GLAMPER DECOR FINDSMason Jars, Bracelets,and Wrapping Paper

My Favorite Glamping Finds!

Mason Jar Utensil Holder

Mason Jar Stacked Measuring Cups

Mason Jar Measuring Spoons

Bracelets made from old
License Plates
Customized orders

Wrapping Paper | Camping 1950 Style

Wrapping Paper | Country Girl Camping

Wrapping Paper | Vintage Campers

SEVEN SATURDAY DECOR FINDSSocks, Mugs, Mingos, Lucy/Desi,Linens and Teapots

My Favorite Online Glamping Finds!  

Click on the photos or the links to check out the product.

My Own Favorite Happy Camper Mug
This mug fits in my Keurig and holds about 1 2/3 cup of coffee.

Set of 3 Spinning Yard Flamingos
Three Pink Plastic Flamingos for 1 Price

Cute Camper Throw Pillow

Women's HotSox Camping Fishing Socks
Also heard they can also be found at DSW, the shoe store.

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/NEW-Foot-Traffic-Colorful-Womens-Pink-Flamingo-Crew-Length-Socks-One-Size/251515211

Camper Teapot by TeaPottery
A cute, but pricey, camper teapot made in England by TeaPottery

The Long, Long Trailer DVD
1954 Lucy & Desi movie and so hilarious!

Vintage and Retro Linens
This lovely retro tablecloth can be found on alleyroselinens.com

* * * * *

This is How Tin Can Happy Girls Roll!

FREE Facebook Covers

FREE Facebook covers, compliments of 
Bucks Mountain Galleries
and
TIN CAN HAPPY GIRL

Easy-Peasy Download Instructions:

#1 |IMPORTANT!  Click on image to enlarge

(If you don't enlarge, image will be too small to fit your FB Page)

#2 | RIGHT-click on enlarged image

#3 |Choose "Save Image As"

#4 |Save to your computer

#5 | Remember where you saved it!!

# 6 | Upload from your computer to your FB Page.

These Facebook Covers are free for your personal use only. They may not be changed, revised, or re-distributed in any form.  However, you may share the link your friends.  

Please leave a comment below and let me know which 

one(s) you downloaded or which was your favorite.  Enjoy!

Springtime

Springtime Chicks Out for a Drive

The Buggy Bunny
Graphics based on my own '54 Aljoa camper

Jesus Lives!

Easter Tree

FREE St. Patricks Days FB Cover

Five FREE Facebook covers, compliments of 
Bucks Mountain Galleries
AND
TIN CAN HAPPY GIRL

These Facebook Covers are free for your personal use only. They may not be changed, revised, or re-distributed in any form.  However, you may share the link your friends.  

Please leave a comment below and let me know which 

one(s) you downloaded or which was your favorite.  Enjoy!

Home Sweet Irish Home
This graphic started originally from a photo of my
1954 Aljoa Sportsman canned ham.
The graphic design evolved from there.

May the Hinges of our friendship never grow rusty. ~ Irish Blessing

Happy St. Pat's Day

Kiss me anyway

Mint Green Irish Sayings

Dark Green Irish Sayings

I speak Irish Blarney

Easy-Peasy Download Instructions:

#1 |IMPORTANT!  Click on image to enlarge

(If you don't enlarge, image will be too small to fit your FB Page)

#2 | RIGHT-click on enlarged image

#3 |Choose "Save Image As"

#4 |Save to your computer

#5 | Remember where you saved it!!

# 6 | Upload from your computer to your FB Page.

FREE Valentine Facebook Covers

FREE Facebook covers, compliments of 
Bucks Mountain Galleries
AND
TIN CAN HAPPY GIRL

These Facebook Covers are free for your personal use only. They may not be changed, revised, or re-distributed in any form.  However, you may share the link your friends.  

Please leave a comment below and let me know which 

one(s) you downloaded or which was your favorite.  Enjoy!

Easy-Peasy Download Instructions:

#1 |IMPORTANT!  Click on image to enlarge

(If you don't enlarge, image will be too small to fit your FB Page)

#2 | RIGHT-click on enlarged image

#3 |Choose "Save Image As"

#4 |Save to your computer

#5 | Remember where you saved it!!

