I do understand your frustration! I've been looking for the Aunt Becky locally myself and no luck! We have the small LQS to Keepsake here and none of them carry it and I didn't want to order a $4 item with $5 shipping. LOL Oh well I'm still searching. :( As far as handquilting thread goes, try googling the different thread manf. I do end up getting mine at Jo's mostly, but there's always a color you don't have. :O
I did find an awesome between to handquilt with though. Its the John James Gold n' Glide. Comes with the large eye also (which I need). ;) These are wonderful to even quilt batiks with, glide through like butter.