Posts belonging to Category campervans

Welcome to another Handmade Monday.

You might remember me likening my studio to a campervan factory back in summer when I was preparing for the VW Show at Tatton Park.

Well, it seems the campervans have taken over again.

campervan clocks - a bit of a production line!

If you saw my last post you’ll know the campervan clock got a mention in the Sunday Mirror, courtesy of the fabulous Swanky Maison.  It brought a whole new meaning to the word busy.  There have been so many orders it’s been a problem just finding the time just to print them off and log them, let alone actually paint them.

It’s a nice problem to have, though.  It’s always better to be too busy than not busy enough (although a few more hours in the day wouldn’t go amiss).

campervan clocks

Some of the comments on this blog recently have mentioned I need elves to help me in my studio.  Well, now I have them in the form of two of my daughters.  No pics yet – we haven’t stopped to think ahead to photo opportunities!

These elves can twirl wire, tie ribbon, pack plaques, assemble clocks, stuff things in padded envelopes and boxes, do a post office run and – well, you get the picture (even without a photo!).  They are worth their weight in gold (which actually isn’t very much because they both weigh less than the average supermodel!).

What’s been going on in your workspace? Let us know . . .

This was a show I was looking forward to – and I wasn’t disappointed.

blue wedding campervan

OK, then – I was a little bit . . . when I woke up the morning of the show and saw heavy rain.  Britain is probably the only country in the world where you can take boots, fur lined wellies and flip flops out with you in the morning – and use them all!

Yep,  the rain had cleared up by the time we arrived, the sun shone through the clouds for most of the day, sales were brisk, enthusiastic customers were plentiful, and I had even persuaded my Other Half to spend his day off with me at the show.

I was really lucky to have a corner spot, meaning I had two sides of the stall open to the public

stall

with one side like this

stall with display stands

and the other like this

stall

It gives you a lot more chance to grab people’s attention, as well as more space for them to browse.  Close followers of this blog may have noticed the gridwall on the floor

gridwall on the floor

and not the table – I decided to get a floor stand for it following the fiasco that will be forever known as the Great Gazebo Disaster.

We were so lucky with the weather!  After the early morning downpour, it was a calm, dry day.  It was pouring again by the time we packed up, but hey, I can live with that.  The following day, it was blowing a gale! My, was I glad I wasn’t putting my gazebo up in that!

OK, so here’s a few piccies to give you a flavour of the day.  The first few were taken by Himself – so of course there’s the blokey engine shot

Beetle engine

the funky beach buggies

beach buggies

the VW trucks (oh how good would this be for carting stock to shows?)

vw truck

and he even spotted the oh so gorgeous ice cream van

vw ice cream van

where there were queues when I went back later

vw ice cream van

And, look – a VW campervan bouncy castle!

giant bouncy campervan

Lots of people (and look at those threatening clouds!)

lots of people

and lots of beautifully restored campervans

shiny camper

lots and lots of them

shiny campervans

and it wasn’t just the ice cream van that was decked with bunting

van and bunting

I was rushed off my feet at times.  I completely sold out of pink campervan door plaques, and I’d made more than I expected to sell.

campervan door plaques

I got a few orders for Beetle images on clocks and plaques, so they’ll be making an appearance on the blog in a couple of weeks.  I got some snaps of Beetles today – of course – for inspiration (and inspection of the finer details)!  There were plenty to choose from.

vw beetles

The only drawback to the day?  Well, now I really, really want a campervan to call my very own.  It feels a bit wrong to feel ever so slightly jealous of the little girl who told me: We have a pink bay.  She’s in the workshop at the moment, being done up.  I love her.

