Sara Koenig goes for a record

I have some awesome news.  Read the email I received below the pictures from Sara Koenig.  Please follow the link below to "LIKE" her posting on Facebook.  She has had over 100,000 views and it would be nice to have her get even more!  I hope she gets into the Guinness Book of records.   Here is a link to my pattern she used SmoothFox Stained Glass Round Ripple

Donna

Hello,

March 28th was Alaska Choose Respect Day. Colors represent :Teal for domestic violence, Purple for sexual assault, and Royal Blue for child abuse awareness.  

The gold pan is 200 inches wide/16.6 ft tall.  The blanket finished at 220 inches round :)

Thought you would enjoy the before and after of America's Largest Gold Pan from Nome, AK using your pattern to yarn bomb it!

Thanks!

Blessings,

Sara Koenig

FACEBOOK LINK TO "LIKE" HER POSTING

Join in the Designer Showcase Sampler CAL for 2013

I'm pleased to announce that I've been asked to participate in the Designer Showcase CAL with Melinda Miller and I'm looking forward to sharing my design with you all. Shhh….that’s all I can reveal at this time! :)

Here's the information regarding the CAL so get your yarn and hooks ready.

Melinda Miller from MoCrochet and Melinda Miller Designs on Ravelry is hosting a unique CAL for 2013. This year we will crochet a Designer Showcase Sampler. It will be comprised of twelve – 12” afghan blocks that are designed by various designers. Each month a mystery Designer will be revealed and you will get to know her and her designs.  At the end of the year, you will have enough blocks to make your very own Designer Showcase Afghan to keep for yourself or to give away.  

There are many talented crochet Designers, and this year we will put the spotlight on some of them. Please join us in welcoming some of these talented Designers as we create our new afghan. At the first of each month, you will be introduced to a new Designer and her design. She will also be available for questions and chat. Just follow the link to Melinda’s Ravelry group above.

Happy Crocheting!

Donna a.k.a. SmoothFox

Designer's Showcase Afghan 2013

Melinda Miller of MoCrochet and Melinda Miller Designs (a Ravelry group) has given me instructions on how my followers can print out patterns from the blog instead of heading to Ravelry to download the pattern.  Please give it a shot. At the bottom of each post is a Joliprint icon.  Thank you so much Melinda.

Additionally, I'm pleased to say that Melinda has asked me to participate in the Designer’s Showcase Afghan 2013. Each month will showcase a new designer and their 12” X 12” afghan block.  So stay tuned and I hope many of you participate.  At the end of the year you will have a great afghan to stitch together.  Each month there will be one square added.

I also have been contacted by AllFreeCrochetPatterns and it's other affiliates over the past 2 years and asked to let them post some of my patterns.  Again this year, they are going to be featuring multiple patterns in various e-books.  This brings me great joy. 

Happy Crocheting!

Donna

Pictures of Sergio in case you need them for the contest

Notice how at some point in his life, one of his ears stopped being folded over?  I have no idea how or when that happened over the years. 

Bling a container and win a $25.00 gift card

We will be bringing home Sergio's ashes very soon and have nothing to put them in on the mantle.  I was thinking that since his absolute favorite thing was a coffee can, why not ask some of you talented people if you would be interested in a small contest.  In fact, I would be honored if people would participate in this endeavor.  It will absolutely swell my heart with pride to show off your talents for Sergio.

Just be creative. Bling out or paint a coffee can or metal container or a large Mason jar or another type of a container, using any kind of a craft to honor Sergio the Smooth Fox terrier.  Anything that can be used to contain his ashes. I really prefer that there is a lid though.  Remember though, the winner must mail me the container to use.

So let's get started now.  When you are done, just email me a picture of your item and include your name and I'll let followers on the blog vote from my favorites.  Whatever item gets the most votes wins bragging rights plus a $25.00 gift card from either Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels or Joann's Fabric.

Email your pictures to me before March 10th and I'll post my favorites on the blog for voting.

VOTING ENDS MARCH 31, 2012. 

Donna
SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com

Rest In Peace

PUT ME TO REST
Time to let me go my friend,
Because my life no-one can mend,
Its better to let me go this way,
Than watch me suffer night and day.

I'm happy to go, my time has come,
My quality of life is no longer fun,
I've been so ill, so it's not a bad thing,
To let me go forever resting.

Stay with me till I drift away,
Fast asleep forever I pray,
To relieve me from suffering and pain,
What more can I ask from my best friend.

Don't be sad, I'll be free from pain,
Never to be ill ever again,
I know you'll miss me being there,
But all the memories you have to share.

Thank you for being my best friend,
And all my needs that you did tend,
Try not to be sad, try not to cry,
Now's the time to say GOODBYE

This poem is from a person who has to say good-bye to their beloved dog says it all and was found here



 

Sergio was born January 1st, 1998 and was known as Ch. Laurelton Sunnystone Defiant.  He received his championsip in 1999

He was sired by Ch Laurelton Now or Never x Ch Sunnystone Westerdam. Bred by Kathryn Martel and The Late Sergio Balcazar.  My Sergio was named after this person.