# 6 | Upload from your computer to your FB Page.

"Truck Load 'o Love"
© 2014 Patricia Montgomery

"Love is in the Air"
Ribbon credit: French Kiss Collection

"Simple Romance"
Graphic Design: Patricia Montgomery

"Retro Valentine"

Free Valentine Paper from Free Vintage Digital Stamps

VINTAGE CAMPER CHRISTMAS DECOR

While roaming through the Home Depot this week, I came across a lil' 2-foot aluminum Christmas tree for only $9.98!  I knew immediately it would be adorable sitting on the table by the window of my canned ham, the 1954 Aljoa Sportsman.

Tiny Retro Aluminum Tree

I found a few loose Christmas items to surround the tree. The little vintage TV is one I found last year, but didn't get it packed away.  The musical/moving carousel was a bargain find recently at Goodwill.  Santa in his airplane sings "Let's Fly Away" as the propeller turns and flashes several Christmas messages.  The red and white blocks are reminding me to get it in gear, as there are only 31 more days of Christmas joy!

Next mission, should I decide to accept (and I will!), is to find itty bitty retro Christmas ornaments for the little aluminum tree!

Merry Christmas to all 

the Happy Campers!

Spruce 'er Up! The Little Camper-That-Could

This is my little camper that could.  Allie Jo is 60 years old according to the build certificate in the closet which confirms she rolled off the line as a '54 model in December 1953.

Allie Jo, the 1954 Aljoa Sportsman
Photo Credit:  Patricia Montgomery

She has been hibernating in our barn this past year because the realities of "life" got in the way of my planned "Let's Spruce Her Up Make-Over".  

I've been buying 1950s decor items along the way to give her just the right mid-century look, but everything else was put on hold.  

Retro 1950s Canister Set
Photo Credit:  Patricia Montgomery

The exciting news, at least for me, is that the camper cushions are at the upholstery shop!  They called yesterday to discuss a change, but they are working on them and should be ready soon!  

When we peeled back the material on the cushions, we discovered that some of the original material was still intact.  It appears to be a 1950s "atomic" design on barkcloth.

Original worn cushion material
Photo Credit:  Patricia Montgomery

Since this type of vintage material is hard to find and expensive when you do come across it, I decided to go with a bright, happy color instead.  Can't wait to show the cushions off when they are done!

First step:  ✓Check!

Camper Decor to Razz My Berries

Allie Jo, my little Aljoa Sportsman camper, according to the build certificate in her closet, is a 1954 model.  That yellowed piece of paper proclaiming her date of "birth" helped me decide how to proceed with her new decor.  She would be cute.  She would be retro.  From the moment you stepped inside she would be a blast from the past.  A real classy chassis!*

So began my journey back to the 1950s...

It was enough to razz my berries when I discovered all the retro items that were hiding in thrift stores and flea markets!  If the 1950s items were not a bargain on eBay or Etsy, then having seen the item online would make it jump out at me in the Goodwill or Salvation Army stores.  Here are jut a few photos of the bargains that will create the perfect mid-century atmosphere in my new "pad".  [Sorry, just couldn't resist the 1950s slang]

I don't know the age of this mustard/ketchup set, but the gals imprinted on the bottles looked so retro that I could not resist them.  I paid ten cents apiece at a thrift store!

An eBay search for 1950s kitchen items scored this stackable set of red canisters at a bargain price.  The red plastic pepper shaker in the first picture came with this set.

This yellow mid-century sugar/creamer/salt/pepper set was waiting for me at an antique store in Burlington, Colorado.  I had been eyeing this set in a red color on eBay at a much higher price than this one was marked.  I asked and got it even lower than the sticker price!  Stamped on the bottom of the tray, sugar, and creamer shows it was made by the Federal Tool Company Chicago USA.

Blisscraft of Hollywood was a 1950s California company that made plastic kitchen wares with their trademark "ruffled" or "wavy" edges.  I found the pitcher on eBay, the cups on Etsy, and the butter holder at a thrift store.  

Last but not least is Little Miss Sunbeam, the iconic little girl advertising Sunbeam bread.  This is a photo of the back side of a single playing card with the Queen of Spades on the other side.  My plans are to turn it into a magnet for the camper icebox.  It might not be from a deck of cards made in the 1950s but it certainly reminds me of that era.

That's all for now but I'll be posting more photos soon because my retro, mid-century stash is growing by leaps and bounds!

