I recently found this little tomato bowl that called my name. (Maybe because I love fresh summer tomatoes with a passion. The store-bought kind you get in the winter, make me gag. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but I know I'm not.)
I thought this would make a really sweet little pin-dish. I found this bowl at a Pearl River Mart - a chinese supply shop that carried lots of cute rice bowls this size.
To keep those pins from sliding around and dumping out easily, I decided to magnetize the bowl. I found these neodymium magnetic buttons in the craft aisle at Walmart. They're extra strong so that they'll attract through the porcelain. They're also really thin so that they'll lie comfortably under the dish. (Do you like this really professional, Martha-looking picture?? 🙂 I was too excited to try my project before I stopped to take fancy photos.)
I attached the magnets with more E6000. Because they were small, I used two magnets to strengthen the magnetic pull. I know these neodymium magnets come in bigger sizes, I was just too excited to try my idea so I grabbed the ones available at Walmart.
And voila - my happy little magnetic pin dish - so much more aesthetically pleasing than the royal blue plastic one I was using. This would be equally adorable with a great piece of thrift-store china. Let me know if you try it at home!
Sherri says
What a great idea Amy!
SewSara says
that's brillianT~ i love it! thanks for sharing 🙂
madebymum says
what a good idea my pin dish is always spilling.
Suzan says
Great idea! I can't wait to go find some of those magnets!!
Jackie says
Fabulous idea and pretty too!
Leslie says
this is an awesome idea...i would never have known that you could use the magnet through the porcelain
Jennifer says
This is so smart! Thanks for sharing!<br /><br />Jennifer 🙂
Christine says
Such a great idea, thanks!
pinksuedeshoe says
Love that little dish, so so cute! Have you tried the little tomato's at Costco? They are like 2 inches across and come in a package of (a lot) like 20? They are surprisingly ripe and delicious. Like amazingly so. Even in February. This is going on my project list. I'm off to find the perfect dish!
Kara says
I am stunned at the brilliance of this idea. Why the heck didn't I think of that. Love it!
Shelley says
Very "smart" tip Ms. Smart! 🙂
Vicki @ DottyJane says
I'm making one of these! Great idea:)
Tammy Vasser says
Awesome idea! Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try it!
Nanette Merrill and daughters says
oh my gosh, that is so cute!
Anonymous says
What a wonderful idea. I've been using thrift store finds for years but for the regular kind of pincushion made with a needlepunched ball of wool. You idea allows all the wonderful colors and shapes in the china to shine through. Thanks for sharing. I think my next trip to the store will include magnet shopping.
Florence says
What a wonderful idea. My magnetic pincushion is so useful that I've put up with the fact that it's an uglybug until now...it's days are numbered though...I am now on the trail of some strong magnets. <br /><br />Thank you for the fantastic and incredibly Marthaish tutorial, <br /><br />Florence x
Florence says
It's, its....arg, sorry too awful not to correct it...or at least recomment on! x
Kathy Wilcox says
Love this idea...Thank you so much for sharing!!<br />Love your "tomaot" dish...I am going to my thrift store tomorrow to see what I can find 🙂
Jaci says
I see an attractive replacement for my paper clip holder on my classroom desk! Thanks for the idea.
ktquilts says
Nothing like seeing this link on tip nut and clicking on it only to come to a blog THAT I ALREADY FOLLOW!!!!!! How did I miss this the first time? Great pin dish!!<br /><br />Ditto the summer tomatoes!<br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />KT
PennyPie says
Great IDEA!!! Thrift store shopping for me!!!
casserole says
Genius!! I love my magnetic "wand" for my pins, but it's less than attractive. I think I'll be on the lookout for a cute little dish now.<br /><br />I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:<br />https://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-magnetic-dish-pin-holder/2010/07/29/<br /><br />--Anne
Erika says
Thanks for the great idea, it's beautiful!
Sarah @ Mum In Bloom says
Visiting from Nettacow. That dish is so gorgeous I could scream! What a neat idea you came up with 🙂
Lenetta @ Nettacow says
Love this, and I think I'll put it on my handmade Christmas gift list to give to my MIL who is a quilter! I linked to this on my <a href="https://nettacow.blogspot.com/2010/08/link-roundup-pandoras-box-edition.html" rel="nofollow">weekly roundup</a> - thanks for sharing!
Carolyn says
Love your ideas! this pin dish is perfect! You can even glue a piece of felt fabric to the back. It would make the perfect gift.
Lynette @ My Craft Discovery says
love the idea.
Carol in E TN says
Actually, I made one of these for a quilt friend who came for a visit. She was so happy with it since it was a pretty dish from Romania!