Here is a link to my mother's old site for her Wire Fox Terriers and if you scroll down to the bottom picture you can see Sergio at one year old.  http://www.foxxrunwires.com/masonpastCH.htm

When I found out that Sergio had cancer I put on my big girl panties and thru tears of sorrow, I looked him in the eyes and made a promise that I would do the right thing when the time came.  Last night that promise was put to the test as I sat with him, loved on him and in the end drove him all the way to the Vet knowing that it was his time, yet wondering if I could actually do this.  Sergio was put to rest last night, out of the pain he was in and with a heavy heart I went to sleep last night for the first time in all these years without my friend near me and I awake this morning to the dread of going thru my first day of life without my best friend.

Sergio - you were loved and will be missed

Donna

 

Sergio my Smooth Fox terrier

Sergio over the years. 

(another bad hair day)

My blog is named after Sergio, my Smooth Fox terrier.  Just in case you didn't know.

I received sad news about a week ago today I believe.  The sad news is that Sergio, my Smooth Fox terrier, who is about 11 years old now, has been diagnosed with Lymphocarsonoma.  I may have misspelled that long dreadful word.  I'm still in shock but thought I'd share that information with my wonderful friends I've met and talked with through our love of yarn.

Daily it is a struggle to look him in the eyes knowing that he will leave me so soon.  I love him dearly and will be dealing with him being gone sooner than I want.  The vet told me without medicine he would be gone within 6 weeks (that was a week ago).  With high doses of Prednisone he could live 6 weeks to 6 months.  She also offered a version of Chemo but I didn't want to put him through weekly injections and things like that. .

So my dear friends, I'd rather not chat about what is going on with Sergio but I wanted to share this news with my followers.

Donna

Do you Skype?

My Skype name is SmoothFox_Donna

My name is Donna Mason-Svara if that is needed to find me.

Add me as a contact on Skype, it's free.  You just need a web-cam with a  microphone. If you'd like, grab your yarn and let's sit and chat while knitting or crocheting our projects. The more the merrier. I'm new to Skype but I believe we can have multiple people all just sitting around with our yarn projects talking or working silently. I have no one locally to chat with about yarn projects and am relatively new to knitting so if I'm knitting, it will be my favorite projects which are hats.

I have to warn ya though, you're going to catch me at my worst as I'm very casual, smoke, crochet and knit, stop and start projects left and right and everyday is a bad hair day.

Go ahead. Try it.  It's free.  

Donna

Computers drive me nuts

Just because I accidentally dumped Iced Tea into my laptop it has decided to not work.  I started having trouble keeping the computer on for more than 5 minutes at a time to try to retrieve all the pictures that everyone has recently sent me and the patterns that I've created.

The fried computer is at the doctor right now and I have major doubts it can be fixed.   If I need anyone to re-email me a picture of their latest test items, I'll send out an email or a blog post.  Don't send them yet.

Happy Crocheting!
Donna

Winners of the Great Pumpkin Debate Are -

I want to thank all of you who participated by entering a comment.  I decided to mix it up a bit by selecting the people randomly by using the date 10/31/2011 and having 4 winners instead of 3 winners.  So I split 2011 into two numbers, a 20 and an 11.  Some are counted frm the top of the list down and others from the bottom up.

Those four of you listed below should head on over to my Ravelry Store using the link below and browse my patterns that are for sale.  E-books excluded - send me an email with the link to the pattern you'd like to have or send me the exact name of the pattern.  Send the email to SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com
My RavelryStore: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/smoothfox-crochet-designs


Counting from the Bottom up:
10 from the bottom up is:



Old school here :-) Happy Halloween!

De'Anna Unique2wh0 at aol dot com...sorry to do it like this as anon. but will not let me says I have no access.


Counting from the Top down is:
31 from the top is:

Kim sent me an email with her comment:
The "new school" pumpkin is adorable!
Thanks for sharing the photos! Hugs, Kim DeMoise

Counting from the Top down is:
20 from the top is:

Sarah in NC said...
I love the new school. All the faces and scenes to chose from are fantastic

Counting 11 from the Bottom up is:
11 from the bottom is:

I have to admit that I love the new school carvings! So exciting and creative!

Bethany (yarnorgy)

Help settle the Great Pumpkin Debate

Left pumpkin is new school.   Right pumpkin is old school.

What kind of pumpkin carver person are you?  Which do you prefer?

Leave a comment regarding your choice of old school or new school pumpkin carving technology and I'll pick 3 random comments from those comments submitted.  Contest closes at midnight 10/31/2011. These 3 people will receive a free pattern from my list of patterns for sale.  Their choice.  E-books excluded. Contest void if we don't get at least 3 comments and void where prohibited.  

Happy Halloween!   

Clue Number 3 - Mystery Baby Blankie may not have been sent

Once again, Google or Feedburner may not have sent out the entire posting for Clue 3 of the Mystery Baby Blankie.  I for one did not receive it in my email and another person said all they received was the name and no information.

