We are just weekenders, but since crafting is a way to relax I'd like to be able to do it in the camper. I do digital scrapbooking, which is easy since I always take my laptop along, knitting and paper projects. My 6 year old twin girls also love to draw, color, cut, glue, etc.
I'm looking for ideas from other RVing crafters concerning storage and what you use for a workspace, both during the trip and once you get where you are going.
So far, I've been storing a small basket for each girl, filled with markers, paper, crayons, etc, underneath each of the dinette benches. I can keep all of my knitting in two medium sized bags. As for technology stuff, do any of you take along a printer, external hard drive, scanner, etc?
Mish
1 DH (he does the driving)
2 6 yr. old DDs
2005 Coachman Freedom 30.5 ft
I get ONE compartment in the basement for my stuff, so in there is a large table loom (weaving) and two totes of supplies.
In my side of the clothes closet, I have tucked in a spinning wheel protected by my clothes from being tipped over, and stuffed bags of unspun wool as padding up in some overhead cabinets. Hey, keeps things from sliding around!
I have a folding collapsable stool and large plastic tool box with an antique circular sockknitting machine in the cabinet over the washer/dryer unit. And a laundry basket full of yarn stuffed in there too.
All of my fun fiber toys are able to be set up under the awning and played with during the day, and put away again at night, or brought inside to avoid dampness.
I take all my toys along, because if he can tote along fishing poles, tackle boxes, horseshoes, golf clubs and extra cases of beer, I can sure as darned well tote along my fiber toys!
My wife crochets lap robes for Veterans. Easy to carry the yarn around and the finished robes fold up nicely. It can be done almost everywhere and doesn't take up much room or require a large flat space.
And the robes are much appreciated.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
I love to craft also, but I limit what I take. I have pretty much ruled out any scrapbooking because I want to take EVERYTHING! My husband purchased a nice scrapbook case on wheels that carries a TON, but I know that would still not be enough room for me. I would suggest that if you really like scrapbooking - digitally or otherwise - prepare as much as possible beforehand so you won't have to take the larger items. Download pictures to your laptop or even print out the pictures to take.
So...I have limited myself to crocheting and cross-stitching. Both are portable and because we have a SMALL 18-foot TT, space is rather limited. I have one small bin for each of the children as well as for me a DH. I allow myself a basket for the yarn or a tote which I can take out to the campfire in the evenings.
As far as the projects for the kids, I have found some great ideas at Walmart in the craft area. They have small kits - some you can even get in the clearance isle - for children. My 10 YO girl has a bracelet kit which she loved! I really think it's important to have those craft ideas for the rainy days and for the "down" times. We moms need a little creative outlet as well.
We carry two sewing machines (mine and hers) 6 large space bags of quilting material, a large cutting mat, you name it if you need it to sew quilts we've got it stashed somewhere. I haven't figured out how to carry a long arm machine yet, but I will. I also carry the embroidery module for my sewing machine and a laptop dedicated to the machine with all my designs. Linda carries her cross stitch easel and all her cross stitch threads and needles and stuff. I don't play cow pasture pool so I don't need golf clubs, but I do carry a few fishing implements also.
I also take my quilting along. I have taken a sewing machine occasionally when I have a project to work on that requires it, but usually I take along hand sewing projects in the fifth wheel and while we are driving.
I have one quilt that I have been working on for a few years that I am making entirely by hand sewing, and I always have that one with me.
I have all kinds of quilting supplies in the 5th wheel also.
I like to quilt and have taken a project with me on the road before -- I'll work on the binding or if I'm in the beginning stages of cutting and piecing a new quilt. I have several size cutting mats and one that fits perfect on our table. Also a portable ironing board. Once the project gets too big I probably wouldn't do it on the road unless I had no choice.
I put the sewing stuff away at night. Fabric goes in recyle cloth bags I got from the grocery store. Very handy size. Iron goes in an overhead cabinet. Ironing board and the fabric bags go behind the sofa and the machine under the steering wheel. I made a quilt to cover the steering wheel table and it's long enough to hide the stuff that is under there. If you walked in at night you'd never know I brought all of it with me.
I have also crocheted -- that's an easy take-along project. I can't imagine doing scrapbooking unless it was digital. I can make mess when I sew however I can control it with effort, but scrapbooking - well it's a disaster zone when I do it. So many decisions to make -- playing with different paper, cutting, embellishments, custom printing. It makes my head hurt to think about the mess I'd have after finishing one page. LOL But that's me.
Lucy
2006 Allegro Bus 40' DP
2005 Grand Cherokee
Visit Here's Lucy for CG reviews, trip experiences, etc.
During our fulltiming years, it was obvious that doing crafting and hobbies (of the type we prefer) was a major compromise, to put it mildly. It's one of many reasons we quit fulltiming. Now, we use the MH for its primary design purpose, and we enjoy our other hobbies out of, or in the stix/brix. One of my wife's machine is 12 ft long.....she's a serious quilter. I won't even go into her style of doing scrapbooking.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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