The collection is produced by Seattle, WA based Clothworks. Clothworks is a fabric design and wholesaler distributing to independent quilt shops nation wide. The RV Art Gallery is pleased to retail the “Happy Camper” collection of RV theme designs.
Quilt makers can download the RV themed quilt design from Clothworks, or interested customers can order the completed quilt from the RV Art Gallery.
In addition to the quilt, The RV Art Gallery is producing custom made to order, Hawaiian style shirts, kitchen aprons, and pot holders.
According to Jerry Bergman, General Manager of the RV Art Gallery, “Today is the culmination of a phone call to Clothworks almost 2 years ago. I suggested that Clothworks produce a collection to appeal to those enjoying the RV lifestyle.”
According to Clothworks, orders for “Happy Camper” have exceeded expectations. The entire collection was sold out to pre ordering retailers by delivery in April 2009. Clothworks has reordered to meet continued demand. Delivery of the second production order is slated for June 2009.
After a three (3) month hiatus, Hindostone is back in business! (see previous article) A new group of investors has purchased the company and the beautiful RV themed coasters stocked at the RV Art Gallery are once again available.
Jerry Bergman, General Manager of Texarkana (Texas) KOA, added 25 sites to his park since last March for a total of 63 in anticipation of a continuing construction boom in the area that includes a new oil pipeline, a $120 million road project and an anticipated 600-megawatt electric generating plant.
“That added up to a lot of construction workers needing monthly RV sites,” said Bergman, who converted the RV sites from vacant mobile home pads that were on the same property. “It was pretty easy to covert them because the electric was already there,” he said.
Even with an increase in monthly rentals to construction workers, overnight travelers aren’t being pushed aside. “We still have plenty of sites for them,” Bergman said, noting, though, that RVers in transit are “slightly less than last year.”
“We usually get a lot of snowbirds going back and forth, but we haven’t seen as many this year,” he said.
Bergman also oversees what he calls the nation’s largest RV art gallery with more than 200 objects, including 88 prints – some that he commissioned – miniatures, clothing and other items. “We think it’s an interesting way to celebrate the RV lifestyle,” said Bergman, who opened the gallery in 2005.
Monaco Coach Corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 5, 2009. The Coburg, Oregon, based company manufactured Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Safari and Beaver brands of Motorhomes.
According to the Portland Business Journal, “Despite a litany of cost-cutting measures, the company in January hired Imperial Capital to help find a buyer.” “…On Monday the company announced it would lay off all but about 150 of its 2,225 employees.. ”
“The decision to restructure the business through a Chapter 11 filing should provide us with the opportunity to strengthen our balance sheet, create a more efficient expense structure and move expeditiously toward a sale of parts or all of the company, CEO Kay Toolson said in a statement. “In the meantime, we are committed to maintaining our dealer and customer relationships which should benefit all parties in the long run.”
Jerry Bergman, General Manager at Texarkana KOA, said “Over the past 9 years we have provided campground accommodations for many motorhomes made by Monaco. RV’ers driving Monaco manufactured motorhomes have been enthusiastic buyers of RV themed art and gifts in the RV Art Gallery.”
Hindostone Products Inc. has announced they are closing their stone coaster manufacturing business. A victim of the economic downturn of 2008, Hindostone made several custom coasters with the RV’er in mind.
Happy Camper Wine! Sure to entertain and charm your next dinner party guests. Welcome them to your RV with a Merlot, Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon . According to Happy Camper, the 2006 Merlot and Cabernet, won Silver at wine competitions at the 2008 Florida State Fair International, the 2008 Houston International, and the 2008 Dallas Morning News. Produced from California grapes in a family-owned winery in the Central California Coast community of San Martin, Desert Living December 2008 magazine says, “Despite the low sticker price, the wines are quite good…”
Jeffrey Dye, President of Exclusive Brands, Inc., an outdoorsman-type person who has RVed, says in RV Business magazine March 24, 2008, that “He’s aiming Happy Camper at two diverse groups - outdoor enthusasts in general and the younger “millennial” generation, or wine drinkers in their 20’s. “Its not for wine snobs.” he said, “It’s a new-generation fun brand.”
Texarkana KOA recently enjoyed the privilege of providing an RV site to Jennifer Batten, famed guitarist. If you have not heard Jennifer’s music check out her web site and her YouTube videos. Jennifer was chosen from a pool of 100 other guitarist to play lead guitar for Michael Jackson’s Bad and Dangerous Concert Tours.
Jennifer is currently on a solo tour across the country.
She registered after the office closed at Texarkana KOA using the night registration envelope. The next morning she noticing the RV Art Gallery sign and came into the store. Jennifer found several items to be irresistible among them a sterling silver pickup camper charm, Trailercana CD by Antsy McClain and the Trailerpark Troubadours, and a Home is Where you Hookup Pillow.
We wished Jennifer the best on her tour and sent her off with a RV Art Gallery coffee mug.
Just when you think you have seen it all, it turns out you haven’t! This 40 ft 2008 Fleetwood
Providence Motorhome pulled into Texarkana KOA , towing a trailer with …. hmmm…. is that an airplane?
Holy Cow, it is an airplane! Well the airplane has a few problems; broken landing gear and bent propeller.
Wentworth Aviation of Minneapolis, MN is in the aircraft salvage business, and usually the planes they work with are torn down and working parts resold. However, Chuck Wentworth, founder of Wentworth Aviation, says this vintage 1946 Cessna airplane is in relative good shape.
“This plane will be of interest to collectors that like small airplanes. So this one will be repaired and advertised on eBay.”
Wentworth picked up the plane in Dallas, TX, and was en route to visit family in St. Louis, MO, area. The Wentworths were awarded RV Art Gallery coffee mugs in recognition that their RV and towed trailer were indeed one of a kind.
The RV Art Gallery web site will soon feature a new page devoted to one of a kind collectible items. Check back on RV Gift Gallery for the news story.
Women who enjoy the RV Lifestyle can celebrate with RV themed charms. Crafted of sterling silver, the charms are available in six different styles! You can add one to your own collection, or get all six for a complete RV charm bracelet. In addition to the charms, the RV Art Gallery also features, key chains, earrings, and necklaces in sterling silver and pewter.
