Back from Cruise... or "How Jimbo Saved the Ship"

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Karol and I went on a week long cruise down the sunny Baja Peninsula, to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. We had a great time, getting tanned on our little deck, eating way too much delicious food, and drinking too many drinks with tiny umbrellas.

Ah but its good to be back in good ole Spokane, especially after our "experience". And let me tell you right here and now. You won't believe what I'm about to tell you. But I swear what you're about to read is utter fabrication.

The first part of our journey started in Los Angeles California where we flew down to meet our ship, the Sapphire Princess, a beautiful and HUGE cruise ship. We boarded with almost 3000 other party animals from all over the world. From the minute they cast off the mooring lines, the game was ON! We partied on down from LA to our first stop, Puerta Vallarta Mexico, where we were met by:





That's right, your eyes aren't deceiving you! We were met just before docking in Puerto Vallarta by a Pirate Ship!!!
"Arrrr!" cried the Pirate cap'n, "preparrr to be boarrrrded! We're here for bootie and plunderrrr!"

Thinking quickly, I yelled back, "Arrrr yourself, Matie... That be a fine lookin mast pole ye have there!! Maybe make a nice crochet hook!! ARRRRR!"
Well now that made those pirates think twice. Before they could remember that the cruise line wouldn't let me carry my whittlin tools on board, they beat a hasty retreat and we were able to sail on into port where a good time was had by all.

Ah but they weren't finished.... One of those sneaky rascals must have been reading about the ancient Greeks because in the very next port, what did I see from my little balcony but...





You guessed it!! At the very next port, Matzatlan, the pesky devils made another try... this time it was the old Trojan Mariachi trick. Ah but I saw right through their little ruse, warned our captain not to take those oversized musicians aboard and, well here we are... home safe and sound!

Seriously, we DID have a fantastic time on the cruise! I recommend it highly if you get chance. Just steer clear of pirate ships carrying oversized mariachi players.

And now on to the auction!!

Sure Its a Crochet Hook, but is it ART?? Bids are CLOSED!!

What you see here is my best work yet, in terms of sculptural value in a crochet hook. Shades (albeit distant shades) of Henry Moore! The handle end of this hook is sculpted in an abstract form that is organic and so sensual it begs fondling. Functional form, in the crochet aspect, is almost if not totally dominated by the grain and structure of the Applewood medium and the form it takes at the heel of this hook. Seriously, photographic detail does little justice.

I've been wanting to use more artistic expression in some of my hooks, as a hopeful supplement to the natural beauty of the wood, but have been intimidated by what wood so easily does on it's own. So this is a pretty bold venture for me, and I have to admit to a degree of trepidation about it's acceptance. But here it is, for all it's worth.

My indecision is past, and realizing that I'm a whittler, not a crochet hook collector... I've decided to put this remarkable piece of nature (and some whittling) up for bids.

I'll take bids on this hook, and the hooks in the post below this one, till 10pm May 3.

Oh and bytheway... this hook is made from a branch of the famous old Deadman Crick Apple tree from up on the ranch. Its 7 1/4 inches (18.5 cm) long and is a K (6.5mm).

You can email bids to me at:


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

I'll try to post bids as they come in.



Thanks for dropping by!

Bids:
Tracey starts it with $25
Kelley takes it up to $50
CJ ups it to $55
Kelley is back with $60
CJ bumps it to $64


Jimbo

POST CRUISE AUCTION is CLOSED

Yahoo!! Another fantastic showing! Thanks to all who bid! All those who had the highest bids, please consider using the "make a donation" button for payment through Paypal, or contact me with payment plans.
Thanks everyone!! More coming soon.

Jimbo




The hooks you see here are all up for auction. Karol and I back from our week for an after-tax-season CRUISE down the Baja.

And the hooks? Well take a look. They're all beauties.

Starting from top to bottom (and I'll number them 1 - 8):

1. Zebra wood H. This little guy is just 6 1/2 inches (16.5cm)long and made of that really interesting and highly figured Zebra wood. This wood works very well for hooks.

2. Redheart G. Redheart is just the purtiest wood!! And it makes wonderous hooks. This one has a relatively new handle shape, sharp taper to the hook shank from an indent that encircles the handle from a well defined thumb rest. This hook is COMFORTABLE and might be used as easily by overhand OR underhand grippers. Its 6 5/8 inchs (17cm)



3. Smoked Birdseye Maple H. This is the second smoked hook I've made and its another real beauty. Difference between this one and the last is its a little shorter than the last one, and this one has the new grip style (simliar to #2 above). It's 6 1/2 inches (16.5cm) long.

4. Redheart I Did I mention how pretty Redheart is, and the quality hooks it makes? This one is every bit as pretty as #2 above, only its an I and its 7 inches (17.75cm) long. This one also has the new grip. I think you'll LOVE it!

