Caravan Mam'selle supplement: caravan special
A 1970S HOLIDAY MUST-HAVE
THE SINDY CARAVAN MAKEOVER FILES
Hello Dolls! Welcome to this special 28-page supplement free with your June subscribers' copy of Mam'selle - a mini magazine for Sindy doll lovers, fans and collectors. When we started to plan a makeover feature on the Sindy Caravan we saw it filling a few pages in a summer issue. How wrong were we? It seems the love for this iconic caravan from 1978 runs deep. We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane and the up-cycling features inspire a makeover on your very own retro caravan.
e ditor x
Mam'selle S U P P L E M E N T
Sindy Doll Supplement: Free with the June Issue * 03 Caravan Life 04 Sio Sunny History 08 Glam up your Caravan 24 Makeover Kit 27 Caravan Club
COVER IMAGE: @dresslikeasindy / BACK COVER IMAGE: @dreamsandwisheskids dresslikeasindy@gmail.com *Magazine Subscribers Only
1978
(44564) Wooden Caravan
Caravan Life
1980
(44574) Vinyl Folding Caravan
The Sindy caravan design through the years...
1981
(44574) Injection Moulded & Vinyl Caravan
1982
(44579) Injection Moulded & Vinyl Caravan
sio sunny
1977: The 'Sio Sunny' Caravan designed by Rokus van Blokland and Corry van Blokland-Mobach (Photo: Piet Mobach)
For more information about Sio and Rokus van Blokland and Corry van Blokland-Mobach visit: https://rvbcvbm.com
SPECIAL FEATURE MAM'SELLE 2022
The History of a Sindy Scenesetter The Dutch toy brand Sio was founded in
1938
in
Vroomshoop,
The
Netherlands. From 1950 until 1980 industrial and graphic designer Rokus van Blokland and his wife Corry van Blokland-Mobach, a graphic designer and
illustrator,
produced
and
manufactured all sorts of wooden children's
toys
under
the
Sio
(Speelgoed Toy Industry Overijssel) brand. Over thirty years the design duo built up a wide range of two- and three-
1977: The production of the Sio designed Caravan
dimensional designs for wooden toys
1976: The caravan
like
design drawings
trucks,
garages,
doll
houses,
puzzles and all kinds of construction
by Corry
sets based on the simple concept that "playing is learning", where great importance was placed
on design,
shape and colour. Understandably their close professional and personal relationship meant they worked in such
unison,
that
it's
often
not
possible to indicate who did what.
1977: The interior of the 'Sio Sunny' caravan (Photo: Piet Mobach)
During the 1950s, they produced many designs including pull-along toys and building blocks. In the late
1977: Sketches for fashion boutique with a Mary Quant Daisy Doll. The shops were
1960s and 1970s doll's houses, garages
made with multicolour
and boutique shops for teenage dolls
backgrounds which
appeared. The first shop design by
were screen printed on
Rokus and Corry - a boutique that
both cardboard and
dates from 1977 – was made for the Mary Quant Daisy Doll. There was also a grocery store and flower shop.
hardboard. They were all hand drawn by Corry - every colour was a separate drawing. As it was long
Great importance was placed on design, shape & colour In the 1970s Sio was sold. It became part of larger toy companies, namely Pedigree Toys in Canterbury, Kent and later DCM. Around 1976 Rokus and Corry designed a wooden caravan, the ‘Sio Sunny’ which was sold in 1977 and then produced for Pedigree Toys & Brands Ltd. in 1978 under Sindy branding. As part of the larger English company, Sindy dolls then became part of the stock in Holland.
1977: The production of the Sio designed Caravan
before the computer design came into use.
The couple, who in fact worked together
for
60
years,
not
only
designed toys and games but also packaging,
catalogues,
logos,
the
signage in the Vroomshoop factory and
at
the
Sio
head
office
in
Amsterdam. Their work was also used at various trade-show exhibitions and toy fairs. In fact many of their designs are unique to the Netherlands and are included in a permanent collection at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. In September 1982 the Sio factory in Vroomshoop burned down. After the 1968: Corry van Blokland-Mobach (b.1929) and Rokus van Blokland
fire, the production of toys was
(b.1926-d.2018) (Photo: Piet Mobach)
temporarily moved, but by 1984 the activities under the name SIO came to a definite end.
>> With extra special thanks to Ron van Blokland and his mother Corry van Blokland Mobach for their help with this feature and for use of their images. Visit their website: https://rvbcvbm.com
1977: Caravan with teenage doll. The top can be opened and then becomes an awning. (Photo: Piet Mobach)
GLAM UP YOUR CARAVAN The wooden caravan was described in the 1978 Sindy catalogue and brochure as a 'robustly constructed caravan with removable roof, opening door and towing bracket for holiday fun.'
Caravan (44564) from 1978
The wooden caravan is a favourite with collectors to up-cycle due to its sturdy build and large interior space
BEFORE
ROCKABILLY RED: A RETRO CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY CATHY PALMER
Cathy enlisted the help of Rich at The English Caravan Company to re-pin, glue, paint and decorate her caravan. She decorated the interior with her signature kitsch 1950s and cherry red styling.
Cathy used a cherry print scrap booking paper to cover all of the interior walls to give it a kitsch 1950s feel.
Cathy trimmed her gingham print soft furnishings with lace for a retro touch. She mixed in plain and polka dot red scatter cushions for the seating area.
