Taking Our Hobbies on the Road

One of the many reasons why Paulette loves RV'ing is that it allows her to take a couple of her favorite hobbies, beading and quilting, with us when we are on the road. For making bracelets and necklaces, Paulette brings a toolbox sized plastic box that has lots of compartments and drawers for storing various types of beads, wire, clips, tools and all the other pieces necessary for making bracelets, necklaces and general bead work.

Paulette's finished product after a workshop in Palm Springs


Quilting is a little different, as it requires a bit more space, but for that Paulette has a small portable sewing machine that she brings along. She does most of her quilting at the RV Park, in Palm Springs, where we stay from January to April. They have a women's Quilting Group that gets together once a week at the clubhouse so they can work on their quilts. Otherwise, Paulette just keeps busy on smaller sewing projects that can they be added to a quilt once we get home - like these handsewn hexagon flowers:

Handsewn Hexagon Flowers which will be appliqued to a quilt.


Paulette's favorite place to buy beads is definitely the annual February "Tucson Bead and Gem Show". This show in Tucson is just huge. There are over forty separate sites around the city and most are conveniently setup just off the I-10 freeway. Each site has dozens, some hundreds, of vendors setup in huge tents and outside stalls. Paulette buys as much as our budget allows here as most of it is 75% less than she might pay at home. It's a beader's paradise!

Just one of the dozens of tents with tables piled high with beads


Necklaces and Braclets made by Paulette on our last trip


As for my hobbies on the road, it's pretty simple - photography, reading, writing our daily blog entries and sometimes helping out other RV'ers in the park with computer related problems.

Bracelets made for our 4 daughters and 2 granddaughters


After dinner last night, we went over to visit Paulette's twin brother and his wife. We wanted to show them our new puppy, Rylie. But, did they ever outdo us - they had a litter of 13 newborn puppies at their house. Marleen breeds Goldendoodles and her Golden Retriever, Gracie, had given birth to the pups just 5 days ago - and, wouldn't you know it, I didn't bring my camera!!