Hello and New to Everything

[carold]

Ellen, what they couldn't hear didn't hurt them I'm not as good nowadays keeping it under my breath carold

[mizdeb]

Louise welcome to one of the best groups in the world. Not sure if I was included in the 5 that are downsizing, but add me to the list. I have been steadily filling a 20yard dumpster with junk collected over 30 years. Have a storage unit - keeping it small so I can't keep too much. I, to am a compulsive crafter and I love your blog header - me to a tee. Nothing is neat when I am on a roll. I have really been relentless in getting rid of supplies. Bags and bags of clothes have gone to Planet Aid boxes with still more to go. Kids have dibs on pieces of furniture and the rest will go.

My son has been here almost every weekend doing work on the house and a for sale sign is planted at the end of the driveway. For now I have a 25' trailer that my little man and I will share. I to have a blog but have been lax about keeping it updated with my dull days, but do try to keep it up when traveling - for now just part time, but with the sale (being positive) of my house I will also join the ranks of fulltime traveling. I hope to workamp part of the year and see all this country has to offer.

Good luck at the shows this weekend hope you are able to see what you have in your mind.

Deb
http://ramblinways.blogspot.com/

[Roadweaver]

Deb, I agree that this is the best group on the web. I hope that this is not as hard for you as it is for me as for as being overwhelmed. I went to a seminar today at the PA RV show and the person said not to take your sewing machine because it was too heavy. He has to be mad...it is going with me even if it makes the back of the RV hit the road. I just won't take pots and pans.

The Rescue Mission is the recipient of most of my stuff. I have taken bags and have the hall full of even more. I will have a small storage unit as well hopefully not for too long. I also plan on workamping some of the time to help with expenses.

The adventure is about to begin, are you as excited as I am...I am having fun documenting what is going on in my life right now. I think it will be fun to sit back a year from when I hit the road with a glass of wine on a rainy day and read all about those time.

[Dawn309]

Louise, I'm with you! Something else would have to go. I have 2 sewing machines, a serger and an embroidery machine with me. I will make whatever adjustments I need to make in other areas, but got to have my machines.

[Barbzeee]

As usual I'm always a day late and a penny (didn't say "dolla" cause I'm saving them LOL ) short..Hahaha..had to peek in here as I'm way behind...but I'm also laughing cause the Crafters in here have a heck of a time.. I mean (I'm included) when I'd go out on a trip.. my rig was packed and not only with yarn..(some stories I told) but Critters...so it was squeeze it , punch it down more and get space bags..and as I opened them they would be like a Jack in a box...HELLO !!!

Any way you will certainly enjoy this great group and when you come to the GTGs it gets even better cause not only crafts it's food too.. and yep, I peeked at your Blog...gonna add you to my blog list as well...cause I know this is gonna get really interesting as you fill up LOL...

Like Ms Dawn and a few others which I won't name...(just under my breath) You fit right in !!!

Post away Sistah cause it's really interesting ...lovin' every minute of it..

God Bless
Zeee and Critters 3..

[Roadweaver]

I am searching for storage for my crafts everywhere I can, I asked the salesman if they could build my bed higher so I could lay my loom and spinning wheel under it, they said to send them the measurement so they could see. I also liked that the benches of the dinette/sewing/polymer/ weaving area will lift instead of pull out so I can sit my sewing/embroidery machine under there. At the rate I am going, my Nexus Viper is going to a rolling craft room.

[BirdbyBird]

Also remember that the interior "furniture" of a rig does not have to remain as it comes off the lot.....dinettes can be removed in part or whole....couches can come out......Especially if you are looking at used rigs.....it just seems easier to take those apart and rearrange areas without thinking I just paid for this new? Remember to look under couches and dinettes to see how the manufacturer has used that space. Some hold water tanks, pumps, heating ducts...you get the idea.

[Roadweaver]

Tina, I was really working hard while I was looking at the RV for where to store things. The dinette set seat lifts up on both sides and I can fit my fabric and sewing embroidery machine on that side. The other side can be used for kitchen stuff. The bed was very shallow and nothing could fit under it but blankets and pillows. I asked the owner of the company if he could build my bed higher so that I could use it to store my loom and spinning wheel. He said yes to just send him the dimensions. My daughter brought me some binders so that I can take my knitting, craft and embroidery dvd's out of the jacket and put the paper description in one part and the dvd on the back. I will have to convert the vhs tapes to dvd since i am not taking the vhs player. Also, she is going to scan the pictures in all the albums on a hard drive for me. I told her that she can keep the albums or throw them away. This rig has lots of interior storage, I just have to make good use of it.

