INTERNATIONAL CROCHET DAY.. ITS COMING SOON TO A HOOK NEAR YOU

(just couldn't resist including a shot of the crick and the bridge we built)

Ok back on topic...
Please take a look at the hook give away contest, two entries below this one and consider entering the contest for the Cocobolo hook. Its a real beauty and the idea for the give away is to promote a crochet holiday. Its catching on, with numerous folks blogging about it and posting in crochet forums. We even have a proposal for an International Crochet Day mascot... a nekkid sheep (naked to you more civilized folk).
Ok now just to let you know.. i'll be going up to the crick with another half ton of decking this week-end, and some ceement for making piers to support THE FRONT PORCH! YESSSSS!!
So i'll be away for a few days. I'll hopefully have some more hooks for auction then, so PLEASE drop by and check them out.

I'm also hoping to find lots of entries for the hook. Please too, note that this is an INTERNATIONAL holiday, so if you're anywhere outside the USA, Please enter and help promote the holiday in your country!

Have a great Labor Day weekend!!

Jimbo

Porch Progress

An update on the porch. We pretty much finished the deck on the side porch!! Yeayah!! The picture you see is the deck with the chair I built from scraps a couple years ago and put on the deck so you'll get an inkling of the view from the whittler's chair. The front, when its done will be all the more purtier cause the house won't block the view.

Thank all of you who sent Birthday wishes and did blog entries publicizing my hook auctions! That was so kind and thoughtful. My best advertisers are my customers, and i really appreciate your kind wishes and help!



Jimbo

CONTEST!! I'M GIVING THIS HOOK AWAY FOR INT. CROCHET DAY... SEE RULES BELOW

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE WHAT YOU MIGHT WIN!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to give this hook away in another Jimbo Hook
Giveaway contest.

Ok so now for the contest. I appreciate the suggestions for contest format, from those who took the trouble to consider such a thing. Thanks!! But here's what I decided in my mischevious little brain.....

I have thought for a long time now that the art of crochet and those who practice the art deserve some significant recognition. And so in my great power as the Ruthless Tyrant of my vast hook empire have decided to declare that Sept 12, 2007 will be a Holiday that I'm cleverly calling "International Crochet Day". I'm giving everyone who works for me (ME) a day off. You just go ahead and take the day off too.... tell'em Jimbo said it's ok (see where that gets you!)

I don't know about you, but I'm giving the Beautiful Bubinga hook away. No, dummy its not Bubinga.. its Cocobola. Anyways i'll give the hook away that day. What are YOU going to do?? Hmmmmmm?

That's where your contest entry comes in. You can email me at my Yahoo address:


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

Or better yet you can enter by posting a comment below. If you have a blog please link it in the comment so folks can come visit to see what you're doing to promote the day.

And give this serious thought, cause I'm going to hold you to it. Tell me in your entry what you're going to do on International Crochet Day, and what you are going to do between now and then to promote the holiday. I'll be watching! Jimbo has eyes in places.....well you don't want to know.

I'll randomly select the winner from the entries.

Ok so here we go!! Who knows, maybe this could snowball into a real Hallmark kind of holiday!! Lets see if we can make Sept 12 a day for Crochet!

Jimbo

Bytheway.... this hook is an H, sizewise!! Purty eh?

Jimbo

VICKI is the FREEFORM HOOK Owner!! BIDDING IS CLOSED

PLEASE OH PLEASE CLICK ON THIS IMAGE!

This is a brand new in the whole wide world crochet hook style that you're seeing for the very first time ever. For me anyway.
So here's the story. I got this little piece of Apricot branch from my son Lance while we were visiting in Portland last week-end. It had been chewed pretty thoroughly by his puppy, Louie Pee Wigglebottom, and drug around the back yard for a spell. Louie had tangled the stick up a couple times and Lance decided that it might end up hurting poor Louie... so he gave it to me. And here's what's left.

I wanted to make something unique to freeform crochet since I'm so absolutely taken with that style of art. This is what popped out of my feeble little mind.

Now I am not blessed with James Walters-like crochet abilities (wisht i was... but the best i can do is a weenie looking chain on a good day), but from my experience limited as it is... this is hands down THE BEST working hook I've EVER used, bar none.

How's it a freeform hook? WEll it tapers big time from a "K" size at the hook, to oh it must be about an "S" at the handle, so you can do an infinite variety of loop sizes between those two extremes; and the hook itself is done in what i call a bullion shape, with the sides tapered and the hook bent toward the gullet to minimize catching on loops collected on the shank. Plus the flowing grain shapes in this beauty is enough all by itself to inspire freeform work.

