Keven Hawkins

When I was a boy, my older brothers went to Scout Camp and came home with staffs (walking sticks) made of diamond willow. That began my fascination. Of course, for many years, work and a growing family got in the way of doing anything with it.

Then as I got older, and my hips, one after the other, failed because of arthritis. I needed a cane/walking stick to help with my stability. I did not like the store bought ones – so I made my own out of diamond willow. The tree I harvested for the stick had pieces leftover, some too big, some too small – so I started looking for other things to make.

With my wife and daughter’s help, I found enough projects to keep busy and use up the whole tree. Once the pile of things got too big, they suggested I sell some at craft sales, which I am now doing.