I haven't read this entire thread so i hope i'm not repeating someone else. I have Aunt Becky's thimble and also the lap hoop and I love them both. I do understand what you mean when you say you have difficulty finding LQS's who cater our handquilting needs. I love quilt stores but mostly leave empty handed.... No needles, or good thimbles, or threads, or rubber fingers etc. SO... i make a day trip to Amish country (for me that's Shipshewana Indiana) ever so often and load up! I love to shop in the Amish stores, right alongside them. :-D They understand handquilting needs!
Melody