Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: My daughter collects and wears a variety of TACK PINS, such as those sold at restaurants. She wears multiple pins on her jacket, which, of course, gets tossed around a lot. The backs on the pins come off, and the pins get lost. Is there any way to keep the backs in place to prevent the loss of the pins? -- Pat Kreager, via e-mail

Your daughter might want to put a small drop of clear nail polish on the pin clasp to hopefully keep it in place. The only other suggestion I can think of would be permanent glue, but if she likes changing the pins, this might not work.

My assistant Kelly says she likes to collect these types of pins, too, and puts them on a frilly pillow so that when she wants one, she can easily find it. -- Heloise

FAST FACTS

Here are five handy ways to reuse a clean ice-cream tub:

Use to hold pencils.

Put toys in one.

Put meals in one for friends.

Store cookies in one.

Use in a dorm for toiletries.

BABY THANK-YOU

Dear Heloise: A great thank-you for a baby gift is to take a picture with the gift. If clothing was given, take a photo of the baby dressed in the clothing. Givers will appreciate the photo and the thank-you, and they get a personalized thank-you. -- Delores, via fax

A photo is a lovely way to say "thank you"! If flowers have been sent, I try to include a photo of the flowers so the giver can enjoy them, too. -- Heloise

NO SEWING MESS

Dear Heloise: I always had such a mess to clean up after doing a sewing project. Then I found the following: I attached a kitchen trash bag to the end of my sewing table. As I sew and have scraps, threads, etc., I simply push them right into the bag. Cleanup is a snap now, and my sewing room is always neat. -- Gina M., via e-mail

CD THEFT

Dear Heloise: When I bought my new car, it had a CD player. I bought a case that would fit 50 or so CDs and went through all my CDs, picking out my favorites and placing them in the holder. Then I went to the store, left the CD case on the seat, and someone broke into my car and stole the case! I lost at least $700 worth of CDs! What a drag. I wanted to write this to warn others not to leave CDs in their car. -- Austin, Texas, Reader

SOUND OFF

Dear Heloise: With all the credit cards and bank cards moving in and out of our purses and wallets, it's most irritating that manufacturers use magnetic closing devices on these accessories. No matter how careful I've been, more than once I've had the magnetic strip on a card zapped because it got just a little too close to the clasp. -- Linda R. in Pennsylvania

©2006 by King Features Syndicate Inc.