cheap tomatoes and blog awards...

A short while ago, Violette from Handquilting was kind enough to give me Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008 award. Sorry it took me so long to post about it Violette!! Thanks so much for saying that you enjoy my blog and for naming me. It's so nice to hear and means a lot that people still find something in my posts and want to come back to read again. Since this award has gone around my blogging circle, I'll send out general thanks to everyone and say that I am constantly inspired by all the blogs I read every day!

Now I have a little tip to pass along to anyone who struggles with the same issue I do...identifying needles! See I often pull out my different assortment of needles for each project and then after using them, they get stuck here and there and the next time I go searching I have NO CLUE what size the found needle is in my hand or what I used it for. Now yes, certain ones are easily identified...but some are just too similar. Of course I could solve the whole thing by using one type but what's the fun in that!!?

SO here's my solution. I bought one of those cheap red tomato pin cushions at JoAnn and took my permanent marker and wrote in each section: the needle size, type and it's use. Works like a charm! I keep it near the hand stitching "station" and grab the needle I need and off I go! Sorry for the picture quality, taking those pics was harder than I thought it should be.

My section for the applique needles I use..Jeanna Kimball #11 straw's...My wool needles used for the fabulous Sue Spargo embellishments on my wool blocks!Plus hand quilting, crewel and embroidery! Just a trick I thought I'd pass along.