Get a patent. If it is a salable tool then you have to have the tool made and packaged. Then you go vend and demo at all the quilt markets to get a distributor to wholesale your tool to quilt shops. You go to all the quilt shows to vend to quilters. One of the newest products out there for quilters and designed and marketed by an individual is Pinmoors. http://www.pinmoor.com/ I would contact her and see is she would give you some start up advice or who to contact first. Watch the reruns of Shark Tank!

Thank you to all that answered. Has given me some direction. Leanne

I want to emphasize what someone else said - by all means sign and date all drawings, etc. but have them notarized as you go along. A date can be faked on anything.

And be prepared to litigate over any infringements on your patents. if you have a successful product, the sharks (not the ones in the tank) will be out to steal, "modify". whatever. If you ar enot prepared to defend in court, your patants are worht nothing.

my daughter is going through this process on an idea she came up with: what she has learned is
1. use an intellectual property attorney, 2. Even if idea isn't something that can be patented ( too general), you can trademark a brand logo or name

If you are wanting someone to test drive and give you honest feed back, you have plenty of people here on the board that, i'm sure, would be willing to do so -- including me. I am always looking for something to make free motion quilting easier so will wait patiently to see what you have to offer.

Have no idea's for you sorry but if you ever need people for testing would LOVE to try it. If it can get me free motion quilting I'd be your first customer

My DH has 7 patent plaques on the wall for inventions when he was in the nuclear business. He says if he were to invent anything else, and wanted someone else to market it, he would write everything down and mail it to himself before mailing it to a company. That way you have proof that it was your idea before it was sent to the company. Do not open the invention envelope that you mail to yourself. Just a thought and it is much cheaper than a patent. They are very expensive.

Try "The Shark Tank" : ) I LOVE that show!!! (or get in touch with the lady who does QVC)

I just heard of something that may help....go to www.kickstarter.com & see what that's all about!

We have a Dragons Den in the UK, where wealthy entrepreneurs put up the funding for new business ventures. Perhaps you should try and get such a sponsor to help you. I am sure it will fly off the shelves and I will be in the queue.