It Snowed! Great Day To Crochet A Snowflake!

The late morning sun is setting off a thousand sparkles on the snowy yard out my window! We had our first snowfall of the season last night. Actually it started out as an ice storm, which is very bad. I'm hoping the roads are better when I venture out later on today! Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the view from indoors while I crochet some snowflakes for holiday gifts!

I just published my latest design, the "Dancing Angels Snowflake." It works up very quickly, having only four rounds! It's prettier if you can add some crystal beads as I did. I worked this up in several sizes of thread. Did one up in sewing thread with crystals to make a pretty pin. Thought I'd go blind in the process! One of those is enough. In size 10 thread it works up around 3.5" size. I really recommend doing it in three colors because it makes the angels stand out more.

Still plotting and scheming on my design for my special 2013 snowflake. I try to design one really special one each year, then give it to my special folks for Christmas. Right now - haven't a clue!

Are you crocheting snowflakes for holiday gifts this year? Or perhaps potholders? You might enjoy doing this one.

A New Winter Hat And Poncho Coming Soon!

Afternoon, everyone! I've been hard at work the last two days crocheting! We had a sharp drop in temps the other day and of course I had to make something outdoor and Winter! So I designed this little hat. It's done in my favorite yarn, Red Heart's "Kiss," in the cruise blue color way.  It feels yummy and warm! My Ladybug agreed, said it was the best nap ever!  I'll be publishing the free pattern next week, so do check back for the link.

I'm working now on a poncho in Paton's Divine. It's turning out a bit heavier than I expected, so it will be a warm one!  That pattern, too, will appear in the near future in SoCrafty magazine.

The weather has warmed up a bit, which is wonderful! Looks like two new rescue Schnauzers are coming into our rescue, Sheila's Schnauzies, this week.  Now, off to do my errands! Happy crocheting...

October Winner... And New November Contest!

First, congratulations to CrochetMa, the winner of my October blog contest! CrochetMa, please contact me so I can coordinate sending your prize to you!

For my November blog contest, I will be creating a very special prize – my 2013 Christmas Ornament! I create an ornament each year. The winner will not only receive the pattern, they will also receive the crocheted ornament! All you need do to win is leave a comment below specifying where you heard about my blog! Good luck!

They're calling for snow this afternoon – won't amount to much, but our temps are going down to the deep freeze in the mid teens tonight! Yikes!! For some reason, whenever the first big arctic plunge happens, I am compelled to crochet something warm – immediately! Luckily, I bought three skeins of my favorite yarn, Red Heart's "Kiss," in the Cruise Blue color way. It is in the process of becoming a nice warm hat right now. If I have enough yarn left, I'll make a little mobius scarf to match. I've been in a "blues" mood all year long, so it will go nicely with most of my clothes.

I know I normally talk about crochet here, but I also wanted to share my brand new online jewelry store with you! All of my creations are natural gemstone and semi-precious metals, the "good stuff." Everything has a lifetime workmanship warranty too. All proceeds benefit our Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, Sheila's Schnauzies. Do stop by and get your "eye candy" fix! You'll see why my nickname is "SheilaSparkles!" Here are a few of my new pieces. I am particularly excited about the magnetic interchangeable necklace and bracelet sets! You can switch them around to wear in different ways! I've been having a ball making them.

Amethyst Interchangeable Necklace/Bracelet Set

Peridot

Interchangeable Necklace/Bracelet Set

Rose Quartz

Interchangeable Necklace/Bracelet Set

Ruby, Poppy Jasper, Onyx & Moonstone

Interchangeable Necklace/Bracelet Set

Arthritis Relief Ring Custom Order Choice of Copper & Gemstones!

Natural Ruby & Ruby Zoisite stretch cord bracelet

Otherwise in crochet, this week I will be publishing my newest pattern, the Perky Penguin Potholder. What's next? Honestly, I don't have a clue – waiting for that inspiration to hit! I strongly suspect it may be something resembling a Christmas ornament!

New Patterns, A Contest, Personal News & More!

WOW it has been a busy six weeks for me!  'm-I bad, I need to get busy blogging! Well, here I finally am with a little update on everything. I guess I'll focus on the things that have been keeping me crazy busy!

I recently found myself in a toy aisle looking at a Barbie doll and couldn't resist picking her up! She made me think of wonderful memories of my little girl and how she loved all her Barbie collection so. 

Then I remembered when I was a little girl, (When Barbie was young!) my mom would buy incredibly intricate hand crocheted or knitted Barbie outfits from an older neighbor lady down the street. I can still recall how thrilled I was when a new outfit would arrive!

I couldn't resist dressing up the Barbie! So I just published a new free pattern, it's an ensemble for Barbie! It includes a cutout neckline dress, a tote bag and a striped mobius scarf. If you know a little girl who loves Barbie, why not crochet this up for her for Christmas or a special birthday! Or... just because!

                                                    

My beloved son John's wedding was on October 12! Most of our relatives and close friends live a couple of hours away in Kansas City, but just about every single one made the trip here for the festivities! I have gained an amazing daughter, Janette, and I know these two will be about the happiest couple ever! They've been together for two years and you can never wipe the smile off my son's face. He is just that happy! Here are the bride and groom.

Here's the happy couple, Janette and John

Me with our daugher Carianne and husband Ron
 getting ready to leave for the wedding!


