It isn't a notion for sewing, but I recently found that an old pair of kitchen tongs hanging close to your sewing area is invaluable when you drop your project. a spool of thread rolls away. I have back problems, and bending over to retrieve is uncomfortable, I plan on putting a small magnet on it. Another nice tool, an expandable magnet. You can get them in quilting catalogs, but I found mine at Ace hardware, extends to about 30 inches, and the magnet is larger and stronger, great for catching pins, metal bobbins etc, that you have dropped. I dropped a packet of needles, and the magnet was strong enough to pick it up through the plastic.