Thursday, March 11, 2010

Hooks of Hope 'chocolate covered cherries' GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway is CLOSED. Congratulations to tracyo comment number #4

Hooks of Hope is an adorable store on etsy - but this one, I found to be really different. Kati (& Lynda) own and operate the company, and what they make are what they call "Hooks", essentially wash cloths, blankets, & bags, all hand-made & all crocheted. I found them to be of a high standard & made to last. 

What Kati sent me to review was a set of cloths for either the bath or the kitchen (I opted for the kitchen) & the set was called "Chocolate Covered Cherries, mini deluxe". A mini set means there are three, instead of five. I've always had a 'thing' about dishcloths, I find them disgusting. I always wonder how many germs and bacteria are swarming my dishcloth, and therefore my counter, since that's what they're used for. With Kati's hooks, they're machine washable - definitely a plus, they come in fantastic colors - and another service that Kati offers is if you can't quite see the color that will match your kitchen or bathroom - or whatever you have in mind, she can customize some to your style & taste.

Hooks of Hope have a selection of different 'hooks', baby blankets, dish/wash cloths, bags and even scarves. They're crocheted & are to a high standard. But another reason I fell in love with Hooks of Hope was the fact that Kati & Lynda give 15% of ALL proceeds toward a charitable organization. This year it happens to be "Post Partum Depression" & as a mother, I think quite highly of their choice. What amazes me is the selflessness that comes with what they do. There's an obvious passion to their craft & just the fact that they give to various charities is humbling.

I, naturally wanted some insight into why they do what they do - and here's what Kati had to say:
How did you come up with the concept of Hooks of Hope? Around this time last year, my mom and I were busily preparing for our shops grand debut on Etsy. It all came about because mom and I had this grand idea that we could use our crocheting "habit" to do something great. Why not crochet, make a little money to cover our costs, and donate the rest to charity? And that's exactly what we've done. We chose to name our shop "Hooks of Hope" because we like to think that each of our "hooks" (aka crocheted items) give the gift of hope with every purpose to someone who benefits from the money we donate to charity.


How do you decide which charity you'll donate to? The charity we are currently donating to is Postpartum Support International. We chose this charity because it provides assistance to women going through postpartum depression...a condition that I myself struggled with after the birth of my first son. Hopefully, with even the small amount we are able to give we are able to "give hope" to at least one person struggling through this very difficult condition.

In May we will be choosing a new charity to donate to for the following year. We are hoping that our Facebook and Twitter Followers will help us decide which charity to choose this year and will begin providing them with choices to choose from next month.

Do you have any personal experience with any of the charities you've featured? Yes, I struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of my first son. Luckily, I was able to recognize the symptoms right away and get the help I needed to overcome it. Postpartum Support International is great in that it helps those who may not recognize the symptoms right away know what they are and provides resources to make getting help a much easier process.

How do you come up with the ideas for the products you make?
Coming up with product ideas is probably my favorite part of running Hooks of Hope! I love looking at different color combination's and imagining what they may look like together in a scarf, handy hook set, or blanket. I try to keep myself inspired by as many things as possible when in the "development" phase. Usually, inspiration comes from places you wouldn't typically associate with crocheting. Web page colors, clothing sets, and even booklets I use in my dietetic internship have inspired my color combinations. My boys are also big inspirations and sometimes even help my pick the colors to use.

How long does it take you to finish say - a set of dishcloths? Well...it totally depends on what else is going on in my life! TYPICALLY, a set of dishcloths takes me 2-3 days. A scarf takes about a week while a blanket takes more like a month or more. Usually I have multiple projects going on at the same time which changes the overall production time for each. I do accept custom order requests and those I work hard on to finish as fast as possible so that my customer isn't waiting around too long for their order to arrive. I know that when I order something online I want it so much faster than I typically get it. I try to be conscious of that when working on custom hooks.

I'm absolutely impressed with the generous nature of Kati & her mother, and love that they give so much back!


Win It
Hooks of Hope are offering one reader a set of the Chocolate Covered Cherries mini deluxe (the same one I received - they're beautiful) dish/wash cloths!

Mandatory entry: To be eligible to enter, leave a comment stating a worthy charity or cause you think would benefit from Hooks of Hope.

Extra entries:
+1 Take a look around Hooks of Hope & leave a comment with some items you thought were adorable!
+1 Follow this blog
+3 Tweet about this giveaway (2x daily)

Win w/ @HooksofHope & 20 to Life a set of choc. covered cherry dish or wash cloths!


This giveaway will run from 3.11.10 until 3.18.10, please leave separate comments for each entry, winner will be selected via Random.Org & emailed. They will then 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be drawn.

**Please note, I received no form of monetary compensation for my opinion/review. I did receive a product from the company in order to give a fair & balanced review and any opinion, statement etc. expressed in said review in solely my own & was in no way influenced by a third party.

Good Luck!

50 reactions!:

Tracy said...

One worthy cause is more local in my area, but never the less a great cause. It is The Karen Lynn MacDonald Allergy Awareness Society. It is a sad story about what happened to this woman, but her friends and family have taken up a crusade to make sure it doesn't happen to any one else. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5530692462&_fb_noscript=1
My son has severe food allergies, so any group that promotes saftey in this field has my seal of approval :O)

Tracy said...