GREAT OUTDOORS: A NATURAL CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY GOOD GOLLY MISS DOLLY
The caravan was in pretty good shape when it arrived, although it was without any accessories. Miss Dolly added in "realistic” accessories that you might need if you were camping to give it a fresh feel.
Wallpaper was added at one end, to cover some surface damage. Softness was added by using vintage fabric scraps for cushions and bedrolls for the benches
A mixture of plastic plates, cups and pans were added in the kitchen. In addition, there’s a broom and a bucket, some pretend food, a little dog and its dish, a deck chair and some fishing rods and fish on ice.
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GoodGollyMissDollyUK
GYPSY ROSE: A ROMANI CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY CATHY HOWARD @JOLLYDOLLYSHOP
Cathy repainted her caravan using tester pots and sticky back plastic for the roof. The curtain poles are made from dowel and attached to a thin panel of wood with small ring hooks. The dyed net curtain makes for a good sunshade and awning.
Cathy used a crochet printed fabric to give the seating area a free-spirited, hippy feel. She mixed in lace nets, a floral table covering (made from sticky back plastic) and a tassel trim in the window for a true gypsy vibe. Are those healing stones we spy?
Cathy hung floral baskets from the curtain poles (dowel) with ribbon.
Gold braid trim was glued over the original black line detail on the exterior for a bohemian feel.
COUNTRY COTTAGE: A COSY CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY JULIE JONES
Julie gave her caravan a full makeover - as it was in a sorry state. She took it apart, resprayed it and gave the inside a complete refit and redesign. It now has a side opening for easy access and play.
The outside of the caravan was covered in sticky back vinyl. This is a fast - and neat - way to change the caravan exterior.
Julie extended the kitchen area to include a fridge and oven. The lost seating on that side was replaced with a L-shaped bench
PRINT CLASH: A COLOURFUL CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY SARAH WALBY @POLLY.DOLLYDAYDREAMS
Sarah added in some funky colours and prints for a modern feel. She cut fabric to place on the seats, made a tablecloth and added in lots of colourful cushions. The floor is patterned card which easily covers and updates the floor area.
Sarah made blinds for the windows by folding fabric and securing into place. She also strung up some matching bunting for a festival vibe.
The clash of patterns and print on the soft furnishings work well as all the colours are tonal.
Sarah placed a small doll's cupboard under the sink area great for extra storage!
VINTAGE VIBES: A SUNNY CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY MAM'SELLE
We decided on a sympathetic makeover to honour the original style and colouring. The outside was touched up using pens and a black Sharpie. The roof wasn't the original turquoise so was covered with black sticky back vinyl, which was also used to cover an empty box used as a faux cupboard, which was placed under the sink and cooker area.
The window trims were covered with black sticky back vinyl or coloured with a Sharpie. We also glued some doll's house mixer taps to the sink area.
We used printable wallpaper in a fresh lemon pattern to complement the yellow exterior. Checkerboard printable tiled paper covers the floor.
Contrasting striped, gingham and floral fat quarters were used for the soft furnishings, curtains and accessories.
GEOMETIC GEM: A MODERN CARAVAN MAKEOVER
BY SUE SCRASE @SEWIST53
Using a mix and match range of vintage fabrics Sue created a cosy orange hued interior that works wonderfully with the yellow and turquoise. How fab are those seat cushions with the little buttons details?
Sue made some wooden shelves ideal for storing kitchenware, food and even a microwave (what luxury!) It was painted with gold paint.
Sue used a mix of fabrics to create cushions, curtains and soft padded seating for the seats and seat backs.
Sue added mini crochet bunting to the windows. How cosy does it look?
caravan makeover kit Inspired to make over your own caravan? Here's some up-cycling hints, tips and essentials...
2
1
3 Use GooGone to gently clean the exterior and interior seating and table area.
4
5 Doll's house curtain poles are ideal if you intend to hang curtains. Or you can make your own using dowel or chopsticks and craft beads.
6
7
8 These Daler Rowney Acrylic paint markers are ideal for touching up the paintwork.
9
10
Doll's house printable wallpaper is ideal for the plain wood areas above the windows and under the sink area.
11 12
Every Sindy needs a good picnic box and set of tableware and, not forgetting a flask for all that English Tea.
13
Caravan Shopping: 1.Dish rack, www.minimumworld.com 2. Fat quarters, www.empressmills.co.uk 3. Goo Gone, www.amazon.co.uk 4. Deckchair, from a selection at eBay
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5. Curtain poles, www.minimumworld.com 6. Printable doll flooring, from a selection at Etsy 7. Sticky back vinyl, www.amazon.co.uk 8. Paint pens, www.amazon.co.uk 9. Taps, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheModernDollhouse 10. Tableware, Vintage Barbie 11. Hemp rug, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShellysMiniWorld 12. Wallpaper printable, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheShelfieLife 13. Picnic set, vintage Sindy 14. Torches, from selection at AliExpress 15. Dish sponges, from supermarkets Dish sponges are ideal padding for the bench seating area and the seat backs. Just select thickness required and cover with fabric.
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ina Falls Photo: Edw
Photo: Rebecca Summers
Photo: Cheryl Sewell
Caravan Club Come join us and the #SindyCaravanClub
Photo: Alicia Se
well
Photo: Josje Boiten
Photo: Cathy Howard
Photo: Penny Ja
Photo: Caroline Jeffery
ne Peters
