diff --git a/images/images.qrc b/images/images.qrc
index 4d065a3f68a..ed5a42ca92c 100644
--- a/images/images.qrc
+++ b/images/images.qrc
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@
         <file>themes/default/mIconFavourites.png</file>
         <file>themes/default/mIconFirst.png</file>
         <file>themes/default/mIconGeometryLayer.png</file>
+        <file>themes/default/mIconInfo.png</file>
         <file>themes/default/mIconLast.png</file>
         <file>themes/default/mIconLayer.png</file>
         <file>themes/default/mIconLineLayer.png</file>
diff --git a/images/themes/default/mIconInfo.png b/images/themes/default/mIconInfo.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..30766666889
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/themes/default/mIconInfo.png differ
diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
index caf1005bcfa..ec3f00dadf4 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
@@ -4040,11 +4040,11 @@ void QgisApp::labeling()
   if ( layer == NULL || layer->type() != QgsMapLayer::VectorLayer )
   {
     QWidget* msg = QgsMessageBar::createMessage(
-                     tr( "Labeling: " ),
+                     tr( "Labeling Options: " ),
                      tr( "Please select a vector layer first." ) ,
-                     QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconWarn.png" ),
+                     QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconInfo.png" ),
                      mInfoBar );
-    mInfoBar->pushWidget( msg, QgsMessageBar::WARNING, 4 );
+    mInfoBar->pushWidget( msg, QgsMessageBar::WARNING, 5 );
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptooladdfeature.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptooladdfeature.cpp
index f6904649424..f8d05137997 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptooladdfeature.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptooladdfeature.cpp
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ void QgsMapToolAddFeature::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
 
   if ( !vlayer )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Not a vector layer" ),
-                              tr( "The current layer is not a vector layer" ) );
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
@@ -72,9 +71,7 @@ void QgsMapToolAddFeature::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
 
   if ( !vlayer->isEditable() )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Layer not editable" ),
-                              tr( "Cannot edit the vector layer. Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable." )
-                            );
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptooladdpart.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptooladdpart.cpp
index 3bbc22095a6..8943a4293b0 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptooladdpart.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptooladdpart.cpp
@@ -39,18 +39,13 @@ void QgsMapToolAddPart::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
   QgsVectorLayer *vlayer = qobject_cast<QgsVectorLayer *>( mCanvas->currentLayer() );
   if ( !vlayer )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0,
-                              tr( "Not a vector layer" ),
-                              tr( "The current layer is not a vector layer" ) );
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
   if ( !vlayer->isEditable() )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0,
-                              tr( "Layer not editable" ),
-                              tr( "Cannot edit the vector layer. Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable." )
-                            );
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptooladdring.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptooladdring.cpp
index acc48ef77c7..18777a7b7f8 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptooladdring.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptooladdring.cpp
@@ -39,16 +39,13 @@ void QgsMapToolAddRing::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
 
   if ( !vlayer )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Not a vector layer" ),
-                              tr( "The current layer is not a vector layer" ) );
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
   if ( !vlayer->isEditable() )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Layer not editable" ),
-                              tr( "Cannot edit the vector layer. Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable." )
-                            );
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.cpp
index dbde6b6bc5d..c90d24eba35 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
  ***************************************************************************/
 
 #include "qgsmaptooledit.h"
+#include "qgisapp.h"
+#include "qgsapplication.h"
+#include "qgsmessagebar.h"
 #include "qgsproject.h"
 #include "qgsmapcanvas.h"
 #include "qgsrubberband.h"
@@ -119,4 +122,22 @@ int QgsMapToolEdit::addTopologicalPoints( const QList<QgsPoint>& geom )
   return 0;
 }
 
+void QgsMapToolEdit::notifyNotVectorLayer()
+{
+  QWidget* msg = QgsMessageBar::createMessage(
+                   QObject::tr( "No active vector layer: " ),
+                   QObject::tr( "Choose a vector layer in the legend" ) ,
+                   QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconInfo.png" ),
+                   QgisApp::instance()->messageBar() );
+  QgisApp::instance()->messageBar()->pushWidget( msg, QgsMessageBar::WARNING, 5 );
+}
 
+void QgsMapToolEdit::notifyNotEditableLayer()
+{
+  QWidget* msg = QgsMessageBar::createMessage(
+                   QObject::tr( "Layer not editable: " ),
+                   QObject::tr( "Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable" ) ,
+                   QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconInfo.png" ),
+                   QgisApp::instance()->messageBar() );
+  QgisApp::instance()->messageBar()->pushWidget( msg, QgsMessageBar::WARNING, 5 );
+}
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.h b/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.h
index ebc28d7e566..2173c373878 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.h
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptooledit.h
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ class QgsMapToolEdit: public QgsMapTool
        @return 0 in case of success*/
     int addTopologicalPoints( const QList<QgsPoint>& geom );
 
