What are you favourite new craft tools - or craft tools in general???

[Onyxnox]

I was just going through my Christmas list, since DH and the in laws like for me to make a list to help guide them, and thinking of some of things I want, and the things I love, and wondering what tools others love.

One of my favourite new tools is an articulated ruler, which makes it easy to measure lengths for something like bracelets.  I saw it as I was whipping through a craft show at the end of the day and grabbed one, it cost me like $3 and I am thinking I would like a couple more to give to other friends, and to have an extra or two to throw into my travel work cases - they would even be handy at work.

http://www.michaels.com/Folding-Ruler/bd1304,default,pd.html

Mine is a different brand, but it is essentially the same thing.

I am also in love with the Vintaj metal cutters - they are smaller and slimmer than the big tin snips you get at hardware stores, so I find that they are better at smaller cuts, and fit my hand better - my hands are ridiculously short and stubby, and I find that they get sore and achy now, when handling large awkward tools.

http://vintaj.com/products/proddsp.asp?which=V-319PC

Most of all though, I am in love with the new (to me) oak table in my craft room - it is thick, and heavy, and huge - probably about 5 feet long or so, and 3 feet wide, with two very deep drawers in it.  It was an old piece that my best friend's mom inherited and she used as a kitchen work table.  She was saving it for one of her non-bio kids (like me) to take when they got their own place.  So I took her up on her offer - it was too big as a dining table for us, but when DH let me have our old bedroom for the craft room, I called her ASAP to see if the offer was still up.  It is great as a sewing table, and can handle the smacking from when I am pounding metal with a hammer on the bench block, and so many other things.

As for all around loves - I love my nylon jawed pliers - they seem to smooth out any mistakes made with wire.  I am also in love with my die cutting machines - I have used them so much this past year for so many projects - embossing metal, embossing leather, die cutting aluminum cans, making cards, cutting and embossing materials to make mini books - love my Cuttlebug!

So what are your favourite tools, and favourite newest tools?

[LimeRiot]

Ooooo! Folding ruler! I'm adding that to my wish list.

I LOVE my Addi turbo clicks and I'm thinking of giving myself the lace set for my birthday . I use my rotary cutters constantly. I need more so that I can start assigning some to paper and some to fabric duties . I'm asking for a few different craft books this year too.

[Onyxnox]

I am totally in love with my Addi set too - I was incredibly disappointed last week when DH took me to a new (to me) yarn store so I could use a GC his brother got me, and they were out of the lace tips - I wanted a set of those too.  However, stupid me, I could have picked up some extra cables. 

Have you seen the Namaste buddy cases?  I asked for a couple of those because they look like awesome portable supply cases for knitting, crochet, beading, embroidery, etc.  I am really hoping I get a couple in the super pretty colours they have! 

http://www.namasteinc.com/products/accessories/accessories_all.php

[LimeRiot]

Oh my gosh!! I must have that circular case! Such pretty colors. And how cute are these... http://www.namasteinc.com/includes/products/accessories/cozy/pop_cozy_photos.php ?? I need 100 of them .

[Onyxnox]

LOL - I missed those - I wonder if they are too late to add to my list?

[Blacksmith]

My anvils and my lathes

[Listessa]

My most favorite thing for beading on the go, is actually the hard case a set of Gear Wrench brand ratcheting nut drivers came in.  It is just big enough to hold all of my supplies, plus a little batter operated LED Ott Light (another favorite!). 

I'm also having a beadgasm over the little tiny funnels for taming seed beads.  Nary a spill was had even while cutting one string free from a hank to work with over vacation.