Some little thimble rubber stamps

These little thimble rubber stamps* are available through Iloverubberstamps.com for $3.95 mounted/$2.00 unmounted and $2.95 mounted/$1.50 unmounted, respectively, plus S/H.


*© Linda L. Schmidt

I wish I knew what this was for...

or maybe not...

It is a "Schepens Scleral Depressor With Thimble Small" and is available* though SightReach Surgical, which "makes new and modern ophthalmic products available at low prices for eye care providers in the developing world." It is some sort of ophthalmic surgical device. It is a tad troubling to me that this surgical device--I have this idea that one is poked in the eye with it--appears to be made with a regular sewing thimble. The whole Greek key pattern at the bottom makes it look like your basic-Made-in-Wherever-$1.99-base-metal thimble with a little doohickey soldered to it. Shouldn't they have some specially-made, surgical steel thingy?
*"only for use outside of the United States."

Oak Valley Plantation

Oak Valley Plantation is a restored, antebellum manor house and plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana, on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. It was not severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina, but their tourist revenue has been greatly diminished by the economic disaster now facing the Gulf Coast. There are, of course, more grievous concerns still facing the region, but the non-profit Oak Alley Foundation has established the Oak Alley Plantation's Hurricane Katrina Economic Disaster Fund to help keep up the maintenance of the landmark until the area's economic situation improves.
The thimble is available through their online gift shop for $1.95, plus S/H.

Subversive Cross Stitch

This is not technically thimble-related, but since it's needle-related, and the pushing-forth of the needle is the whole raison-d'être for the thimble (I know, I'm pushing my luck here), I thought I would reference this delightful book and calendar by Julie Jackson, published by Chronicle Books. There are also notecards, but kinder, gentler thimble-collectors might object to the sentiment on the photograph.

I prefer needlepoint to cross-stitch, but I'm sure I could adapt the patterns. All three items are available through BarnesandNoble.com (Book: $14.95; Calendar: $12.95; Notecards: $13.95; S/H free on orders over $25.00). Ms. Jackson has individual kits and patterns available through her website, Subversive Crossstitch.

Larnach Castle

This souvenir of Larnach Castle in New Zealand is available for for approx. US$2.52.

New Zealand’s only castle, it was built in 1871 by William Larnach for his wife, Eliza. One can take self-guided tours of the castle and gardens, or stay over at the lodge or stable. I consider myself more of a lodge girl, but I'm sure the accommodations at the stable are lovely.

Sew Many Bits

One of my favorite places to look for, drool over, and dream about high quality thimbles (no reproductions) is a British website called SewManyBits. They have pages for gold, silver/metal, enamel, steel-cored, English porcelain, other porcelain, and "other" thimbles, and books on thimbles and other sewing collectibles, plus catalogs from noted thimble and sewing collectible auctions. The owner also sells items on eBay, and has 100% positive feedback.

Lomonosov Cobalt Net

This Cobalt Net pattern thimble is made by the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory, St.Petersburg's first porcelain factory, founded in 1744 by Peter the Great's daughter, the Empress Elizabeth. It is available for $8.50 (reg. $12.60), plus S/H, through 1-800-porcelain.com.

Each piece is marked on the the inside with the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory mark.

Places I have thimbles from...

This is supposed to be a "places I've visited" map, but I've never been anywhere, so I'm charting the places from which I have thimbles. I wish I had more from non-European countries. I've had to reduce the map enough that one can barely see the Caribbean Islands that have been highlighted, or Israel or Cyprus or...

My Visited Countries

Get your own Visited Countries Map from Travel Blog

Sailmakers' Palms

These are used as a sort of thimble to mend sails. Instead of using one's thimble (middle) finger, one can push a sailmaker's needle through canvas using one's entire palm. In sailmaking, like so many of life's challenges, the application of even the most firm, fully extended middle finger is not quite enough.
These are available through Go2Marine for $20.97 for right-handed and $23.95 for left-handed.

By the Beautiful Sea

This cute seastar thimble is Limoges porcelain. It is available for $52.00 (ouch!) from Marechal Paris.
They have several other thimble-ish items available, from $46.00 to $220.00.

Hands and Thimble

This is a 1920 Alfred Stieglitz photograph, Georgia O’Keeffe: A Portrait—Hands and Thimble .
In October 1993 a platinum print of the photo sold at Christie's for $398,500. It was later (2002) one of twenty images in the U.S. Postal Service's Masters of American Photography collection. The stamps were first-class postage for 37 cents.

Wanna little pot?

This set of Three Thimble Pots is available through a home décor/gift company called Refined Living*. The set is $69.95, plus S/H. The pots are 3", 6", and 9" in diameter and 4", 6", and 9" deep, respectively.