This was our first dress-up picture in too many years! So much fun!

Now, back to crochet news... 

I'm working on a new potholder design that will be published next week. It's called the "Perky Penguin Potholder." Keep watching for it here. 

Ladybug rocking her Pretti-Pants!

Be sure and check out my newest for-sale crochet pattern here! My "PrettiPants" doggie outfit is designed with instructions to make it custom fit your pooch exactly! It's extremely comfortable for the dog to wear, and also discourages accidents in the house! It makes a great lightweight outfit for a cool Fall day, too. Ladybug looks so happy wearing her Pretti-Pants!

BIG NEWS - FALL CONTEST!!

The winner will receive their choice of color of a set of three of my Angel Wing Scrubbies, along with their choice of a for-sale pattern from my Craftsy store!  All you need do to enter is leave a comment below!

IT'S ALL FOR SHEILA'S SCHNAUZIES! 

As you may know, all sales of my patterns and for-sale objects directly benefit the vet fund of Sheila's Schnauzies Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, a nonprofit organization in Omaha, Nebraska. 

We have worked two major dog rescues in the last few weeks. The first was Cocoa Bear, a 14 week old puppy dying with Parvovirus and abandoned. We took him in, put him in the hospital, got him well, and found him a lovely forever home in Kansas City. You can check out Cocoa's hospital fundraiser here. I'd appreciate it if you could share that link with your dog-loving friends! 

Our second rescue was Izzy, a Cairn Terrier/Schnauzer mix, who was scheduled for the "needle" in one hour at a kill shelter in eastern Iowa when we found out about her. Thanks to a lot of effort by volunteers, we got Izzy pulled out of the kill shelter and transported back here to Omaha. SO happy to say she was adopted yesterday by a fantastic dog lady whom I've known for years. She is thrilled to have Izzy as part of her fur-family! Congratulations, Izzy. You deserve it, girl. 

Well, off to crochet... happy Autumn to everyone!

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Dog Days of Summer... And Crochet To Suit!!

In the words of Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam..." "It's hot... How hot? Da*n Hot!!" As it's going to be another few days of high 90's here in Omaha, I couldn't agree more! We've had it pretty easy this summer, so I guess I shouldn't complain... I'm just tired of watering almost an acre of flower gardens every day! Waahhhh!

To cope and protect myself from the scorching heat, I have lots of hats to wear. My favorite is the custom fit sun hat I designed awhile back, but my husband gave me his new lightweight cotton floppy hat and I adore it! Only problem is, it's got two big golf logos on it! I refuse to rock the golf thing so crochet to the rescue!

In all the years I've been crocheting and designing, I've accumulated a lot of little thread flower motifs. I've saved every false start, leaf, flower motif, starts of doilies unfinished, you name it. 

I love my new flowery hat now! 

So my recent project was to arrange all these crocheted flowers on my hat, tack them on with invisible thread and make a whole new creation! I hope my free tutorial will give you all some fun ideas!! If you don't have any thread objects around, I have lots of free patterns for them. 

In other news, just completed our latest dog rescue of a tiny 8 lb Miniature Schnauzer i named Shyla. Happy to announce she's now in an amazing forever home and has a new name, Jozie. 

Click Here To Arrange Your DogVacay!

I just signed up as a doggie care provider with DogVacay.com! I'll be watching my first clients this weekend! What a great way to earn a few bucks to support our rescue's $135/month doggie HMO bill at Banfield!! If you're near Omaha and need a great place to board your dog, search for Sheila Schnauzies at DogVacay.com!

Summertime Blues... There IS A Cure!

It's called crochet! Do you get a bit bummed when you think of that half finished afghan you started back in January? For some people, including me,  the thought of working with yarn in the hottest part of summer is just... Yicky!

One thing I love to do in summer is crochet small items with cotton yarn, like my recent hand towel pattern. Why not knock a bunch of those Christmas gift list items out now! Come December you'll be glad you did!

Another thing I like to do in summer is thread crochet projects. Have you ever tried working in thread? If you haven't, check out my tutorial on learning to adjust from yarn to thread here. 

If you're already a "Threadie," you might enjoy making my brand new "Barbie Rocks!" outfit with coordinating belt, tote bag, hat and poncho! You can get that free pattern here next week! 

Next on my hook will be a potholder design for September's exchange. Honestly at this point I have no clue what it will be! 

Well, I'm off to go out early and water my starving gardens! Another week of mid-90's ahead. THAT is what gives me the summertime blues!

Why The Chicken Potholder Isn't Crossing The Road...

I'm not sure why. Not that it's going to be that tough of a design project. There's going to be a rooster and an egg but that's as far as I've gotten.  Spending the weekend with my sister, who collects chicken objects, I have rooster inspiration all around me and I've taken pics of them all.  Now if I could only get an IDEA!! Worse yet. This potholder is owed to an exchange partner and its now officially late! This puppy had better hatch soon or a certain lady will be mad as a wet hen!! And now we''re gonna cross the road... Here's my best inspiration so far...I

   

I've been designing a lot of jewelry lately. Here are a couple of my latest pieces....

This freeform wire crystal and gemstone bracelet is for sale just ask!

Perhaps a crocheted earring and pendant? Check it out at www.squidoo.com/crochetjewelry

Here's my little girl Ladybug enjoying vacay at auntie's house... Me too!