21st August 2010
Vintage at Goodwood
Well, the 8 months of planning are over, and the worry that it wouldn’t work have been replaced by lovely images of vintage outfits, gorgeous caravans and a whole lot of nice conversations.

Ok, to our lovely people who were at Vintage last weekend with their caravan.
Thank you so much.

And if you came along and had a chat or just noticed this new caravan world…we are so happy that you enjoyed it.

The caravans were just gorgeous and as I hope you have seen from the facebook and twitter links Vintage caravans featured large in the reviews of Vintage in National Press and blogland.

And to those of you who came suitably attired in caravan relevant period clothing... Double fantastic!
 
It was an unknown before the event whether it would all “work”, and although some of you are used to the more traditional rally’s’ it was great to see the greater age range both of caravans and owners  and for us to be able to get a wider demographic than usual interested in Vintage caravans, and of course to celebrate the place that caravanning rightfully has in British culture over the last century.

Our prep included  production of a visual document forming a timeline of all the caravans in year of manufacture, from the 1940’s -80’s. What started as a way of keeping this massive project under control actually became an  artful document in its own right…. showing the design influences and changes affecting caravan and camper design over the last century, and although it could have not made sense visually, the thread of the influences of cultural, technological and materials developments and aesthetics was absolutely beautiful and produced a stunning document.

So thank you all for looking after these beauties, for being happy to put them on show and being part of fantastic new wave of interest .
Happy times.

 

8th August 2010
Getting ready for Vintage At Goodwood
OK, the big event is looming, Vintage at Goodwood is next weekend.

So this week I went down to Sussex to get the old girl spruced up and into proper vintage show-girl condition.

My “welcome to the world of me” teenager came with me, partly as part of the diversion plan from imminent A level results,

With Vintage less than a week away we had a few challenges.

So..... a couple of days cleaning the windows, de-cluttering the cupboards, washing and polishing the exterior. By nature my son is a “reluctant to do anything type” fella, but he helped, and we both stood back after two days of maintenance and smiled at how great the old girl looks now.

It was one of those unexpected joys to see him getting stuck in, and to be honest I found the experience a source of pride. One of the rear brake light covers had been broken for an embarrassingly long time, I sourced a replacement one a good while back, but not actually got round to replacing the broken one,...... now done, I’m happy, and wish I’d done it ages ago...... how familiar is that story

All of this was worth it because the Goodwood event is going to be great and all of us at My Cool Caravan are excited at being a part of it. Although I have seen images of our fabulous line up of caravans it will be even better to see them for real, and I am so grateful to all the owners who I imagine will be working as I did to get their vintage caravans ready for the weekend. I hope it bought you unexpected joy too!

 

13th July 2010
Windbreaks & outside chairs
I’m rather late starting this year, but dressing the outside of your caravan with retro/vintage chairs and windbreaks can really add to the visual charm of your caravan ……

Over the years I have tried all sorts….buying vintage deckchair/windbreaks, sourcing fabric and making a windbreak…. Similar with chairs….. bidding for retro folding camping chairs and loungers on EBay to  scrounging others from older family members who fortunately have looked after their quality purchases over the years, and kept them dry and clean for which I am very grateful to their prudence and care.

In fact it was the original orange striped windbreak, festoon lights & full array of melamine folding table & retro chairs that first caused Chris to pop over to say “hello” at  the campsite, and that was the start of the whole “My Cool Caravan” thing.

The ubiquitous-ness of the blue plastic striped windbreaks you buy now, & the chairs that fold into a little bag that are somehow disappointing as well as uncomfortable, make my heart sink when you see so many of them.

It is harder to find interesting alternatives but once you have got them…and have leaned a lesson about taking care of them so  they are not stored wet, or in bright sun-shine…that 1970’s folding chair, or Formica topped table, or traditional deckchair carry on the story and let you chill out & relax in full retro glory.
Who  knows…… but it would be nice to see them still loved and in use for the next generation.

 
Happiness!
 
Here are some places from my address book

www.deckchairstripes.com
Ready made windbreaks, chairs & canvas by the yard

www.runawaycoast.com
Lovely wide stripe canvas fabric & giant stripey outdoor cushions

www.deckchairs.co.uk
R eady made windbreaks & traditional deckchairs                                                                        
www.leisureshopdirect.com
Suppliers of wooden windbreak poles with metal ends

www.tlc-direct.co.uk
Suppliers of outdoor festoon light


Images courtesy of Southsea Deckchairs

Sunday 23rd May 2010
What a gorgeous day... more to come...