[sistert]

Hello everyone! My name is TeAntae, Louise's daughter. I've joined the forums to help mom out and learn a few things myself. Me and the hubby may actually consider hitting the road one day!

Realistic downsizing is definitely high priority right now. Not necessarily getting rid of but condensing. Besides me scanning her photo albums, I'd like to convert some of her loose patterns (probably just the knitting and crochet) into PDFs. I don't want mom to give up things that will make her RV feel like home. More planning!

[Swansonia]

It sounds like you are really preparing well for your transition to full timing. I also read your blog and enjoyed reading about your seminars at the rv show. Well done!

[Dawn309]

I really like the idea of being able to store your sewing machine in the storage for your dinette. All my craft supplies are stored outside in my outside bins. You should have seen me going through storage buckets yesterday to get the right set of knitting needles, then going around to the other side to get my space bag of yarn out to pickout the yarn I wanted to use to start a new afgan pattern. I don't think I will be getting out my embroidery machine and threads until I am parked for a longer period of time. I will be setting all that up on my dining table too but I have the table and chairs, not a dinette. For me, I am going to rethink my storage bins. I originally bought big plastic bins, but they are really hard to get into and go through trying to find what I want. I think I am going to replace them with smaller ones that stack easier. I think that will actually give me more storage options.

I ended up giving all my sewing patterns and fabric away. I brought enough clothes with me that I don't think I will need to make any clothing for awhile. When I do, I can always go get a pattern and material. When I get ready to make my next quilt, I will go get whatever material I need for that specific quilt. Since this is all new to me, I am learning to do one project at a time only. In my house, I had my craft room with usually 2 projects at a time going on there. Then I also had whatever I was knitting or crocheting upstairs in the canvas bag I used for needlework. That was always sitting beside my chair so I could just pick it up to work on whenever I was in the livingroom. Over the years in my rig, I figure I will learn how I want to set up and take down whatever project I am working on. No more just leaving it out in a space dedicated for that specifically.

[Roadweaver]

I agree that I do not have to take fabric with me but I have collected such cute fabric from all of the country in my travels and have decided not to give up the precious pieces just leave them with my daughter or storage until I am down in Florida for the winter. I do not make quilts (maybe now I will have time to learn) but make lots of project bags and purses. I am giving away all my fabric for clothes because that is so easy to come by. Right now I am going through all my sewing notions and giving away duplicates and things I have no idea why I brought.

The RV that I have chosen does not have much storage outside but is jam packed with storage inside. All the storage in the living area is very deep and the bedroom has two wardrobes as well as plenty of drawers and a hidden compartment.

I had found these plastic zipper cubes from Zip Loc a while back but can not find them now so I went to Container Store and picked up a couple to store craft stuff that I am taking or putting in storage.

I can not believe all the craft and sewing books and magazines I have. I have to call the used book place to see how they buy them or I will take them to the Rescue Mission, that is my job today.

I also have to get my supplies together for classes I am taking at the Original Sewing Expo. I signed up and paid for it before I made the decision about retiring. No refunds. Anyway, one class is Silk Screening for Home, Perfect Fit Tee, PaintStik Inspriration which is learning to use Paint Stik to make your own fabric for upholstery, and Perfect Seams.

[retiredhappy]

Think about putting patterns/directions, etc on jump drives - a lot easier to carry and a lot lighter. Weight is the big thing you need to think about.

[sistert]

Think about putting patterns/directions, etc on jump drives - a lot easier to carry and a lot lighter. Weight is the big thing you need to think about.

Way ahead of you! We had the exact same idea. She already puts her kniting patterns in progress on her iPad so this makes total sense. I think she plans on getting one or two external hard drives just for this purpose. Actually I need to do the same with my patterns and recipes.

[rvgrammy1953]

Just read your Blog...I believe you've got it heading in the right direction... Will visit often to see how you are doing....