Basic Supplies

I love to buy school supplies, and I always have, since I am not in school anymore, I still buy the school supplies, but now I buy them for my sewing and quilting etc.  I buy the plastic boxes, at Walmart, they are just big enough to hold 12 spools of thread, and countless bobbins.  and they are very inexpensive, If you wait long enough you can get them for 10 cents apiece.  I load up every August and September.

I keep a medium gift bag next to my chair when I am sewing.  Each little snippit of fabric or thread goes into this gift bag.  When it is full, I use it for stuffing pillows, dolls, etc.  The stuffing is soft and most importantly FREE.  and what's more is it really doesn't take me long to fill the bag back up again.

Not really sure where this should go, so will put it here.  Take advantage of the Back to School sales and purchase the plastic pencil boxes.  They come in both clear and colors and run anywhere from 25 - 50 cents apiece.  They will hold your pre-cut squares, triangles etc.  I also have one that I keep all of my rotary cutters and scissors in.  I also attached a piece of elastic across the width of the lid to keep the extra packages of blades.

To have an affordable Design Wall - I bought 2 yards of white fleece and tacked it to my wall behind my cutting table.  Amazingly the completed squares stick to it without any problem - just run your hand over it and you will be surprised how well it adheres.

When selecting the thread you will use to piece your tops choose a high quality 50wt. cotton because it will make a better seam than the the heavier 40 wt.. A nice thin thread will give you a smooth seam which will allow your fabric to lie flatter and your points will match up better.

To store my bobbins, I use empty mini m&m plastic containers.  They work perfectly.

I always put all the pieces for my most current quilt project in a large shoe box, or boot box, so that everything is always right at the machine.

I am taking care of my 88 yo mother and she has mega pill bottles.  I have been using them to carry my spool of thread, needle and thimble.(for various projects)  I also use them for beads, small spools of thread, bobbins, pins, saftey pins and embellishments.  I use all sizes and take them to workshops and share them with my quilting friends.

To mark my scissors, so I can tell them from other quilters, with the rings you put on wine glasses to tell which one is yours. 

I love to recycle and I try to find a use for everything that may have a long life.

Thank you,

Dyna-Kaye Curtis

124 Danforth Road

Albion, Maine 04910

I knew the toe separators from my pedicure had another use; I just had to find it, and I did.

I use them to carry my bobbins to workshops.  They keep the thread from unwinding and they are light.  Also, you usually only need a few bobbins.  My goal is to eliminate as much weight and bulk when I go to class.

When I need template plastic or want to cut my own stensils, I go to my local copy shop that does laminating. I have them do a laminate with nothing in it. It turns out see-through, very easy to cut, and sturdy. Best of all, it's cheaper than what they sell in shops specifically for templates.