The really big weekend for us at “My Cool Caravan” this summer will be at Goodwood with the Wayne Hemmingway festival of all things retro or, “Vintage”. This includes the most amazing line-up of retro and vintage caravans from the 1940’s onwards.  We, (well largely Chris so far to be honest!), has been organising a great line up.  It’ll be the first of its kind.
 We will both be there of course with caravans various so please have a look at the Vintage website www.vintageatgoodwood.com and put in your diaries to either come along for the day or stay the entire weekend 13th  - 15th August. There are opportunities to “glamp” or caravan and loads to see and do on all things for people whose way of looking forward involves an interest in the retro past.

I have to get together some styling directions for our fabulous caravan exhibitors …… styling is always best when it looks like the hand of a stylist has been nowhere near it! There is nothing worse than over propped or contrived scenes, both of these are tempting and times, easily done and accompanied with a feeing that you aren’t trying hard enough unless you have “dressed” the set so to speak. I find that the best looks are created when something looks natural and “observed”. It gives you the feeling then of the person behind the look ,you get to learn something about them and, and importantly you see that  life is going on there.

I think my guidelines will be just that…… more of the “let the caravan speak for itself”, ……see that is  glisteningly clean, that windows sparkle, and the caravan has the feeling of freshness and the outdoors. Always tidy away bits and bobs…… but leave an indication in there of who you are and how you use your caravan. You can equip your caravan with crockery, cutlery, and radios or just about whatever you like from the period, or just do your own thing and re-invent. Given that space is inevitably tight tough less is definitely more when caravans like ours are beauties in themselves.
Mine is a place where I laze around, read, draw, and generally waste time in a what normally turns out to be a productive way. In contrast Chris’s caravans various range from creative workspace to family getaway venue. Looking back through the book this weekend it struck me again that there is a huge variation in how people use their caravan space……. and by going for the vintage option they really are the perfect re-cycled, eco, movable, charming, retro –lifestyle, adaptable spaces that you could imagine.

Think carefully about what the awning is like and make sure it doesn’t spoil what you can actually see of your caravan….. given that our sort of caravans re a source of joy to look at. I prefer a simple sunshade to a full awning, and have been known to make my own, as I like to change things up a bit…..varying the colour, or adding different trim, but I do realise that that is something I particularly like doing. Chris’s airstreams come with a very fancy retractable awning, he has restored his using a gorgeous blue stripe fabric, it is proper airstream retro awning fabric and very smart it is too, and I had my first case of awning envy when  I first saw him arrive at the caravan and within 10 mins the awning was “swooshed” out, table and chairs were outdoors and all were chilling. Mine is a more “old School” English style…… slide it through the awning track and fix to tent poles and guy ropes type and try not to do so when you are: a) in a bad mood b) in a hurry, as either will result in re-doing it the next day or worse still in a bit of a row. But usually I find there is one of you that is better at such tasks so best to leave that one up to them and get the tea on instead.
Simple pleasures, lovely days……

 

Thursday 8th April 2010
Big thanks!

Well, its time for a big thank you to all of you who have either:
1. bought the book and liked it!
2. bought the book and written a good review about it
3. bought the book and written about it on your blog
4.bought the book and been surprised that even though you didn’t know you liked caravans you find that you do
5. bought the book and then bought another one for a friend
6. bought the book and now want to buy a caravan
 
Luckily Chris and I have been hearing all the above and feel grateful that our somewhat quirky project
has  been well received, and in particular that it has an appeal to those outside the caravan world.

I must say though that Chris has indeed been so inspired by his own book he has bought yet another caravan!........ the gorgeous red Shasta featured in the “Trailer Park Treasures” chapter of the book.

It had suffered over the winter so a full restoration of it is about to begin and I think we may well do an ongoing “story” about it right here.

The reviews hopefully will inspire others too:
The weekend telegraph Magazine was first out of the gate with a fabulous double page feature “Caravan holidays: Pulling Power” Feb 10th, by Paul Davies.

Closely followed by a fabulous review in the weekend Financial Times 27th Feb, by Nicolas Spencer

Then came sweet reviews in Mays edition of Red magazine and The Field

Alongside which are the some surprises such as being nominated online in the top ten interior design books this year.

