Signs of Spring are finally appearing here in Nebraska! I'm on Crocus watch... they are up a few inches but not blooming yet. We're having that usual manic weather that has you in the 70's and dropping to the 30's in the same afternoon... crazy. Anyway the weather does influence what I'm designing in crochet, of course. With Spring in mind I am just finishing the new Watering Can Potholder I've designed for my potholder exchange I participate in each month.

All finished on side 1!

I've done side 2 in a simple stitch of SC/DC repeated in rows, then reversing the pattern on the next row. With my arthritic hands I'm having to crochet the two sides together in sessions doing a few stitches at a time - it's tough going for me for some reason. Oh well! I hope my recipient will be pleased.

I'm still working away at my big project, another wearable afghan convertible scarf/poncho thing that I haven't even thought of a name to describe yet! It's going to be cool, and I've never seen anything like it. It's done all in JoAnn Angel Hair yarn which has an amazing feel, in practically every color it comes in. The yarn has kept me busy finding JoAnn coupons to keep the cost down!! Yikes it's been a yarn eater. Hopefully it will all be worth it! Tell you what, it'll be a perfect project to eat up scrap yarn when I make the next one! The stitch is simple, the yarn's color patterns and the overall designs are the stars. Can't wait to show you when it's finished - hopefully another week or two!

Other than that, I've still been fighting a bad myasthenia flare the last couple of months, having frequent transfusions to get my muscle strength back. I'll get there eventually!

Happy crocheting everyone! I'm off to write an article about a new pattern for doggie boots to publish in SoCrafty this week.

The "Each 1, Teach 1 Crochet" Challenge Starts Now!

Today I started a brand new challenge called "Each 1 Teach 1 Crochet!" It's in celebration of National Crochet Month, which goes thru the end of March. But this challenge will continue on the whole year round! Check out the article about the challenge here.

So sorry I have been absent from my blog for awhile. A combination of things caused this - most notably the long illness and passing of my beloved Scrappy Jack Schnauzer on February 10. I've kept crocheting all along, and there are lots of new free patterns up... I just haven't told anyone about most of them except through SoCrafty online magazine.

Scrappy Jack contracted a horrible MRSA infection during a dental procedure the day before Thanksgiving. He fought a brave battle, enduring awful procedures and lots of medications. We kept him as pain free as we could, believing eventually they would find the right combination of antibiotics to get him well. Sadly, on February 9, SJ suffered a stroke that left him half blind and unable to walk. He gave me "the look" that said, "Enough, Mom." That was that. I spent most of a night and morning cuddling him and giving him lots of treats and love, and then we gently sent him on to Rainbow Bridge. My heart is still broken but of course my other furry kids keep me "in the game." Here is my baby boy as I want to remember him.

Scrappy Jack cheerfully puts up with yet another ride to the vet.

We have an old friend back with us, Mr. Whizzer! He is a 13 year old Miniature Schnauzer who was adopted out from my rescue back in 2011. He was returned to us recently because the owner's life situation had changed. Whizzer had been being kept in a cage 20 hours a day for God knows how long. Thankfully the owner made the decision to return him to me. At first, he was very stiff and got around very slowly. It has been a joy watching Whizzer come back to life and remember how to be a real dog! Now he is fascinated with his motion activated animal noise ball and my biggest job is keeping it in batteries! He is going in this Friday for his dental procedure and of course, I am terrified of a repeat of Scrappy's illness. I just have to have faith that all will be well because he is in pain from his rotten teeth and they need to go.

Whizzer

On the crochet front... I am working on a project I'm very excited about! I have owned this particular scarf design for several years (actually, several of them) and I decided to recreate it in crochet. It will be unique because it can be used as 1) A full scarf/poncho; 2) Unbuttoned as a single long scarf; or 3) laid out flat, as a wonderful lapghan! I am about halfway finished with it. It's done almost entirely in JoAnn's Angel Hair yarn, which feels amazing, in a rainbow of colors with a black background between. Loving this project! It will be beginner level easy, too!