Flannery Buchanan says
I love this idea! I can't wait to try it. My husband is always getting on me to pick up all of my pins that seem to float around the house:)!<br /><br />Flannery @ threesisterz.blogspot.com
V and Co. says
oh my freak! so going to do these!!!!!!!!!
Kristen says
What a great idea! I'm definitely going to make one. Thanks.<br />Kristen
Danielle Bartran says
I love this! How simple too! I can't wait to make one for myself and maybe my mother in law too!
Diana's Doings says
Hi, <br />That is a great idea!! I will have to find the perfect bowl and try it, Thanks<br />Diana
joelle=le ptit colibri says
great idea !!<br />I'll try it as soon I'll find magnets<br />thanks for sharing !
Melissa_Loves_Broccoli says
clever! I like this because I seem to never stick them in the cushions as I sew and end up with a pile next to my machine!
Gidget says
This is just a great idea!<br />Gonna make one for myself...
Amy says
Thanks! Helped the children make these and they turned out great! I just posted pictures on the blog.
fritter says
Thank you! What a great idea for my guild buddies Christmas gift!
Susie Quilter says
Duh, why didn't I think of that? <br />But, I have a metal bowl that I got at an auto supply store instead. I'm thinking that it is really ugly but very functional so... after looking at your picture I was thinking I could use some fabric and some starch or "Stiffy Stuff" and "Line" the metal bowl with the still wet fabric and it would still work but look nicer. Off to
Jackie says
That is an awesome idea, thanks for sharing.
91f2c6fe-580b-11e2-a2f9-000bcdcb471e says
Thank you so much for sharing this. I live in Alabama and a dear friend in West Virginia sent this to me!
WLWK4FD aka The Faux Fae says
Thank you so much for this idea! I made a couple and blogged about them and directed people to this post on your blog. I would love to know what you think!
faye conley says
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I already have the perfect dish. I had this same idea a while back when I found this dish. But my magnets did not work, so I will tey again using your kind. Thanks for the help!
La Pecora Nera says
Great idea! Thank you from Italy, Emanuela
Maggie says
That is an adorable dish! I will have to keep my eye out for something cute that will work. Thanks for the tip!
Foxflower says
I've done this but using only one magnet, which didn't work well. I used the self adhesive extra strong magnets. I guess I'll get some more magnets and add them where I can.
Virginia Severson says
Love it!
kay says
I have long been using a small dish hand-painted by my great-great-grandmother. But adding magnets to the bottom is brilliant!
Nita says
OMG, I have two dishes that would suit this idea perfectly! An antique blue glass dish and an antique painted china dish. I've been hanging on to them because they are so pretty, but otherwise I don't have a use for them. Now I do! Thanks!
Sharon says
I am going to try this and i do have a little dish already just need the magnets...thanks for sharing...
gaylynn says
Love, love, love it! I'll have to look for a special little dish. Thanks so much for the idea.
Libelula Manualidades says
Wow i re like it. Beautiful !!! i go now to buy some magnetics
Karen K from Buffalo says
Love this & so much prettier & easier to just toss the pins into the dish. Great idea!
Pauline says
I love this idea - thanks for sharing - and your photos are fab.
Pauline
Susan says
Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea. I have also used duct tape to attach my magnets so I can re use the little dish or switch it out when I find a new one at a thrift shop . I have also used glass spray paint to paint a cute dish a fun color from a thrift I store really enjoy your posts. Keep them coming
Thelma Cooper aka Tedda says
I'm thinking a glass or plastic dish you can see through ($ store) and some MOD PODGE either on a pretty single sheet of a paper napkin or even cloth backing to make an original. Then the magnets! I have done the dishes before, but did not think of magnets for pin dishes!
Amy says
That's a great idea!
Linda says
I love that magnetic bowl, sure looks better than the plastic ones or the stainless steel ones from Harbor Freight
Amy says
Thanks! I think so too!
JEAN says
How cute! I was looking for an fmq tut of yours with wavy lines and I got distracted by this sweet bowl. I have to make one! Thank you!
-Jean ❤
Twyla says
Love your cute ideas. When you purchase tomatoes leave them out on the counter for about 5-7 days and they will taste much better.
Julie Vogel says
It has been a while since you created this cute idea, but I saw it on your pinterest page. Love it!
Susie Busch says
I love this pin idea and I am going to try it. I love your website and hope u don’t change it too much!! So many wonderful ideas!! Loved the scrap storage ideas. I have mine in large glass jars, and I really need to sort them out!!! Anyway your newsletter is my favorite. Thank you!!!
Amy says
Aww, thank you so much!
Deb Hall says
I want to make the magnetic pin bowls for my guild. In the picture with the 2 magnets on the bottom I am wondering if the two are laid down with opposite poles. Thanks