How lovely though – what fabulous memories that little girl will have.

make mine pink

Violet, indigo, blue and green,

yellow, orange and red . . .

campervan rainbow

I realised I had painted every colour of the rainbow on my campervan plaques, so I thought they deserved a rainbow-style photograph

If colours of the rainbow are not your thing, they’re available in plain ol’ black and white too.

black and white campervans

And pink.  Of course.

make mine pink

They are available here with any wording you choose and a personalised number plate of your choice.  Let me know if your colour choice isn’t listed.  Chances are I’ve made one anyway – and if not, I can make one just for you.

Or come and see me at Tatton Park this Sunday, 7th August, where I might just have a few special offers for you!

This is a brand new little venture (adventure, even!) for me.  I’ve never been to a specialist show like this with my gift stall.  The show I’m talking about is this one at Tatton Park on Sunday 7th August. Gates open at 9 am, and they’re expecting lots of visitors.

vw sign on blue van

I’m only sorry that I’m going there to work – I’d love to spend a day looking round the campers and Beetles and taking photos!

But I’m busy painting lots of campervans in readiness!

campervan door plaques

I only hope they are well-received!

Oh, and I also hope the sun shines.  Always good for an outdoor event!

Sometimes it’s the customers who make the decisions!

I’d never have thought of using campervan designs for newborn or Christening gifts -  but it seems my customers have been voting for them by ordering and buying them anyway!

campervan baby plaque

So it seems sensible to add them to my range.

You can now have a campervan with a new baby’s details!  The baby’s name is above the van, his or her weight is on the sign hanging from the wing mirror – and the personalised number plate is the baby’s date of birth.

The campervan clocks make lovely Christening gifts – as bought by several customers already!  They come with or without numbers around the edge.

campervan clock personalised for a Christening gift

Even though campervans for babies hadn’t crossed my mind, it makes sense to celebrate those very special events with  this very special vehicle.   We’ve done it for weddings, now we’re doing it for babies.

So now I’ve added them to the Newborn and Christening page on the website and  I think maybe the canvases are next on the list!  I’m  sure a campervan canvas would make a great newborn gift too.

Hello and welcome to another Handmade Monday.  Where do these weeks disappear to?

This week for me has been one of those where one thing leads to another!

When I made this plaque for a customer

yellow campervan hanging plaque

I loved the idea of it!

campervan sweet campervan

I decided to make some more but ever so slightly different

home sweet campervan

and then I decided a caravan might be a good addition to the range

home sweetcaravan hanging plaque

(although I’m not happy with the lettering on the caravan plaque so it’ll need to be redone for its “official” photograph!).  They’re not on the website yet – if you do need to order one urgently just email wendy@1stuniquegifts.co.uk with your request.  They’ll be £9.99 (+ £1.50 P&P to a UK address).  Edited to add: the home sweet caravan plaques are now on the website here.

What’s your handmade week been like?  Add your blog link below to show us!

Welcome to the 20th Handmade Monday! (Click the link for more info)

I use this stork a lot on canvases, but this is the first time I’ve put it on a plaque.   I quite like it on the plaque and it makes a less expensive (but still quite special!) little gift:

stork with baby plaque

The customer requested some pink, so it has a little pink bow on the baby bundle, as well as a cute pink gingham ribbon.  I’ve even managed to add it to the website here (I’m usually way behind with updating the website so I feel like that’s a bit of an achievement!).

While I’m talking about the website (and things not being uploaded onto it) I think maybe I should point you in the direction of my latest customer review.  It’s listed on the reviews on my home page (you need to scroll down a little!) and at the moment it’s the first of the reviews on there (click the little arrowhead/triangle to display the full wording).  It the one that starts “Oh my goodness . . “.

I was completely blown away -  it was one of those orders for something seen on the blog but not the website. But that aside, aren’t customers just so lovely at times?  It’s amazing how a few well-chosen words can make your day.

What’s new in your world? Let’s find out – please leave your blog link below!

This campervan chalkboard

personalised campervan chalkboard for 50th birthday

was well received by the person who ordered it for her friend’s 50th birthday. 

