Off to Pensacola...Traveling and Sewing Tips!

It has been an extremely busy week getting ready for my upcoming engagement with the Pensacola Quilt Guild.  I have two speaking engagements and three full workshops with a very enthusiastic group of quilters from both Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama. 

I had a blog reader ask how I travel and sew and if I could provide some tips...of course!  I took pictures as I was getting things packed this morning.  Most of you already know that it's my hand sewing that keeps me sane in the crazy airports and crowded airplanes.  I can just focus on what I'm working on and the rest of the world can go by and do it's thing.  

I've never been known for being much of a fashion statement...I'm more of the practical type.  When I travel I always have this "hip purse" that I wear around my waist.  Not very fashionable for sure but I can carry a bucket load of stuff with me...all the important stuff.  It's attached to me at all times so I don't have to worry about it being lost or stolen. 

 
The very front pocket contains my sewing supplies.  I have bobbins wound with several shades of Bottom Line thread...this is my beading and binding thread.  I keep the bobbins in a small plastic tube with a lid on it.  I am able to bring the small squeezie side curved tip scissors on the plane with me and also use the soft leather Thimblepads for my thimble.  I also have an extra package of John James Sharps needles with me for my beading. 

I have a travel sewing bag that I've had for many, many years.  I've nearly worn it out.  This contains extra sewing supplies and rolls up and ties into a smallish parcel.  

I do a lot of bead work as I travel and have a great tip for you!  I take a wide piece of masking tape and roll it around my hand sticky side out.  I put the beads that I am using for a project on the sticky tape.  I put a safety pin thru a corner of it.  I line up all the different masking-taped beads to a long strip of fabric. 

I place another strip of fabric over the top of it...and roll it up.  I can take thousands of beads with me and not lose any of them! 

When I am ready to use those beads, I simply pull them off the fabric, safety pin them to my project, and I'm good to go.  I simply pick the beads off the tape with my needle as I attach them to my quilt.  Don't ever put painted beads on the tape...the stickiness pulls the paint off :)

I put each of my little projects in a plastic bag and put my name and phone number on it. (If I should ever misplace a bag hopefully an honest person will call me and return it).  

Each of these separately bagged projects goes into one large heavier plastic bag.

This larger bag goes into the front of this suitcase.  This is the suitcase that I carefully fold and pack my wholecloth linen quilts in and it fits in the overhead bin of the airplane.  I never put my special quilts in checked luggage...bad idea.  When I board the plane, and before this suitcase goes into the overhead bin, I quickly pull this large bag of projects out.  Wha la...I have all my projects with me in my airplane seat...this bag will fit in the pocket of the seat in front of me.

You never know what TSA will do when you go thru security...trust me.  Some airports I breeze right thru with no problems...even when I have my sewing machine with me...others put me thru the ringer.  I always have a padded envelope with postage on it so if they throw a fit about a particular tool I'm bring with me I can always mail it back to myself. 

I hope this has provided some great tips for you!  If others out there have good tips for traveling and sewing please comment on this blog. 

Hugs, Cindy :)