I use a dish drainer to store my rulers.
Gift wrap tissue paper (white) for applique, paper piecing and tracing my quilting designs,
Shoe cabinet to hold fat quarters.
Hanging closet organizer to keep fabrics for my WIPs separated.

I hand quilt and I have arthritis in my hands.

I use these needle nosed curved, spring loaded pliers to pull the needles through. They really save my wrists.

http://www.service.kleintools.com/To...uct/D338-51/2C

I got mine from Harbor Freight for $2.

Six foot cabinet to hold my fabric stash
decorative baskets to hold thread garbage behind my sewing machine another decorative basket on my cutting table (old kitchen table -garage sale find for $20), because gosh forbid I walk the 5 feet to the other basket to throw out scraps!
Old computer desk that doubles as sewing table (plenty of quilt books underneath)

Hubby - he's colorblind but can't be beat when it comes to value

Small scrapbook orginizer that works great for holding my rulers, shears, needles, quilting odds and ends. Works great to keep it all compact and in one place since I don't have a dedicated sewing place.

Random metal tin to hold my saftey pins

Piece of foam stuffed in my machine foot peddle. Helps with speed contol.

chop sticks for turning and pushing out points.

cuticle stick for manipulating fabric near the needle on the machine.

foam insulation for design wall.

folding table with foam insulation for my piecing and quilting.

vinyl on foam insulation to help the quilt slide smoothly.

silicon spray to make the quilt slide smoothly when quilting.

non stick oven cover to help the quilt slide smoothly (aka cheap supreme slider).

parchment paper for an applique pressing sheet.

freezer paper for applique.

marble for pin basting a quilt

bull nose clips to hold the binding in place

various size tweezers to hold thread or fabric in place while sewing.

laundry basket for a scrap bin.

bathroom vanity and old kitchen counter tops from our remodel are now the work surface in my studio.

my sliding glass door are used as a light box to transfer designs.

a black light to help me see my glow in the dark quilting lines.

I position grocery bags on the floor at every point where I think I'll want to discard stuff. For example, one sits on the left side of my sewing machine and another sits on the right. I have 4 positioned at different spots around my cutting table. So handy!

I know Eleanore Burns throws her scraps over her shoulder, but I don't have the staff she does :-)

* standing deskt top file folder organizer to hold rulers, and smaller bins at front for rotary cutters, scissors etc.

* desk top lazy susan with bins in it normally for pens etc -- holds all the miscellany I use at the sewing machine: scissors, small rulers, stitch rippers, trimming scissors, tape measure, extra bobbins, pins, pens, markers, chalk sticks, etc.

* brass fireplace newspaper holder -- holds files and patterns

* decorator/cutesy metal cans/pails on top of my cutting table and at sewing machine, one for crumbs and one for loose threads, fabric smaller than crumbs and any other garbage!

* decorated 6 quart basket holds ironing board needs -- spray starch, sizing, water squirter, tea towel for press cloth, etc.

* snap type hair clips to hold binding or hems for hand sewing

* zip lock bags for storing blocks pre-cut and waiting to sew; and larger projects; extra large ones to "kit" projects

* chewing gum cannisters for storing odds and ends ... whatever fits! :)

* preserving jars for storage -- plus can be pretty, being that they are see thru

* comfy couch!!! -- definite MUST when hand stitching/binding!! :lol:

* and oh, can't forget the TV!! :)

I took a sample bottle for a migraine tablet and converted it into a replica of the pounce container. It even has a flip lid that makes refilling it a breeze.

A canning wand meant to pick up the lids and seals out of boiling water (it's magnetic on one end) to pick up pins and dropped needles off the floor. (saves me bending all the way, or even finding it)

Oh, and I have a long arm machine- I sewed a 10 foot long zipper onto my leaders for quick loading of the quilt. Zippers that long are meant for sleeping bags and tents.

Been using the toilet brush for 10 yrs,
magnetic dish for seam ripper and scissors
Hanging clear plastic shoe org for my quilting spools of thread.
Magnetic telescoping thingy for picking up pins.
baby ponytail holders for keeping bobbins from unraveling.
Tall coffee cup for my other scissors
old treadle machine drawer for note pads and glues and such
I know theres more, just can't think it is the end of the day, I mean just saying, lol