Christmas Thimble World 2013



 
2013 has been a downer of a year.  That being said, I almost didn't put up Christmas Thimble World.  However, I decided instead to make some new thimbles, make some changes, and make myself a little happier.  Although the set up did not change, even though I hoped it would, I did some things I've been wanting to do for the past few years.

In the center this year I went full-on Christmas.  Instead of the waterfront village and boats surrounding the main tree, I made many Christmas house thimbles from printables I found online and used those.

 
Santa's North Pole took over the waterfront! In the photos below, there is a workshop, Santa's house, a reindeer stable, and much, much more!  If you look closely, you will see Santa's sleigh and reindeer at the ready by the clock tower.
 
 
The elves have cottages all their own as well.
  


Earth got its moon AND a shuttle this year.
 The Plantation got a full setup, complete with fence and driveway.
 
 

 New layouts in the "mountains."
 
 Hidden farm behind the mountain.
 
Oh, the beautiful countryside!
Farm stretchin' out far and wide.
Forget the city, gimme the countryside!

 
Ok, ok. I can't forget the city.  In fact, most of the city buildings were only fronts, so I painted them this year so they would have full roofs and sides.
 
 
Well, that's it for 2013.  I hope I can come up with something more exciting for next year.  Planning starts....NOW!







Thanksgiving Thimble World 2013

 Thanksgiving.  I think of simplicity and the beginnings of our great nation during this Fall festival.  Therefore, my thimbles for Thanksgiving reflect that.  Pilgrims and Indians adorn most of the house.
 Thimbles are scattered amid the collections.  Most of them in this depiction are of animals such as chickens and woodland animals.  However, there is a totem pole of thimbles I ordered from England.
The Pilgrim's side is very simple.  The barn is actually a candle holder, but I am afraid to burn anything in it for fear it would break.  I don't think I could replace it (or any of the other pieces, for that matter).

I don't know why I like this arrangement, but I do.  The only thimble here is the acorn next to the pumpkin.

As I said, Indians and Pilgrims take the stage for Thanksgiving.  This is my Thanksgiving Thimble Community with a colonial setting in the back and Indian setups in front.  As you may recall from last year, I made the large teepee and the scarecrow tree (on top).

New for this year is my Pilgrim House setting.  I bought the house by mistake (damn ebay!) and didn't know what to do with it.  It didn't fit into my Christmas or Halloween stuff, so it sat around for a while. But, I bought the pilgrims thimble (toward the back, center) and after decorating the base to match a cow and donkey thimble I had, I found that everything fit together quite well.

Not much ado about Thanksgiving, but there is always 2014!

Halloween Thimble World 2013

I love Halloween!  I love to make Halloween stuff with little surprises tucked into everything.

So, I add to Halloween Thimble World.  This year is no different.
 Linus got a pumpkin patch behind the haunted house. A witch is stirring her brew inside.
 A giant hand coming out of the tree seemed rather ominous to me.
 The graveyard with Death behind a tombstone in the back. Ghosts are floating amuck!
What Halloween ensemble would be complete without a mummy? I added this thimble of King Tut to the menagerie.
 Of course there are more thimble surprises!
 Another Linus in the pumpkin patch.
 Thimbles peeking out from everywhere.
 Thimble skull.
More thimbles - even in the tree.

 And now for the Halloween 2013 treat!  Look close.  Is that...??
 Could it be?  YES!  It is a Haunted House Thimble Community!
 I have displayed the Haunted House thimbles in many ways previously, but this year I made it its own little "haven."  There are even Z-scale tombstones.  I even made the trees from wire.
Lots of new ones this year that I made from printables I found online.  Bear in mind that reducing these and making them still recognizable is a challenge.  After all, a thimble is only a little over an inch tall.

If the thimble is an inch tall, imagine the ghosts and the body hanging in the tree.  To the right is one of the new thimble houses for this year.
Three of the new ones I made. I cut the bats from losing scratch tickets.  The center house has a chainsaw stuck in the roof.  The one on the left was the precursor of the hardest thimble I've ever made.  Can you recognize the idea?  Maybe the one below will help.

 Recognize this house yet?  Do you remember the Amityville Horror?  This is the house from the movie.  The upper porches even have floors.
Finding the back of the Amityville House was difficult and took several extensive searches to find an accurate depiction.  Let me say this:  It took me 4 (four!) tries to make this.  I mean, I took it apart and redid it 3 times prior to this.  But, I will admit it was worth it.  No Haunted House Thimble Community (Haunted Haven?) would be complete without the Ultimate Haunted House!

I don't know if I can top the creations of this year, but we shall see in 2014.