I have to share with you all, I finally have something I have always wanted in my sewing tools. I started searching in earnest a few months ago but didn't realise there was such a variation in sizes from English and USA makers. Then there were so many gorgeous ones that I tried to buy but the bidding went too high for me to justify spending so much.
The more I searched through the thousands of listings world wide, buying more than a few collectibles on the way (:-)), the more I realised that the one I really wanted was a vintage, Ketcham and McDougall sterling silver and gold one, for under $50Can you guess by now, what it is????
Isn't it just lovely?
A vintage, Ketcham and McDougall, sterling silver and 14kt gold and enamel, thimble. It arrived yesterday and I have hardly been able to take it off my finger. LOL!!!
So, it made me wonder, how many Cuties covet something special but can't justify spending the money on it?
How long will you wait, or have you waited, before you finally decide/d you deserve it and just go ahead and buy it?
So what was it?
Hugs n roses, Meganne
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OH YES! I've been a thimble collector for a long time--over 750 assorted, but mostly sterling & gold. I am even lucky enough to own 2 of the "Stitch In Time" sterlings. I also have coin silvers dating back to the 1860's. It seems they are so scarce now that I've not found one in a long time (that I don't already have), and I've even been considering selling some to start my ''downsize''. But you know my favorite? A CHINA 3 set of "BURMA SHAVE"...remember the signs, anybody? Or am I just that old! Says 'Dewhiskered kisses--Defrosts the Missus--Burma Shave'
3 comments
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Oh I'll have to tell Ray how many you have! I don't even have 20, YET! LOL!!! I did buy a pewter sewing tin with "A stitch in Time" on the lid and I've seen some of those thimbles, but I always miss out on them. I'm trying to curb my collecting by being really selective but I have so much trouble resisting anything with cats or owls or butterflies or lions or gold or fruit or English scenes or ...............
by awesome1
27 Sep 2012
haha--you want them all, don't you? As did I, and ended with several duplicates. I wanted to ask how your KMD is marked? I have only one (I think) that is marked inside with both "gold" and "sterling" words. I think that is unusual, but I've not done any deep research. The gold goes all the way thru--like two seperate sections joined. I believe we paid dearly for it back then. You have inspired me--my collection has been neglected in a cabinet for so long. Embroidery began to rule!!
by awesome1
27 Sep 2012
OH, to add re the 1st stitch in time thimble. My husband was traveling and brought it from Nebraska--slipped it under my pillow about 3 a.m., and I woke to a ''strange object'' in my bed! How excited I was.
10173It is so beautiful and yes I have felt the same as you . I so wanted a 11000 Janome but thought better of it not wanting to spend the money. Then I had a health scare and was rushed to hospital for an Op , So while there I thought you are a long time dead so why not enjoy a great new machine while I am here. So when I recovered I went straight out and bought my new machine. I have never regreted it. . The kids will only spend what is left anyway. Hugs Joyce
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
That is so true Joyce. Since the bc battle I can't seem to stop buying all those little things I always just 'wanted' but never bought because I didn't 'need' them.
Life is just too short and my little trinkets give me so much pleasure, so now I just say, why not? :-))))
15141Adorable - but it suits you very well as a "crown" for a sophisticated
sewing, embroidering and moderating lady.
Glad that you share - it is also a nice gift idea for other sewing and em-
broidering ladies - Thank you - Maria
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Awww thank you Maria, that's a lovely thing to say.
I think we all deserve a special reward every now and then.
hugs n roses, Meganne
54557Beautiful. I would be afraid to use it - as I would probably loose it. I'm glad you were finally able to get one that you wanted.
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Thankfully, I rarely lose things, especially when I've waited so long to have something so special. :-))
13250Oh, your thimble is so beautiful, Meganne!! And to have it be actual Sterling and gold, wow, I'm impressed. I think I'd sew a lot better if I had a Sterling thimble, hee hee hee. I can truly understand not wanting to even take it off your hand. Congrats on such a wonderful find!! Hugs, Marji
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Thanks Marji, it's even nicer in reality. I lost the bidding on so many I almost gave up, it is difficult searching the new listings on Ebay every night, but it was well worth the effort. hugs n roses, M
33451Congratulations on getting the thimble you wanted, it's beautiful!
