loise98 wrote:
Lois, I can get crayola stuff and glue in Brazil, absolutely. BUT, prices on Crayola are higher here than in the US (by about 3x or 4x), and I've never seen Elmer's brand glue here. For craft projects, no problem; trusting it to my quilts, I'd rather stick with a known, trusted brand.

It is crazy at times what costs more here than in the US; but also we'll be in the US right during back-to-school sales so when you factor that in, things will be a tiny fraction of the cost there vs. here, so worth it to buy over there & small enough not to take up much room in the suitcases!

I have the Supreme Slider and the Machinger gloves and used them when I was more of a beginner than I am now. My hands get very warm with the gloves and I couldn't handle needles and snippers very well with them, so now I have two pieces of anti slip mat that I just move around when I move my hands. It is cheap and works for me much better. The Slider is not in use any more.
I guess that the anti slip mat is available in Brazil, but if you don't know what it is, I can post a photo later

This is so exciting to read about your plans and the anticipation. I hope you have a wonderful trip. It surprises me that you have to buy the school supplies in the USA. I would think they have Crayola stuff and glue in Brazil.

I agree with Rita about lots of free info on the Internet. Books are costly and weigh a lot!!
In fact, here are some samples of info about machine applique: http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/images/lessons/6/1096/1096_2011_tqs_bom_1machine_applique.pdf
(It was made for last year's TQS BOM, but the techniques work for any project.)

Here is a TQS discussion about the Crayola WASHABLE Markers: [url]forum/i-need-quilting-related-advice/4259-crayola-washable-markers[/url]

Here is a tutorial about how I retro-fit my Elmer's WASHABLE School Glue bottle so I can apply a fine line of glue: http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/images/lessons/7/1097/1097_2011_tqs_bom_2_elmers_washable_glue_bottle_retrofit.pdf

I also use lots of the Elmer's WASHABLE glue sticks, and stock up all all of these products when back-to-school supplies go on sale!!

The supreme slider is quite an expensive object which you could do without as it would only be of use if you have a machine that either has an extension table or is set down into a table. Machinger quilting gloves on the other hand are an essential piece of kit if you are doing quilting by machine. I have tried so many other kinds but they are the very best. And they are only about $8 and can be washed and used again and again. I know that you say that you have plenty of machine needles -but do you know that you should be changing your machine needle after every 8 hours of work? I get through a lot of needles and never seem to have enough. The topstitch ones last 8 times longer than other ones so they are probably more economical in the long run and better quality I think. Just a thought.

Other than that I think you should spend your money on fabric. There are so many patterns on the internet nowadays that you really don't need that many books. And TQS and Youtube are great for info and pattern ideas.

It's so exciting! I hope you will post a blog when you get back with your purchases.

rehak wrote:

I would never have imagined, but I'm so glad to read this suggestion. Wow! Thank you!! So happy I can pretend some of my supplies are really school supplies You guys are seriously the best!!!!

Sewdreamy wrote:
Betty Jo, thank you!! yes, I plan to quilt my own at least for some of them. And yes, I'm clueless!! Will add these to my Must Get list, as I don't right now have anything super fantastic about machine quilting. Many thanks for this suggestion!

Lorchen wrote:
I have seen those on the show, of course, but keep wondering if they are worth the $$. I wonder what they cost.....if I can justify spending $ to replace tools I already own, I will. That little thing does look wonderful! but I'm stretching right to the edge of my budget this trip b/c of the machine itself, so trying (ha!) to be prudent on what else I add in.

But yes, it's on my "one day" list, for sure, just not sure if this trip will be that day, ya know?

ritzy wrote:
luckily I can get freezer paper here, so that's no problem, as well as the tracing paper. I haven't tried paper piecing yet, but I'm sure I'll get around to it eventually....

Elmer's washable glue will work fine in the luggage! Since we're a family of 5 we get 2 bags each, and we have some hard plastic containers that we bring back & forth for fragile &/or leakable items. Will tuck that in there, no problem! And as I mentioned, love borrowing school supplies as that means they come from the household budget, not my play/fabric budget! Perfect!!!

Sewdreamy wrote:
love this list, thank you! Have seen that super slider mat thing on the TQS shows, thanks for the reminder! Yes, it seems wonderful!

I have the painter's tape, good sewing machine needles, and will be getting the extra feet for my machine. And I love all the suggestions for school glue (washable) and crayola washable markers! I can buy those "for the boys" and thus not take them out of my fabric budget but out of the household budget, and then just "borrow" them as needed. Brilliant!!

I'll look into the gloves and such; thank you!

I use a lot of Elmer's glue. When I want my applique to stay in place I use a Elmer washable glue stick. When I have seams that don't want to stay in place with the pins--I use the liquid. On Margo's crayola markers she said she uses the fine tipped ones because they do not put as much product on the fabric she is marking. She also rinses the quilt in cold water before she washes it to remove the markings.

Well, I would suggest freezer paper but I don't think it will fit in your suitcase. Also, I would suggest tracing paper. If you decide to do paper piecing, tracing paper is great to print on and use for that. Freezer paper has many uses in design and applique. I use a lot of Elmer Washable school glue but I don't think that would travel well on the plane.

So, I guess I didn't help at all, lol.

Forget about the standard seam rippers. Get one of those wonderful Alex Anderson multi tools!

As for books if you are going to quilt your own quilts:

Guide to Machine Quilting by Diane Gaudynski
Machine Quilting: A Primer of Techniques by Sue Nickels