Crochet Liberation Front 2011 Retreat..

Fearless Leader Laurie (left) and the Extraordinarily multi talented Julia (right) giving Dippy a thrill.  No wonder he's smiling!



New but already Dear friends, Jacqui and Alan from Australia.  Jacqui was a star student in my carving classes.  Alan.... well cowboys used to describe a friend as someone who they'd trust enough for company during a river crossing.  I'd cross the river with Alan.



Dear friend, amazingly talented hook maker, equally amazing crocheter, and fellow hook geometry researcher, Julia.

The lovely and super talented crochet instructor, Karen (left) holding her "hookane" (a Jimbo first edition),  Famous freeform crochet artist and excellent carving student, Jorel (center), and just about the sweetest crocheter you could find, Janet, who grew up helping her woodworker daddy.



A photo in the new Lodge.  Can you spot the crocheter?  heh.



A part of the "break out" session that Julia and I organized to narrow down the functions of various aspects of crochet hook geometry.  Very informative.  More to come on this topic.

Spent several days recently at the second annual Crochet Liberation Front (CLF) retreat where extremely talented crocheters and crochet instructors gathered for classes, socializing and note comparing.  I was lucky enough to be invited again as an instructor, teaching hook, button, and shawl pin carving.  It was an awe inspiring event.  I was able to meet new friends, catch up with old friends, and whittle to my heart's content in an idyllic setting.  It just doesn't get much better.

More to come.... some really exciting things are unfolding. 

Happy week-end!!
Jimbo

Hand Carved Hooks and Shawl Pins

Getting ready for my class at the CLF (Crochet Liberation Front) Retreat on Camano Island where I'll be teaching Crochet Hook  and Shawl Pin carving.  These are the style of hooks and shawl pins that got me started in this little business.  And they're still my favorites.  Hand carving a crochet hook or shawl pin (which can also be used as hair sticks) is a way to not only let the wood show it's original beauty, but puts more of "me" into the work.  ALL the wood in these pictures came from up on the Ranch.

The hooks are Genuine Deadman Crick Apple and each has a comfy thumb rest. 
The top hook is a hybrid size.  It's 6.75mm, partway between a K and an L. (SOLD)
The middle hook is a G (4.5mm) (SOLD)

The bottom hook is a K (6.5mm) (SOLD)


Prices:  $25 each

The shawl pins (shown in a beautiful shawl made for my sweetie, Karol, by my lifelong friend Mickey) are all made of Crick Wood
The top stick is made from a charred stump of cedar.  A forest fire raged through the ranch area way back in the early 1900's and I still see charred stumps around.  Split the outer surface and the insides of these stumps are often amazingly well preserved.  I left the dark outside on this one, but you can flip it over and the surface will b similar to the stick you see two places down. (SOLD)
The second stick is made from a old Hazelnut Bush stick.  You can see I left the little bug trails.  Beautiful wood!  (SOLD)
The third is another stick made from the charred cedar stump only with the clear wood showing and a little of the charred surface on the top edge.
The bottom stick is made of a really HARD and prickly bramble bush that grows on the ranch and tantalizes me to come and donate blood as I try to sneak dead branches from it's thorny grip.  Ah but the wood is worth the effort, as is the extra effort it takes to transmogrify this otherwise threatening but otherwise plain looking wood into beautiful objects. (SOLD)
The shawl pins are for sale $15 each except for the bottom one, which is $20.
You can email me with your intentions to purchase, at
jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Thanks for dropping by!
PLEASE come visit often.... there are exciting things afoot!!

Jimbo