All posts tagged valances

Looking Ahead

Yesterday afternoon I finally got around to calling Casita to order the parts I need.  They have a new phone system so you can bypass the overworked receptionist, which is a big improvement in how they do things.  So I left a message for the parts department to call me.

Very unlike Casita, they did not return my call.  So today I called to leave another message and got a recording saying their mailbox was full.  That is TOTALLY unlike Casita.  So I called again and dialed O for Operator instead of 3 for the parts department.

A very nice man answered, and explained that due to the ice storm, the plant was shut down yesterday.  He took my name and number, and later, I think it may have been the same person who called to get my parts order.  I wonder if the factory was still mostly shut down and he was just doing what he could to help catch up on the backlog?

Anyway, I ordered 6 new cabinet latches, 5 sets of hinges to replace the ones that are rusting.  And a new cover for the cable connection.

This turned out to be a little too much hat for me.

This turned out to be a little too much hat for me.

Around the house I am doing whatever I can to beat the spring-is-never-going-to-come-and-I’ll-never-be-able-to-go-camping-again blues.

I went to Hobby Lobby the other day and got some pretty material and lace to make new valances and a table skirt for my bedroom.  I also got some of their silky *I Love This Yarn* brand yarn.  It is so soft and works up like a dream.

A couple of my friends knit or crochet head warmer hats for chemo patients who have lost their hair.  I’m not sure if I want to commit to it, but I did try one of their patterns to see how it would go.  I’m not too thrilled with either the pattern or the colors I chose, but it is a very soft, warm hat.  I will probably use it as a camping hat next fall.

Hope

Hope

I don’t think I’ll do a big garden this year, but I would like to do some Earth Boxes and maybe a small square foot garden.  So I started some seeds last night.  Maybe when they sprout and start growing a little I will feel more like spring will really come this year.  🙂

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by tinycamper on March 4, 2014  •  Permalink
Posted in Camping, Casita, Garden & Nature, Home Improvement
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Posted by tinycamper on March 4, 2014

https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/looking-ahead-2/

Valances Finished & Awning Cleaned!

The valances are finally finished!

I finally got the Casita’s valances finished.  What a relief to have that project done!  The photo makes the side valance look longer than the rear valance, but they are actually the same length — 3-1/2″.

We had not used our awning before because it was really dirty and looked awful.  So today I scrubbed it with laundry detergent and bleach, and it came out looking great.  I was surprised that it cleaned up so well.  It will get a lot of use next week!

There are still a few spots, but the awning looks so much better than it did.

Finally, I’ll include a photo of the dinette mod that is now a twin bed for viewers who haven’t seen it before.

I still have some projects to putter on this afternoon.  Tomorrow is a busy day with vet and groomer, hair appointments and shopping, so I need to get everything I want done to the camper finished tonight.

Then I’ll pack the trailer Friday night and Saturday.  And we’ll head South on Sunday.

Here’s a picture of our dinette-turned-sofa/twin bed mod for those of you who haven’t seen it.

 

 

 

 

by tinycamper on May 3, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Casita
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Posted by tinycamper on May 3, 2012

https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/valances-finished-awning-cleaned/

Progress

I insulated the external top and sides of the Casita’s refrigerator with Reflectix and fiberglass batt insulation today.  I also made a baffle to direct air directly over the cooling fins.  It seems to be helping.  The refrigerator temperature is now running 40 degrees below ambient temperature.

I think if I add a fan to move air over the fins faster, I may get a small additional gain.

I read on an Airstream forum that there is an additional resistor you can get from Dometic that dropped refrigerator temperature from 30 degrees below ambient to 60 for a couple of posters.  I may eventually look into that for my trailer.

And finally, FINALLY, I got the last two valances (for the small windows) sewn last night.  Tonight I’ll sew on the loops, and install them tomorrow.

I’ll take pictures when it’s done.

Ron and I are both excited about the upcoming trip.  It will feel so good to get out again!

by tinycamper on May 2, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Casita
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Posted by tinycamper on May 2, 2012

https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/progress/

Mods, Another Valance & Packing to Go

The new carbon monoxide and smoke detector

I got the new carbon monoxide and smoke detector installed today.  It was a lot larger than the original smoke detector, and wouldn’t fit in the same spot.  So I mounted it on the rear side of the wall divider.

Also, the previous owner had installed a paper towel holder over the dinette.  Since I’ve changed it to a sofa bed, it really looked funny there.  So I removed it (including the two HUGE screws the previous owner screwed into the fiberglass) and moved it to the right of the stove where I had mounted my dish towel rods.

I couldn’t find a really good place for the dish towel rods.  I finally settled on the right edge of the kitchen backboard.  When I raise the stove cover for cooking, the towel rods will swivel out behind it so they will be protected from possibly catching fire.

The rear valance is up.

AND…. I got the rear valance hung.  I am so glad to have it done!  I’ll get the two small window valances done when we get back from our trip.

Today I turned the refrigerator in the Casita on so it can cool all day tomorrow.  Also, it’s supposed to get down to 27 tonight.  Since we de-winterized the water system again yesterday, I’ll leave the heat running in the trailer all night with cupboard and bathroom doors open.  That should let plenty of heat reach all the water lines.

Rear valance closeup

Paper towel holder mounted to the right of the stove hood with kitchen towel rods below

Removed the paper towel holder from above the sofa bed

So we’ll get the trailer packed tomorrow and head south Tuesday morning.  We are really looking forward to getting out again!

by tinycamper on February 19, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Casita
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Posted by tinycamper on February 19, 2012

https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/mods-another-valance-packing-to-go/

One Valance Up

Casita mods - window valance

The first valance is up

The first valance is finally up.

The reasons it took so long are:

1.  I don’t like to sew;

2. I didn’t know what I was doing, so was making it up as I went along; and

3. The work was so tedious that I had to take frequent (long) breaks.

But it’s finally done, and the others should go faster since I know what I’m doing.

A closer look

I had hoped they would be more eye-popping, but at this point I am just relieved to have something that matches on the windows!

I had bought some nice oil rubbed rods to use, but they were too short for the long windows and I couldn’t find a match in a larger size.  Then I planned to use velcro, but just didn’t like the idea.

Finally I bought the smallest Command hooks I could find, stuck them to the blinds top, then sewed little loops on the backs of the valance to hang them with. [on edit – the little Command hooks come 40 to a package.  I found mine at Walmart.)

This photo shows the tiny Command hooks and the sewn-on loops.

I am hoping to have the valance for the large rear window finished before our camping trip next week.  The two small windows will have to wait until we get back.

And once all of the valances are done, the decorating phase is finished!

(Except for new flooring, but that’s a LONG way down the road.)

by tinycamper on February 15, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Casita
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Posted by tinycamper on February 15, 2012

https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/one-valance-up/

DIY Camper Van and No Camping

I got the article about Gail’s van finished.  You can click on the tab on the header to check it out.

It’s been just warm enough that I am bursting to get out camping.  But in looking at the 10 day forecast, the highs are going to be in the 50’s.  That might work is it was also going to be sunny, but with some rain predicted, it might be like it was today.  Although the thermometer said it was warm, it was not a day I wanted to spend any time outside in.

Instead, I need to concentrate on getting the valances made for the Casita and catching up on a lot of indoor projects that I’ve seriously neglected since our trip in November/December.

by tinycamper on January 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Camping, Casita
Tagged , , , , , ,

Posted by tinycamper on January 10, 2012

https://tinycamper.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/diy-camper-van-and-no-camping/

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