? About living and creating in two places
 

Hi all,
I am still getting used to living in two different states. For those of you in the same situation, how do you manage your projects? I have supplies, stash and machines in both places but only a dedicated space in Florida. I've been trying to set up a better space here in Maine but some special circumstances have gotten in the way of that goal. I haven't set up my sewing machine yet and we've been here for almost two months.
Do you bring kits with you? I'm wondering if I'd be better off just bringing handwork up here. We are here until midOctober.
Thanks for your ideas,
lots2do

If it were me it would depend on the total length of time I would be there. I can piece pretty quickly if I'm not having to set up/break down all the time. If that was the situation, yes, I would probably just bring some hand work. Or keep said supplies in that location (thinking knitting/crocheting/cross stitch??).

I had two places as you do until this year. There was a dedicated room for my sewing and my mother's art. She and I both left supplies there until the "next time." The only thing I carted back and forth was my FW machine and one or two rulers. Cutting mats for each place. Our trips were always in the summer, so when Row by Row started, we would look for participating shops on our travels. I'd then work on the RxRs or some other project that I'd pick up in one of the shops.

I live in Michigan but spend 5 months in Florida in the winter. I have a small sewing space and use a dresser and a bookshelf for storage. Due To limited car space, I usually bring only my small sewing machine, a few supplies, and fat quarters and Charm squares in Artbin boxes. I also bring block of the month kits that I purchased years ago. Yardage and batting I purchase in Florida as needed. I usually work on smaller projects, although I stay in a mobilehome park that has a clubhouuse where i can use tables for laying out my quilt sandwich. What i really love is the fact that there are other quilters in the park. We meet in the clubhouse once a week to help each other out of just to oooh and aaah at each other's projects. I usually make placemats, pillows, small throw quilts,
Christmas decorations, bags, etc.

I actually have three places to sew: my camper, our regular home and a cottage on the river. I initially brought all my FQ's here to the cottage and kept my yardage at home. I take quilts that are cut out and ready to sew with me in the camper. I have 2 good sized shelves in one room that is my designated sewing room in the cottage with a table on lifters for cutting. When I leave for the winter to Alabama, I plan on taking several kits with me that will be queen size quilts, the campground has a large table and I have a spot in the camper for cutting out the kits. At the cottage, we usually stay one week and then leave for a week from spring to fall so I have several quilts in progress at one time. I always have something easy to make for a leader and ender and then I have another more complicated quilt I am making also. I am fortunate that my machine in the cottage stays up all the time in a great cabinet. When I am sewing in the camper, I have to take my machine up and down, but I still manage to sew a great deal. My small ironing board sits over the kitchen sink and my mat is on the counter next to it. The table is right behind it. On those days, we eat from the fridge and microwave or eat out. I do hope you find a way to quilt, it sure makes life nice.

I also had two places until this year. Had a sewing machine in each with rulers, cutters, mat and general sewing supplies as well. I made up my own quilt kits from my stash and took them to the cabin. It worked well for me. The only problem now is that I have an over abundance of "things" since I've now combined the two houses! After 9 months I still haven't unpacked all the boxes and have changed my sewing room around numerous times to accommodate everything.

I may just have to be content with knitting and paper piecing for the time being with the goal of setting up later on in August. At the very least, I'd love to get organized before we head back to FL in October so that I can jump right into sewing when we return. I have a long list of things I'd love to make for the cottage here (new seat cushions, pillowcases, curtains etc.) that I really feel I have to make here in case I need to remeasure or adjust my sewing plans.
Thank you for your thoughts. Happy stitching!

Maybe I should also take pictures of my supplies with my iPad so that I remember what I have here. I've done that with clothing before. I think I have to break the cycle of bringing everything plus the kitchen sink back and forth. It seems to be a comfort thing to pack a bunch of stuff but then that turns into a frustrating feeling once I get here and I'm short on storage space.
This is really helping me work through my mental block on this situation.

I thought about making up some of your own kits in your "main" residence to take with you for piecing.

Yes, that's what two of my FL friends do when they come up here. One says that works well for her. The other one just buys more stuff here and doesn't always use the kits. I'm not much of a planner, tend to be more spur of the moment kind of person so I'm not sure if that would work for my personality. I would like to become more productive at any rate.