Magnetic Pin Picker Upper Pole...

We've all been there. You're sewing and you drop a needle, a pin or worse yet...the whole dish of pins. Dropping them on the carpet is the absolute worst, but even if you have tile or wood floors you can still leave a pin or needle behind. My biggest fear is someone stepping on one.

I was roaming the aisles of the hardware store and found this beauty that might help!!

A Telescoping Magnetic Pole...

The handle telescopes so you can reach all the pins on the floor without bending over. It's also great when the dish of pins drops behind your sewing table or desk.

The whole strip is magnetic and it's a great size too. It's 12 inches long by 2 inches wide.

The bottom of the magnet shows all the things it can pick up. I'll forgive the manufacturer for not putting a picture of pins and needles on there, but it's ok. If they knew we were buying this for our sewing rooms, they would raise the price!! Shhhh...don't tell them.

Just an FYI...the bottom has a warning label on it for anyone wearing a pacemaker. Do not have a magnet in close proximity with a pacemaker. May cause interference or failure of pacemaker.

One way to help eliminate the pins spilling is to have a magnetic pin bowl. Over the years, I've done posts on magnetic pin bowls like the ones pictured below.

This one is a magnetic automotive parts dish. Great to keep the pins in place. Click HERE to see that post.

You can also make your own with a post I did a while back. Click HERE to see how. You just glue magnets to the bottom of any dish to make it magnetic.

Like this cute little heart dish!! The post shows a ton of options for dishes.

The magnetic pole can be found in most all big box hardware stores, but you can also order them online! I have no affiliation with this product, just wanted to share.

Happy sewing,
~Karen~

Canning Jar Organization Idea...Using Magnets

Hi to all...hope you're having a great day!

You know I have a thing for organizing. I've said it to you before, I think my actual hobby is organizing rather than using the things I'm organizing!! LOL

Well, here's another quick one for you.

I've shown you the French Drain post in the past. Click HERE if you'd like to visit again. I used plastic French Drains, cut them up and use them to store things like yarn, paint cans, supplies, etc. One such thing I store in them are canning jars that hold my buttons.

Here's an update on that...

See in the upper middle section of the wall unit? That's my French Drain section.

A little closer view…canning jars to organize!

Come on in and see...

Tool Time Tuesday...Magnetic Bobbins

Happy Tuesday!! If you missed yesterday's post, the last section was about thread storage. We all want to know or see the best ideas on how to tame those little rolls of never ending string.

Well, I thought it would be a great idea to have a linking party so every one can share their photos of how you store, display or organize your spools of sewing thread.

The linking party (like Find a Friend Friday or Sew Darn Crafty) will be on Saturday, July 21st...so snap those pictures and get those posts ready to link up on the 21st. Your post can be old or new, as long as it show cases how you store your thread!!

Now onto Tool Time

Speaking of thread...bobbins are another nightmare.

Here is today's Tool Time idea using magnets.

**(Edit...so many great comments below caution using magnets next to computerized sewing machines, so I just wanted to update this post!!)

You can buy magnets in any store...craft stores, big box stores and even hardware stores. This package of 50 was about $5-$6 at Michael's...I think.

They do sell heavy duty magnets, but just the regular craft ones will work here.

I am think most bobbins from machines are metal, but not sure...so just double check before you buy the magnets.

The magnet just pops on the bobbin...

Here's one way to store them...

Remember the post for the Magnetic Board in my sewing room to store small crafting items?

CLICK HERE for the post on how to make the board.

CLICK HERE for the post on how to make the storage cups

Solo cups with magnets glued on the back...they stick to the metal sheet.

If you take the same sheet metal and make smaller frames, say 5x7 or 8x10, you can use this idea by your sewing machine.

The magnet sticks to the sheet metal in the frame and the bobbin sticks to the magnet!

Easy storage...very visible,

Because they are sticking there, they're not rolling around, unraveling and getting all knotted up!!

Here's another version...any metal container.