I follow your blog :O)

Tracy said...

Found you on Facebook and now a fan!

Tracy said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/DailyMomDiaries/status/10513506573 and will tweet a bit later :O)

Peggy said...

I would love to see homeless shelters in everyone area to get some of these ,they are awesome! Giving people the hope to carry on.
Thanks
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

I love the Romantic Handy Hooks Mini Collection,fantastic and I have a pink kitchen!!
Thanks
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

Follow this blog
matternu@gmail.com

Merrie L. said...

I think a local Ronald McDonald house is a worthy cause. They did SO much for my family personally-- and although they do get a lot of notariety, there are SO many families in need that they are always in NEED of personal items for the house. lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com

Merrie L. said...

I like the Darling Girl Baby Hook.
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com

Merrie L. said...

I follow this blog.
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com

Merrie L. said...

I follow you & Hooks of Hope on twitter; username: mjl6mom2
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com

Merrie L. said...

I'm a facebook fan "20 to Life".
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com

Merrie L. said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/mjl6mom2/status/10525928268
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com Entry #1

Merrie L. said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/mjl6mom2/status/10525928268
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com Entry #2

Merrie L. said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/mjl6mom2/status/10525928268
lockwoodmerrie@yahoo.com Entry #3

Jack and Alex Manning said...

I opt for the Ronald McDonald House!

parentingadabsurdum@gmail.com

Peryl
http://blog.seattlepi.com/parentingadabsurdum/

Tracy said...

tweeted again: http://twitter.com/DailyMomDiaries/status/10532600957

entry 2

Tracy said...

tweeted: 3rd entry :O)

Erin said...

Ronald McDonald housing. They are amazing when your child needs long term care.

Peggy said...

Facebook fan Hooks of Hope
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

Twitter follower & Hooks of Hope
velvet1116
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

Facebook fan "20 to Life"
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

tweet #1
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10536826362
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

tweet #2
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10536826362
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

tweet #3
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10536826362
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

tweet #3
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10536826362
matternu@gmail.com

Sarafan2 said...

I'd love to get a stainless steel colander and a set og glass 3/4 inch bowls for salad. I could buy much more as there is so much to shoose from. Thanks.


kibbles0905@yahoo.com

Sarafan2 said...

I follow your blog. Sarafan2

http://www.sarafan2.blogspot.com

kibbles0905@yahoo.com

Sarafan2 said...

Fan of Hooks & Hope on FB.


Kelly Coleman

kibbles0905@yahoo.com

Sarafan2 said...

Fan of 20 to Life on FB.


Kelly Coleman

Sarafan2 said...

Follow on twitter and tweeted



http://twitter.com/Sarafan2/status/10538141965

Peggy said...

tweet #1
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10539001617
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

tweet #2
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10539001617
matternu@gmail.com

Peggy said...

tweet #3
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/10539001617
matternu@gmail.com

Jinx said...

I believe that an animal shelter would be a worthy cause. All animals need food and shelter and its nice to help your local shelter because they really appreciate it.

Ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com

Jinx said...

I adore the sunkissed mini deluxe edition! Would be so cute for my kitchen. : )
I also love the coconut lime edition.
All of her work look so fluffy and adorable :)

Ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com

Jinx said...

Following your blog :)

Ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com

Jinx said...

Facebook fan of Hooks of Hope!

Ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/ashleybwomble

Jinx said...

followed hooks of hope, and 20 to life on twitter!

twitter.com/jinxspinx


Ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com

Jinx said...

Facebook fan of 20 to life :)

Ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com
facebook.com/ashleybwomble

Jinx said...

Tweeted about giveway!
twitter.com/jinxspinx

ashley
sympathetic_kitty@yahoo.com

Kati said...

You are all providing me with so many great charity ideas! Thanks a bunch. Mom & I will be featuring a new charity this upcoming May.

Keep the suggestions coming and good luck with the giveaway! :)

~Kati

Unknown said...

In Oregon (not sure if anywhere else) we have a great charity called the Childrens Cancer Society. They do wonderful things for children and their families that are affected by cancer.

JulieC. said...

I think an awesome charity would be one related to pediatric cancers. Curesearch and Alexs Lemondade stand are two of the more well known. I also know of a lady in Texas who lost her four year old son to cancer, who would be able to disburse it to a family in need.

Julie Creasman

Tomi C said...

There's a wonderful charity in my neighborhood called WCF [Women & Children First]. They provide temporary shelter for homeless women & children. Can you imagine the joy of a new set of dishcloths or even a blanket would provide for someone who is starting from scratch? WOW! Good luck everyone!

Student Entrepreneur said...

i always like to donate to a local women's shelter

Student Entrepreneur said...

i am one of your stalker!!

Student Entrepreneur said...

I am also a stalker of yours on facebook:)

april brooks said...

Kiva is my favorite place to give.

I know this giveaway has ended, but entering it is a requirement to enter your Soda Stream Giveaway, which doesn't end 'til 3/31.

Hope I'm doing this right!
Thanks for all of the hard work that goes into your blog!

Jeni Allen said...

I know this giveaway has ended, but entering it is a requirement to enter your Soda Stream Giveaway, which doesn't end 'til 3/31.

Hope I'm doing this right!

 
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