Hi, friends! I’m Jessica, a pink-haired and giggly lady who realllllllly loves her fiber yumminess. I’m married to my tattoo artist (I know I’m biased, but he’s pretty amazing), Aaron Carey, and we have two amazing kiddos. We live in Oregon and LOVE it here. Yes, it may rain and, yes, most Oregonians don’t actually own umbrellas, but hey.. if everyone has frizzy hair, it’s not too much to actually worry about. ;)

I began crocheting just so I could make our daughter some items she could keep as she got older. It meant a lot to me to be able to give her such meaningful gifts that I hoped she would appreciate. As things progressed, I found myself selling my makes to friends and family and soon after that, opened my Etsy shop in 2012. After a rollercoaster of successes and failures and feeling burnt out, I chose to cease selling finished items in January of 2016 and began dabbling in the world of pattern design. After many successful (and not-so-successful) designs, I chose to switch things up a bit..

In 2017, after feeling a bit burnt out from the pressures of others waiting (im)patiently for designs to be finished, I chose to spend this year working privately with yarn brands for commissioned designs and I had a BLAST. Being able to create new relationships with these people, try new yarns, challenge myself, and learn new skills really showed me that I am capable of doing anything I wanted. All I needed to do was to be kind, work hard and EARN those opportunities. In addition to commissioned designs, I was also able to embark on a new path I had never done before: blogging.

Let me tell you, the moment you receive an email inviting you to be a blog contributor to the Creative Spark blog on the JOANN Stores website will require you to change your pants. This moment was SO huge for me and truly an instrumental moment in my career. Not only did this huge company SEE me and wanted to work with me, but they also trusted me enough to do this job despite the fact that I had never really blogged before.. Gulp. The first post I did for them was a MESS. But I did it. And each month was better than the last. Just because you don’t know how to do something, doesn’t mean you are incapable. If you tell yourself you can’t do something, that’s YOU limiting yourself. Don’t do that. Dream big and work hard until they aren’t dreams anymore. Your dreams CAN become a reality, believe me. It’s ok to fail a few times because it allows the successes to be even more sweet and even more appreciated. I was fortunate to blog for JOANN for the entirety of 2017.

Today I am so fortunate and grateful to be able to enter a new season of my career - one where I am able to do bigger, more intentional, things. I was able to work with the amazing talents behind Talewind Visuals (do you see these graphics?! Holla at Carly!) to create this amazing website where I can share more of my work as well as share the amazing work and stories contributed by others. I am so proud to be here today, to have been supported by all of you for all of this time, and to finally be able to give back to not only the Makers that encouraged me, but I’m also excited to announce that a portion of the website proceeds are also being given to local charities (such as the Liberty House located in Salem, OR) to benefit children who are facing dark times and deserve to be shown that there ARE good people in this world and they ARE deserving to experience love, compassion and care.

As a child, I dealt with many dark moments and had to overcome lies, self-made limitations, and many traumas. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to see these moments in a new light and can recognize that I am worthy. I am a gift. I am NOT a mistake or any other lie that was told to me. I deserve happiness and even though I have enough skeletons in my closet to fill an entire cemetery, I am not defined by them. Many in this world have not been told of their worth, yet. Many do not believe in themselves or understand how deserving they are of anything good. It KILLS me and it’s one of my most important goals in this life to encourage others and allow them to feel what I feel today.

Many of us have stories to tell. Many of us have dealt with trauma and pain. However, many of us have also discovered the sweet comforts of healing from these experiences. By sharing our stories with anyone willing to listen, we can initiate healing processes for those that needed to hear that they aren’t alone, or that there is light after darkness. By being vulnerable and transparent allows for not only a relatable truth for the audience, it also can institute internal healing for the Maker as well. Expressing our human emotions and granting others the truths that we all are in this together and are all figuring life out through our personal successes and failures, encourages a sense of community more so than just the mere fact that we all enjoy yarn. Many people enjoy being a Maker for reasons that run so deep and so profoundly, that being able to express these feelings with the world around us can lead to rewards we never knew we were capable to gifting.

