Introducing Mabel...

Well here she is, my new 'old' girl.

I'm totally smitten with her,

and after spending a night in her recently

my boys and I know we've made the right decision.

Thank you for all writing such lovely comments

about my caravans in my last post,

and although I always try to send you back a

personal little email I couldn't for some of you

as your addresses aren't linked to your comments/blog

(or something or other) so please let me give a huge thank you

for all your encouragment.

Anyhow, lets get to the eye candy!

Here she is at

Strawberry Wood!

(cute name for a campsite eh?)

Her cute little door, with it's proper little door handle,

of course she had to have a special little key ring

from Aunty Cath's shop!

Always open for friends bearing cake.

Take a pew, on the sofa.

AKA Finn's bed.

 Never one for muted colours me.

The kettles on Love!

Check out 'Dudley' our dinky stove.

All original and still working.

Even the chores are a pleasure!

Not being able to make my mind up,

my boys helped with the fabric choices.

I was keen to have Cath's prints in Mabel,

and I saved up hard.  Anyhow, the boys wanted boats,

Mummy wanted flowers, so we met half way

and had both.

Each end having different curtains.



Well I hope you enjoyed yourselves having a peep.

She's a very special girl is old Mabel.

SPRITE caravans were the ordinary folks holiday home on wheels,

compared with other expensive coach built caravans

at the time. Many were made and they're

fairly plain and simple as caravans go.

But I have it on good authority

that old Mabey Baby is very rare indeed.

She was built in 1963 and there are few, if any,

Sprite Alpines (her official title) from that year left.

She's appeared in a caravan monthly magazine

already I believe.

Just think, that Mabel could be in this line up

of shiny new models back in the early 60's!

Well I think she's as good looking today,

as she was back on the Sprite Alpine production line.

I hope you agree.

Thank you for letting me share her.

Our next stop by the way, is Anglesey next week!

If it rains or shines we'll be happy and cosy in our little house on wheels.

Love Claire. x

RAHHHHhhhhhh!!! Did I make you jump?

Well I have no idea how long it's been

since I saw you last, but I thought I'd

best fill you in on all what's been happening

over at my place.

Last time, if I'm not mistaken,

I left you in suspenders about how

our first trip with Sindy had gone,

well....

it was fantastic!

There was nothing to worry about regarding

the towing, and it's so easy we've been out

3 times in her since we last spoke.

I'm so sorry I'm such a naughty blogger,

but you know how it is.

Anyhow, here are lots of

pics to keep you up to speed.

Remember the vintage picnic basket?

Well here it is in LEEK on our

first trip.  Only 10 minutes up the road.

He enjoyed himself.

...and him!

Because of these being welcome at this site...

This guy also had a fab time!

So, after a successful first trip out,

no sooner had we got home and we were off out again.

This time to Bakewell.

I soon came to realise that she stood out from the crowd

(what crowd?!)

But when you're in a field with several other caravans

all looking the same sort of white box types,

well she started to gain a bit of fan base.

Keeping her tidy became a worry for me,

knowing folk would peep in at her and

several have asked to look inside!

Sorry there aren't any photos of beautiful

Bakewell, but it's one of my favourite places

and I'm sure I'll visit again so I promise to post more then.

Anyhow, look at this pic,

my boys even enjoyed a bit of

colouring in!

Unheard of for my rough and tumble lads.

Comfy cosy in his little hammock bunk bed!

Next, we went to an even closer site

with the cute name of

'Strawberry Woods'

This was our closest visit to home yet,

at only a few mins drive up the road!

(yet to brave motorways, have you noticed?)

Very beautiful!

Extremely peaceful,

and we'll definitely be back here again too.

We enjoyed a bit of this...

All on site, and all free.

We were allowed one of these,

which seemed to hipnotise Finn and Jacob.

...and now this!

Now please don't grumble but that last photo

is one of Sindy in her NEW HOME!!!

Yes, Sindy is no longer with us.

A very tricky choice to make for me,

as she's been a star teaching us all about retro caravanning.

But all along I have wanted a proper OLD

caravan.  Something vintage.  A girl I can take

to vintage rallies and show off.

So Sindy found herself on the market and

within days I had so many people wanting to

view her it all became a bit worrying.

But I'm pleased to say that she's found herself

a lovely owner who will love her just as I have

and she can begin again teaching her how to do it all.

So...

that just leaves me to introduce the new girl on the block!

Meet MABEL!

My new OLD girl.

A 1963 Sprite Alpine.

Sindy too was a Sprite Alpine but at a mere 30 years young,

she had a few more miles to go before she was

truly vintage.

I think that's enough for today,

but I can't wait to tell you more about Mabel

and her makeover.

Thank you for reading and

hopefully forgiving my lack of

visits to Blogsville.

Claire. x



My little town gets it's own VINTAGE FAIR!!

Who'd have believed it eh?!

My beloved Macclesfield done good.

A Make Do and Mend Vintage Fair

has landed in my hometown,

and what a lovely day out it was too.

I had such a great time that I'm contemplating,

or maybe that should be dreaming,

of having a stall of my own one day!

Anyroad...

...as I wandered round I took lots of photos for you.

Take a peep.

There were lots of clothes that I would have

LOVED!!!

But alas... the boobies said Noooooooo!

Hee hee.

Hope you enjoyed our day out together.

Love Claire. x

Share a little FREE vintage love!

Now some of you may already know

I'm a massive fan of FREECYCLE

One man's rubbish is another man's treasure etc.

So after finding new homes for all of my junk,

imagine my delight when I saw

'OFFERED:Very old sewing machine'

Feeling slightly giddy I went to collect my treasure!

...and here she is!

I just had to share her with you.

A friend has just opened a clothes shop

so I have offered 'Mrs Jones' to be

a bit of an ornament in her window,

to compliment the vintage style of clothing

she is selling. 

I thought she's far too lovely to be hidden away.

One day I shall make something on her,

but for now, I think being a bit of

'Eye Candy' for the likes of us

suits her down to the ground.

I hope you're enjoying her too...

I'm not too sure, but the lady who gave her to me

seemed to think she was from the 1920's.

If you know different I'd love to know.

Thankfully, she came with the instruction booklet!

Plus all the little attatchments to all these

fancy little jobs.

...and when not in use,

she goes off to sleep in her own wooden box.

Thanks for letting me share her...

Love  Claire. x