How much stuff do other snowbirds lug back and forth
 

Just completed unpacking at home, and realized that it is too much stuff and next year it will be less. So looking for advice from those who have lived the snowbird life for more than two years. Do you plan projects ahead and take only the fabric and patterns for those? Do you bring some or all of your scraps? Rulers? Possible embellishments? Do you just piece in one place and then quilt and bind in he other? If I don't start restricting how much quilting stuff I haul, my clothes aren't going to fit.:D Well, there's always the two sets of clothes alternative.

We just got back from Florida and I was thinking the same thing, I just bring things started ufo's to finish but didn't even get to half of them this year so next year I think I will just do tops only ( have everything cut and ready to go) and finish the rest when I get home as it is too much fabric and batting to load in the van I have more stuff for quilting then personal things.... that's bad....

We just got back from Florida and what I did was leave my extra rulers, notions and one of my machines there at our condo. I used UPS to ship three boxes of quilting items there. I doubled up on my quilting items using the 40% off coupons and bought cutting mats, rotary cutters, etc, so I could leave them there. I made copies of any patterns that I wanted to have with me.

A local woman used to head to Florida every winter and actually rented a U-Haul pull along trailer.

We bring projects that are labor intensive, that will take a lot of time, i.e., tiny pieces. One sewing machine, 3/4 size, and minimal tools. Two bags of scraps. Everything is pretty well planned what we are going to do.
We have a van now but used to make the trip in a VW Rabbit - that was tight!!

I only take small things with me. Hand stuff like hand quilting wall hangings, yoyos cut out ready to sew, small applique projects already to be sewn down., etc. I don't even get to those half the time.

I like to take hand applique that is ready to stitch...or easy tops that have been pre-cut. I take a Janome Gem. travel iron and small press board

I am not a snowbird, but I do spend some time away at the beach each year. When I am there, I design, only. That way, I just have to worry about a small sketchbook and some colored pencils and a ruler. Lotsa fun, little stress.

Whats a snowbird?? Wasn't sure why you are hauling back in forth?

Lots of snowbirds come to Texas for the winter, we welcome them.

We just returned from Florida this past week. DH and I usually have this "discussion" about what I can bring - either direction - it usually ends up with a compromise - more than he wants to take and less than I want to haul!

We have a "permanent" place that we return to every year, so I leave some big things - a Singer 237 (straight stitch and zigzag), a three-thread serger, ironing board and iron, multi-purpose 8 ft x 30 inch table, cutting mats, rulers, rotary cutters, and some of the thread

The big "discussion" is over the fabric!!!

IF I had to drag stuff back and forth, I would include a portable sewing machine, a decent iron, a surface to press on, rotary cutter and spare blades, and two cutting mats (24 x 30 if I could get away with it) and a small one - maybe 6 x 8 for cutting/trimming small pieces, scissors, seam rippers, needles and thread, and thimbles.

As far as fabrics and projects are concerned, I'm not that good at planning ahead.

I do try to find fabric at garage sales, but the pickings were slim last winter.

Of course, there ARE stores between here and there, but once DH gets in the van, he's like a horse wanting to get back in the barn. I've found it's just simpler to settle for fuel, food, and potty breaks during the day - hope for a decent night's rest, and the same for the next day.

Make up a couple kits that are just for that trip. Cut out the pieces, etc. That way you do not need to take a large mat, just a small one to square up the blocks. Seems you always pack more than you really use.

When I went with him in the big rig, I had several blocks cut and marked for hand-piecing while we were out. Then all I had was the pieces, needles, pins, thread, thimble, scissors, seam ripper and a 13 x 13 square of white fabric to lay the pieces out on (to improve the chances of assembling the block properly!)That all fit into a gallon ziplock bag.

Thank you. I didn't ask but figured that was what it was. When I lived in Hi we had a lot of people there that came from Canada to live for the winter months for the same reason. That's why I like it here. Once in a while we get hit hard but not too often. I wouldn't mind the snow if I could afford to stay home inside and ride it out and if my house was nice and warm but since both of those things are distance fantacies I'll just settle for mellow winters when we get them like this yr.