5. Bloodwood K. Bloodwood is really hard, and when its finished right (and it IS), it has a sort of deep transparancy that's just amazing. You can just sit and stare, but not too long because I think you'll really enjoy crocheting with this beauty as well. It's 7 1/4 inches (18.6cm) long and made with the abrupt taper to the shank and a thumb rest.

6. Maple Egghook G. Seems like there was lots of interest in the Egg hook that I gave away at Easter, so I made another one, only this one is a bit smaller, matching the smaller hook size. These hooks are just amazingly comfortable. Ask anyone who ownes one. Length is 4 1/4 inches (11.2cm), and its made from a branch of the Maple in my back yard.

7. Purpleheart H. I found a chunk of hard ole Purpleheart a few days back and decided its been some time since I made a Purple hook. So here you go. This H is a longish, about 7 3/4 inches (19.75cm) long and has a nice fat thumbrest.



8. Redheart F. Yeah its another ho hum beautiful Redheart hook... and that wood is so nice for hooks that a feller can get it down to a tiny F! (3.75mm). This little guy is just 6 1/4 inches (16cm) long.


As I noted above, this auction will run concurrently with the auction for the sculpted Deadman Crick Apple hook above, so the auction will close at 10pm on May 3.

I'll take bids on this hook, and the hooks in the post below this one, till 10pm May 3.

You can email bids to me at:


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

I'll try to post bids as they come in.

Thanks again for stopping by!

Jimbo

Bids:

1. Zebra wood H.
Lillibet plunks down $25
Kelley ups it to $30
Dawn's gonna do $38

2. Redheart G.
CJ says $20
Carol T goes to $25
CJ raises to $30

3. Smoked Birdseye Maple H.
Jobug's here! $25
Sherry wants a hook that matches her guitar! $30
JoBug's back with $35

4. Redheart I
Tracey goes $15
Lillibet goes to $25

5. Bloodwood K.
Alice says $20
Serena goes to $25

6. Maple Egghook G.
CJ with $25
JoAnn T goes to $28
CJ's back with $30
Nicole comes in with $35

7. Purpleheart H.
Lillibet goes $15
CJ ups it to $35
Lillibet ups it to $40
CJ's back with $45

8. Redheart F.
Lesley from Australia!! bids $25
Tracey ups to $27.50
Sherry takes it to $30
Tracey: $32.50
Jayne: $33.00
Tracey goes to $35.50










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Easter Egghook Hunt WINNER IS>>>>>> (this post is edited to include the auction hooks above; so at least some of the comments you'll see.... including much deserved come-uppence, and I apologize for being so mean.... are directed to the Egghook contest)

You have to look through my blog to find the winner!! heh Just teasing!

Thank you ALL for all the time some of you spent looking through the blog to find the hook. I feel kind of bad and sneaky because all the time the Easter Egghook was right here in the basket. Too sneaky??

Sorry... But I hope you at least had a good time strolling through the blog.

We had 35 patient and very nice folks trying. Not everybody found the right hook, but even so, I put all 35 in the contest and used my trusty random number generator to pick a winner. And wouldn't you know it?? The VERY FIRST entry, by none other than the Lovely and Famous crochet designer, teacher and author Tracie Barrett wins the hook!!

You'll recognize Tracey in Crochet! Magazine,
2009 Crochet Pattern a Day Calendar, Crochet Liberation Front's First Ever Book; and Crochet World. Tracey also is the winner of BEST NEW DESIGNER in the Crochet Liberation Front "Flamie" Awards!!

Congratulations Tracie!!! Hope your Easter Egghook works well for you!!

And thanks to everyone again for taking the time to enter!!


Jimbo





I know, there's been a gap in Auctions of late. Well, I've been slacking for a couple reasons. One is that we need to replace our washer and dryer and to do that of course you need a laundry room remodel and so a simple new washer and dryer project has transmogrified into new vinyl, paint, storage shelving, plumbing relocation etc.

And I've been working on special hook projects too.

Anyways, excuses aside, and feeling bad about not posting, and with Easter fast approaching, I decided that to make up to you, I'd best do a give away contest!



An EASTER EGGHOOK contest. And in the spirit of the Easter Egg Hunt, I've hidden this Easter Egghook somewhere in my blog, and all's you need do is find it, email me where you found it, and of those who correcly identified the location will be entered in a drawing to be conducted Monday, April 13. Fun Huh!!?



Just a hint... the Easter Egghook has been very cleverly hidden (if I sayso myself). Another hint.... there are other egg hooks in the blog... Jimbo egg hooks go WAY back to my first introduction several years ago. BUT there is only ONE Easter Egghook so choose carefully.



Hope this isn't too hard. But hay I think the prize is worth a little effort.



Please send your entries by email.... don't post your entries in the comment section or you'll tell everyone where the hook is and decrease YOUR odds of winning.



So! Please send your entries (one per person, please) to me at:







jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com


I'll take entries up untill 10PM Pacific Standard Time on Monday, April 13 (which bytheway is my sister Sandy's Birthday!!).



Good Luck and happy Easter Egghook Hunting!!!!