Mexico has some beautiful sites...and amazing talent!

Didn't get to go fishing. But on the other hand, I didn't get thrown in jail for disorderly conduct. Ah but there are some amazing things to see from a cruise ship and in old Mexico!

We went ashore in Mazatlan and instead of going to the popular tourist sites (well ok we went there too) but the most impressive place there is their cathedral. It's just breathtaking inside. Here you see an picture with the sun shining through a leaded glass window. I call it Godlight.

(click on pictures to enlarge)



And from the ship, a bit more natural Godlight...



We also went ashore in Puerto Vallarta. I was amazed by the guys who climbed this huge pole and began spinning upside down from the top, but to me that guy in the photo stole the whole show. First he was lifting stones that I doubt I could budge, and I consider myself no weakling. But even more amazing was that he was stacking them in ways that seemed to defy gravity... look close at the several stacks he's made...no glue, just an incredible ability to find balance points in unobvious places. Wisht I could have stayed longer and maybe tried to stack some myself.





And here we are on a little side trip just outside Cabo. That's the four of us. Our friends Mike and Phyllis, Karol and yeah, me. We had a great time!!


And now we're back and I'm anxious to start making hooks again. So... and auction will be coming soon!


Thanks for dropping by!
Jimbo

I WON!!! I WON!!! THANKS TO ALL WHO VOTED FOR ME!!

Thanks to everyone who voted for me, I won this year's Flamie Award in the catagory of "Best Independent Hook Maker of 2009" by the Crochet Liberation Front in Ravelry (the CLF is a crochet forum with over 5000 members world wide). Its a VERY real honor, especially given the other nominees are VERY accomplished hook makers.
The night of the award event, there was a podcast ("Getting Loopy") where the winners in all the catagories were interviewed by the hostess, Mary Beth Temple. Now that was a bit scairy, but fun.
Anyways, I want to thank everyone again who voted for me!
Oh and Biff DID get an extra treat for running the campaign.

Grateful
Jimbo

Mid April Auction is OVER, THANKS BIDDERS!

Thanks everyone for dropping by! The auction closed last night at 10pm. High bidders are AnaMaria and Amy. Please consider using the "make a donation" button in the left margin of this blog if you'd like to use paypal, or email me if you'd prefer other payment arrangements. Thanks again everyone!
Jimbo



(click image to enlarge)

Here we go!! Three beauties up for bids. But first take a look at the bowl under the hooks. I made it for an upcoming FARA auction that will be taking place in Montana in a couple weeks. BUT what I'll do is take bids here and the highest bid here will be the minimum bid at the Montany auction, so in effect you'll be bidding in the FARA auction and your funds (if you're the high bidder) will go directly to help find a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia! The bowl is hand turned by Jimbo from a block of figured Maple. It's 6 5/8 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall. Beautiful wood finished in Beeswax.

AND>>>>


Here is a spice bowl and spoon that we can auction for FARA too. This little bowl is made from a branch that broke from my back yard Maple, and the spoon is a piece of Zircote that was too small to make into a hook. Very ecological wouldn't you say? Beauty from waste. Anyways this little bowl, as you can see from the old nickel is small so it won't take up much space on your table. It's 3 1/4 inches(83mm)at the largest outside diameter and 1 1/2 inches (38mm) tall; and the bowl at it's deepest is 1 inch (25mm) deep. The spoon is a real beauty (took FOREVER to carve the bowl)and is almost 4 inches(98mm) long. I'm guessing the spoon will hold about 1/3 teaspoon of salt, pepper or DRY spice. I emphasize dry because you don't want to put liquids in either the bowl or spoon. They're wood and are finished for use but not with liquids if you want to retain their beauty. The bowl is finished with beeswax and the spoon with polyoil. We'll do this one the same because this bowl and spoon are also going to the Montany auction, so we'll take bids here and the highest bid here will be the minimum bid at the Montany auction, so in effect you'll be bidding in the FARA auction and your funds (if you're the high bidder) will go directly to help find a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia!



Ok now to the HOOKS! We have some beauties again!

Lets start with the biggie on the bottom. I think this is the first Q hook (19mm)that I've done in my new hook style. Its made of BEAUTIFUL Yew wood and for it's size is AMAZINGLY light but tough. Unlike store bought plastic Q hooks, this hook has ample shank space for collecting loops. A generous thumb rest is carved into the hook, making the grip thinner than the Q hook diameter. If you've been hankerin for a Q that's not likely to hurt your hand, this one should fit the bill just fine. Oh and it's long..9 inches(23cm.

