diff --git a/src/Utils.hs b/src/Utils.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Utils.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- |
+-- Module      :  Utils
+-- Copyright   :  (c) Andrea Rossato
+-- License     :  BSD3
+-- 
+-- Maintainer  :  Andrea Rossato <andrea.rossato@unibz.it>
+-- Stability   :  unstable
+-- Portability :  unportable
+--
+--  Utilities for xmonad-utils
+--
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+module Utils where
+
+import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Monad
+import Graphics.X11.Xlib
+import System.Posix.Types (Fd(..))
+
+-- creates an invisible cursor
+nullCursor :: Display -> Window -> IO Cursor
+nullCursor d w = do
+  let c = Color 0 0 0 0 0
+  p <- createPixmap d w 1 1 1
+  cursor <- createPixmapCursor d p p c c 0 0
+  freePixmap d p
+  return cursor
+
+initColor :: Display -> String -> IO Pixel
+initColor dpy color = do
+  let colormap = defaultColormap dpy (defaultScreen dpy)
+  (apros,_) <- allocNamedColor dpy colormap color
+  return $ color_pixel apros
+
+waitASecond :: Int -> IO ()
+waitASecond i =
+    threadDelay (i*1000000)
+
+-- A version of maskEvent that does not block in foreign calls.
+maskEvent' :: Display -> EventMask -> XEventPtr -> IO ()
+maskEvent' d m p = do
+  pend <- pending d
+  if pend /= 0
+     then maskEvent d m p
+     else do
+       threadWaitRead (Fd fd)
+       maskEvent' d m p
+ where
+   fd = connectionNumber d
diff --git a/xmonad-utils.cabal b/xmonad-utils.cabal
--- a/xmonad-utils.cabal
+++ b/xmonad-utils.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:               xmonad-utils
-version:            0.1.1
+version:            0.1.2
 license:            BSD3
 license-file:       LICENSE
 author:             Andrea Rossato