The Homestead goes Glamping

This year Summer started off with a bang!   The kids were barely out of school, and I had the whole family packed, loaded and heading down the road for the Hometown Victory Girls' Glamping Weekend!

 

Our 1968 Scotty Sportsman was packed to the gills with all the necessities and then some.  Hank groaned a bit when I added a stack of vintage tablecloths to the 'To Go' pile.  I took potted plants, a full-size mirror, several throw rugs...

super-sized

Well, the ole Chevy is getting a work-out now!  This past weekend Hank decided it was time to officially super-size our camper situation.  It seems that the Scotty Sportsman is getting a little snug these days.  Hank never could really stand up straight inside, and the two kids are having trouble sleeping in the twin bed.  So we took a drive to the Northwoods and bought a '64 Airstream.  The previous owner gutted it, sealed it, insulated it and then stopped.  So basically we have a really nice shell.  That's right.  There is nothing inside.  Our job is to furnish it.  Which is no small task, and at this point, we're brimming over with ideas.  Do we go 1940s?  Or Dieselpunk it?  We have a 1920s Jewel Clark stove in the barn...maybe heavy, velvet drapes for room partitions?  One thing for sure is that it will not be original, and it will not be a 1950s chrome diner.  But whatever we decide, it will have to wait until after shearing and making hay.  Because chores just don't take a weekend off!

Symco Shakedown low-down

Catchy title, huh? After a week of being back home, I think I'm finally unwound now.  Everything is accounted for, unpacked and followed up on.  It was a great four day weekend.  Weather was perfect.  Girls were gorgeous.  Vintage campers and bicycles were everywhere this year.  Bands were rocking.  How long should I keep this up?  Cars were chopped, channeled and shaved.  Met up with old friends; made new friends.  Truly an awesome experience.

My August apron really came in handy!

Thursday afternoon Hank and I rolled in and set-up camp.  Without the kids, the ole '68 Scotty felt downright spacious!  My mother babysat the kids and the sheep at the Homestead for us.  It was a welcomed weekend for Hank and I; we got to step out of the parenting role for a few days. 


Friday morning was stage prep for the pin-up contest.  I had purchased two pieces of stretch lace in 7-8 yards lengths at the thrift store.  We used these to swag the backdrop of the stage.  Now that's it's all done, I think I may make them into a peignore set!

Two thirds of the stage was used for the pin-ups while the other open space to the right was for the band.  A doorway was created in the middle.  As each girl was introduced by the hostess, she entered at center stage, stepped up on the platform and did her best pin-up poses.  Cameras were everywhere!  But I get ahead of myself...

...late Friday afternoon we hosted a calendar signing with the pin-ups from last year's contest.  It was great to have all the girls back together again.  Miss Symco 2011, Sweet Pea, is seated in the center of the photo, wearing the red hat.

Friday at midnight I helped organize the first annual Symco Shakedown Burlesque Show.  Our three performers were fantastic, and the show went over very well.  But I didn't get to bed until almost 2am.

Saturday morning came much too early, but the with all the extra hands I had helping me, things went smoothly all day.  The photo at the left is me changing into my "fancy shoes" just before the contest.  I found a pair of those clear plastic, rhinestone heels at the thrift store.  I was surprised at how comfortable they were.  Didn't use a single one of my band-aids!

The pin-up contest went off without a hitch.  Twenty-eight beautiful ladies, one gorgeous hostess (seated, wearing the embroidered peasant top) and my Hometown Victory Girls, Wild Kat and Peachie.

And Miss Symco 2012 is Apocalypse Meow!  More photos on the facebook page.

 
After the contest wrapped up, the top twelve placing girls went onto the grounds to take calendar shots with our photographers.  Shooting finished around 2pm on Saturday, and finally my work was done.  Hank and I could relax.  See those smiles of relief!  lol

Next time I'll blog about my dress, but yes, I did make it using a late '50s pattern. The ivory bodice has a small floral print with flock flowers (!) and the skirt is a sheer nylon.  Unfortunately my crinoline kept sliding down all day and peeking out the bottom.  But it was comfortable and flouncy!

