Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: People who do embroidery, quilting or cross-stitch buy expensive leather thimbles. They can be around $10. I buy heavy leather gloves, cut the fingers off and use them for thimbles. You get 10 from each pair. – Marsha Brady, Wabash, Ind.

Marsha, I do the same and wear the gloves when driving my motorcycle (with a sidecar). My hands are protected and warm, but I can snap, zip and close things. Visit www.Heloise.com for photos. – Heloise

Dear Heloise: After years of keeping a spring clothespin or two in our travel bag to use for holding hotel-room drapes shut, etc., we have discovered something that works better – binder clips from the office-supply department. Besides the drapery use, they work well for holding the rolled-up end of a partially used toothpaste tube, and they make great chip clips and bookmarks. – Longtime Fan, via e-mail