Hello, I was surprised
when Ann asked if she could interview me for her blog; how hard can it be to
talk about myself, right? Not as easy as I thought! I guess the place to start would be the
beginning...my name is Vikki Hooks. It describes me pretty well....
As a young child I saw
the women in my family---my mom, and great grandma come to mind--having hooks
and thread in their hands. If it wasn't in their hands, the ball of
thread would be seen sitting on the table with a hook jabbed through it...just
waiting for someone to pick it up. I must have been five or so; I wasn't
in school yet. I picked up that ball with the hook in it and went and hid
in a closet. I remember my great grandma looking for me and I knew I was going
to be in trouble when she found me. So as that closet door opened and she
looked down at me, I saw a small smile. Instead of scolding me, for
touching something that wasn't mine, she sat down beside me, and we made my
first chain! I don't know how long we were in the closet together on the floor
playing with thread, but it was just enough to light the fire. I think
about her from time to time when I pick up my hook. I have one of her
doilies, and her hook, and a pair of scissors in a shadow box on my craft room
wall.
I am married to a
wonderful man that supports me and this crazy addiction. We have three
daughters, none who share my love of crochet, and 7 grandchildren, 2 girls and
5 boys. Only one of my grandkids shows any interest in learning to move
the hook and that is my 13 year old grandson. I have learned I do not
have as much patience as my great grandma. It doesn't help that he wants
to do it all and not start out with a chain..
Like I said my husband
is my biggest fan. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have jumped through
the red tape in order to be able to offer DMC Cebelia thread in my Etsy shop.
I came home upset from spending hours looking for DMC Cebelia at Hobby
Lobby, JoAnn's and Michael's and whatever other shops I hit. I learned that
most of those stores were not going to sell it on their shelves because shelf
space was too expensive, the thread price went through the roof to $6.99 a
ball, and it didn't move fast enough. So that is why I started selling
the thread, to put it into as many hands that want it at a reasonable cost.
I do not make much on the sale of thread, but that is ok because I am an
addict and I am protecting my supply!
Asked why I would recommend DMC, the answer is really simple; it is dye fast, has an awesome sheen, launders up well, it is a tight thread, and doesn't fray or get that swollen and frumpy look after being washed. It just gives super results. I just think it is the best thread available to make heirloom quality doilies. Lizbeth threads are nice and have lots of colors to choose from, I have used it, and will use it if a customer sends it to me, but to be honest--I know I am going to get in trouble here, but it is made in China and I try not to buy Chinese goods.
I opened my shop with
the encouragement of my daughters. I think they were wondering what they would
do with all the doilies if something happened to me. I do one craft show
a year and do really well. I was asked how I price my doilies—pricing
them is hard. I won't get rich making
doilies, or selling thread; it is just a means to keep my supply at hand, and
my hands moving at a hobby I enjoy. When I stop enjoying what I do, I
will stop making doilies and playing with thread. I don't see that
happening anytime soon.
I like textured doilies--that
way people know which way is the right side and wrong side. It is a pet
peeve of mine to see a doily upside down. As for favorite designers, Patricia
Kristoffersen is one. I have all her pattern books and am truly excited when
she publishes a new one. I like Kathryn White, but I have to be in the
mood for her doilies as she does a lot of piece work and I am not a fan of
piece work. And I like Ann's potholders and revamped vintage patterns. But if I
like the look of the pattern it doesn't matter who designs it. I have
found that I really like some of the Japanese patterns, and find myself
becoming a hoarder of those. It is a relatively new obsession.
I have a blog. I
try to blog once a week. I have found some wonderful people who share my
passion for thread and crochet:http://byhooks4u.blogspot.com
My store can be found here:
