Knooking for FARA, and a couple beauty hooks for bids.. Auction is over but chopknooks are still orderable

OK to click and enlarge image

So I've mentioned Knooking before eh? Its a cross between crochet and knitting and the term was coined "Knooking" by PIXJEN and her youtube video is an excellent tutorial on how to knook. Check it out at

knooking

You see the very nice artwork in the background? Look like knitting?? Nope, it's Knooking, done by my good friend Leann... AND she did that with a Chopknook just like you see in the photo. I've decided to start making and selling Chopknooks to raise funds for FARA (Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance), Along with Chophooks and Chophook versions of the pointy "HOOKAWL" that you see a couple posts below this one. Want a Chopknook? Simply make a donation that is a MINIMUM (pleasedonate more because "Chopknooks", and I'm whining here, take alot of time to make). The regular chophooks and HookAwls I'll do also with a minimum $10 donation. To buy one, please email me of your order, then make your donation by clicking on the "make a donation" button in the left column here.
What is Friedreich's Ataxia? Well just get a hanky and click on this link..

FARA

Why isn't this hideous condition at the top of the research agenda? Its rare. But can these kids be denied hope because their condition is rare?

Donations are the primary source for research funding, and a cure is just around the corner. Your order and donation WILL have an effect! Chophooks and Chopknooks and ChopHookAwls are all made in the same approximate size.. K.

Ok, off my soapbox and on to the auction:

We have two beauties up for bids. The top one, just below the Chopknook is the very first ever Tiger Wood hook. Yup, it REALLY is Tiger Wood. This hook will mess around on you! Ha just kidding. Tiger wood is a hardwood that's really beautiful up close and is named because the grain somehow resembles the fur of Tigers. It's a hard, strong wood and fairly lightweight. It's an F (3.75mm) and 7 1/4 inches, or18.4cm long.

Next up is another Zircote beauty. The photo speaks for itself. Its just plain beautiful dark DARK wood that's soooooo smooth. Just ask other Jimbo Zircote owners!
Anyways this one is an I, and it's 7 3/4 inches or 19.7cm long.

Lets end this one Monday night at 10pm Pacific Time on March 1.

To new bidders: I try to post bids as they come in. I'll not be here ALL the time... so if your bid doesn't show up right away, not to worry. Your bid will be posted as soon as I'm able to get to them. Identical bids are entered by first to post so if your bid is the same as another, I'll go by which ever one was posted first. Also please increase bids by $5 minimum. email bids, if you like, to me at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Here we go!

Bids:

Tiger Wood F:
Kimberly 2 (we have two Kimberlys bidding!) $20
Lori takes it to $25
Karen goes to $30
Beth jumps in with $35
Kathy says $40
Beth bumps it to $45








Zircote I:
Kimberly goes $20
Kimberly 2 goes to $25
Beth from OZ is here with $30
E Egan takes it to $35
Beth bumps it to $30

Jimbo's New Apprentice... and Hooks up for Bids! (Auction is over!)

Thanks everyone! Great bunch of bidders! Biff's still working on his hook but as soon as he's done I'll post a picture. In the meantime, there will be another auction VERY soon. Come on back soon!
Jimbo



Meet my new apprentice, Biff. Biff is a Beagle who is just under 8 weeks old and came to live with us Valentine's Day. Karol's been hinting for a couple years now that she'd like another dog. I finally wised up a few days ago and surprized Karol with a pretty cute little Valentine's puppy. As you can see, I'm already training Biff to become a hook maker. He finds time for shaping hook sticks between his regular work hours. His job? Chew on the furniture and poop on the carpet. The old Biffster and I are getting along pretty well though, I must admit. And who knows? Maybe some day all this will be his! Just a wee bit more work on his finishing technique and maybe hone in his hook forming skills a little more and watch out!




Here are a couple that Biff and I worked up, and they're up for bids! Two itsy bitsy hooks, size wise that is.

The top hook is made of Zircote. Its a really beautiful and very hard wood with grain figure that's so distracting that you'll just sit and stare at the hook and loose time crocheting. And I made it long and lean, without a thumb rest for pencil grippers (overhand grip style). And the size?? Oh yeah. It's an F! (3.75mm) And LONG! It's 8 1/2 inches (21.6cm). And the balance point is smack in the middle.

And the second hook?? Well its just the smallest hook size I've EVER made. A one-of-a-kind Jimbo hook here. I don't think I've ever made an E before. Can't be totally sure cause I've made lots of hooks. But an E (3.25mm)? I thought it couldn't be done. Maybe it was the wood. This is Honduran Rosewood.. a really nice hardwood that lets me get down into the wee sizes. Oh and the picture doesn't show it well, but this hook has a nice generous thumb rest. And it's 7 inches (17.8cm) long.