Your past does not define you. Your actions or the actions of others towards you does not define what you are worthy of or deserving of. It is never too late to take on a new perspective, one that lifts you up, encourages you and makes you a better person. Turn the dark moments into opportunities for growth and to know how NOT to treat those around you. Live this life for others, away from selfishness, and for the glory of God for He is the one who has changed my life and is fully capable of changing yours. You are good. You are beautiful. You are loved. Never, ever forget that.

Ever.

xo, Jessica

Our Mission

To be a haven for Makers to solely be uplifted and supported while gaining inspiration to build their confidence in themselves as well as within their chosen craft.

The Hook Nook Life Blog is a community effort to uplift and inspire the people around us through our crafts, our wisdom, our encouragement and, most importantly, our stories. We find it so important to share the wealth of knowledge and wisdom we collectively possess to expand the growth of our community and the benefits we can share as a whole. To inspire all generations to experience the joys and pride in making with your hands, no matter the medium, and to strengthen our self-confidences at the same time. To love yourself is the most rewarding and fruitful gift that you can give yourself, and to watch your own skills and talents blossom before your eyes can ignite you in ways you never knew were possible.

Not only do we want to create a stir within everyone who spends time on this forum, we also want to be a source of support for those that feel as though they don’t have or deserve any. As a collective body, we are happy to announce that we are donating a portion of proceeds to local charities such as Liberty House and ABC House. These particular organizations are wonderful resources for those in the Linn, Benton, Marion and Polk counties in Oregon, USA who work with children, youth and their families to overcome the crisis of abuse and neglect. As a teen, I visited the ABC House out of need. Now that I am an adult, I can see the importance of these places and the impact they have on victims. To be able to donate and give back to these places while also sharing my story and, in turn, providing comfort to those who are battling similar pains is truly such an amazing gift in my life. Thank you for all that you are allowing us to do by simply supporting our community.

So, cheers to doing BIG things in our world and within ourselves. We are worth it.

Our Members

Jen Evans

Jennifer (Jen) Evans is a full-time Maker in Oregon working alongside both Jessica Carey from The Hook Nook as well as Heidi Swapp with American Crafts. She has been an artist for as long as she can remember, but it wasn’t until after the birth of her first child when her twin sister encouraged her to audition for a local design team and won which initiated her career in the craft world. Today, a decade later, she has the amazing opportunity to work with one of the leading paper crafting companies in the world as Heidi Swapp’s Marketing Specialist and Educational Assistant. She thoroughly enjoys encouraging others to fuel their joy with crafts and taking the time to keep their memories through scrapbooking and other memory keeping arts via her blog, Create Often. In 2016 she was gifted a one-on-one crochet class with Jessica Carey which quickly blossomed into a partnership. She has been Jessica’s assistant since January 2016. You can typically find Jen wrapped up in a cozy blanket by the fire on those chilly Pacific Northwest days, or outside in her garden enveloped by the flowers that inspire her.

photography team

Steven Bustrin, Owner of H2 Digital Marketing
IG : @handshakesnhugz

Press

A collection of write-ups, features, collaborations and more featuring The Hook Nook and Jessica Carey.

