my favorite quilting gadget is my husband. he is retired. i do not have a quilting buddy (except you guys) and he is always a good sport helping me opt on fabric choices, colors, etc. that is, if he does not have to get out of his chair. so, i have to haul everything to pick from into the den and lay it on the floor. he quickly points to the one to use and then back to the ballgame....freeky as it sounds, he is usually right. you sure can tell he spent 30 something years in army.