I'm kind of doubting that we'll be putting Biff's hook up for bids, at least this time. He's still working on it. Hay, the little fella's only 8 weeks old, you know.
But he's trying!

So lets close this one this coming Tuesday night (Feb 23) at 10pm Pacific Time.


To new bidders: I try to post bids as they come in. I'll not be here ALL the time... so if your bid doesn't show up right away, not to worry. Your bid will be posted as soon as I'm able to get to them. Identical bids are entered by first to post so if your bid is the same as another, I'll go by which ever one was posted first. Also please increase bids by $5 minimum. email bids, if you like, to me at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Here we go!

Bids:

Zircote F:
Sherri says $20
Sheryl goes $25
Kathy goes $30
Claire says $40


Rosewood E:
Sherri again with $20
Erin's going to Honduras and wants the local wood hook to take along.. $25
Nicole is glad to see an E.. $35
Lori goes to $40
Nicole ups it to $45

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! AND THE HEART HOOK WINNER IS......

HOOKZENYARN! TALK ABOUT "ZEN"! THE WINNER WAS PICKED BY A RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR FROM THE 48 TOTAL ENTRIES THAT I RECEIVED BY WAY OF COMMENTS TO MY BLOG ENTRY AND EMAIL. I PUT THE NUMBER IN AND THE GENERATOR SELECTED NUMBER 13. HOOKZENYARN WAS LUCKY NUMBER 13.


NOW IF HOOKZENYARN CAN EMAIL ME A MAIL ADDRESS, THE WINNING HOOK WILL BE ON ITS WAY!!

jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com


Still time for bidding on the amazing Peroba Rosa hook (three entries below here). Auction will end at 10pm tonight.

Meanwhile here's to all the sweethearts out there... HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!


Just sorry I couldn't make you ALL heart hooks!
Jimbo

A BRAND NEW HOOK DESIGN BY ROSERED and JIMBO

EVERYONE knows ROSERED. She is THE designer who made my favorite afghan in the world, the LUMBERJACK FLANNELGHAN. Not only is she good lookin; she's a supurb crochet designer, AND, so I've found over the past couple of weeks, an inventor!!!

Rosered contacted me a few weeks back with an idea for a fabric hook that would be really sharp so you could poke it through fabric for making dishcloths or any other kind of project where you want to join fabric and yarn. So we went to work. There was a bit of trial and error (error on MY part, and trial on Rosered's) till we got a design that seems to work pretty well.

So to celebrate her idea's culmination, Rosered's having a hook naming contest over in her blog. Course I'm partial to the name I gave it, "Jabber the Hook" and "Rosered's Pokey Hook" but she'd like to choose from a bigger selection. So, drop on over to Rosered's blog and enter to win one of the VERY first of a totally (to us anyways) new hook!

I made up one of these pointy hooks from a chopstick and found that it works well too...



so I'll be taking orders for them, with ALL proceeds going to FARA (Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance). Consider ordering a gob, and give them as gifts. It's a pretty sure thing your friend will not already have one of these marvels of Rosered's creative genius. Price?? A MINIMUM donation of $10 each. How to order? Email me at



jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com





Oh and don't forget the Valentine hook giveaway contest and auction going on directly below this post.

Exciting, eh!!!

BE MY VALENTINE CONTEST and PEROBA ROSA AUCTION

(PLEASE click on the image to enlarge the photo!)

Its growing near Valentine's Day and another day to show appreciation to visitors to my blog. SO.... I made a VALENTINE hook and I'm giving it away! Its, of course, made of red HEART wood and it an H (5mm) for HEART, which is pretty much a Valentine theme, wouldn't you say. Oh and it has a sparkly heart at the top (that's removable for crocheting).

Would YOU like this Jimbo Valentine Hook?? Hmmmm? Well if you do, all's you need do is enter the contest. Simply leave a comment here in my blog telling me you'd like to enter, or email me at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

I'll do a random drawing from the entries of Sweeties on Valentine's day.

You see the other hook?? Its up for auction, ending also on Valentine's day 10pm Pacific Time. Peroba Rosa is a Rosewood, and this particular piece is one that I cut from a small board, selected for its phenomenal figure and color. Another hook that even with the mirror, you can't really appreciate till you have it in your hand. So pretty it almost fetches a tear.

So anyways, this hook is an H too (5mm) and it's 7 1/4 inches (18.4cm)of unbelievable grain.

