What to put in new sewing box?

[lunavix]

My friend gave me a lovely sewing box last christmas, and as I'm just getting into sewing, not sure what essentials to get and where from! Thanks

A trip to John Lewis' haby department should see you right! My essentials are:
small pair of needlework scissors
large pair of scissors for cutting fabric
a pack of assorted needles
a pack of glass head pins (don't get plastic, you can't iron over them!)
a toothpick (as a spacer for sewing on buttons)
a thimble
a few safety pins
cotton thread- black, white, brown and a few basic colours
tape measure
"that purple thang" (google it )
seam ripper
packs of poppa snaps in black and silver
marker pencil

That's in my basic sewing box.
I also have a bits and bobs box with ribbons, lace etc - mainly hoarded...

awww thank you fab list :D Already have the bits and bobs box (I'm a scrapper so I have a bits and bobs room!)

I might have a nose and see if JL do online, nearest is miles away.

This might be a daft question, but what's a toothpick?

Obviously I catch the gist but the nearest I think I've ever seen used is a cocktail stick :D

Ooooh, Thanks for this thread. At the tender age of 36 I've decided it is time I learmed to sew. I was going to creat a simillar one but great minds and aqll that

Got a few basic bits but this is fab

No, it's not a weirdy sewing thing, it's the wee wooden pointy stick you use to get corn cob bits out from between your teeth! AKA a cocktail stick .
happy sewing!