My current work in progress

On a personal note, another reason I've been less visible is that I've been going through a flare of my neuromuscular disease, Myasthenia Gravis. Last week I had five consecutive IV transfusions and will continue to have them weekly for a couple of months, which will hopefully kick me out of this flare. It causes me difficulties with vision, hand dexterity, and the ability to sit up straight! Hate that... but I can still crochet! But seriously, prayers and/or good thoughts are much appreciated! I hate it when I get down this far.

That's about it for the moment... please check www.squidoo.com doing a search for SheilaSchnauzies and you will turn up all of my crochet and other articles. You can also visit my free crochet pattern index here although I need to update it with the recent patterns! Workin' on it...

My First Crochet Pattern Book Is Available Now! Still Time To Win December Blog Giveaway!

I'm very excited to announce the publication of my new e-book, "Crochet With Sheila Volume I - Floral Decorations To Crochet." It is available at this link. It contains 16 of my floral motifs, ornaments and mini-doilies – some previously unpublished!

Thanks to the unique features of e-publishing, once you purchase the book you can automatically receive updates when they are added to your book! I've already run across about another 10 patterns I need to add to this book. The next volume, which should be ready in January, will be "Sparkling Crochet Jewelry." If you are inclined to share, I would sincerely appreciate sharing the info about my book! It is the realization of a lifetime goal for me. I have 12 more volumes planned and my goal is to complete them all in 2014.

I hope all of you have enjoyed your holidays and crocheted lots of special things! If any of my patterns were included in your crocheting, I am honored!

I really enjoyed Christmas and was blessed to have both of my children and their dear ones here with us. We had a "snack feast" which is our Christmas Eve tradition. Then on Christmas Day we all went out to a superb buffet at Harrah's, one of our nearby Iowa casinos. They put on quite the spread. We also celebrated my daughter's birthday so it was truly a special day.

Last Saturday, we woke up to a very sick SueSue, our 8-year-old rescue girl. We rushed her in and she was hospitalized for the day on IV fluids with severe pancreatitis. She is slowly improving now, thank God. Our Scrappy Jack, who has been fighting a cellulitis infection since Thanksgiving, is also making slow tiny improvements. He has battled so hard, bless his heart.  Thankfully Ladybug is happy and well!

Susie

Scrappy Jack

Ladybug

You still have time to win the December blog giveaway! Just leave a comment below to enter.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! -Sheila

December Blog Winner! New Giveaway for January! Crocheting for Warmth!

Baby, It's Cold! 
At this writing, it is -6º actual outside! If you walk out without something over your face, you instantly freeze! I've been busy crocheting some new fingerless gloves with cover flaps you can flip over your fingers for warmth. I found the warmest yarn, Hobby Lobby's Yarn Bee Riot Eyelash Sparkle, in a pretty turquoise and I am crocheting a neckwarmer/cowl out of it right now! I refuse to leave the house until it is finished! Yesterday I had to go out to take my Scrappy Jack to the vet. The wind has been brutal here creating wind chills in the -30º range! He wore TWO doggie coats and a blanket. I had on my usual two fleece jackets, my mobius scarf which is the warmest thing ever, and my fingerless gloves (without the flaps). I FROZE. Needed something more, the neck warmer. I'm even considering making leg warmers, something I have never owned! It's just awful here. It will be a huge relief that we are going to climb into the 20's today!

Help For My Eyesight! 

I'm very excited that my neuro-opthalmologist has found some help for my eyesight issues! I'm very farsighted to begin with, I have constant double vision from myasthenia gravis, and a stroke in 2009 made me half blind in my right eye. It has been a huge frustration trying to see to do my close-up crocheting, my writing on the computer, and so on. He told me we can't correct my vision properly with one pair of glasses and bifocals anymore. So he has prescribed two different trifocal glasses, one for computer and one for walking around. I've picked them out and ordered them, and they should arrive in a few more days. I am so excited at the possibility of seeing better to do my work! 