Magnets go on the container and the bobbin goes on the magnets.

Fill it with a plant...

for a funky planter!!!

or fill it with spools of thread to match the bobbins on the outside!!

Isn't this cute, cute, cute. I swear I love to make things FOR sewing rather than sewing itself!

Here are a few more of my posts from the past on bobbins...

CLICK HERE...

CLICK HERE...

or CLICK HERE...

Have fun with your bobbins! I'll keep reminding you on the sewing thread party too.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Sheet Magnets

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. You know I love sharing thoughts, ideas and great finds on Sew Many Ways. Sharing is pretty much the reason why I blog.

Well, today I want to share something with you that someone shared with me! 

At the end of March, I received an email from Dinah...a teacher in Indiana. She found a fabulous product in the hardware store that she uses in her classroom and wanted to share it with me. Dinah doesn't have a blog and has given me permission to share her tip with you!!

You know I love magnets and here is the best deal out there...

Vent Covers. Magnetic Vent Covers that is.

Magnetic vent covers are used to close off heating or a/c vents when you don't want the flow of air through that vent any more.

Vents are usually made of metal, so the magnetic sheets work great to seal it off.

What works great for me is that the magnetic sheets are BIG...8 inches x 15 inches and there are 3 of them in a package.

The BEST part is the package is about $4.50!!! You can find it in the heating section where they sell the air filters and vents.

See...3 big sheets just waiting for you to craft away.

The possibilities are endless with these sheets...sewing to hold you pins and needles, magnets for the refrigerator (Dinah used puzzles pieces glued to the magnetic sheets) and these would also work great to make magnetic games for kids in the car. They'll never lose the game pieces. Car bingo, matching games, checkers, tic tac toe etc. The best part is you can design and create the games yourself with your children.

Maybe you can add some of your ideas in the comments section too!!

Thank you so much, Dinah, for taking the time to email me with this wonderful idea...very much appreciated. Something from the hardware store turned crafty...Tool Time at it's best!!

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Sewing Soap Dish

Sewing Soap Dish...What?!? You know me, I'll find anything to transform into something else and this time it was in the bathroom section of the hardware store.

I think a better name for it is Armchair Sewing Table...

Here it is in it's original state. It's a soap dish that hooks onto the edge of a bath tub and holds your soap. I'm thinking armchair, but if you do any hand sewing in the tub...this will work great for that too, LOL!!

Here's my thought process...you need a few STRONG magnets...not the crafty ones. They sell strong ones in the hardware store too.

Put the magnets on the bottom of the soap dish. They stick on their own because teh dish is metal

I found some of the strong silver magnets too.

The magnets on the back of the metal dish make the top part magnetic to hold your pins and needles in place!

If that doesn't work for your soap dish, use my ever popular magnetic business cards. You know I use these a lot. Click HERE for other projects using these magnets

The magnetic business cards have a sticky side...

and a magnetic side.

Peel and stick it to the top of the soap dish.

Now it holds your pins and needles too.

Now onto more fun with this idea. These clips are name badge reels. They hold a name badge and they also pull out with a string like a tape measure.

I found these in the office supply section of Walmart...4 for $1.88.

Clip the reel to the handle of the soap dish.

Open up the name badge holder that has a snap closure and add your little scissors.

Now you can pull the reel to clip your threads, but never lose your scissors in the chair.

Ok, here's where the demise of this idea came for me :(

See that arm of the couch off to the left...that's where this adorable soap dish WAS going to fit. WAS is the operative word here. The couch is fairly new and I forgot that the little brown pillow is "attached" to the arm of the couch, so my little sewing helper doesn't fit here.

Works on the pillow though. I will find a place for this...seems like the armchairs in my house are a little too big.

Still wanted to share the idea though, just in case the soap dish, armchair sewing table, thinga ma bob might work for you.

It is great to have all your sewing needs in one place when you are doing your hand sewing and you'll never lose them in the couch!!

Happy Sewing,
~Karen~