We have a house in CA and a single wide mobile home in WA where we spend our summers. My DH drives up to WA in May and I fly up when school gets out so I'm very limited as to what I can take so......I have a plastic storage container that I put things in that I want to work on and I have a small embroidery machine that I put in a carrier and my DH takes up those 2 items when he goes.

In WA I have a compact setup and in the guest bedroom closet I have one of those wide 3 drawer plastic storage units with stuff in it and I store my batting there also, I take up 1/2 the closet. My fabric stash is in one of those under the bed plastic storage containers (actually, I think I have 2 of them under the bed now).

I usually work on certain things in WA that I don't work on in CA. Projects in work up there now are making clothes for 3 baby dolls to donate to a local battered woman's shelter and I'm working on a wonky bed runner I started last summer and hope to complete this summer. I do my fmq on my sewing machine.

Here's some pictures. I have to sew in the living room so need to be as self-contained as possible.

We winter in Arizona. I take my sewing machine, serger & rulers with me. Don't bring fabric or patterns with me. I buy what I need in AZ. I tend to bring lots of fabric back to Alberta with me because it is so expensive here.

We winter in TX, I take as much as I have room for in the RV. A light Brother sewing machine, enough fabric to finish the project I am currently working on and a little bit of a stash for the next project. I always buy more fabric, I agree it is cheaper there than at home most of the time. I also put my cutting board and rulers under the mattress so they don't get damaged in transit. I think the least I would bring would be a hand applique project, I could probably fit everything I need in a small plastic storage box.

I take one major project then other smaller ones. I have duplicates of mats and rulers and sewing machines (I've kept over the years). My fav sewing machine is my Bernina and I'm just thinking that I need to haul her back and forth. She has a stitch regulator and is just my best friend. awwwwe!!!!!

to texas sunshine and mtngrl- we also winterbirded to texas down here in san benito. at fun and sun. we did this for 4 years and now we are permanent. fun and sun is a 55 and older retirement park. it is really nice down here with a lot of activities. i go to the sewing room quite a bit- a lot of knowledgeable ladies there.

I bring my machine, and a small plastic box with necessary notions. Then I bring projects that are already cut out and ready to sew. Can't bring the cutting board. One box with each project in it's own plastic bag. Also bring some hand work--English paper piecing. This past year, I still hadn't finished everything, so planned it pretty perfectly.

wow, the rest of you do it different than i do. i haul 4 sewing machines 7 large bins of fabric most of my rulers and several cutting mats, an ironing board and iron. Have been doing it for 5 years. hubby complains gently. finished 2 king and 6 twin and 12 lap quilts, 4 art quilts this winter. i spend every evening sewing while hubby watches his tv. We live in a 36 foot fifth wheel and it all fits.

WOW! How much do you leave home?

Can I be a reverse snowbird and escape from Florida????

LOL, I have been in Florida for about 26 years now, and would never move back to the cold and snow!! I just avoid the Disney area...Home of the Florida Rat!!

"usually Florida," Texas or another southern state!

I travel a lot in my job and usually have to stay for at least two weeks or more in any one place. I Fed Ex my portable machine and basic supplies ahead. It's there at the hotel waiting for me. I either forward it on to another location or send it home. I keep it packed ready to send when it's shipped home. The boxes last a long time. I keep my quilt in progress in my suitcase. I don't want it lost. I can replace a machine but not the time I have in my quilt. DH will most times come with me if I'm at a place he wants to visit. He works from home so can do his job anywhere. We stay gone as much as we are home but usually end up North in the winter and South in the summer. LOL.