Scrappy Jack In His Crocheted Sweater

Scrappy Jack Update... 

Not much else to tell right now - I've been busy caring for my sick Scrappy Jack Schnauzer. He is very slowly improving but he's been sick with this awful cellulitis infection in his jaw since Thanksgiving Day. Prayers and/or good thoughts are much appreciated!

December Blog Winner! 

OurJoy is the winner of my December blog contest! She won her choice of my crocheted Hexagon Snowflake or Dancing Angels Snowflake, along with her choice of any pattern offered on my Craftsy.com site. Congratulations! 

January Giveaway!! 

For January, the contest will be to win the prototype for my "Sweet On You" Valentine motif, (not yet published), along with the winner's choice of any pattern offered at my Craftsy.com.  All you need to do to win is leave a comment below! 

Happy Crocheting! 

– Sheila

New Reversible Scarf, Slippers, Holiday Crocheting!

It's late evening and I'm doing another marathon gift-making session! I've had so much fun this week making special things for the ones I love! While I was at it, I made myself pattern everything up rather than just crocheting fast. I'm glad I did, because I really love how some of the things turned out!

One of my new patterns is the Reversible Windowpane Scarf & Headband Set. It is a blast to crochet in fun yarns like Riot Eyelash Sparkle and Enchantment sequin yarn. I did it in turquoise and red – an odd combination but I've been seeing it everywhere and loved it.  A few people on my gift list may be getting these in their favorite colors.

The front side of the Windowpane Headband... 

And the reverse

Another new pattern from last night results from my husband's request for new crocheted slippers. His mother, God rest, made everyone in the family these amazing slippers almost every year. She knitted hers and they were thick, cushy and wonderful. Well, he finally wore his pair out. I had just picked up some of Lion Brand's Hometown yarn and decided to make them out of that. I crocheted one entire shoe, then ran out of yarn. I'm glad about that, because at that point I decided to make a pair of slippers for myself. I did mine in Buttercup baby yarn (If you have not felt that yarn, you must!) I loved how they turned out and they feel amazing!

My husband's slipper in progress... all finished now and he loves them

My slippers

Well, dear husband saw my new slippers and said "Hey, why didn't you make mine like that?" Okey-dokey then! Off to the store to pick up more yarn. Tonight I'm frogging his first shoe and remaking him a pair like mine. I'll put up a pic when they're done. Here are mine. Let me take this opportunity to show you what happens when you mix die lots on yarn! I glanced the yarn in the store, said yep that's the color. Got it home and yes it was the color, but a vastly different shade! You can see that in the pictures. Since they're just for me, I don't care. The yarn I had started with, I'd purchased last year or the year before. Dye lot really does make a difference!  My feet do not care if there is a shade difference and believe me, with it 16º here right now, they are very happy in them!  As soon as I get time to write up the pattern, I will.

We received some very bad news from Scrappy the Schnauzer's lab cultures. He has Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA). They changed his antibiotic last week and the last couple of days he is worsening. We go back to the vet tomorrow when they will put him on an antibiotic that kills MRSA. She said I may have to give him antibiotic injections depending which drug they go with. This boy needs some relief. He is such a sweet baby and puts up with everything I do to him - warm compresses on his face several times a day, cleaning his nose, and so on. Thank God he has a great appetite and drinks tons of water. He also enjoys eating snow - I think the cold snow helps clear out his nose and throat. Your good thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated. The fundraiser link for his vet bills appears in the previous blog entry if you'd like to share it with your friends.

I did manage to decorate my Christmas tree this afternoon! It was a lovely time, my son dropped by for a surprise visit and we had a great chat while I hung ornaments. One of those picture-perfect moments you treasure.

Well, off to do something completely different - need to crochet a couple of snowflakes! Happy crocheting to you all!

Win Or Buy My Ultimate Decadent Luxury Scarf! New Holiday Patterns! Blog Winner... New Giveaway!

