Thread/Scissor Caddy/Pin Cushion

Finished product

Photographic steps to making a thread caddy. This was my first attempt, so I know that future attempts, I will eliminate the spool holder on each end, as it is hindering the way the chain hangs. the hooks get screwed into the bottom of the board after it's covered with the fabric. The chain is attached on either end with the upholstery tacks. Whenever I make a new one, I will post the steps on there as well. Hopefully it will have a better turnout.
The board is about 20 inches or so long and about the width of the thread spool, or a little wider and about 1 to 1/5 inches deep. Use large thread spools to judge how far apart you need to put them. I put 10 spools on mine. While they are all sitting in place, use a pencil and go down inside the main hole of each spool and mark the board. This is where you'll drill the holes.
You will need a dowel rod, 3/16 diameter, cut into 3-inch pieces, however many you will need, sand rough edges off.
You will need a 7/32 drill bit. Drill the holes about half the depth of the board itself. If you aren't sure about stopping in time, measure the board's depth. I used a piece of masking tape to mark the drill bit as to where to stop.
Fabric should be thick, similar to upholstery fabric, or something just as strong. You will sew a hem on all four sides, to keep from fraying, as well as to help hold up to the staples. Make sure your finished fabric is about 6 inches longer than the board length, 3 inches on each end. About 6 inches wider, again 3 inches each side.
 Place the board holes up. Place fabric over top, centering the board. Starting with the middle holes, one at a time, put a bit of hot glue in the hole, cover then pound one of the dowel pegs in. Stagger, changing sides, and work your way out toward the ends. This was my mistake, and I started at one end and went to the other, almost running out of fabric on the last end. Once the pegs are all in place, use some fiber fill, or cotton batting and tuck in along one side, stuffing some around the pegs, pull snug, then use staple gun & staple fabric to bottom of board. Make sure your filling is even across each side. Once both sides are filled and stapled, tuck in your ends, and staple as well.
Take a length of decorative, but strong chain, about 18 inches, depending on the length of your board. Use an upholstery tack to secure chain to each end of the board.
Lastly, use screw-in hooks (I only used 3) and screw into bottom of board for scissors to hang from.
Try not to put pegs as close to the ends as I did; another mistake I made. My pattern was a memory of over 40 years!

My Trip to Alaska in July 2010

 A seagull at Cook Inlet outside Anchorage

 Cook Inlet

 If I remember correctly, this was taken from near the top of Flat Top Mountain. We only made it about 3/4 the way up.

 Mt. McKinley, a.k.a. Denali. I was lucky to get a shot of the peak. Usually, there is a lot of cloud cover hiding the peak.

 This is the little town of Talkeetna, AK. Very popular with tourists & locals alike. Anybody brave enough to attempt a climb of Denali, has to register here & be flown to the base camp from here.

 I shot pics of so many mountains, I couldn't even begin to tell you which was which, other than Denali. We went all over the place.

 Mama moose & calf grazing in the marsh.

 The midnight sun, setting over the mountain in Fairbanks, AK. I shot this pic at 3 minutes past midnight, out the motel window.

 This was taken at Chena Hot Springs.  A lot of people like this place, but honestly, it didn't appeal to me at all.

 This little squirrel was at Chena Hot Springs. He was munching on a mushroom, oblivious to the humans surrounding him.

 A large stack of moose antlers at Chena Hot Springs.

 Glenna & I sitting on the Alaska Pipeline.

 Tim & Glenna also took me on a wildlife/glacier cruise in Prince William Sound. This was the highlight of my Alaska trip.

 Sea lions soaking up the sun.

 Bald Eagles were numerous around Esther Hatchery, which is a salmon hatchery in Prince William Sound.

 A actually got a shot of a salmon jumping out of the water.

 Mama & calf Humpback whales.

 Sea otters at play.

 This is the main glacier on the cruise. It's called Surprise Glacier. We pulled up about 1/4 mile away from the glacier to watch the calving. Calving is when huge chunks of the glacier break away and fall into the water. When this happens, the breakaway sounds like thunder echoing!

 Still part of Surprise Glacier.

 Yet another shot of Surprise Glacier.

 A shot of Glenna (right) & I with Surprise Glacier in the background.

 A waterfall created from melting glaciers.

 Another glacier as we were driving out of Whittier. Whittier is a tiny town that is actually closed off during the winter. It is only a boating community. You have to drive through a 2.2 mile long tunnel cut through a mountain to get there, and the tunnel is only accessible during certain hours of the day. Automobile traffic must share this tunnel with a freight train. The passages are timed accordingly.

I had a great time while I was there. We also went 4-wheeling at Denali National Park. That was the first time I had ever been on a 4-wheeler, but it felt natural. I had a blast!