This is something I’ve been meaning to put up for ages, but put it off until this morning, when I found out Boingboing had covered it. Thanks duders you’re tops!
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My friend Jim, in his own words:
In case you've an interest, I'll tell you how it came to be that a guy who likes to make shavings came to making crochet hooks.
Years ago my sis and I lived on a ranch up in the mountains of northern Washington State. We both loved the place dearly and were heart broken when our dad became ill and the place had to be sold. Since then it's been my life's dream to get the place back. Dreams do come true, and a few years back I was able to buy 30 acres of the ranch back.
What's that to do with hooks? Well back in the olden days my sis and I used to play around an old apple tree on a slope behind our cabin. Now years later, the cabin is gone but the tree is still there. Also, my sis lives in California and isn't really well enough to come back home much, so on birthdays and other occasions that warrant a gift, I try to make her something that originated from the ranch. I've done picture frames from shingles salvaged from the cabin, tealight candle holders from small aspens that grow on the ranch, and finally, crochet hooks from dead branches donated by the old apple tree.
Well, the crochet hooks turned out to be really special because every time she uses them, she's holding a sacred little piece of the ranch, in addition to something I made with my hands. But it has turned out to be more than just a nostalgic sort of thing... the hooks really work well. So I made more and found that other folks (who aren't quite so biased) marvel at their feel.
Now, one of my objectives since buying the ranch back, is to build a cabin; one that will fit the whole family on holidays. My initial daydreams had me building the place myself from logs and stones gathered from the ranch itself. I still like that idea, but I can't make the cement that is used in the concrete, the nails, wiring, plumbing etc. So I've set about letting the ranch help me produce the finances.... in an honorable sort of way. I refuse to log the place although I'm told the timber would pay for the cabin.
The wood for the hooks, hairsticks, candles, etc that I make, come from the ranch. And every dollar that is made from these crafts goes toward building the cabin. Yes, I know I'll never cover all the costs this way, but I love the idea that the ranch and I are doing something together this way, and that my customers can also feel that they are doing something to help make a dream come true.
Right now, I'm still working on the foundation, but every step is pure joy and I'm still pinching myself that I should be so blessed as to have the place back.
-Jim Price
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If you’d like to get in touch with Jim, please use my contact info (spidercamp AT gmail.com) for the time being. I will forward everything Jim’s way.
