Poppyprint comes to town

And today we are honoured, excited and privileged to have a visitor from Canada on the blog - only my very special and gifted friend Krista Poppyprint.  If you don't know her blog, you need to get on over there pronto.  And without further ado ... may we welcome to the blog ... Krista aka Poppyprint...with a fabulous Christmas gift suggestion for any quilters in your life.

We're getting down to the wire, folks. Not many shopping days left now, which is why my quilter's gift idea is IDEAL for last minute {husband-type} shoppers. Like mine. Why? Because he won't have to go near a mall, sewing center or fabric shop**.

Nosiree, for this extra-special-highly-functional gift, your man can go to Mecca. His Mecca. That's right: the hardware store. He'll love you even more just for suggesting it! Before he even reaches the cash-out, he'll be high-fiving other last minute shopping men who are buying their poor wives a cordless drill for Christmas, secure in the knowledge that he dreamed up the most fabulous present ever known to quilting wives.

THE ROLLING TOOLBOX

As a retreat organizer, my tools and supplies are on the move monthly. My retreat clientele are a clever bunch and a couple of years ago, several of the gals started showing up with all of their gear securely packed in these affordable, lightweight toolboxes.  I immediately put one on my Christmas list.  I'm pretty sure my husband thought he'd hit the jackpot when he saw that my gift was available at Canadian Tire - not only could he complete his shopping, but he could pick up some new windshield wipers for the car, a roll of duct tape and a new outdoor extension cord for the Christmas lights. Score!

house tape measure by Laurraine, pattern available here

These units are like rolling luggage for the traveling quilter.  But without the quilt store price tag (again, can I hear a hallelujah from the husbands, please?). The top box has a handy tray for all your marking tools, cutting implements, hand cream, bobbins, pins, measuring tape and emergency mints/chocolate.  Below the tray is an open (or slotted compartment, depending on the brand) area for fabric, patterns, rulers, first aid kit.

rotary cutter pouch by Suzanne

The boxes have varying features depending on manufacturer. My box (made by tool giant Stanley) has this fantastic turny tray for hardware bits that is perfect for buttons, snaps, clasps, grommets, D-rings and the like.

Finally, the top box is a detachable stand-alone tool box. Below it you've got another open bin for bulky stuff like a power bar, Ott light, extension cord or more fabric. Although I cannot prove it, a bottle of wine fits beautifully in here, too.

Here you have all three main components of your sewing room on wheels:

I keep mine fairly loaded at all times and it sits right beside the chair in my home sewing room, so all my notions are easily accessible.  When at retreat, it assumes the same position:

ooo look, it's Felicity over there on the left! 

 That's Elizabeth's thread catcher and Anna's 241 bag in the shot as well.

Hi ho, hi ho, off to retreat I go......

photo by Felicity

See how happy I look? See how my arms and shoulders are not laden with heavy and cumbersome totebags and boxes?  This could be YOU!  

** manquilters, please excuse the implication that you, too, are last minute shoppers based solely on your gender. As creative quilting types, I am making the assumption that all your gifts are completed and wrapped, like mine, and you are hereby exempt from the last-minute-shopper stereotype presented in this post for comedic effect.