Here's Hank and my best friend, Samantha, chilling on my '50 Ford.  Hank's red Chevy is parked next to it.

And now I'm back on the homestead, picking beans and gathering school supplies.  Time to check the flannel nighties to see if they'll last another winter and decide which sheep to breed this fall.  The weekend was fun while it lasted.  Symco really steps you out of reality for a few days; the cars, the clothes, the music.  I guess you could argue that it's just a bunch of adults playing dress-up.  But boy, until you've experienced it, you don't know what you're missing.

Apron Challenge: July

Or perhaps I should title this post, Apron Challenge: Gone Glamping.  I have to admit that I only recently heard this term being used, and it took me a while before I figured it out.  I think I do it.

This is a shot of our '68 Scotty Sportsman which we always pull behind the Chevy.

And this is my July apron.

I used a novelty print from Alexander Henry's line, "This Land is Your Land."  Originally I had planned to use it for curtains and throw pillows in the camper, but decided it was a bit overpowering for such a small space.  Along the bottom border, I used iron-on transfers (printed from my computer) of a 'Happy Camper' clip art.  And huge purple rick rack is tucked in above and below the border.

But let's get back to talking about that camper.  The apron colors match perfectly (almost like I planned it that way) - aqua and white. 

I purchased these chair frames from Saving Grace last summer.  After a heavy coat of tung oil, I added the striped canvas and made the matching awning.  The camper still needs a paint job to freshen up the outside, but at least the interior is done.

When we bought it, someone had 'redecorated' the walls and ceiling with red and black sponge painting.  It was ghastly.  My daughter and I primed and painted the interior white.  Luckily, both the floor and copper light fixture were original and untouched.  And when we pulled the icky contact paper off the table, that was also in perfect condition. 

The table drops down, flush with the bottom of the seat, to make a twin bed.  Both our kids get to sleep here, head to foot.  So far they are little enough, but pretty soon they'll be outside in a tent.

The kitchen includes a small sink and two-burner gas stove which runs off a propane tank.  The large hole underneath had been fitted for a little dorm fridge.  We're looking for something more appropriate to fill that space.

All the cushions were in their original upholstery.  Yuk.  So I recovered them with a retro bark cloth.  This back couch area pulls out into a double bed.

And there had been a heater in this small cupboard, but it was removed before we bought it.  Hank retro-fitted a cutting board on top for extra food prep space, and below is more storage.  And for the nights that get a bit chilly, we crank up the Coleman lantern to heat the camper.  By the time everyone is in their jammies, it's nice and toasty!

So now I can tie on my new apron, serve up perfect hamburgers on my pastel Melmac dishes (colors match the cushions exactly, btw), and tend to melted-marshmellow-burned fingers from our vintage Red Cross Emergency Kit.  Is that glamping?

Symco or Bust

Camper is outfitted and hitched to Hank's 1950 Chevy.  My '50 Ford is loaded with all the necessary pin-up stuff (clipboards, check-in sheets, contestant numbers, bouquet of roses for the winner...).

Hank was laying metalflake on the roof last night.  Talk about the Nth hour!  But he was too excited to sleep.  :)  He didn't have quite enough flake to do it justice, but you can see a pink hue in just the right light.  More layers to come after the car show.

 

I ransacked my closet and pulled way too many outfits (but only three pair of shoes).  A girl never knows what the weather will do!  My crinoline was a must . . .

Technically I've only got about three hours seat time in this ole girl, learning manual for the first time, three on the tree.  Only killed it twice and started out in third once.  Surprisinly I'm tall enough to see over the steering wheel, but not quite tall enough to reach the pedals.  Two pillows makes all the difference!

 

I'll try to get some good photos of the cars and the girls.  ;)  Check back next week for all the sordid details!