Here's the winning entry to the Knit-out and Crochet 2006 Doggie Fashion Show contest in New York that was held on Sept. 17th. Millie and I did not attend, but another doggie modeled my designs. SpongeBob won out! Yaaaaay!!!

Check out..



..these Crochet sites!

More pics of our day at the park, and the Pow-Wow Shawl I designed. :)
I made this shawl last year about this time, and boy was it HOT modeling it so Sarah could take pics! But it sure feels great in the fall! The pattern is available on my website for sale. www.crochetcabin.bravehost.com It works up quickly with bulky yarn and a large (K) hook. I'm making another one right now using Noro Kureyon, a hand-painted wool. It's about 1/2 done, and I just started it yesterday.

Hello! I've had a great week! My GD, Sarah, 8 yrs. old came for a 4 day visit. We had so much fun. We decorated jeans with paints, stamps, & gems. We went to the park and took goofy pictures of each other. She's my best buddy. As you can see from the pics, Mamaw pooped out & headed for the picnic table to sit & crochet while Sarah continued to play. (these pics are all out of order - I don't see how to arrange them the way I want, but that's okay!)

Okay, I admit it. I'm a crocheter, but I do like to knit, too. There I said it. The K word. So sue me. lol I often buy Knitting magazines and books, and recently bought the book "Mason-Dixon Knitting". I love it! It's a fun, humorous look at knitting, full of wit and sarcasm. Two things I love. It makes knitting sound fun and funky. Two more things I love! Even if you don't knit, you'll love this book. It'll make you want to knit. The authors, Kay and Anne, were at the Mass Ave. Knit Shop in Indianapolis on June 10th for a book signing. It's the first time I've ever gone to a book signing. I just really wanted to meet these two gals, because they remind me so much of my friend Paulette and I, it's remarkable. They met on an internet knitting forum. Paulette (California) and I (Indiana) met on an internet crochet forum. Anne (Tennessee) and Kay (New York) became friends and started a blog, www.masondixonknitting.com and then wrote this book together. Paulette and I have become friends and (along with some others who have joined the fun) have a thread going on Crochetville which has grown into a Fug Saga. It's practically a book itself, having over 400 posts! It started out innocently enough when Paulette asked for help with some really fugly yarn she bought on E-bay. It turned into a comical exchange, and now has grown into a hilarious story of the adventures of the Fugly Yarn Basket - which has developed a personality of star quality. "Fug" is presently on a World Tour, visiting Crochetville members (affectionately dubbed Aunties) all over the globe, and keeping a journal of his experiences. He has already visited Turkey and England. Yes, Fug's an international traveler now. A real jet-setter. If you find yourself with about 3 hours with nothing better to do, visit www.crochetville.org and search for the thread titled "Fugly Yarn Help". I promise you'll get a laugh or two. Or three.

Hello Friends! I am excited to tell you about my newest book being released. It's called "Dashing Doggie Duds" by Leisure Arts. Crochet patterns for dog sweaters, ponchos, and blankets. Our 4-legged friends want to look stylish & be warm, too! The dog on the cover is a cute little Jack Russell - the same breed my daughter raises. I have two JRTs - Maggie & Millie. They love to model for me. I have another book coming out in July for Knitted Doggie Duds. I can't wait to see the book to see how they photographed the other designs! They do such wonderful work and are so nice to work with. I LOVE being a designer!!

Here are the hats I made my Grandkids over the weekend. They love for me to crochet things for them! Aren't they darling?! (Okay, perhaps I am a wee bit prejudiced)
Caleb, my little Kentucky boy, and Sarah, Noah, and Hannah.










