1964 SCS Shasta in a Field of Roses

1964 SCS Shasta in a Field of Roses

orig. watercolor 11x14in (matted onto a 16x20 archival matboard)

for more info and purchase: please click here

Yes, we've had a whole bunch of Aqua Shasta's this month! It must be a very popular color!

This one here I call 1964 SCS Shasta in a Field of Roses.

I chose this one as I liked that vintage truck with it, so cute. And as the fall is here now in the Maritimes with colder nights and crisp air in the mornings, I liked the warm sunshine drenching this scene. Summer- where art though??? I miss you already!

This is s special Shasta as the owner explains:

'1964 SCS Shasta, the SCS stands for "Self-Contained with a Shower", I call her "Super Cute Shasta"'

A couple of days ago, we had another aqua colored Shasta, featuring a pinup girl. You can read about it by clicking here.

I'm off to bed now, as tomorrow we have a busy day ahead of us: my youngest fledgling is starting hockey and will be in hockey gear the first time! You should see the huge mount of gear I just packed! Unbelievable! Those hockey players are dressed like tanks! I quietly had hoped that this cup would pass by us, but once he heard about hockey sign up, he really wanted to give it a try. So, here we go, you might see me post hockey sketches soon!

I hope you enjoyed this month filled with campies and I thank you very much for journeying with me! Thank you, thank you! If you like a camper, please feel free to share the post or photo to your social feeds! But we'll see you tomorrow with another camper- end stretch for me!

I'm wishing you a great day and thanks for stopping by!               Simone

Teardrop Camper 'Mary Beth'

Teardrop Camper 'Mary Beth'

orig. watercolor 11x14in approx. (matted to 16x20 archival matboard)

more info and purchase: please click here

As this month's Camper-a-Day project comes to a close, I thought I'd spice it up with one of those cute, beloved teardrop campers. Here we have 'Mary Beth'. I do not know a whole lot about her, but that her proud owner built her by herself!!! Now, that is awesome! Girl power!

My to-do-camper rebuild:

Reminds me, that I might have to dig in myself if I ever want my darling disassembled Glenette Camper re-built. At the moment it resides in our back-storage of our inn- lovingly are all individual parts stored inside waiting patiently for now about two years! Yikes! If I don't get to it someday soon, I might forget how it got together! I took photos, but who knows how many questions will surface once the re-build starts. I assume my darling husband still has the hope that I will let him off the hook by acclaiming one day that we should just scrap the camper project.

And the story that goes with it:

What he doesn't know is that I still dream of this little trailer where I camped my very first time in Canada. I was invited to go hunting Moose in the wilderness without electricity and a dug-out toilet-hole in the bush! And a group of old men- all retired- that wanted to show me how rough the huntin' is in this country! Haha! One day I saw a bear running down the lane where the camper was parked- that freaked me right out as I had just used the outdoor 'toilet'! Makes for fun stories for sure! I got this camper, my Glenette now, as a gift once the old gentlemen retired it!

As you can see, I come from the highly tamed Germany where nature's inhabitants consists of small foxes and the odd dear and maybe a hedgehog. We never got that moose by the way...

Now, what does this have to do with this teardrop camper? I don't know, just somehow felt like sharing this little anecdote.

In any case, this month soon will come to a close. I will be wrapping up my camper project soon and hope you will help me cast your vote which paintings to choose for the 2017 Camper Calendar!

Hope to see you again tomorrow, with another Camper of the Day!                       Simone

1961 Shasta Camper Aqua Pinup

1961 Shasta Camper Aqua Pinup

orig. watercolor, 11x14in approx. (set in a16x20in archival matboard)

more info and purchase: please click here

Today's feature camper is another Shasta! This 1961 Shasta Camper in Aqua features a darling pinup, too... It is called 'Vintage Love'! Today, I actually wanted to paint a different camper, but the owner went the extra mile and submitted her darling twice to make sure I get it, right early after my asking for submissions- so, how could I not?