Its about 5 1/2 inches long and with the bulb and indent shape of the handle.. various grip styles can be used with comfort. You just have to play with it a bit to see the possibilities.

This is hook will be hard to part with. It feels too good to put down, let alone send off to a new home. Ah but it should go to a crochetier who can put it to good use, and the porch progress stops dead without funding, so... it's up for bids.

You can send bids to me through my Yahoo email at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com


I'll try hard to post bids as they come in and will close the auction at some time to be announced (since I'll be in and out over the next week).


I'll list bids below...
Ellen must think this hook will work.. she bids $25
And so does Lynn.... to the tune of $40
Mary's thinking $45 would be better
Elizabeth rather thinks $50 thank you.
Vicki, a fellow Warshingtonian, bids $55
Ah but Elizabeth will not be deterred and ups it to $60!!!
Holey cow!! Vicki is back with $70!!! AMAZING!!




Thanks for stopping by... and oh, if you have any comments on the hook shape etc, PLEASE leave a note. I'd really love to develop a strictly freeform hook line. So far this one looks most promising to me, but remember I'm not an accomplished crochetier like you.

Jimbo

Now here's an amazin tale...

Zactly 39 years ago today, the beautiful woman you see in this photo married me! ME! How could such a thing happen??
Well I'm knocking on wood, and ain't about to be looking the gift horse in the mouth. I'll just consider that i'm the luckiest guy on this planet and let it go at that. What a woman! She's beautiful. She's smart. She's a wonderful mother, and as you can see, a great Memaw as well, and I'm just grateful she picked me. She deserves some kind of international recognition for tolerating me all these years!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie. I LOVE you, right here in front of everybody!!!

Your Jimmy


ps... We're off today to Portland Oregon where we'll be visiting our son Lance, his bride Chrystal, and our grand-dog Louie Pee Wigglebottom. We'll also be spending some time with dear friends up from California. Good times ahead! Be back Monday night. Have a great week-end!

Auction is ended! Wow what a day!!

PLEASE NOTE

The auction is closed. Please refer to the bids below to see if you were high bidder. If you were, please check the "make a donation" box to use paypal for payment and to pass your shipping address on to me. If you choose not to use paypal, please email me for other arrangements.

Thank you all for bidding!!
Jimbo


PLEASE click on the image (although the download time is long... you'll see lots better detail)

I've been busy, as you can see, making hooks and as you can also see, I got me a Stacey brand prize winning Dixie Redhead Genuine pine cone and evergreen tree doily (That redhead does some incredible work, eh?) Well eat your hearts out.... its NOT up for bids. This has become a full fledged Jimbo family heirloom and will have an honored spot up in the cabin)

Ok.. here's what we have for bids. First let me tell you about the bowl. Its Maple and made from a tree that was destined for the chipper. I salvaged a few chunks and wow what beautiful wood! The bowl is about 6 1/4 inches in diameter and about an inch and a half deep. Its finished with a beeswax so its good for food but i certainly wouldn't serve dip or anything that would require washing.



Now the hooks:

Lets start with the bottom, the go from left to right.

The bottom hook is a new one for me. It's between a J and K sizewise, and has a constant diameter from the point of the hook to the handle of 5 inches. The hook is designed to be used for bullions. In other words the hook shape is tapered on the sides and the hook is formed shy of the shank to maximize clearance for loop removal.
Its made of genuine Deadman Crick Bush Maple.


Now the far left hook (L1). Its an L and made of Deadman Crick Briar. About 6 1/2 inches long, with an interesting sort of Harry Potter kind of elongated lightning bolt grain fleck alongt the handle by the thumb rest. Interesting little squiggle, not to take away from the rest of the grain. Very pretty.

Ok the next to the left (L2) is smack between a K and an L, made of the same Briar but a lighter color version. Its 6 1/4 inches long and has a little flat spot at the handle end to keep it from rolling off the table. (actually the hook kind of decided the flat spot should be there and I didn't have the heart to turn it down further to get rid of it)

Now comes the center hook (C). Its obviously an "egg" hook. Its made of Deadman Crick Apple (the good old tree is STILL donating hook material!). The bulb part is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and its about 5 1/2 inches long. Oh, and its a 7 sizewise (between an H and a G). Amazing grain as you can see.

Ok now we're on the right side. The first hook just to the right of the bowl (R1), is also a 7 but a bit longer (7 inches). If you like the grain on this really beautiful chunk of Deadman Crick Briar, you otta see the back side! Oh this one is just amazing. And really unique. You see the little dark line running along the handle? How'd that get there? And there's some little bug tunnels in the handle end, but i promise the bugs are gone.