Help Name Me!

Nestled in the barn, out of the weather, the itty bitty 1954 Aljoa vintage camper is still nameless even though I've been thinking of her as "Allie Jo, the Aljoa".  After compiling a list of names, I'm trying to narrow it down to about ten favorites.  I think, though, that I would like an outside opinion, just in case I'm overlooking a good one.  So here are all the names under consideration. Please feel free to comment and tell me your favorite(s) in the comment box below.

POTENTIAL NAMES

"Allie" names:  A nickname for Aljoa (pronouced similar to Alcoa (as in aluminum), but with the "j" sound.

○  Josie

○  Tin Can Allie 

○  Allie's Way

"Honey" and "Bee" names:  The hubby and I run a beekeeping/honey operation together.  

○  Buxom Bee (from a friend with a wickedly good sense of humor!)

○  Bizzy Bee

○  Honey Bee 

○  Honey Haven

○  Honey’s Lil’ Hive

○  Honey Muffin

○  Honey Wagon

"Clickin', Shutter and Flash" names: For those who don't know, I love to capture life's moments with my camera.
○  Clicking Chick

○  Shutter Bug

○  Shutter Palace

○  Lil' Flasher

"Lucy Names":  I ♥ Lucy!  And good southern double names, too.

○  Lucy Jane

○  Lucy Pea

"My Southern Roots":

○  Chik-a-dee

○  Fid'l Dede
○  Jawja Farm Girl (that's me!)
○  Jawja Jiver
○  June Bug
○  Kudzu Caddy (aka ZuZu)
○  Kudzu Katie
○  Oopsie Daisy
○  Sugah Pie (Hunny Bun)
○  Toodles (My late father-in-law's word for "good-bye")

"Pea" names:  The little camper is a cozy little place, just right for a couple of peas in a pod.  

○  Lucy Pea

○  Nifty Fifty Pea Party

○  Pat's Peachy Pad

○  Patty's Pea Pad

○  Pea da' Wee

○  Pat's Pea Pod

○  Patty Pea-tunia

○  The Merry Pea

○  The Pea Palace

○  The Wee Pea

Mixed Bag:

○  Bunny Boo
○  Kookie the Twisted Tin
○  Gidget (1950s movie w/Sandra Dee and "Moondoggie" James Darren)
○  Maggie Munchkin
○  Psycho Patty (considered blaming a friend, but I came up with this one)
○  Retro Rosie
○  Retro Spice
○  Rosie Road Relic
○  Sassy Sandy Sue
○  Silver Sugah
○  Silver Sunshine
○  Tessie the Tin Can
○  Twinkles Tin Toes
○  Twisted Tootsie

Which one (or two or three) names do you like best?

My itty little camper really needs a catchy name!

2015 Update:  She finally told me that she liked
Allie Jo

and so it is!

Cozy Camper

Even without any sprucing up yet, the itty camper is still quite cozy in the evenings.  Allie Joe, the Aljoa offers a warm, welcoming place to relax!

My Vintage Camper: Good, Bad, the Ugly

This post is more for me, so that I will remember what she once was like before we spruced her up.  So don't really expect any one to read all this, unless of course, you are thinking about buying your own little vintage camper.  It might help you to closely before you buy.

Allie Jo, the Aljoa Sportsman

Not sure how many owners this lil' 1954 Aljoa Sportsman has had, but the gal who owned it before me was Shannon Wright who lived south of Gadsden, Alabama.  She must have been quite young when she first bought it in 1999 because she didn't look like much more than a girl today.

What impressed me about Shannon is that she appreciated its vintage look and appeal and did not try to change it or update it to be more modern.  That my goal, too, to keep her original beauty so that when you step inside, it's like stepping back in time.

With some work on our parts, we hope to turn it into a real vintage gem.  This little Aljoa (pronounced al-JOE-ah, rhymes with Alcoa, as in aluminum) is not perfect yet but very solid.

The BAD: The birch wood panel at the bottom front under the window next to the bed has some water damage. The GOOD: Will be easy to pull out the damaged birchwood and replace. No water damage anywhere else in the camper and believe me, we looked at every nook and cranny. The rest of the birch wood is a little dull so I am going to clean it, polish it, and see if I can make it shine again.