Here is what she writes: 'I wanted to enter my sweet refinished 61 Shasta , Vintage Love in your contest !! I created The Glampers of Virginia page and belong to a lot of the other great sites for our fabulous campers.'

There are quite a few more submissions in my email account which I won't be able to squeeze into this month. I am so sorry but hope to being able to paint as I have time. My theme this time was, first come, first painted, just to be fair. Still, I think there was a good selection of shapes and sizes and themes, and it was fun to open my email every day and open the next email to my my day's camper!

This coming month there will be the voting where you can participate to select your fav 13 for next year's calendar! I hope you all will be on board and  help me out! October project, here we come!

Also, there will be a special surprise announcement for all the campers that got painted this September. Something I had not originally thought possible, but stoked to share with you October 1st;-) Stay tuned!

I invite you to share this post with your friends and on your feeds! Thank you- and we'll see you tomorrow again with another Camper of the Day!                             Simone

1964 Shasta 'Fit to be Tied'

1964 Shasta 'Fit to be Tied'

orig. watercolor 11x14in (matted to 16x20 matboard, ready for framing)

more info and purchase: please click here

Today we have this fun country themed 1964 Shasta 'Fit to be Tied'.

Well, it looks like working farm girl to me, so Monday seems a good day to make it my feature camper!

As this is not my mother tongue, I had to look up if this name means something that needs censorship on this blog (haha). So, here are my findings- of course you probably know and are laughing out loud now!- 'the idiom fit to be tied according to thefreedictionary.com means angry and agitated. (As if needing to be restrained.)'

See, every day I learn something with painting your campies! Just love it! I don't know what is angry about today's camper. Maybe the owner hitches up her Shasta and goes for a weekend camp trip to cool down and chill out when she feels angry and agitated which would make PERFECT sense to me! I have my 'Little Wings' which I just love to visit once in a while. Just to 'hang out' and chill if I need my quiet, kind of a she-shed on wheels. Yeehaw!

So now, with this campie I am wishing you a good start into this week and don't get too upset about small stuff (except you have a camper where you can run to for relaxation, haha).

We shall see you again tomorrow with another camper! If you like what you see, please feel free to share my blog or photos with friends, pinterest boards or on your social feeds!                 Simone

1958 Oasis 'Life Saver'

1958 Oasis 'Life Saver'

orig. watercolor 11x14 in (matted to 16x20 archival matboard)

more info and purchase: please click here

Today's 1958 Oasis 'Life Saver' is a very special camper. Its decor is elaborate with lots of pattern and I have to confess, that I had to wait for a day with extra time when I selected to paint it. Its owner was very sweet and went the extra mile to send the photo to me- thank you!

I don't know the name of the camper, really, but called it 'Life Saver'. It is not because of the rainbow colors, but because it really proved to be a life saver for the owner.  There are times in our lives when we feel in over our head and walk by faith and not by sight. The story below will explain.

Please read what was shared with me...

'I worked on this (camper) about once a week as a break. My in laws lived with us for three (years). He was 95 and in a wheel chair. And she was 93 and had Alzheimer's. They were married 72 years and we didn't want them separated. He died 1 1/2 ago and she died last month. It was a long journey . But my trailer is what kept me going.'

Wow, what a story! What an incredible sacrifice! I am just painting little campers, but what people share with me about their every-day-heroic-lives blows me away. It is so comforting to know there are still so many caring, loving people out there that put their own needs and wants on the back burner to help others. May my little camper painting today be a small tribute to all you fearlessly loving people out there that make the world a better place! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Simone

1961 Metzendorf 'Downton Abbey'

1961 Metzendorf 'Downton Abbey'

orig. watercolor 11x14in approx. (matted to 16x20in archival matting)

for more info and purchase: click here

Today's camper is very British and sports the Union Jack and other Brit-themed decor and colours. The reason, of course is the beloved PBS series 'Downton Abbey' which aired it final season this year. My husband and I enjoyed watching it, too, so I do understand the motive for this camper decor.