Sally

She said:

 Its arrived! Thank you – SO MUCH, its gorgeous, such an original personal gift I am delighted with it, and no doubt Sally will adore it! Thank you for doing it so quickly and getting to me. Her party is tonight so I will be able to give it to her then.

I look forward to ordering more gorgeous things from you in the future.

Huge thanks once again.

I only hope the recipient likes it just as much!

orange campervan on chalkboard

The chalkboard measures approx 30cm x 30cm and can be personalised with any names or details.  It’s an ideal gift for a wedding too!  More details here: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/chalkboards.html

campervan chalkboard personalised

This campervan chalkboard is one of those why didn’t I think of that? ideas.

heart-shaped campervan chalkboard - personalised

A customer asked me to put a campervan onto a heart-shaped chalkboard for newlyweds as she couldn’t decide between the campervan canvas

personalised campervan wedding canvas

 and the chalkboard for newlyweds

Mr and Mrs Wright chalkboard

so she decided it’d be nice to combine the two!

personalised campervan chalkboard

 I knew this was going to be a Christmas gift and didn’t want to spoil the surprise for the new Mr and Mrs Wilson

Mr & Mrs Wilson

 which is why it hasn’t been shown online before now (well, ok, that and the manic Christmas rush!!).

The campervan has a just married sign hanging from the wing mirror

hand painted campervan with personalised numberplate

although, as each chalkboard is individually painted by hand, it doesn’t have to have a just married sign.  It doesn’t have to be for newlyweds!  I can see all sorts of possibilities!

It has a little rope basket for chalk and a little fabric duster (supplied)

basket for chalk

and a little gingham bow on the rustic string hanger.

gingham bow

I love it and hope you do too.  It’s now available to purchase – I can paint you one of your very own!  Colours and wording can all be changed to suit your own requirements – and the personalised numberplate makes a lovely little touch!  You can order yours here: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/chalkboards.html

campervan with personalised numberplate

Last week I showed you a tiny snippet of a ”just married” campervan painting on canvas: a delightful personalised wedding keepsake.

just married campervan canvas

The canvas was commissioned by some friends of a campervan-loving couple.  After a short email discussion, I was asked to create a campervan canvas with the names of the couple above the van

personalised

 with the date of the wedding on the numberplate

personalised numberplate wedding date

and with a “just married” sign hanging from the wing mirror:

just married

Oh, and with a personal message around the back edge!

congratulations

message on the back

wishing you a very happy and long life together

I hope the happy couple enjoy their campervan gift.  It is the first of its kind but has stirred up a lot of interest so I’m hoping it won’t be the last! Here it is:

campervan wedding canvas

If you’d like a campervan wedding canvas you can have your very own painted especially for you in any colours you choose with any personalisation you like – order it here: www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk

or email me with any questions or requests: wendy@1stuniquegifts.co.uk

If you are interested in the idea of a campervan-themed wedding, you may also be interested in having a look at some of the other campervan wedding-related items on the internet.  I’ve found you some fab places – links below!

This one is from a photography company – gorgeous shots and a fab wedding van!! http://www.lisadawn.co.uk/2009/02/vw-camper-van-wedding-car-have-you-got-the-bug/

And campervan wedding stationery here: http://www.wedding-stationery-gallery.co.uk/retro-vw-camper-van-wedding-stationery/

What an amazing cake!! http://www.weddingo.co.uk/2008/09/08/would-you-trust-the-hairy-bakers-to-make-your-wedding-cake/

Hire a campervan for your wedding in the north west of England: http://www.morecambeandwize.co.uk/vanhire/weddings/

Hire this one in Cornwall: http://www.thevwweddingco.com/index.html

These lovely people are launching their campervan hire business: http://our1972vwcampervan.blogspot.com/

And of course there’s this amazing one in Newquay, with a selection of vans, all with their own names and personalities.  There’s also a selection of camper-related gifts! http://www.fistralbays.co.uk/