The UGLY: The electrical is original 1954 wiring and at some point it got hot and there are some burned spots where the wiring touched the wood inside the top cabinets. It's a miracle the camper did not burn up at some point. GOOD: My hubby said it is an easy fix - he can rewire it himself. Yay!

BAD: One of the window latches is broken. GOOD: Hubby said it is an easy fix.

BAD: No propane tanks. GOOD: Easy to replace.

BAD: The outside door to the storage area under the bed is broken off its hinges. GOOD: Hubby said, not to worry, can be fixed.

UGLY: The only thing not original is the flooring. Just some linoleum laid down loose. GOOD: The flooring underneath is solid, no soft spots at all. I think I would like to put down black & white diamond shaped linoleum, to give it that 50's era look.

GOOD: A little 1954 Preway brand 20" stove with oven and bread warmer at bottom. A oldie goldie! BAD: One knob missing. GOOD: Already found a place online that sells knobs for old stoves.

GOOD: Original 1954 ice box - not refrigerator - but an old fashioned ice box! UGLY: Outside of the tin ice box door needs to be painted. GOOD: I know how to wield a paint brush!

GOOD: Original wall light fixture. UGLY: The brass looks really bad.  BAD:  The wiring to the light fixture is the one that burned and can't be pulled out of the wall because it is probably stapled.  There's no glass globe or lamp shade.  GOOD:  I can shine the brass and find or make a 1950's vintage looking lampshade.  The light won't work, but the light under the kitchen cabinet works very nicely and casts a lovely glow.

UGLY:  Original kitchen countertop was replaced with butcher block.  GOOD: It's a tiny space and won't be expensive to replace with a more vintage style.

GOOD: Cabinets have these cool, original 1950s latches. Never seen anything like these before.

GOOD: A 1950's three-rod towel holder and 1950's toothbrush holder and 1950s thermometer on the walls.

GREAT: Signed Aljoa authenticity certificate inside closet that confirms it's year, make, etc. She was born 12-22-1953 and is a 1954 model.

GREAT: It has the original screen door and it's in near perfect condition! Don't see too many that old that still have their screen door.

GOOD: Two original steel plates with Aljoa details still attached to the outside of trailer and still readable.

BAD: Outside aluminum looks good but needs cleaning in places. I'm going to research this and figure out what to do to make it gleam again.

BAD: Needs caulking replaced outside in several places on the outside. GOOD: I know how to use a caulking gun!

GOOD: All the 1950s outside brake and running light covers are there and NOT broken!

GOOD: Great tires and original rims - in excellent condition! The jack works great, too. It tows like a dream.

CRAVING CANNED HAMS

I've been craving a canned ham for years.

Not the kind that will expand your waistline

but the aluminum retro kind.

The kind you can pull behind your vehicle and camp in.

---

This is my mother, Ella, 

and my little granddaughter, Ella, her namesake.

My canned ham craving was put on hold for years 

in order to care for Mama until she went home 

to be with the Lord on March 5, 2012.

I miss her terribly.

---

For the past several weeks my mornings have started
with a cuppa joe and the internet.
Learning all I can over at the Tin Can Tourists web site.

Scouring Craigslist & eBay for campers for sale.

This Craigslist ad caught my eye:

Vintage 1954 Aljoa Sportsman Camper.

Very Rare, 11ft long, 80" wide with a weight of 1420 lbs. 

All birch wood interior, aluminum exterior, gas heater, 
gas oven, ice box, and sink.  Inside the closet is original date of 
manufacture on a signed certificate.  Original curtains, 
beauty tire rings and original key for the door lock.

Good condition for its age. 

No trades.

Please...Serious inquries only!

I read it over and over.  Oh my.

When I contacted the owner, believe me I was serious!  

The longer I talked to her on the phone, the more excited I became.  

The camper sounded just like what I wanted.

I wanted it!  I wanted it! 
But...

But the hubby reminded me that the price was higher 
than I had budgeted 
AND 
we needed to check every nook and cranny 
for damage, repairs, etc.  

He's the sensible one.

---

We set up a time and headed out on a Friday afternoon 

to make the 1 1/2 hour drive into Alabama.

The first time I saw her, the little as-yet, un-named vintage camper, 

she was sitting in the grass next to the river's edge.

I immediately squealed in excitement.

"She's beautiful!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my husband cringe.

