I'll second the stiletto idea. I love using mine to pull up the bobbin thread while FMQ. It always seems to want to hide under the presser foot. Got my in the secret swap here on the forum.

Tweezers, rippers, and a small magnifying mirror!!

A scrap sack for pins and to hold scraps

Each year my guild leader gives everyone a small gift at Christmas. By far the most used one was a credit card holder. Simple to make and nice to keep all of those shop punch cards in so they don't get lost or left at home.

Fat Quarters suckers?? http://patches.typepad.com/notes_fro...r-suckers.html

Magnetic Bowl for pins? Get small bowls from local thrift shop, glue magnet on bottom.

Handmade luggage tags? I have several I use on everything. Especially my camera, I have never laid it down and not be able to find it. Tag has my name and phone number. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/229754018469526514/

A bah!humbug bag is a great gift. I made one for everyone in my guild and that was a popular gift that year.

Sounds like a cute idea. Do you have a picture or a pattern? I don't think I have seen one.

I got a really neat ss gift of a metal periscoping/retractable magnet wand. It is great to pick up pins from the floor with out bending over or crawling onto the floor. At my age it is hard to get up. I have no idea where they found it, but it is useful in the sewing room.

Also something inexpensive and I use all the time is the little plastic holder that holds beeswax inside. For me they only last a year, maybe.

I use those magnetic pin holders so maybe one of those? I keep one on the ironing board and one on the sewing desk.

The soft plastic bobbin holder donuts are nice and I have one for each machine.

I like the idea of a tote bag that is big enough to hold a 12" square ruler but not too fat. I have a tote that I put elastic straps on the sides to hold the rulers in place and pockets in the 2 " side pieces to hold marking pens at one side and my cutter on the other. I would include any of the guild paperwork for newbies. The graph paper and colored pencils are a great idea. And things we all need to replace (or should replace) such as a seam ripper. Depending on what you want to spend, rotary blades and marking pens would be great additions. I agree that we really don't need more pin cushions or other items that really don't wear out.

Where do you find the metal bases for these. I do have a set like that made for shish-kebabs on a grill, but have never seen small ones. What are they made for?