Next we have R2. Can you believe another 7 ? It started out an H but shrunk. Must have been the high protein diet. Anyways its also Deadman Crick Briar and has highly contrasting grain color. Its 6 1/2 inches long.

Now its R3. Another beauty, but this time an H. Its also Deadman Crick Briar (that stuff is just amazing!). Again the grain is just, well you have to see it up close. Now this one has a teeny little crack in the handle end that's inconsequential, but I just HAD to tell you. I'd have turned it down further beyond the crack but then you wouldn't have the proportions you see here. This is just a beautiful hook and i think the little flaw adds character. Like ME... i have LOTS of character!

And the Bowl (B) I already told you about that. Its fun making them and seems like a good thing to do with wood that would otherwise become chips or fireplace smoke. The wood is just too pretty to waste. I'm hoping it sells well cause I'd like to make more. Oh and there'll be $5 shipping added for the extra weight.

You can send bids to me through my Yahoo email at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com


I'll try hard to post bids as they come in and will close the auction next Wed. night (Aug. 22) at 10pm Pacific Std time.

I'll list bids below...

Hook B (the bottom hook):
Deb's bid: $25
Bonnie brings it up to $30
I'm bumping Deb up to $35


Hook L1:
Melissa Mmmm $25
Maurine's here with $27.50
Melissa with a little bump to $28



Hook L2:
Suzan's a first time bidder! Welcome!!! oh yah her bid is $25
Oh but here's Wildthing with $26
ANNNND Suzan is back with $30!
Ann is here! and bids $32



Center hook (C):
Tracey bids $25
Beth's here with $30
Tracey's back with $35
Beth's BIG BUMP to $55!!
Oh my!! Tracey's back with $57!!


Hook R1:
Tracey bids $15
And HoosierD raises it immediately to $20
Bonnie's here too with $25
Tracey bumps it to $30



Hook R2:
Paulette!! Yeah!!! $15
Miranda bumps it to $25
Wildthing wants this one too... $26
(come on come on Wild thing.. you make my heart sing.. you make everything... groovy ((LOVED that song!!))
Impressed with the "hot time summer in the city" song... Miranda bids $30


Hook R3:
Tracey bids $25
JennyM raises to $30
Tracey comes back with $35
JenyM says $37
Tracey: $39
Jen's going $41!!
Tracey is determined...$43




The bowl:
Elizabeth's first in with $25
Stacey's here with $30
Elizabeth's back with $35
Stacey and Elizabeth both bid $40 but rather than cut the bowl in half, the bid goes to the first bidder... Elizabeth gets the $40 bid! (sorry Stacey)
Bonnie bids $42





Oh and if you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jimbo

Look at the deck that hooks built!!!

Ok its not quite a porch yet, but we finally got to saw wood and pound nails! And all the materials you see in this picture were purchased from crochet hook sales!! Imagine that!! and the decking itself will be paid for that way too, when the funds build back up to that point.
Oh its just so great to see something other than concrete pilings sticking up out of the ground!
My son Clint, and grandsons Clinton (7) and Colton (4) and I worked hard this past week-end, building what you see. And now all that's left for the side porch is a little chunk of framing on the south end of the 8 x 16 part, some bridging, and we'll be ready for the decking.
So what you're looking at is the large part of the side deck which is actually the main entrance to the cabin. The 4 posts you see sticking up will each be part of a 5 log bundle, with 4 longer but smaller diameter (5") logs bolted to each of the larger treated posts and extending up to support the roof. The longer logs will be taken from my little forest and will be used to support a roof which will cover that part of the porch. The long narrow part you see will be a walkway from the larger area (with the posts as corners) to the front porch which isn't framed yet (LOTS more hooks need be made to finance THAT part of the project).
Digging holes and pouring concrete is good honest work, and it's exercise that gets something productive done (as opposed to going to the gym). But i tell you there's nothing to me like working with wood!! Love it, even if i'm slow and inaccurate and my more accomplished carpenter friends and relatives will look and smile, knowing they could do better... I don't care. WE did it! And by WE I am by all means including you guys who've been so supportive.
Might not be this year, but I'm thinking by this time next year i'll be whittling my first hook on the actual for real "Jimbo's front porch"!!
So, I best be busy making more hooks for auction; there's a long ways to go... but its sooooo good to actually see something raising above the ground!!

All this, Thanks to you guys!!!

I'm very grateful

Jimbo

FOUR IN A BOWL are SOLD to Deb and Jen

Thanks for your bids!




PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE FOR DETAIL

Just had to show you the maple bowl i made from a locally grown tree. I never get tired of looking at wood grain. So beautiful.

And there's hooks too! I've got a little selection of pretty hooks here that are up for bids. Actually 3 of them are fresh off the ranch. I ran across a briar bush last week-end that had some dead branches among the inch long thorns, just teasing me to reach in with my little saw. So the wounds are now scabbing over (not a purty sight) but i did get the sticks and they're now very durable little crochet hooks. Pretty grain too. So I guess it was worth the effort. The other is a Yew hook that i didn't have to work so hard for.... but purty nonetheless.

Don't think i'll auction off the bowl. I'm saving it for a Christmas gift. But major expenses are arising for the porch (update coming soon)... so the hooks are up for bids.

I'll take bids on these till next Wednesday night (Aug. 15th) 10 PM Pacific Std time.

You can send bids to me through my Yahoo email at


jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com


I'll try hard to post bids as they come in (but i'll be up at the crick over the weekend so some posts might be a little delayed)

ok lets look at the hooks in detail....


and I'll post the bids after each description


Starting from the left we have

Hook B (for bowl) 1: This is a 7 inch long briar hook that believe it or not, broke the F barrier....(another rarity for a Jimbo hook). But this briar is some tough stuff and the little hook size seemed to come out just fine. You'll see i left on some bark for character... to remind you of the hook's home up on the crick.
Bids on B1:
Deb bids $50 right off the bat!!




Hook B2 (second from left) is a 7 1/2 inch long K, made from the same briar that got me all scratched up. This one has a little highly figured grain area on the thumb rest that intregued me... along with the oh so nice wavy grain along the length of the handle.
Bids on B2:
Jen is here and bidding! $20
But so's Becky... $25
Jen, like Arnolt, is BACK, this time with $30




Hook B3 decided it wanted to be a K too... but a shorter version. This one's 6 1/4 inches long and is made of the trecherous briar. Very pretty, slightly lighter grain color than B2 but has a subtle beauty that just seems right for this hook size.
Bids on B3:
And Deb bids $50 for this one too!!!



Hook B4 (I made it B4 I made the others) is a little fella in that rarified G size atmosphere. Its twiggie slender, as you see, and is about 6 1/4 inches long. Its the yew hook i told you about earlier. I like yew because its such a pretty ruddy color, it's toughness, and the grain's almost always pretty (and this one's certainly no exception). I left the handle end with knife marks because they look like gem facets.
Bids on B4:
Beth from Canada bids $25
Bonnie raises the bid to $30
And can you believe it!? Deb's here to make some dough for the porch! She's in for on this one too.... $50!!!






So there you go... Happy bidding and thanks for stopping by!
Jimbo

I'M PUBLISHED!! CHECK "CRAFT: transforming traditional crafts"

Click THIS!!

Well folks its happened! I got an article published. Sure its about how to make crochet hooks. In fact the hook you see in the picture is THE hook that was made for the article I wrote for "Craft: transforming traditional crafts" magazine!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOO I'm just plain thrilled is all.
And you know what makes it all even cooler!? This is the very SAME magazine, SAME issue that features on page 24, one of my favoritest crochetiers of all time, Regina Gonzalez of "Monster Crochet" fame!! Holey COW!!! To appear in the same magazine with Regina!! If i wasn't so far overweight, I'd be floating!

Ok ok... calm down

easy does it

I mean its not like you've just wrote an article for a prestigious magazine that'll be in every major bookstore in the, what, world???


wait a minute, YES IT IS!!! YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!





okokok... enough. Folks'll think i'm bragging.



So thanks for stopping by!!

Jimbo

Yahoooo

oops that just slipped out

All bids are IN AUCTION IS CLOSED.. Elizabeth, Beth, Tine, and Kathryn are the high bidders!!

GREAT AUCTION!! Thanks, everyone for your bids! Winners please consider using the "Make a Donation" button in the blog for paypal use. If you choose not to use paypal, please contact me for other arrangements. Also please be sure i get your mailing addresses.
Thanks again for your bids!!
Jimbo



(click and wait forever for REALLY big details to load...but its worth the wait)

(PLEASE NOTE... I'M EXTENDING THIS AUCTION TILL TOMORROW NIGHT (AUG 9 till 10PM PACIFIC) ON ACCOUNTA THE LAST BUNCH OF BIDS DIDN'T POST, EVEN THOUGH I ENTERED THEM (PROBABLY, KNOWING ME, I HIT THE WRONG BUTTON AND DIDN'T CHECK) SO PLEASE CHECK FOR YOUR BID TO SEE IT'S THERE BECAUSE I DELETED SOME AFTER THE TIME I THOUGHT THEY WERE POSTED, AND EMAIL ME IF YOUR BID DOESN'T SHOW, PLEASE. SORRY FOR THE MIX UP!!!)