So much for keeping things low key with the seller

until we checked the condition 

and found out if the price was even negotiable.

---

When I opened the outer door, I became very still as I stared.

Most screen doors on vintage camper are either gone

or rotted out at the bottom.

I burst out in happy excitement,

"Oh my gosh, she has her original screen door!"

My husband gave me the "look" but I was beyond reach by that point,

already in love with this little canned ham!

I think the seller probably was beginning to suspect 
that she might just make a sale!

---

Almost everything inside was still original except for the floor.

No one had gutted her or pulled out her fabulous old appliances.

No one had painted the birch wood walls.

No large or significant water leaks.
Water damage is Enemy #1 of vintage canned hams.

---

Her vintage stove is missing a knob but otherwise very clean inside and out.

It's a Preway brand stove, which I have never heard of before.  

Few vintage campers have the stove top 

plus an oven AND a bun warmer in the bottom.

Usually you only see the stove top.

---

Across from the stove was not a refrigerator 

but an ICE BOX!

The door needs a coat of paint 

but the inside tin was not too bad.

Once you take out the circa 1960s shelf paper,

you would be able to put a block of ice on the top shelf.

Then put your food on top of the ice or

on the shelf below to keep it cool.  

Even the seal around the ice box door was still in good shape!

Yes, I swooned over the stove and ice box to the owner, too.

The hubby rolled his eyes and went out to check the exterior.

---

How fantastic is this?

Which I expressed happily to the owner.  

Hubby didn't hear me, I don't think.

When I opened the closet door, there was the original certificate of construction.

Yellowed and fragile looking.

Make: Aloja

Model: 13

Serial No. 54131187

Year:  1954

Length:  11'

Weight:  1,450 lbs.

Width:  80"

---

One of two plates on the outside of the camper.

The Aljoa Sportsman

Mfg by

Modernistic Industries

Distributed by

Aljoa Industries

171 W. 135 St.  Gardena, Calif.

---

No, she wasn't perfect.

We found several defects and things that needed to be fixed.

It will take awhile to bring her back to her former glory.

Happily we were able to negotiate a price with the seller

that we were both were happy with.

---

The money changed hands.

The seller got a little teary eyed.

I was on cloud nine.

We hugged and she made me promise

to send pics as we fixed the old girl up.

We got on the road with the little canned ham in tow.

The tires were good, held air all the way home.

No sway.  The truck didn't even know she was back there.

I  kept staring back at her through my side mirror.

She's a good lil' traveler.

---

Almost home!

---

Pulling through the gate.

I could swear she was smiling,

happy to find a new home.

---

So excited, our very next meal was a makeshift picnic inside!

---

There are two happy campers 

on Buck's Mountain.

Me and her, the two of us.

We're a a lot alike, this old girl 'n me.

We're about the same age.

She's sportin' silver and so is my hair.

We're both older, showing those signs of age.

We both want need a face lift.

Doubt I'll get one, but she definitely will!

---

Now she needs a name.

A cute 'n sassy one

that just fits her.

Next up is the restoration work!

---

More on Vintage Campers

I found this great book called

"Sisters on the Fly"

Women everywhere are buying these little campers...

...restoring them

...giving them individual personalities 

...camping in them

...and camping together for girlfriend fun!

And they are giving their little campers cute names like

Gypsy Chick

Ham Can Inn

Cowgirl Cadillac

Wander Woman

The Tea Cart

Shabby Shack

Porta Party

Go to the "Sisters on the Fly" name page 

to see more camper names!

---

Check out my image gallery 
of vintage campers on my 
Pinterest Camper Board
and
Pinterest Camper Interior Decor Board

---

More of my musings...

Klutz in the Kitchen Making Cheescake Filled Strawberries
The Black Curse or Battle with the Dust Bunnies
An early dates with the hubby

Shot Through the Heart (by Cupid's arrow)
Crushing on The Professor
How I Met Pollyanna Whittier
The Avocado Tree

My Favorite Dolly
It Started with a Pajama Party!
Betcha Can't Pop Just One

Cups for hot mochas.Say Good Night Gracie.

From Baby Food Jars to Peanut Butter Jars

Theory of Pancake Relativity

The Unmade Bed
A lesson in biscuit making
The lost art of letter writing

Driving Mama over the Edge
It’s a Little Off the Wall