Hats for sale. Made to order by contacting me at crochetqueen1@verizon.net

American Idol Shocker! Were you as shocked as I was Wednesday night when Chris Daughtry got voted off? Did you see his face when Ryan told him he was going home? A look of utter dismay. I think everybody was shocked. Even Katherine. What a surprise! Especially since she messed up the night before and forgot the lyrics. I've never heard Chris mess up once - not a "pitchy" note in all of his performances. My heart went out to him. He looked so hurt and disappointed. Of the 4 finalists, he has the most talent. Elliot and Katherine have nice voices, but would you buy their CD? And Taylor is a very likable guy and a great performer, but again, would you buy his CD? I wouldn't. I think Chris should already HAVE a CD on the market! He's that good! I know talent when I see it, and Chris will do well. I read that he's already getting offers right and left. I really thought Chris and Taylor would be the final two, with Chris winning it all. I thought it was time for a rocker to win! Well, since I am the Crochet Queen, I wanted to make him a beanie for his bald head. I almost have it done. Started it last night. The thing is, I don't know where to send it. All I know is his hometown is McLeansville, North Carolina. I supposed if I send it there, surely the mailman would know where to deliver it. I found a really neat site www.chrisdaughtryfans.com which has lots of great pictures and keeps a journal of the happenings on American Idol. Here's what the beanie looks like. I'm making it in black - thought that would look good on him: (Do you think he'll wear it?)

Hello Friends! Here are my first two books published by Leisure Arts. "Completely Cozy Wraps to Crochet" has 2 ponchos and 2 shawls. "Ponchos to Crochet for Dolly and Me" has 4 sets of matching ponchos for little girls and their dolls. I'm very excited and honored to be published by Leisure Arts. Two more books are due out in July (unless they change plans). "Doggie Duds to Crochet" and "Doggie Duds to Knit". I'm hoping to get my two newest designs, "Whisper of Elegance" and "Coat of Many Colors" published some day. The ideas keep flowing - I'm on a creative roll! My hands can't keep up with my imagination. Ahhhh, so much yarn, so little time!



















The two not pictured in the "Completely Cozy Wraps" are a Granny Poncho and a Butterfly Shawl.

If you're a fan of the TV show "Ghost Whisperer", you might have seen the beautiful, long, white sweater "Melinda" wore on an episode back in Feb. As soon as the show was over, I set to work designing a replica from memory. This sweater is made with a cotton/teri yarn and is so soft and snuggly. I wrote the pattern and I'm selling it for $7. E-mail me if you're interested in buying a copy of the pattern. crochetqueen1@verizon.net

Okay, here's the finished sweater. I like the way it looks, but it's too big on me. So I'm going to sell this one on my website and make me another one. I just put one large button at the top. It has Latin? words on it & an image like a family crest, so I thought it was perfect for this sweater. I've worked hard on this project and I think I came pretty close. What do you think? (my camera makes the colors on my sweater look brighter than they really are) E-mail me for info on ordering a custom made sweater or the pattern. crochetqueen1@verizon.net More pics on my site at www.crochetcabin.bravehost.com

Molly Weasley Sweater
Well, my Weasley sweater is coming along nicely. Almost done. Here it is - what I have so far. My camera makes the colors look brighter than they actually are. They are more like the original in the movie. It's been fun working on this design. It's my version of the sweater the character Molly Weasley wears in the Harry Potter movie, "Chamber of Secrets". I bought the DVD after reading several posts on Crochetville, an internet group I belong to. The scene is in Chapter 4, and I re-played it a dozen times, paused it and studied it, then set to work. In the movie, Mrs. Weasely is wearing a sleeveless smock-type apron over the sweater, so the body of the sweater can't be seen, except at the neckline. But it's the sleeves that really make this sweater interesting. The colors are fantastic, and I tried to mimic the pattern as best I could. I have it all written in long hand, and plan to get it written properly on the computer this week. I will post more pics of the finished sweater later this week.

Mended Spirit

My mind is bruised with crippling thoughts
Of broken dreams and lovers lost.
The truth at last pervades my soul
To quell the illusion of vivid gold.
I put my faith and trust in you,
Not knowing all along
That I could be brave
That I could be strong
That I could exist quite well on my own.
I don’t need another to make me complete.
I’ve learned how to stand on my own two feet.
And though many calendars have come and gone,
My spirit is well as I bravely march on
To the song of my heart beating deep in my chest.
I know I am loved.
And I know I am blessed!


Shelle Hendrix Cain