DH and I call ourselves sunbirds :) We've lived in Fort Lauderdale for over 30 years and when we retired 4 years ago we bought an RV. This will be our 4th summer we'll head north to flee the heat. We generally head to the Northwest, Colorado our favorite state so far. I take my featherweight and pack a couple of plastic project boxes with mini projects that I kit from my stash here at home. I can't pack enough to keep me busy for 5 months but what a good excuse to visit as many new quilts shops as I can :thumbup:

I will be watching this thread carefully. DH has been retired for almost 2 years and we recently decided that we can no longer handle these mid-western winters. We have started looking for houses in AZ. We are thinking that we won't move there, but will become snowbirds. Our kids and grandkids are still in MO. We have already discussed the fact that I can't live through the winter without quilting. I can't possibly take my whole stash, but I have no idea what to take and what to leave behind. Maybe I will just have to have a stash in each place. lol

I like the way you think! lol

Could one of you come and help me pack in the fall. I took all my rulers this year. 3/4 of my thread, 1 UFO I haven't touch for 7 years (never looked at it this winter either) and One small tub of books and patterns, and one tub of my landscape fabric and the piece I am working on, and 3 tubs of fabric. My iron, Quilt cut 2, Otto light, and I don't know what else. The bottom of the trailer was full of my quilting stuff. Oh and I have about 8 boxes that I put projects in, and 4 plastic container with handles. BUT I did get 5 quilts finished and delivered to the LQ and now they have either bindings on and are ready for the show coming up in May.

My DH and I live full time in a 42' motorhome and spend the summer months in the coast of Oregon, the winter months somewhere on the Gulf---- in between we meander, mostly following the weather. You would be amazed what I have squirreled away, including two sewing machines and quilt books and fabric and mats and rulers and and and.....you get the picture! I think I have been to a quilt store in every single state!!

We winter in Alabama and summer in Iowa. Our Iowa home is a 12 x 60 mobile home and our home in Alabama is about 3 times that size. I keep a sewing machine, cutting mat, 6 x 24 ruler, ironing board & iron in Iowa. So all I have to take with me for the summer is any small projects I might want to work on. All supplies that I take will fit in a small 18x18x4 tote. Our summers are much busier with family & friends and a summer job, so I don't have as much time to sew. I usually come back to Alabama with more fabric than what I went with as there are many more quilt shops around our Iowa home. (Stopping at quilt shops on the trip to and from Alabama is not an option. DH & the cat are always in a hurry to get to our destination. We stop for gas, a quick bite to eat & potty breaks........seldom more than 15 minutes) :/

I have double of everything so I can leave rulers, cutting equipment, sewing machine, and a stash that would start a fabric shop. I do take projects that have been started so I can finish back home.

Guess I am a water/ sun bird....I live in florida, but go to my houseboat in Ky every year around Memorial day and stay till after Labor day. I leave a FW on the boat and take scraps to make string quilts and BAby quilts( when I am not fishing or swimming..heheh

i TRY TO HAVE ANY QUILT PROJECTS PRE CUT PACKAGED WITH A COPY OFF THE PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS. EVERY YEAR i HAVE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF THINGS I PACK, TO MUCH TO TRANSFER FROM HOUSE TO RV.

We are not snowbirds but when we travel it has become a habit of bringing my sewing machine, cutting mat and as many things that I need that I can pack into my sewing machine tote. I bring projects but we always stop at quilt shops. DH even helps me pick out fabric and we often shop thrift shops and/or craigslist ads for vintage sewing machines. :) I am sure if we ever do become snowbirds, I will just be bringing more with me. LOL

We made the move to South Carolina 12 years ago (2000) from northern Illinois, almost Wisconsin, and sure are glad we did. No more of those -20 degree winters. I remember my husband and I one year going to a quilt show in Wisconsin when the temp. was -24 degrees, so I guess we can be called snowbirds for life.

Love this, that sounds so much like my DH. Before we go anywhere I have to tell him exactly where I want to go, and anything other than that forget it, it's like I was torturing him. He's even that way with yardsaleing, I have to tell him which route I want him to take and God forbid I want to stray off it.

Lalaland - I like your setup - very nice. What model is that cabinet? I just recently retired and haven't had a chance yet to go snowbirding - but it is on my list! We have a motor home - now if he would just get it running. :-)

Otherwise when we go anywhere, I usually pack some hand embroidery quilt squares - those I can do in the car or anywhere without needing much room. And yes, by time I pack all of the extra "what if" clothes, we could easily stay another couple weeks!!

Mary