|
Looking for a fun and inexpensive hobby? Something that you can personalize and adapt to whatever space you have available in your home? Consider the world of thimble collecting, a wonderful and unique hobby for all ages!
At first glance the idea of collecting thimbles might seem rather outdated - after all, who uses thimbles anymore? But this market has not grown smaller with time but expanded dramatically as more and more people search for a distinctive hobby that they can personalize and make their own at a reasonable expense.
Originally thimbles were meant to help the seamstress from poking her finger as she sewed garments and clothing for herself and her clients. As time went on, some of these old thimbles became antiques in their own right; constructed from different metals and adorned with various markings to signify their place of origin and designer for the discerning seamstress. But many of these designers went a bit further, creating newer and flashier designs not only on the metal thimble but also on the cheaper and more available wooden thimble; small pictures and artwork added to the surface to make them more distinct and to draw in more business for their seamstresses and for their unique thimbles.
Over the years a great variety of materials evolved into thimbles - wood, metal and enamel as well as such rarer items as ivory and jade. Each of these were then personalized with unique paintings or engravings, making each different in their own way and more prized than ever by the collector. Far removed from their practical usage, the collectable thimble moved into the area of affordable antiques and collectibles for the general public.
Thimbles are available for almost any event and animal you can think of - from the Gulf War to the British Royal Family to the American Presidents; you can find thimbles depicting scenes and events around the world in a dazzling variety of materials from pewter to enamel to wood. Many producers have also dropped the original design of the thimble; adding their creation atop the familiar shape or totally encasing the thimble in an overlaid figurine; making it distinctive and looking nothing like the thimble your grandmother used in her day. Themes vary from the Winnie-The-Pooh family to the Coca-Cola polar bear advertisements to everyday classics such as Campbell's Soup; giving the beginning collector a vast library to choose from.
But the best thing about collecting thimbles are the expenses involved - you can purchase a thimble for as little as .99! Yes, it's true - the majority of thimbles are priced so that anyone can begin a collection at any time with only a few dollars. Depending on what type of thimble you wish to collect you can spend much more, but the prices are all reasonable and based most times on the rarity of said item. A Princess Diana thimble might be a bit more expensive than the one you found in the airport in Las Vegas, but many thimbles are well within the range of the average collector.
For the beginner, the best place to start is deciding what you wish to collect. Your favorite animals, or places you've visited? Depictions of Mt. Fuji in Japan or every State in the Union? American Presidents or brands of beer? The great variety of thimbles can make this choice overwhelming as you wander online to eBay or some other auction site and see exactly how many different series are available to the casual observer. But it's best to decide early which you're going to be the most interested in and stick to it - otherwise you'll find thimbles slowly taking over your household!
The vast numbers of thimbles also makes it a wonderful thrill to personalize your collection - no one in the world will ever have a collection just like yours; they can't. Your collection will be unique and a treasure for yourself and your family for years, and perhaps an heirloom to be passed on to your children as they grow up and add their own touch to your growing collection.
Displaying your thimbles is also a fun and interesting hunt as there are many special display cases built for the express purpose of showing off your collection. Some consist of a simple set of shelves to be hung in your kitchen or spare room; some spinning circles under glass with special divots to hold your treasure secure - it's all up to you and how much you intend to spend. Either way, your collection can be proudly displayed in a variety of formats and fit into any section of your home.
Again, you can spend as little or as much as you want on your display case - and the same for your thimble collection. A wonderful hobby for children and adults alike, the variety and the endless combinations will provide hours of entertainment and wonderment at the artwork and the creativity of your new collection. Once just thought of as a safety factor for the seamstress, the thimble has evolved into an inexpensive and fun hobby for young and old alike - why not give it a shot?
| 