Collaborations
2017
Fair Isle Yarn : Madison Cowl Crochet Pattern
Fair Isle Yarn : Madison Cowl Crochet Pattern
Koigu : Lahni Cardigan Crochet Pattern
Koigu : Lahni Cardigan Crochet Pattern
Furls Crochet : Evangeline Cardigan CAL
Furls Crochet : Evangeline Cardigan CAL
JOANN Stores : Creative Spark Blog Content Contributor
JOANN Stores : Creative Spark Blog Content Contributor
The Crafter’s Box : Crocheted Basket Workshop
The Crafter’s Box : Crocheted Basket Workshop
We Are Knitters : Collection of Crochet Kits
We Are Knitters : Collection of Crochet Kits
past Events
2017
JOANN Stores : Special Guest Appearance
JOANN Stores : Special Guest Appearance
2016
The Gracie Project : Charity Drive for Pediatric Cancer Patients at Randall’s Children’s Hospital -Hosted with Vincent Green-Hite (Knot Bad)
The Gracie Project : Charity Drive for Pediatric Cancer Patients at Randall’s Children’s Hospital -Hosted with Vincent Green-Hite (Knot Bad)
Features
No items found.
No items found.
2020
Create Room : Knitting and Crochet Organization Tips
Create Room : Knitting and Crochet Organization Tips
Craft Yarn Council : Happy Place With The Hook Nook
Craft Yarn Council : Happy Place With The Hook Nook
Redfin : How To Create the Perfect Reading Nook
Redfin : How To Create the Perfect Reading Nook
Redfin : How To Display and Decorate Your Home Using Your Threadwork
Redfin : How To Display and Decorate Your Home Using Your Threadwork
Huckleberry : Issue 4
Huckleberry : Issue 4
Redfin : How To Display and Decorate Your Home Using Threadwork
Redfin : How To Display and Decorate Your Home Using Threadwork
Crochet Now Magazine : Issue 53
Crochet Now Magazine : Issue 53
Crochet Now Magazine : Issue 51
Crochet Now Magazine : Issue 51
News Letter Collector : Her New YARN Is Here!
News Letter Collector : Her New YARN Is Here!
2019
Tying An End : Gift Exchange Experience
Tying An End : Gift Exchange Experience
American Crafts Studio : Introducing The Hook Nook
American Crafts Studio : Introducing The Hook Nook
Simply Crochet : Issue 86
Simply Crochet : Issue 86
Press Play Magazine : Issue 5
Press Play Magazine : Issue 5
Press Play Salem : Issue 5
Press Play Salem : Issue 5
2018
Mollie Makes : Issue 93
Mollie Makes : Issue 93
Furls Crochet : The Rhiannon Slouch Sweater
Furls Crochet : The Rhiannon Slouch Sweater
Kristy Glass Knits
Kristy Glass Knits
Our Maker Life 2018 Meetup
Our Maker Life 2018 Meetup
Fox12 Oregon : Salem Crochet Star
Fox12 Oregon : Salem Crochet Star
The Peony & Thyme Podcast
The Peony & Thyme Podcast
Koigu : Designer Spotlight - The Hook Nook
Koigu : Designer Spotlight - The Hook Nook
2017
Make : Volume 1
Make : Volume 1
Simply Crochet : Issue 61
Simply Crochet : Issue 61
Heidi Swapp : 4 Tricks To Transform Your Office & Craft Space
Heidi Swapp : 4 Tricks To Transform Your Office & Craft Space
BHooked Crochet Podcast : Expressing Yourself With Crochet
BHooked Crochet Podcast : Expressing Yourself With Crochet
Koel Magazine (Issue 1)
Koel Magazine (Issue 1)
Simply Crochet Magazine (Issue 61)
Simply Crochet Magazine (Issue 61)
2016
Sparkraise
Sparkraise
Our Maker Life MAKE Book
Our Maker Life MAKE Book
The Knit Purl
The Knit Purl
Podcasts
The BHooked Podcast : Crochet Garment Design from Concept to Creation
The BHooked Podcast : Crochet Garment Design from Concept to Creation
The BHooked Podcast : No Dream Is Too Big
The BHooked Podcast : No Dream Is Too Big
Collage Creative Podcast : Making Her Way Onwards and Upwards
Collage Creative Podcast : Making Her Way Onwards and Upwards
New Leader Workshop : Turning a Passion Into a Career
New Leader Workshop : Turning a Passion Into a Career
Knit Collage / Collage Creative Podcast : Things I Learned From Making
Knit Collage / Collage Creative Podcast : Things I Learned From Making
B Hooked Podcast : Expressing Yourself with Crochet
B Hooked Podcast : Expressing Yourself with Crochet
Knit Collage / Collage Creative Podcast : My Crochet Story
Knit Collage / Collage Creative Podcast : My Crochet Story
The Crafter's Box : Crochet Basket Workshop
The Crafter's Box : Crochet Basket Workshop
Current Partners
JOANN Stores
JOANN Stores
American Crafts
American Crafts
Lion Brand Yarns
Lion Brand Yarns

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