So with Spring now here,and the book as inspiration it’s the perfect time to get going on your retro caravan journey, be it a restoration or refurb or just enjoying it.

 

Thursday 18th February 2010
Exciting week!

The book was released on Monday, and the press launch is at the NEC Birmingham next Tuesday the 23rd February.

Please try to come along, and if you do, include visit to our stand. It will be looking pretty spectacular in our own “Cool Caravanning” style.

There will be plenty of things to buy at the show that you will no doubt need a big cheque for! But for credit crunch conscious – looking for a bit of style, we will have some gorgeous caravanning cards for £2.00 and postcards for sale from £1.00... mighty cool they are too.

So look at the high ticket luxury items... dream a bit and enjoy, and then come and see us!

Chris and I will both be there on the Tuesday to sign your copy of the book and at the weekend too, and we will be more than happy to talk all things caravans, styling, restoration etc.

We will also be running a free competition... to win a signed copy of the book plus £50 worth of books from our publishers Anova books. All you have to do is write in 50 words or less your happy childhood memories from your caravan holidays...  Entry forms are available on the stand and we have a miniature caravan model as a “collection” point.

I will be giving a short talk at the opening of the show about the book and Cool Caravanning in general... not entirely sure what I’ll be saying yet but it will have to include something of the huge interest and enthusiasm this project has received and how incredibly grateful Chris and I to you all about that.

It is a fabulous feeling to realise that your passions and interests are shared by a great number of other people and please do take the time to stop by and say hello in person.

Sunday 7th february 2010
Not long now

We are so excited about the Boat & Caravan show at the NEC from Feb. 23rd-27th.

Please do come and see us and say hello to us on stand 4146 you can’t miss us, in more ways than one! we are right opposite the Caravan Club main stand.

We were struck during the process of getting the book together the number of you who had happy memories of childhood caravanning holidays.

It would be great if you could stop by and share those memories...  I’m currently thinking about the best way to capture these recollections and record them.

It could be a message board, a scrapbook that we can have out on the stand that you could write in, a web-page... we're still thinking about it but it would be great to get your views one way or another.

 

 

Monday 24th May 2009
89th Annual Caravan Club rally
As caravan owners are aware this weekend was the 89th Annual Caravan Club gathering of members; those in the know call it the “National”.  This one is set in the grounds of Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire.  It is the premier rallying event. 

It is huge, and very well organised.  There are several entrances & a team of volunteers direct you to your plot and once you are set up it’s a short walk to the central area where there are a range of events on offer for the Bank Holiday weekend.

3000 caravans were there, with an expected attendance of up to 10000 caravaners and their dogs.

My interest, as always, is in the unusual, I managed to find a number of “retro” and unusual caravans.  I was shown a modern Gobur van by its owners, these are a simple, quite cool looking modern folding style caravans. 

In the central area of the event were two spectacular 1972s Carlight caravans, restored by Carlight in Sleaford.  One that Ioved was a 1972 Cosmopolitan, with an exterior restored by
Carlight and the interior lovingly restored by its owner. Both restoration projects have the vans restored to their former glory they are fabulous examples of what can be achieved. Visitors to the National were invited in to see the crafts-built quality.  It was a treat to be shown around these, by their owners. 

I also found a  contingent from the Period Caravan Club (PCC), with a 1936 Eccles, & 1972 Castleton, along with a gorgeous airstream.  Sitting amongst the modern vehicles the Eccles stood out as a country cottage, with it’s cotton awning and leaded light windows it was a gem.   

The event combines a wonderful showcase for caravans & a sociable & friendly family event.
I couldn’t stay, but I left wanting to see more.  As I write my blog, the weather folks tell me we are facing the hottest day of the years so far.  Perfect for the National... - Jane

Click here for a review of the 89th Caravan Club Rally

Big thanks Click here

 

Quick bits and links

7th July 2010
Vintage At Goodwood

More details will follow soon, but just a quick message to say that My Cool Caravan are working with Goodwood on a display of 40 cool caravans from the 40's through 80's.

We have been in talks with the organisers since January and in the last few months things have been gathering pace.

The caravans have been located and we are just in the final stages of logistics and styling.

More details will follow but I just wanted to keep you informed of this exciting news.

Have a look at their website:

www.vintageatgoodwood.com