+    /**Display a timed message bar noting the active layer is not vector.
+       @note added in QGIS 1.9*/
+    void notifyNotVectorLayer();
+    /**Display a timed message bar noting the active vector layer is not editable.
+       @note added in QGIS 1.9*/
+    void notifyNotEditableLayer();
+
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptoolmovefeature.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptoolmovefeature.cpp
index a44d4fc0bd9..b3b0435dccf 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptoolmovefeature.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptoolmovefeature.cpp
@@ -56,14 +56,13 @@ void QgsMapToolMoveFeature::canvasPressEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
   QgsVectorLayer* vlayer = currentVectorLayer();
   if ( !vlayer )
   {
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
   if ( !vlayer->isEditable() )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Layer not editable" ),
-                              tr( "Cannot edit the vector layer. Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable." )
-                            );
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptooloffsetcurve.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptooloffsetcurve.cpp
index 09f7f463897..67b3fcb9a06 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptooloffsetcurve.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptooloffsetcurve.cpp
@@ -43,10 +43,16 @@ void QgsMapToolOffsetCurve::canvasPressEvent( QMouseEvent* e )
   mGeometryModified = false;
   mForceCopy = false;
 
+  if ( !mCanvas )
+  {
+    return;
+  }
+
   //get selected features or snap to nearest feature if no selection
   QgsVectorLayer* layer = currentVectorLayer();
-  if ( !mCanvas || !layer )
+  if ( !layer )
   {
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptoolreshape.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptoolreshape.cpp
index af81ab1a1f4..4bd05963e80 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptoolreshape.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptoolreshape.cpp
@@ -38,16 +38,13 @@ void QgsMapToolReshape::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
 
   if ( !vlayer )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Not a vector layer" ),
-                              tr( "The current layer is not a vector layer" ) );
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
   if ( !vlayer->isEditable() )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Layer not editable" ),
-                              tr( "Cannot edit the vector layer. Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable." )
-                            );
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptoolrotatepointsymbols.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptoolrotatepointsymbols.cpp
index 8a1537f2008..47db803dc65 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptoolrotatepointsymbols.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptoolrotatepointsymbols.cpp
@@ -78,10 +78,17 @@ void QgsMapToolRotatePointSymbols::canvasPressEvent( QMouseEvent *e )
   mActiveLayer = currentVectorLayer();
   if ( !mActiveLayer )
   {
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
-  if ( mActiveLayer->geometryType() != QGis::Point || !mActiveLayer->isEditable() )
+  if ( !mActiveLayer->isEditable() )
+  {
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if ( mActiveLayer->geometryType() != QGis::Point )
   {
     return;
   }
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptoolselectutils.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptoolselectutils.cpp
index ff67114f25b..0e501daf19a 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptoolselectutils.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptoolselectutils.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ email                : jpalmer at linz dot govt dot nz
 #include <limits>
 
 #include "qgsmaptoolselectutils.h"
+#include "qgisapp.h"
+#include "qgsapplication.h"
+#include "qgsmessagebar.h"
 #include "qgsmapcanvas.h"
 #include "qgsvectorlayer.h"
 #include "qgsfeature.h"
@@ -35,10 +38,12 @@ QgsVectorLayer* QgsMapToolSelectUtils::getCurrentVectorLayer( QgsMapCanvas* canv
   if ( !canvas->currentLayer()
        || ( vlayer = qobject_cast<QgsVectorLayer *>( canvas->currentLayer() ) ) == NULL )
   {
-    QMessageBox::warning( canvas, QObject::tr( "No active vector layer" ),
-                          QObject::tr( "To select features, you must choose a "
-                                       "vector layer by clicking on its name in the legend"
-                                     ) );
+    QWidget* msg = QgsMessageBar::createMessage(
+                     QObject::tr( "No active vector layer: " ),
+                     QObject::tr( "To select features, choose a vector layer in the legend" ) ,
+                     QgsApplication::getThemeIcon( "/mIconInfo.png" ),
+                     QgisApp::instance()->messageBar() );
+    QgisApp::instance()->messageBar()->pushWidget( msg, QgsMessageBar::WARNING, 5 );
   }
   return vlayer;
 }
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptoolsimplify.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptoolsimplify.cpp
index 008ea35c647..d16c342bbf4 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptoolsimplify.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptoolsimplify.cpp
@@ -251,6 +251,13 @@ bool QgsMapToolSimplify::calculateSliderBoudaries()
 void QgsMapToolSimplify::canvasPressEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
 {
   QgsVectorLayer * vlayer = currentVectorLayer();
+
+  if ( !vlayer )
+  {
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
+    return;
+  }
+
   QgsPoint layerCoords = mCanvas->getCoordinateTransform()->toMapPoint( e->pos().x(), e->pos().y() );
 
   double r = QgsTolerance::vertexSearchRadius( vlayer, mCanvas->mapRenderer() );
diff --git a/src/app/qgsmaptoolsplitfeatures.cpp b/src/app/qgsmaptoolsplitfeatures.cpp
index 36836aa6764..48c8b107efa 100644
--- a/src/app/qgsmaptoolsplitfeatures.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgsmaptoolsplitfeatures.cpp
@@ -38,16 +38,13 @@ void QgsMapToolSplitFeatures::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e )
 
   if ( !vlayer )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Not a vector layer" ),
-                              tr( "The current layer is not a vector layer" ) );
+    notifyNotVectorLayer();
     return;
   }
 
   if ( !vlayer->isEditable() )
   {
-    QMessageBox::information( 0, tr( "Layer not editable" ),
-                              tr( "Cannot edit the vector layer. Use 'Toggle Editing' to make it editable." )
-                            );
+    notifyNotEditableLayer();
     return;
   }