Maybe your Sweetie doesn't know what to get you for Valentines day?? Well maybe drop a hint.

To new bidders: I try to post bids as they come in. I'll not be here ALL the time... and I won't stay up Valentine's eve, so if your bid doesn't show up right away, not to worry. Bids will be posted as soon as I'm able to get to them. Identical bids are entered by first-to-post so if your bid is the same as another, I'll go by which ever one was posted first. Also please increase bids by $5 minimum. email bids, if you like, to me at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Here we go!

Bids:

Peroba Rosa H:
Carla starts it off with $25
Kathy goes $30
Nicole says $40
Kathy's back with $45
Nicole ups it to $50

NEW HOOK AUCTION WITH NEW HOOKS IS OVER!!

Auction is closed!! I really appreciate your business and bids. Auctions are especially fun for me because I get a chance to meet the bidders, at least for a little bit. So thank all of you bidders!!
High bidders can pay with paypal by clicking on the "make a donation" button in the left margin of this blog page.

And thanks again!!





We have some (ok 2 of them) never-before hooks up this time for auction! And by never before, I mean two of these are hooks that have really unique features. Lets look at the top hook. Ever hear of knooking? Well its a new word, coined by Jen at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV3ZkUig048

How cool is that!? Well what could I do after that! I just had to make a "knooking "hook. But this is a special one. See the knob that cleverly disguises the "knooking" hook as a Tunisian or afghan hook? That little knob lets you use the hook for Tunisian crochet or it can be removed to expose the tapered heel end and hole that makes the hook into a "knooking" hook! The knob is made of German Plum and fits by friction over the bamboo M (9mm) 8 3/4 (22.2cm). The friction fit is a precision wedge kind of fit that requires no snaps or locking device. Just push it on with a small (NOT HARD or you'll break the knob) pressure, and pull off with a little wiggle. The knob will stay on in all but the most violent crocheting... and WE don't crochet violently, do we?

Next hook down from the "Knooking" hook isn't unusual except that it made from astoundingly beautiful Gabon Ebony. It's a perfect K (6.5mm) and is a perfect fit for a hand that loves to cuddle with a 7 inch (17.8cm) long astoundingly smooth crochet hook.

Next up is another first. Not from the hook style but from the material. I made this hook from a French Oak wine barrel stave! You can still see the stain from the wine along the handle! OOOH you should have been here when that wood was on my lathe! The aroma was VERY nice. And the barrel? Well it's one from one of Spokane's best wineries, Lone Canary. So if you crochet, drink wine and like to collect hooks, this one is for YOU. Technically it's a K (6.5mm) and is 7 1/4 inches(18.4cm)long. French Oak is a fairly porous wood so unfortunately I had to apply a finish and alas the nice aroma is covered. But it's still one fascinating hook and sure to be a conversation piece at your next crochet/wine tasting party.

And Last but far from least is a long and lean Smoked Maple I (5.5mm). This long drink of water is here for the pencil grippers in the bunch who like longer hooks. Not to say that the hook won't work well for toothbrush grippers, aw contraire! It will switch hit easily. Its just that I didn't put a thumb rest on this one, for the pencil holders who like to "roll" their hooks. Smoked maple is just as it reads. The wood has been smoked and that's what gives it that rich smokey color. On the lathe, there's a bbq aroma in the air that makes me hungry. Course the aroma is all covered up by the finish, but what's not is the light weight of this hook. You'd expect a hardwood hook that's 8 inches (20.3cm) long to be heavy. Nope. It's light like the feather of a Deadman Crick Turkey. And the balance point is centered on the hook length!

So there you have it! Lets make this an even shorter auction cause I get to go to the crick this weekend. So lets end this auction at 8pm Pacific Std Time on Thursday night, Feb. 4.


To new bidders: I try to post bids as they come in. I'll not be here ALL the time... so if your bid doesn't show up right away, not to worry. Your bid will be posted as soon as I'm able to get to them. Identical bids are entered by first to post so if your bid is the same as another, I'll go by which ever one was posted first. Also please increase bids by $5 minimum. email bids, if you like, to me at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Here we go!

Bids:
Tunisian/"Knooking" M:
Jennifer goes $20
Anamaria raises to $25

Ebony K:
Lori goes $20
Elle goes OOH OOH OOH and bids $35


Wine barrel K:
Jennifer too, $20
Lori goes to $25
Jennifer raises to $30
Lori says go to $35
Jennifer comes back with $40



Lean Smoked Maple I:
Anamaria says $20
Amy goes $25
Kristin goes to $30



And thanks for dropping by! Stay awhile, kick your shoes off...have a stroll through the archives.


Jimbo