Well, I think they are called "thimble pads" here is a web site that has a bunch of ideas listed and this is one of them.
http://www.quiltingassistant.com/handsavers.html
Quilting Assistant : Your Hands And Fingers Need Protection
And found a site you can order them from:
http://www.nordicneedle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NN&Product_Code=6991
Leather Thimble Pads (Pkg/12): Nordic Needle