them, or gradually replace all the wood. I vote for replacing.

Wondering if the stove can be cleaned up or if that should just be replaced, too?

It has potential. It's just going to take lots of time and lots of love.

Fabric Dilema

2011-06-28T10:10:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, I went around looking at fabric...for cushion covers and curtains. I want something retro looking in red, pale yellow and black. Looks like I'm going to have change my "retro" idea as I can't find any material that's even close to what I want.

I haven't gone to any stores yet to look at pre-made curtains/valances, but I think that may be the way we'll have to go.

As far as replacing the cushions...I found large rectangular foam pieces at JoAnn Fabrics, but read somewhere about using futon cushions. Any thoughts or ideas out there on this?

On Her Way!

2011-06-26T11:23:00.002-04:00

She's finally on her way home...wish I could be there to help!

She got a bath on the way home. I think she looks great!

What's in a Name?

2011-06-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

It seems all vintage trailers have names so I am wondering what we should call our's? I suppose she'll tell us her name in time.

But why do they all have girl names? Is it because they protect us and keep us safe like a "Mom"? Dads do the same thing! Is it because they tend to have cute curtains and attractive yet cozy color schemed interiors?

Maybe our's will declare to us that she's really a Bob or a Harry!

And So The Adventure Begins...

2011-06-23T12:45:00.000-04:00

She's still up in Cook Forest, but may be coming home to Bethel Park tonight. Unsure of the year yet...maybe '68? Will try to find out from the VIN number.

We are excited at the thought of fixing her up...new cushions, new curtains, painting the cabinets, new table, etc. It'll be hard for me still being in Miami and not being able to do much work on her yet. Hopefully after the wedding (November 11th!), once I get moved up there, I can really get into it. She's going to be used for camping, a playhouse for Aidan and a damn cute "guest cottage".

Just give us some time...more pictures to come in a couple weeks!