Dorset Thimble Society
www.dorset-thimble-society.org.uk
dorsetthimblesociety@hotmail.com

This society was founded by Elaine Gaussen in 1985
Tho "thimble" forms part of the name, the focus of meetings and the newsletter encompasses all sewing tools

This group has meetings three times a year, in Bournemouth
At Your Fingertips is published three times a year and received as part of the annual membership fee
There are both British and international members

There is a biennial weekend conference, held in the uneven years, usually in June

The Society has a comprehensive library for use of members

Secretary's address
36 Bullfinch Close
Creekmore
Poole
BH17 7UP
England

I have been a member since around 1994

Freunde des Fingerhut E V

This German thimble society is co-ordinated by Judith and Paul Jungbludt at Creglingen, Germany
Creglingen is the home of the well-known thimble Museum

This group has meetings twice a year

Address
Kohlesmuehle 6
Creglingen
97993
Germany

Israel Thimble Collectors

This thimble society is co-ordinated by Yael Mashiak

This group has meetings three a year

Address
Moshav bet Chanan
DN Emek Sorek
Israel
76868
Israel

De Nederlandse Vingerhoedclub
The Netherlands Thimble Club
www.vingerhoeden.nl
frika@wxs.nl

This Dutch society is run by Friedy Kamp, in Deventer, Holland and is commercial

Members receive a magazine Vingerhoedniews four times a year and it is translated into English
This society has thimbles for sale via their magazine
as well thru the The Thimbleshop
which is open to the public in Hanzetown Deventer Holland
Contact the club for the hours of opening

Shop address
Klein Overstraat 37
Deventer
The Netherlands

There is an annual spring meeting of members

Mailing address
Kleine Overstraat 37
7411 JH Deventer
The Netherlands

phone + 31 (0) 570 649 923

Needlework Tool Collectors Society of Australia

This national group of collectors was started by Jenny and Katrina Cowen in September 1987
Tho based in Melbourne, the Society is for all collectors, including those who collect thimbles,
throughout Australia and beyond

For an annual membership fee, the Needlework Tool Collectors Society of Australia Newsletter
is published eleven times a year for members
Monthly meetings are held in Melbourne
Contact the Society for details of gatherings in other Australian state capitals

A biennial conference has been held every even year since 1990, in Melbourne, usually in August

The Society has a large library of books, periodicals and articles for use by members

Address
35 Stanley Grove
Blackburn
3130
Australia

I have been a member since 1988

South Australia Digitabulists Society

This society was started by Jack Turner for the thimble collectors of South Australia, in 1988

There are regular, mid-week afternoon meetings for members

There is a regular newsletter for members

Address
23 Harrow Road
Somerton Park
5044
Australia

Thimble Collectors Club of South Africa
jennyb@nhra.co.za

Jenny Scharff Bockel runs this group, which she founded nearly twenty years ago

Meetings are held four times a year - usually in Gauteng province

Address
Box 74439
Turffontein
2140
South Africa

I was an early member from 1986-1988

Thimble Collectors International
http://www.thimblecollectors.com
tci@thimblecollectors.com

This international society began in 1978, with the greater proportion of members residing in the USA
There are many US state groups that meet 1-3 times a year. Contact the society for details of these state groups, who each hold meetings 1-3 times a year

Members receive a quarterly TCI Bulletin for an annual membership fee
There are well researched articles on a wide variety of thimbles and sewing tools
Tho the Society name indicates that thimbles are the prime focus, sewing tools are an integral part of the Bulletin and subjects at the biennial conferences

Annually a booklet on a specific topic is made available to members. Back issues are now eagerly sought after

TCI holds a three-day conference every second year, in the even years, usually in August, in a different state of the USA

TCI has a library of thimble related articles for members

Address
1039 Hill Road #121
Pickerington
Ohio 43147
USA

I have been a member since 1986

Thimble Friends / Vingerhoed Museum

This group is run by Bertus van Dikkenberg in Veenendaal, The Netherlands

Address
Vingerhoed Museum
Julianstraat 28
Veenendaal 3905EM
The Netherlands

phone +31 (0)318 55 550 38

The Thimble Society
www.thimblesociety.com
info@thimblesociety.com

This is a commercial venture and was started in 1981 by Betty Huntley-Wright and Bridget McConnel
Known then as The Thimble Society of London, the name changed during 1999
The Society began at The Bees, a thimble shop in Chelsea in 1981. Within months they moved their thimble business to Grays Antique Market off Oxford Street in central London, where they remained until the move to Portobello Road in 1999

For an annual membership fee, collectors receive colour catalogues The Thimble Society three times a year
This is an outstanding reference tool, for the prices quoted and the clear photos in colour and in black and white
The bulk of items on offer are antique silver thimbles - catering for the high end of the market

Tho the Society name indicates that thimbles are the prime focus, sewing tools are regularly offered for sale

For details of meetings by small groups in the Midlands and Essex, contact the Society

Regular annual one-day thimble conferences are held for members, usually in September

Current shop address
72 The Admiral Vernon Arcade
141-147 Portobello Road
London W11 2DY
hours Saturdays ONLY 7.00-15.00

Mailing address
1 Cathcart Street
London NW5 3BL
England

phone +44 (0)207 419 9562

I have been a member since 1985

Welsh Thimblers
denisejenkinsuk@yahoo.co..uk

Denise Jenkins runs this group which was started 12 year ago
Most members live in the UK, but there are international members

There is an annual one-day thimble meeting, held usually in May or September, in Wales

Address
78 Penybont Road
Pencoed, Bridgend
CF35 5PT
Wales

Tho I have never joined this Society, I have been associated with it for a number of years