Have an expensive pair of sewing scissors, but hesitate to bring it with you to workshops? Do what my husband did; take it to a jewelry store (a trophy shop can also do this) and have your name-Continued to the right...
...Continued from leftengraved on it (my husband also put a sweet sentiment on it and the date of the occasion). The few dollars it costs is well worth it, and if you ask your hubby to do this, all of your friends will think he's really swell!
Some of my favorite 'quilt fiction' books are Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper Mystery Series and Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilt Series.