Oh, lots of things. In fact most folks when they think of Washington State think of Seattle, which is a BIG part of the West Side. Well we on the East Side get just a little jealous.. cause the West Side gets all the good stuff. But i have to say there are some really great things from over there. "What ever could that be?" you ask. The Space Needle? ho hum. Bill Gates? ok you got me there.. I like that guy! The Mariners? you gotta be kidding? The Huskies? Now you're getting WAY off base. Ok ok, i'll tell you. One of the best from over there is (no not Jimmi Hendrix). Senator Patty Murray? Ok now you couldn't get further out in left field. Nope, nope... I guess i better tell you. Its My Thunderbird (her Web Name). She's just about the sweetest lady around, from EITHER side of the State. AND she made the afgan you see in the picture above. Isn't that just knock out beautiful? And the colors!! A true asset to crochetdom and Western Washington! And guess what??? She created this beauty with a Jimbo hook... made from lilac that grew in her yard in... well i won't tell you that to protect her from the paparazzi. Thanks again, My Thunderbird you're the BEST!
But wait, there's more! What else besides My Thunderbird are right up there with the Pike Street Market, Starbucks and Bill Gates?? hmmmmm? Ok you guessed it. Madrona!! Yup, Madrona grows wild over there. You won't see a much prettier tree. The bark is soooo soft, like velvet and the color with moss growing all over it is just beautiful. And the wood!! Well there's a couple examples in the hooks up for bids.. along with some from the East Side just to balance things out.

So up for bids are....

The top hook we'll call West One, is Madrona. My hands started shaking when I was making this hook, the grain is so dramatic and beautiful. Not like your typical Madrona which has a far more subtle grain structure. Ok, so its an I sizewise, and about 7 inches long overall, with a fantastically smooth "worry stone" end for you to rub while you're becoming inspired to make your next wonderous creation.

Next down is another Madrona hook we'll call West Two. Now here's a more traditional Madrona grain. See the difference? The structure is WAY more subtle, but that almost makes all the prettier. You see this hook up close in your hands, and you'll see what I mean. It's just amazingly beautiful. Oh, and its an H and a little over 6 inches long.

Three from the top is a Birch hook from my back yard that we'll call East One. This tree has yielded some really pretty hooks, for a Birch. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of Birch for, say Kitchen Cabinets... but branch wood on a birch tree is really pretty stuff. This is another one you have to see up close to appreciate its beauty. And its VERY lightweight. Its a 7 sizewise (between an H and a G) and its a longer one... about 7 inches long.

And finally but way far from the least is East Two..another hook that had me drooling on my lathe. This beauty is made of good ole Deadman Crick Hazelnut wood. And if you've ever experienced this stuff, you'll know that its just the purtiest country wood. And its got character... a little bug hole here.. a little bark there, and you have a true Deadman Crick beauty. AND its a member of that rarified G hook group. Yup another one broke the G barrier! Oh and its about 6 inches long.


So we'll take bids on this bevy of beauties till next Wednesday, 10 pm Pacific time.
Please note that I'll be up at the crick for a few days starting late tomorrow or Friday and might not be able to post your bids right away...but don't worry. They'll get posted as soon as i can get to them.


And as usual, you can email me your bids at:

jimbocrochetwhittler@yahoo.com

And thanks for stopping by!
Jimbo

BIDS:

West One:
Tracey bids $30 on this fine example of West Washington Wood
Elizabeth, one of my first customers, REALLY likes this one... and bids $50!

West Two:
Beth bids $15 on this beauty outa the West
Andy (famous from "Crochet Depot") honors me with an $18 bid
Jen's in for $20
And Vicki's here! (feeling better, I hope) with $25
Jennifer is back with $28
Tine's here! And shes bidding. $30
Jennifer says she's not gonna be shot outta the water, and bumps it up to $35
Whoa! Beth's back with $55!!



East One:
Bonnie's in for $20
Carola all the way from Sweden bids $25
Tine' here too.. and ups it to $30


East Two:
Rayleen's here!! And she's bidding $20!
Ah but so's Kathryn and she's in for $30!
Rayleen, who'd like to increase the Canadian Jimbo Hook population, raises to $35
Kathryn is back with $45!