Moving up from the big Q, we have a beautiful red Zapote in a size 7 (4.5mm). I've made Zapote hooks recently and found the wood just amazingly beautiful, VERY hard and EXCELLENT for hooks. The grain on this one was tight enough to allow smooth knife cuts, so much so that I left my knife marks on the thumb rest. The hook is a wee bit over 7 1/2 inches (19cm) long.

And on the top is a Panamanian Rosewood beauty! Long, slender, and with fashion model sophisticated beauty, this F (3.75mm) hook is done WITHOUT a thumb rest, which some underhand grip folks (pencil holders) prefer. (but I'll gladly carve one at the option of the highest bidder) And Length! It's 7 3/4 inches (19.7cm) long. Balance? oooooo yeah! The balance is well forward (toward the hook) from the center of length (most of my hooks are pretty much balanced at the center).. so if you'd like a weight forward hook, this one's your huckleberry; and THAT'S not an easy thing to do in smaller hook sizes, you know, because a lot of the forward weight goes away when the wood is taken down to the smaller hook sizes.

So because the Montana FARA auction is coming up soon, lets shorten this auction and end it this coming Monday night (April 19Th) 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:

Maple bowl:
AnaMaria bids $50 for a pretty bowl and a great cause!!

Spice bowl and spoon:



Yew Q (hay, that rhymes!):
AnaMaria goes $25



Zapote 7:
Amy goes $25



Pan Rosewood F:
Deb jumps right in with $35
Amy says $40



And thanks again for dropping by!

Jimbo

Auction is OVER, and I'll announce the winner of the Easter Hook tomorrow morning

And the Easter Hook Winner IS>>>
A caring mother of three, a crafter of extraordinary talent, the wife of a gran prix racing enthusiast, and excellent cook... From Sao Paulo Brazil, the new owner of the Olive Wood Easter Hook is.....


Rô Szili


Thank you all for entering the contest! We had the most entries ever for a Jimbo Hook and most entries this time were from outside the US! Fantastic!!

A special thank you to Sônia Maria who publicized the contest in her blog, Falando de Crochet!

And please pay a visit to Rô Szili at her blog, Amigas Da Praca




AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ENTERING!!!

Jimbo


Totally new to the world of crochet, a revolutionary new hook innovation that will rock the crochet world! DOUBLE your crochet speed! Want to use two yarns? Make two different projects at the same time?? YES WE CAN!! Be the very first and only owner of the very first and only Double Jimbo!! Yes this totally unique-in-the Universe collectible hook is up for bids!! But because this is so much akin to, like, the first light bulb and the collectible value will skyrocket; we must start the bidding at $300 with $50 raise increments. Oh and lets end the auction time on this hook on...... APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!




(click on image to enlarge)

Now, moving on to more serious stuff... This next part is REAL... no kidding! Ok I know its a hard act to follow, but read on PLEASE because there is a treat in store if you do..

First we have two hooks up for bids, really! They are the two directly below the amazing Double Jimbo hook.

First is the very dark and handsome Flamewood hook. Flamewood is called that because the grain often has the appearance of flames (duh). This one, though looks more like the char after the flames, it's so dark. The wood is very hard and beautiful and makes just incredible hooks. This one is a very rare (see if you find this size in your local yarn shop) size 7mm. That's between a K and an L on your Bates size gauge. 7.5 inches long (19cm) and is made without a thumb rest for those who prefer not to have one. I'll carve a thumb rest for a highest bidder who specifies they'd like one.

Next we have a Honduran Rosewood beauty in an H (5mm). Beautiful wood, Honduran Rosewood. Reminds me a bit of Walnut but closer grain and lots harder. This good lookin hunk o'hook is the same length as the Flamewood hook.. 7.5 inches(19cm).


And now that you've been so patient.... The bottom hook is one that I decided while making it, that I HAD to give away. It's my Easter Hook and is made of Olive Wood, wood that's associated with peace, and religious significance because much of it comes from the Holy Land. How can you auction a hook like that? The size? J of course. So this is my Easter present to whoever is drawn from entries by way of comments to this post or email me (address below) between now and 10pm Pacific Time, April 13th. We'll end the auction at the same 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

Please use the same email address for your Easter Hook give-away entries if you have trouble leaving a comment here. Followers you're special! Just mention that you are in the Follower group here and you get an extra entry!

Thanks for dropping by and HAPPY April Fools Day, and if I don't see you before, Happy Easter!! May you find all your eggs!!

Jimbo

Bids:

April Fools Hook: (heh)


Flamewood 7mm:
Shannon says $20
Amy ups it to $25
Jean goes to $44.22

Honduran Rose H:
Kimberly goes $20
Lori's back for another..$25