*They're available for about the same price through other companies, too. Google "set of three thimble pots."

Just when you thought the Crisco thimble was as good as it gets...

Not simply a tribute to that great mainstay of bomb-shelters everywhere, but an actual souvenir of the SPAM® Museum in Austin, Minnesota. I had no idea there was a SPAM® Museum, and now I can have my own little remembrance of it. For only $3.00!*
They also have the other typical souvenirs: key chains, coffee mugs, shot glasses, antenna balls, etc. The SPAM® glow-in-the-dark scrunchy beckons, but the $3.50 pricetag makes it impractical: For that much money I could get the fly-swatter and the ice-scraper and the foam can hugger, all of which I could use every day, not just for special occasions.

*Plus shipping and handling.

Perfect Little Stitches

This is a machine embroidered design available from Perfect Little Stitches. They have many designs available on CD for the most popular computerized embroidery or sewing machines. The CD for this specific design is $10, though you can get a CD with all their sewing-related designs for $75.
I like this particular design because it (1) doesn't look cartoonish, and (2) it looks similar to a sterling thimble that I have. There is also a design for a toy Singer sewing machine like one I have (albeit in blue: mine is black) that my late, sainted mother bought for me for a quarter* when I was a little girl. They now sell for about $300.

*At a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop: I'm not that old.

Recipe: Thimble Biscuits

Thimble Biscuits
2 c. self-rising flour
¼ c. shortening
¾ c. milk
¼ c. jam or jelly

• Heat oven to 450°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
• In a large bowl cut shortening into flour with fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add milk; stir with fork until soft dough forms, adding additional milk 1 Tblsp. at a time as needed. Dough will pull away from sides of bowl.
• Knead dough on lightly floured surface just until smooth.
• Roll out dough to ⅛ to ¼-inch thickness. Cut with 2-inch floured round cutter. Place half of rounds on greased cookie sheet.
• With thimble (or any ¾" cookie cutter), cut a small hole in center of remaining rounds. Stack rounds with holes on top of rounds on cookie sheet, pressing very lightly. Fill each hole with about ¼ t. jam or jelly.
• Bake at 450°F , 10-12 minutes, until golden. Serve warm or cool.

Happy Birthday, Ma'am.

From Trevor Towner Studio Designs, a thimble commemorating the 80th Birthday of HM The Queen of England. Available in 9K and 18K (prices available upon request). Her actual birthday was April 21st, but they celebrated it June 17th. They always celebrate it sometime in June, apparently because the weather is better. I have also heard that on New Years' Eve, they (the Windsor folks) turn the clocks ahead so they can celebrate early and go to bed when they feel like it. Anyone who chooses can do the same, but I think it misses the point.
Anyway, I know it's neither April nor June, but since she's not particular about observing the exact date: Happy Birthday!

Perhaps the best way to observe Her Majesty's 80th year--surely she already has a smoothie blender--is to purchase a lovely memento of the her family boat. One can purchase this "Fine Bone China Thimble With Britannia Logo" for only £3.95 , or get it FREE with any purchase over £50, at The Royal Yacht Britannia Official Gift Shop. Of course, all proceeds go to The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, which supports the long-term maintenance of the ship.
Hurry! They're having a special 50% off sale on their Charles & Camilla Wedding Thimble (now £2.00).

Stellar Glass

This is one of many beautiful glass thimbles designed and handblown by Frank Horvath, Jr., at Stellar Glass in Rockvale, Tennessee.
They also create many other collectible items such as Wedding Cake Toppers, Wine Glasses, Paperweights and Figurines. Many of the items can be personalized, and they do some custom designs for some types of items (I don't know if they do custom thimbles, but you can always ask).

Lovely Thimble Cases

These lovely thimbles and cases are handmade in England at Mike Fitz Designs in Hertfordshire. You can't order directly off the website, but you can call or fax or, I assume, write them.

Mike Fitz Designs
37 Meadway
Harpenden, Herts, AL5 1JN U.K
Ph./Fax +44 (0)1582 762231
info@mikefitzdesigns.co.uk

With a name like Smucker's...

These are available though Smucker's Online Store. They also have thimbles for Jif and Crisco. They are all pewter and are $7.00 each plus S/H.

My silly hobby.

This is what I collect. This is beautiful.
I also collect very ugly, tacky souvenir thimbles.
And other thimbles. Lots of other thimbles. All kinds, all materials, from all over the world.
I have this other blog that was intended to have some redeeming social value. Not saving the world, but not nonsense. Not really going anywhere. So...this has no underlying purpose whatsoever. Just about thimbles and where to buy them and fun little facts. I collect them. I don't obsess about them; I don't dress up in little thimble outfits. I just like them. Shiny. Pretty.