We can't travel much anymore because of my DH health. When we do travel, and I'll have to start taking it to dr. appointments, I'm taking the BOM along. When I'm going to carry my "stuff" along, I've started using a pizza box. I went to our local one and asked if I could have a couple of boxes. He charged me $2.00 a piece but it's a small local place so I'm sure they have to pay more for their's. The come in different sizes which makes it easier to get just what I need for a particular project. I also store some of my BOM pieces in them.

Y'all have a good time traveling.

Charlotte M

Eileen, I live off the Miller Hill exit of the Taconic. It can be a challenge especially going south of me. I can see the commuter traffic right this moment in the distance. Going north is gorgeous but there's no doubt it was not a roadway built for today's traffic and speed. I also agree that the Bronx River Parkway is not for the faint of heart.
About take along work. I have to start giving that thought. I don't think I would trust myself with using a needle in a moving car and it's tricky taking stuff on the plane.

Eileen my kids get out of school 1/2-hour apart, but the distance between is only 10 minutes on a bad day, so I'm usually sitting in the car most of that time. Sometimes can squeeze in a quick errand, but if I didn't have something to do I'd go crazy. Often try to read the paper, but now my 2 teens are interested so we have to share, and since I'm in the newspaper biz, I don't want to deprive them
don't know what I'll do next year when the youngest changes schools & they'll all get out at the exact same time... go thru hand-work withdrawal probably
I also find I'm much more patient when waiting at dr. offices... I almost appreciate it! Not my fault, but get in LOTS of sewing!
Florence

Geez, you all sound so industrious I don't have anything to take along. I'm going to have to look through my UFO piles :shock: and see if something jumps out at me. I took a Jacobean applique class with Pat Campbell about 5 years ago(before her stroke)but have never finished the block. Maybe I can work on that. It can always become a pillow
I can only read or work on a highway, there's too many turns on back roads or parkways. If any of you have ever been to NY and driven on the Taconic Parkway or the Bronx River Pkwy, you know what I mean Definitely car sick time
But you've given me food for thought and thanks for that.

Mandy,
Your take along kit sounds really cool. Can you share how you made it?

eileenkny

I'm liking the needle-turn more and more, and have to put in a plug for back-basting... it really takes very little at-home prep time, which makes it even more portable. For May, all I've had to do at home was trace it on the back of the fabric, make my bias stems & berries, pack up my threads & fabric & go
Florence

I like to do needle turn applique while traveling. I have a kit that holds all my supplies and the block and pieces. I try to prepare a block before I go. I will be leaving Sunday, so really need to get May's TQS BOM ready to take with me. But also I am working on another BOM needle turn that I started in 2002 or 2003. It actually only has 13 or 14 blocks, not 5 years worth. I think I am on the second to last of that one. I guess I need to travel more, maybe to get some of these projects done.

On this trip I have been enjoying doing a redwork project. Another thing I enjoy are the felted wool penny rugs. And knitting dish cloths is an easy no brainer that I can easily do while the vehicle is moving.

I usually take my DJ blocks to hand piece or hand applique. I've also hand quilted on trips. Redwork is another favorite. I'm trying to organize my take-along projects so each project has it's own container. I ordered four cute pairs of scissors today from Keepsake Needlearts so I don't "steal" scissors from one project for another. It's also giving me an "excuse" to have several really cute containers! I've got one project in one of those cute metal sewing boxes with a handle. My BOM is in a black zippered 13" square x 4" high hard case that I got at JoAnn's--my 12" design board fits in really well so the applique pieces don't get lost. It's also big enough to accomodate the block picture and instructions. I've got all my applique threads on bobbins and use a bobbin saver. Notions are my weakness, as you can tell! Judy in Torrance

Made a truck load of yo-yo's traveling to Illinois.

My standby travel projects are all knitting! Yesterday I took a 2.5 hour train ride and brought along some hand applique and it was fairly difficult on the ride, which was a bit bumpy. I think it would be a good hotel-room travel project, though. I have never tried hand piecing...

Rachel, Yes I teach crafts in the seniors park in Southern Texas in the winter and usually spend most of the summer preparing samples. My most popular classes have been Brazilian embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, vintage jewelry pictures, greeting cards and T shirt projects. The vintage jewelry pictures have been popular enough to expand them to using vintage linens etc using Cindy Needhams techniques.

Ribbon embroidery is the area we emphasized this year and I worked on adapting it so that persons with rheumatoid arthritis and other issues with thier hand. The adaptations were quite successful .

Ann

Well, since I'm needle-turning my BOM, that's a good carry-along, but in between, and before THAT addiction took hold, I'm doing a completely scrappy hexagon quilt-- same thing as GFG but no pattern. I'm using the plastic templates and I just prepare them all up, then sew them all on. Pop out the templates that are no longer on an outside edge, and repeat. On longer trips, I've "saved" a binding that needed hand-stitching, and I've done the "snipping" on a few flannel raggy quilts--you definitely want the spring-back scissors for that! DH doesn't "let" me drive (says I fall asleep as soon as it gets dark! Well, DUH, can't sew or read!) but that's ok, it's one of the best long stretches I have to relax!

I do a lot of my fussy cutting while I am waiting or not at home. Usually I will ruff cut something and lay it aside knowing that I will be going somewhere later in the week. This way I can just grab it and go. Or if I have something that needs embroidery I will do that while at appointments. Most of the quilts I do are for babies. This way they aren't too difficult to take.
Anne did you say you were going to be teaching a class about ribbon embroidery?

I have been carrying my BOM in a zipper bag I got with a set of curtains. I slip my scissors and marking pen in the pocket that held the lable, then put in my spools of thread (sometimes I use bobbins instead) a needle case with all the sizes I might need, a thimble, a small pin cushion, precut peices and of course the block.

When I am hand peicing my Civil War blocks I use a block caddy I made from a peice of felt backed with a fat quarter - I fold it in thirds lengthwise, then in half so it forms its own little purse shape. I added handles and a button closure. I use safety pins to pin my block peices inside and secure a couple of needles before i fold it then once it is folded I slip in my thread and thread snips. All self contained.

Another project my dd found to be very portable was making yo-yos with the clover yo-yo maker. All she needed was a bag of scraps, the yo-yo maker, her scissors, needle, and thread. She made yo-yos in the back seat of the car all the way from WV to Lancaster PA.