A Sneak Preview Gift Holiday Pattern For You And A Chance To Win My Crocheted Doily! 

Greetings to all my fellow crocheters!! I have a special gift for you, a brand new doily pattern for Christmas 2013! It's the Christmas Candy Cane Doily. You are the first ones to hear about it, it was just published today! 

Christmas Candy Canes Doily

WIN The Design Prototype of the Christmas Candy Canes Doily!!! 

The doily described above - win the actual doily!! Paypal a donation to sheilaschnauzies@gmail.com with the word Scrappy in the notes (minimum $25). (See reason for Scrappy's fundraiser below). Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, December 18, and will receive their doily later that week in time for Christmas! 

 A New Twist On An Old Favorite! 

I crocheted up a variation of the old Magic Potholder pattern. Added what I think is a unique border using Bernat Handicrafter in their holiday variegate. I haven't published a pattern for the border yet, but here's how I did it: 

SC in border of potholder. Ch 2, go backward and SC in ch 2 space just made. SC in border where hook falls next. Super fast edging and I think the little points are cute! 

Magic Potholder With New Border Design

New 2013 Snowflake Patterns! 

I have two new Snowflake designs for you this holiday season! They are the Hexagon Snowflake and the Dancing Angels Snowflake. I hope you will enjoy them! 

Hexagon Snowflake

Dancing Angels Snowflake

Dancing Angels Snowflake in size 80 thread with crystals - for brooch

Dancing Angels Snowflake in Size 10 Gold & Silver With Crystals

November Blog Winner & December Contest!

Congratulations to JD from St. Louis, who is the winner of the November Blog Giveaway! 

For December, the contest will be to win any pattern from my Craftsy.com site plus your choice of the crocheted Hexagon Snowflake or Dancing Angels Snowflake. 

As many of you know, I donate about 95% of my crochet design patterns and publish them free online. (Here's an index!) I sell some of my patterns (see Craftsy link below) and all my handmade jewelry and crochet creations,  along with using my own money to support the vet expenses of our Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, Sheila's Schnauzies.(link below). Two of our Schnauzer fur kids, Sue and Ladybug, are rescues. Scrappy Jack is our 11 year old Miniature Schnauzer who we've had since he was a baby puppy. 

My Scrappy Jack, Battling Cellulitis & Respiratory Infection

Scrappy had to have 13 teeth removed the day before Thanksgiving and came down with a serious Cellulitis and respiratory infection that he is still battling. His dental surgery and treatment for the infection have run up a vet bill of over $600 so far (not covered by his preventive plan) and treatment is still ongoing. He will need another procedure this Friday to culture to determine what antibiotic would work best - another $80 plus more medications. 

Get My Ultimate Decadent Luxury Mobius Scarf Just $49!

To help with Scrappy's vet expenses, I'm offering a special hand crocheted item (by me!) It's my Ultimate Decadent Mobius Scarf. Guaranteed to keep you toasty warm while feeling silky soft against your skin! It is created with three different premium yarns together in your choice of color theme. I'm even offering free shipping anywhere in the US! Some examples of my scarves are attached. You will have your own unique creation that you'll enjoy for years to come in virtually any color theme! If you'd like to get your own special scarf, just email me back! I accept Paypal or any major credit card, or checks/money orders.

WIN The Ultimate Decadent Luxury Mobius Scarf!

The same scarf described above - win it!! Paypal a donation to sheilaschnauzies@gmail.com with the word Scrappy in the notes (minimum $10). Winner will be drawn on Monday, December 23! Winner will receive their scarf the first week of January. 

My friends, I am humbled to need to ask for your help to help our Scrappy - just share this link to Scrappy's GiveForward fundraiser with your friends. The well is dry. You can make a difference just by sharing! 

There are other ways you and your friends can help - if you're looking for the perfect holiday gift, check out my jewelry creations here.

Thanks so much! Holiday blessings to you and yours, 

– Sheila

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.