I've Got Great News! Looks Like I Can Stick Around And Design For Awhile!

Just a quick note... I've just returned from my visit to the plastic surgeon to get my stitches removed from last week's surgery. I got the fabulous news that the pathology report came back good, and I am now cancer-free! Yay!

Now I can get back to crocheting in peace! Here I am with the stitches removed. Eventually I'm hoping the scar will be practically invisible. I have an amazing plastic surgeon!

I may not look great now, but at least I have a lot more hope for the future! 

If you would like to read my article on how to identify skin cancer, click here.

If you'd like to read my melanoma story, click here.

Going Crazy Waiting... And A New Hat Design!

I'm about to go crazy waiting on a call from the surgeon who did my facial surgery for malignant Melanoma last week! I'm supposed to hear whether I have the all-clear, or whether further treatment will be necessary. I was supposed to get the call yesterday, but with the Memorial Day holiday I figured today... not! So guess who will be all over his voice mail tomorrow!

I guess it's a normal reaction, but now anytime I notice myself in direct sun, I think twice about it. That's why I've decided to start "rocking the hat look!" I'm almost finished with this week's new crochet design, which I will be calling the Custom-Size Foldable Sun Hat. The pattern will be published sometime between now and Saturday and you can check at this link for it.

May Giveaway! Enter Here!

Just a quick note to let you know about my surprise May giveaway! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me what you'd like to see in one of my upcoming designs! For example - a baby afghan, a 3D flower decoration, a mini doily, coasters, etc.

The winner chosen at random will receive their choice of any of my for-sale patterns offered here. Just pick out your favorite and I'll send you the pattern free! Here's just one of the patterns you can win!

The Spiffer© Duster & Floor Mop Refills For Swiffer Duster

Happy crocheting! -Sheila

PS:  I made it through my facial surgery yesterday just fine, now to heal up. You can read my story about my battle with malignant Melanoma here.

Working On Some Fun Things For You!

This morning, I am going in for cancer surgery on my face for Melanoma. I'll be writing an article about it after I'm done. I would really appreciate my readers' good thoughts and or prayers! But before I go, here's all the latest!

UPDATE:  I am home now, the surgery went well, and now I'm starting the recovery process.

I've been working on a series of Angel Wing household helpers, they are so much fun to crochet! So far there's the Angel Wing Potholder, which is designed to fit your hand... The Angel Wing Face Scrubbie, and my newest design in the series which is coming out this week is the Angel Wing Dishcloth with a handy hand strap.

  

I also love to make jewelry for fun... Here's my latest creation. It's an Arthritis ring made of copper wire and hematites. I have CPPD arthritis in my hands and fingers and I get a lot of relief from wearing these fun rings.

Two of my Schnauzers, Scrappy Jack and SueSue, get to get the spa treatment this week! I've always cut all my dogs' hair for at least the past 12 years so this is a treat for me. I hope they enjoy it!  Ladybug already had her haircut a couple weeks ago.

Well, here I go... happy crocheting to all!
 -Sheila

Having Fun Working On A New Series Of Household Helpers!

This week I was designing one thing and ended up with another! You can get the free pattern for the new Angel Wing Face Scrubbie here. It's a fun little angel wing that crochets up in no time. I'm finishing up the Angel Wing Potholder right now, and that pattern will be published later this week. I have another couple of projects in mind using the angel wing design too.

2 Layers Single Crocheted Together

Had a really fun day yesterday doing a bit of plant sale shopping at the school up the street, and visiting a couple of garage sales. Nice to have such lovely Spring weather for a change, finally! We did set a record low here this morning of 32º – and in the next couple of days we're going to have a 90º day. Crazy! I don't think any of the plants know what to do.

Mother's Day was just lovely for me today, was able to spend time with both of my kids and their significant others. My son and his fiance Janette got me the coolest ceramic planter! My daughter Cari and boyfriend Russell brought me an incredible bouquet of flowers. We all enjoyed a nice dinner out together.

Glad to report that Ladybug Schnauzer is feeling back to her frisky little self now! She gave us quite the scare last week.

Hope there's something fun on your crochet hook today!

Well, My World Blew Up Again...

which is why I haven't posted in awhile. I was diagnosed with Stage I Melanoma two weeks ago, and have been busy seeing doctors and having tests. Meanwhile, YES I have been crocheting, and it is saving my sanity as usual! Right now I'm designing a very happy project, a potholder and identical thread ornament done in the same pattern, just different size of thread/yarn. I think it will be fun, and I hope my exchange partner will enjoy it! I know my daughter will enjoy the one I'm making for her, as it is one of her favorite things.

I'm having surgery May 22 on my face. It's scary, but my wonderful plastic surgeon will be right there to do reconstruction and he promises me "back to normal." Without the offending birthmark which went bad and was removed, of course. So, that's that. Movin' on.

My little Ladybug Schnauzer, age 3, got very sick last week and we had to rush her to the vet with dehydration and tummy troubles... all from an ear and gum infection. She's getting her teeth done next week. The good news is, she's almost fully recovered minus a little weight loss - she's down to 9 pounds, about a couple pounds low for her. Mommy's working on getting her to regain that.

Ladybug Schnauzer

The other furkids, Scrappy and SueSue, are doing well. Scrap just had his dental done a couple weeks ago and is happy with his shiny teeth. Sue is going to go to the groomer for the first time next week. I've always groomed all my dogs but my husband is trying to convince me to take them in and save the work on myself. Hmm.

We celebrated my husband's birthday last weekend, here is a photo of all of us.

Left to right, my daughter's significant other Russell, my daughter Cari, Dad (back), me,
my son's fiance Janette, and my son John. 

I'm so happy that I was able to get out the other day on our first really nice day and do a little work on my gardens! There is so much to be done, but it's a start! I planted two little bushes, a Hydrangea and a Rhododendron, along with all of the tulip and hyacinth bulbs we enjoyed having bloom indoors this winter.

The Spring bulbs we started and bloomed indoors, now outdoors!

A work in progress... my front gardens and plants that I overwintered indoors. 

I've published a few new patterns, you can get the links to all of them here. There's a Stargazer Lily, done in Intarsia crochet; the Picket Fence Potholder done in Intarsia, a tutorial on Intarsia... check out the free patterns.

My recent articles with links to the above patterns in SoCrafty Magazine are here.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Spring and crocheting something amazing!

-Sheila

Designing On The Road!

Right now I'm snuggled in blankets with a hot cup of coffee on my sister's beautiful deck in Kansas City. I can imagine no exotic destination I'd rather be waking up to on earth; no sight more glorious than the gleam of the four bird feeders' glass catching the next door neighbor's floodlights. I'm home. It has been six weeks since I sat here last, on the day before I was to return to Omaha for knee replacement surgery the following day. It's a wonderful feeling to be back with that long nightmare in my rear view mirror. Even though I'm not fully recovered, I was strong enough to make the trip to be with my "girls" -my sister Celia and one of my best friends, Sally. Sally is very ill in the hospital this week and I needed to see her. Since my husband was driving down for a Golf Channel Tour tournament, I hopped aboard and came along. It's been a great weekend catching up. Last night it was so much fun to have dinner with our oldest, Ron Jr., his lovely wife Dee and our grandson, Nick.

Today we leave to return home to the four Schnauzers and whatever "normal life" is. I hope to stay awake for the drive and get more work done on Chelsea's Stargazer hair clip. Her birthday was a few days ago but as so often happens with me, inspiration for the perfect gift arrived a bit behind schedule.