Consists chiefly of 795 color plates. Also covers thimble cases and holders, mending kits, sewing accessories, and marks.

Love Stitched into Four Women’s Lives Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to love? Bygones by Mary Davis Texas, 1884 Drawn to the new orphan boy in town, Tilly Rockford soon became the unfortunate victim of a lot of Orion Dunbar’s mischievous deeds in school. Can Tilly figure out how to truly forgive the one who made her childhood unbearable? Now she doesn’t even know she holds his heart. Can this deviant orphan-train boy turned man make up for the misdeeds of his youth and win Tilly’s heart before another man steals her away? The Bridal Shop by Grace Hitchcock Charleston, South Carolina, June 1886 Alice Turner, the owner of one of Charleston’s finest bridal shops, is determined never to be dependent on a man for anything after the disgrace of her father’s prison time. When her best friend requests Alice to be her maid of honor, she reluctantly sets aside her feelings on marriage and dons a stylish bridesmaid’s gown, never intending to catch the eye of the handsome groomsman. Will he be able to convince her to open her heart again and finish the quilt once intended for her father? Mending Sarah’s Heart by Suzanne Norquist Rockledge, Colorado, 1884 Sarah doesn’t need anyone, especially her dead husband’s partner. With four brothers to mentor her boys and income as a seamstress, she seeks a quiet life. If only the Emporium of Fashion would stop stealing her customers and the local hoodlums would leave her sons alone. When she rejects her husband’s share of the mine, his partner Jack seeks to serve her through other means. But will his efforts only push her further away? Binding Up Wounds by Liz Tolsma Regent, Wisconsin, 1865 Melissa Bainbridge is a quirky designer of rag dolls who raises raccoons and never really fit into the small farming town. When Lance Witherspoon arrives in town to thank her for the Sanitary Commission quilt she made that saved his life, she is shocked to learn Lance is a Confederate. Can she and Lance confront the town’s prejudices – along with their own?

Use this fact-packed, liberally illustrated handbook to find values for collectible sewing implements, from needlework tools to pin cushions, clamps, work boxes, and more.

Examines the humble thimble and its many varieties, from the simple workaday type to the rarer and more exquisite examples that gave scope for artists and craftsmen. This work gives an introduction to the possibilities that exist, including the parallel subject of thimble cases.

Over 2000 thimbles illustrated in full color, with a detailed their history. Seen in the context of the lives of the women who used them, thimbles offer a glimpse into the private, domestic world that history books often overlook. A value guide plus helpful, practical tips on cataloging, maintenance, and display, and a list of thimble collectors' organizations throughout the world make this a wonderful collector's guide.