What I love about this camper is that Metzendorf is a German name, so I had to look up with my friends at TinCanTourists.com for info. Here is what they have- just a bit of info on its original owner and an obituary from the owner who bought the plant and built the campers for 18 after that!

Founder of Metzendorf Camper Trailers:

(Provided by great nephew Brin Metzendorf)

The campers were produced in the 50's and early 60's by Martin Metzendorf of West Farmington, Ohio, approximately 10 miles northwest of Warren, Ohio. Martin (my great-uncle) and his wife had the trailers built with Amish laborers, she picked out the interior patterns and colors. They delivered most of the trailers themselves until a delivery accident deprived my great-aunt of her arm. Martin sold the business in the early 60's and the trailer was produced for a few more years under the Metzendorf name, I believe they closed the doors in '63 but I'm not 100% on that. If their is a real interest out there I might be able to piece together some facts from my relatives, but admittedly they're all a touch fuzzy on events from forty years ago. 

Here's an excerpt from the Obituary of the German Karl H. Gerlt, who bought the plant from Metzendorf:

Karl H. Gerlt 1919-2007 Western Reserve #507 was born Aug. 22, 1919, in Bremerhaven, Germany, the son of Emil and Charlotte Gerlt.

He came to the United States, with his parents and two bothers Emil and Helmut. They settled in New Jersey, where he graduated from Bagota High School.

He enlisted in the Army at the start of World War II. He received the Commission of 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Corps and was later promoted to Captain.

Karl was transferred to the Military Intelligence Corp., serving with Supreme Head Quarters Allied Expeditionary Forces. He also served in the occupation force of Berlin, Germany, commanding the office of Communications.

Upon discharge from the Army, he married Velma Coster. They settled in West Farmington. He worked as an electrician for Ohio Lamp of Warren for 16 years, before purchasing Metzendorf Trailer Plant, in West Farmington, where he built travel trailers for 18 years. He then worked for the Village of West Farmington Water Treatment Plant, until he retired at age 71.

I know this is lengthy, but I thought it worth sharing. So, here you have it, the behind the scenes of the Metzendorf Camper! More info is on the TinCan Tourist website

We'll see you tomorrow again with another campie!                        Simone

1963 Mobil Scout "Mabel'

1963 Mobil Scout "Mabel'

orig. watercolor 11x14in approx. (archivally matted to 16x20in mat board)

more info and purchase: click here

Today's camper is a diamant in the rough still. But so many vintage campers are when they first get discovered and eventually will be lovingly restored. This is the case here with this 1963 Mobil Scout 'Mabel' as well. 

Its proud owner wrote those lines to introduce her:

'Here is Mabel our our vintage camper. She is being restored (and) will have new paint in same colors and design. Glass in triangle door window and no orange tape. We rescued (her) from the woods in Texas.'

Wow, if she is from 1963, we don't know how long she has been forgotten sitting in the woods! Since I have been bitten by the camper-bug, wherever I travel my eyes wander to the woods, too, to any field, behind houses, yards and so on to scout for that vintage camper gem. My friends make fun of me now, but really, after a while I hear them comment on any vintage camper they see! In our neck of the woods, there are still so many around, just waiting to be picked up!

If you are looking for a project this winter and live in our area, just check the Kijiji or Craigslist listings or keep your eyes peeled when you travel. (Of course, if you are the driver, keep your eyes peeled on the street, haha).

I want to thank all of you who have submitted photos this month and keep journeying with me, it has been a blast and I learned a lot! There is only one more week 'til end of the month, so I might not be able to paint every camper submitted. Or I might have to keep painting into October... what is your take on this? Enough campers? Time to move on? Or keep glamping away? Please let me know! I'd like to hear from you!

In any case, w'll see you again tomorrow with another camper!                            Simone