What a wonderful batch of tips, thanks everyone, I've learned a lot.
I have a couple of those little 48 drawer parts cabinets (I think I got it at Walmart)for all my little assorted goodies, like jewelry findings, pompoms, odd small spools of threads. crochet needles. flower stamens, odd pencils. etc, etc.
One of the midsized drawers is full of safety pins that I bought from a laundromat/drycleaner place-perfect for pinning a quilt, no rust and they're over 20 years old. I think they charged me a dollar for a whole box of them. But if you are a regular at the drycleaners you might want to ask if you can buy a box of them.