Hugs, Lidia
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8321This is a pretty fancy looking thimble, Meganne! Congratulations on getting such a prize. Will you use it, or just look at it and enjoy it's company?
I got my Janome 350E when I already had a 300E, but was looking at one off Ebay first, and suspected it had been stolen. No hoops, said they'd replaced the power cable as it was 'missing'...got out of there very quickly indeed!
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Oh I'll definitely use it. I love using pretty things it makes tackling repair jobs so much easier.
I'm glad for you getting your 350E Janome and I bet you kept the 300E just in case the new one ever broke down, yes??? :-)
23163Lindo! Eu quero um deste para mim... kkkkkkkkkk
2 comments
by meganne
22 Sep 2012
If you search on Ebay and wait very patiently, you can have one dear friend. :-))))))
But a word of warning, don't buy too many of the other gorgeous thimbles you will see while you are waiting for your 'special' one kkkkkkkkkkkk hugs and love
46919Well Meg believe it or not it was my first Embroidery Machine a little more than 8 yrs. ago. The thimble is beautiful. I have a lot, none expensive but they belonged to my grandmother and aunts and my husbands mother and his grandmother. They use to give thimbles in bags of flour back in the 20s and 30s and my husbands grandmother had a general store and seems to have collected a lot of those thimbles. I never knew her but now we have some of her quilts and thimbles/Lillian
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
You always have the most interesting tales to tell Lillian. Fancy getting a thimble in your flour. I guess they knew the empty sacks were going to be 'recycled'. Weren't they used to make various things for the home?
hugs n love, Meg
145791This 'thing of beauty' will be your joy forever.
Congratulations on a wonderful purchase.
AlmaG.
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Thanks Alma, yes it may be materialistic but if it gives one pleasure, what the hey! hugs n love, Meg
17214That is lovely,I did collect for years and what elation when you find that item that you wanted,
1 comment
by meganne
27 Sep 2012
Yes, the elation before the guilt! Oh dear did I really say that???
I have discovered a new solution to stop me spending..
I place the first bid on an article, I love the look of, but I don't continue bidding, that way it is mine for a little while and it hasn't cost me anything.
Of course very occasionally, no-one else will bid and I end up with a surprise treat. LOL!!!!
7314Meganne, this is beautiful! It reminded me of the one I have of my grandmother's. Here is a picture of it also. Your detail is clearer than mine. Mine has an "s" on the inside and then it says sterling 12 on the outer portion. No name brands but still means a lot to me. ;)
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2 comments
by meganne
21 Sep 2012
Your Grandmother's thimble is lovely. Do you know you can clean it up with tooth paste? I believe the Hallmark is that of Simon Bros. You can Google for more information, I find it fascinating researching vintage items. Look after it, it's a real treasure. hugs, Meg
by awesome1
27 Sep 2012
'keeponsewing'..your grandmother's thimble is circa 1910..my book says Simons Bros had the old English S in a shield in use in 1907. And the design may have been copied because both Barker Co. & Waite-Thresher had almost exactly the same thimble in the late 1800's. It is a prize because it belonged to your granny. Cherish it.
36693Love the thimble; I can't justify buying a new machine as long as what I have works fine!
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985I love it, I can not bring myself to spend the money on a new Baby Lock Serger. I what the the top of the line. I have a 30 year old one, that works great still, but does not do any of the fancy stitches. It's just the over lock.
1 comment
by meganne
21 Sep 2012
Oh yes, I know that feeling, The Babylock's are so fabulous, who wouldn't want one?
7161Ah, tis a thing of beauty! ;)
And my machine was that thing that I finally decided I could justify spending $ on just for me!
1 comment
by meganne
21 Sep 2012
Isn't it so wonderful when we finally get something we really, really want? :-))
158715Beautiful - I´ve one of those thimble I got rewarded for my sewing and knitting when I graduated from high school in 1964.
Hugs, Sigrun
1 comment
by meganne
21 Sep 2012
WOW Sigrun, how awesome for you, you must have felt very special.
I have had an old steel one I have been using for so long I can't even remember where it came from or when I got it. LOL!!
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