New auction coming sooon! Watch THIS space!

Prettiest Hook Ever?? auction over,Tracey gets the hook! Thanks everyone!
Next auction will be added to this post in order to keep the Halloween post up top. (Need to get folks to come to the event, you know.)
Up for bids


The other day, I was wandering aimlessly through a local wood supply and came across this very small piece of Cocobolo (Rosewood). Now if you've been around rough sawn wood before, you know that its hard to tell what kind of grain you're getting because the frayed saw marks hide the grain. But on this one, I could see beautiful grain peeking through and I immediately bought the piece. Thankfully it was a very small piece because this is EXPENSIVE wood. Anyways, I brought the blank home and cut it into two hook blanks (maybe three if I can use the third piece). To my horror, there was a huge void in the middle of the wood, a pocket probably caused by an insect or some defect or crack while the tree or branch was growing. That's good and bad. The good is that the defect caused the wood to grow in amazingly beautiful swirls and colors. The bad was that it was a DANGEROUS piece to turn at near 2,000 rpm on my lathe, not knowing if the piece would explode and send sharp shards through my favorite T-shirt. Needless to say, I took it very slow and re-sharpened the lathe tool twice during the cutting.

It all paid off, as you can see. The photo is of the hook on a mirror so you can see as much of the grain as possible. But even at that, you just have to hold this beauty and turn it in the light to fully appreciate what a masterpiece nature has bestowed. Hold it in your hand. You can't stop turning it to admire the grain and feel the texture.

I know I've been lucky to find some really beautiful woods before, but this one is just incredible.

Technically, the hook is an H (5mm) and is 7 1/2 inches long (19cm).
Now what I decided to do, since this is such a special hook, is to delay carving a thumb rest, and carve it later, according to the high bidder's wishes. I'll send the hook, the buyer can try it out, maybe mark where a thumb rest should go; send it back and I'll carve the flat and send it back as a custom fit.

So.. to the bidding...

As usual, you can email bids with $5.00 raise minimums please, to me at:

jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Oh, and for any new bidders: I try to post bids as they come in. I'm not here ALL the time though so if your bid doesn't show up right away, not to worry. Your bid will be posted as soon as Jimboly possible.

We'll run this auction up until 10pm Pacific Time, Oct. 7.


Jimbo

Bids:
Sherri starts with $25
Tracey to $30
Carlene goes to $35
Debra wants another.. and goes to $40
Tracey bumps it to $45
Debra's back with $50
Tracey takes it to $55
Deb again with $60!
I'm BACK! and a bid was waiting.. Nicole with $75!
Ooooh, Tracey goes to $80!

Two Pretty Hooks Auction is OVER! THANKS!!

Thanks to all who bid in this little auction! Would the high bidders, Elise and Debra W, please consider paying using the "Make a donation" button in the left margin of this blog (it takes you to Paypal), or contact me if you'd like to make other payment arrangements.
With a little luck, another auction will be forthcoming VERY shortly, and with some VERY interesting hooks.

Thanks again
Jimbo




(click on image for bigger than life detail)

Here are just two hooks up for bids. Just two, but pretty rare beauty in what might otherwise pass for just slightly uncommon wood. The top hook is made of Pacific Yew. I've made Yew hooks before and I like them for their lightness and tough nature. Remember I told you that bows (the bow and arrow bow) are often made of Yew for those two reasons and for its flexibility. Well this hook isn't flexible to any obvious degree, but its tough, light, and absolutely beautiful. The grain in this hook ebs and sworls and kinks, and does all kinds of things to amaze me. And the color shifts here and there too; from cinamon to honey, to olive.. makes me hungry!
Details: This hook is turned with the indented grip and thumbrest, is 7 3/8 inches (18.73cm) long and is a K+ (7mm). You probably don't have a 7mm hook in your collection, do you?

The bottom hook was expected to be a very serviceable, nice hook. It's made from good ole American Hickory. But the grain in this one too, worked out in a very striking way, with a dark highlight streak running into the thumb flat and shades of brown running out the shank to the hook...And grain that would fool some into saying oak, along the handle. Lots of unexpected and VERY appealing variation. And looks here are a little deceiving. It looks like the wood is very porous, and normally it is, but the finish I used covers the pores to leave a silky smooth surface.
This hook is just a wee bit shorter than the Yew hook and is an H (5mm).

As usual, you can email bids with $5.00 raise minimums please, to me at:

jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Oh, and for any new bidders: I try to post bids as they come in. I'm not here ALL the time though so if your bid doesn't show up right away, not to worry. Your bid will be posted as soon as Jimboly possible.

We'll run this auction up until 10pm Pacific Time, Sept 22. A bit shorter time, but then there's only two hooks to ponder, eh?

And away we go!

Bids:

Yew K+:
Janet starts it with $10
AnaMaria goes to $20
Elise with a big bump to $40




Hickory H:
Erin goes $10
JoAnn takes it to $20
Nicole BUMPS it to $40
DebraW goes to $50