Here is the link in case you also had a snafu in receiving Clue 3.

http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2011/08/clue-number-3-mystery-baby-blankie.html

Donna

Do you speak Spanish? Your help is needed

If you speak Spanish, crochet, would be willing to help a person whose first language is Spanish in the interpretation of one of my patterns, I'm looking for you.

I have a pattern called the Spiral Round Granny Blanket that a nice lady is working on and there seems to be some kind of a language barrier or language interpretation difference.  I'd like to give you this pattern and her email address and ask you to exchange emails with this person who is having trouble.  I'm hoping that this will benefit you as you get a free pattern and she can finally get past the beginning rounds where she is having some trouble.

Please send me an email if you are interested.

Donna  SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com

SmoothFox Helper's

You may notice that some blog posts may come from SmoothFox Helper Cindy.  Don't be alarmed LOL... Cindy is an awesome lady and helped in such a great way with the prior charity square drive.  She is going to additionally try and help take some of the load off of me by helping with the blog so I can get more designing done.

I was also thinking of asking for volunteers (most likely people I'm familiar with) who may be interested in becoming SmoothFox Helpers themselves.  People who might be interested in helping with blog posting about tips and techniques or stories of interest in the crochet / knitting world or someone who wants to help with running and tracking the upcoming charity square drive or even volunteering to coordinate testing of patterns for either myself or other followers of the blog.  There is also a need for someone very familiar with Blogspot who can help me turn the blog into a work of art LOL, setting up pages etc. (which I can't figure out for the life of me).  So if you are interested, please contact me.

More to the story - more reasons that I'd like a little help - A little known fact is that this blog gets about 70,000 hits a month and that produces a lot of email and not enough time for the fun stuff like crocheting and knitting.  Additionally, I've been extremely afraid that if something happened to me - no one would be able to fill-in to let people know and keep things going if I were sick. SmoothFox Helper Cindy accomplished her first blog post last night and although it took her quite a while to do it, I'm sure she will get the hang of it very quickly.  Thank you very much Cindy!

Donna
SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com

Kay Carlson Blanket

Just wanted to show off Kay Carlson's Blanket.  She sent me this great picture of a blanket she worked in one of my patterns.  She said this beauty is going to a friend who is a new Grandma.  Kay usually makes her afghans and donates them to charity.  Kay has varied the colors around each square from her earlier blanket she did using the same pattern and has completed a different border surrounding the blanket.  The pattern is called Fox's Star Square and is available down the right side of the blog under Crochet Patterns.

Good job Kay!

I can't believe Jean Leinhauser passed away

I've heard that Jean Leinhauser has passed away.  Anyone who has ever purchased a crochet pattern book probably has seen her many patterns.  If anyone has information or a link to read more about Jean and her passing away, please email me.  She will be missed!

Here is a link to a video I saw that she and Rita Weiss did together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzmROkbRiL4

Here is another link someone just emailed me.

http://dorischancrochet.com/2011/06/15/the-passing-of-a-crochet-legend/

Anyone wishing to send a card to Rita Weiss can mail it to: 
Creative Partners, LLC 
3536 Avenida Sierra 
Escondido, CA 92029

Donna SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com

No, I didn't send out a SPAM email

Somehow Ravelry was hacked and a hacker got their stored passwords of members.  It just so happened that my password was the same on Ravelry and for my email at Yahoo.  Somehow the hackers sent an email out using my email account.  You can usually tell the spam emails because the subject lines are blank or begin with the letters RE: and there is nothink in the subject line except the RE:.  Please don't open any emails that don't include a subject or begin with the letters RE: and never click on the links in the emails.

I apologize to all of you who received an email from me.

Donna

Lisa's beautiful afghan

I received these great pictures from Lisa Wilson who wrote me an email regarding the pictures of her beautiful afghan.  She used one of my free patterns.  Click here for the pattern: SmoothFox's Granny Loves A Baby  Great job Lisa and I'm sure she will love it.

Here is her letter:

I made this afghan for a co-workers Aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer. I loved the look of the squares and the color changes, and thought....hey I could just put bc ribbons on the four corners. I love the square pattern, it not only looks nice but its not hard at all ,to do... Thanks Donna for all your lovely patterns~

Lisa in Wisconsin

Advice needed

I participated in a contest and my prize I chose was a small handheld Camcorder.  The kind that is small and flat like a cell phone.   I have no idea how to set it up so that I can make some video tutorials.  I mean, there is no one to hold it for me to tape myself from the view of the crocheter.  The only thing I can think of is to somehow hang it from my neck, hold very still and create the video. 

Anyone have any ideas?  Plus how can I have it around my neck when there is no strap.

I was also thinking maybe if I could get a tshirt with a pocket, cut the pocket down a bit so that it is below the lense and then with it in my pocket possibly I could create a video?

All comments or suggestions would be great!

Donna


 

Snow in Walton Kentucky

How is this snow storm that is going across the United States affecting you? 

I tried to go to work today and couldn't make it out of the subdivision.  My truck was stuck in the street. I also may have ruined my SUV 4 wheel drive according to my husband or the 4 wheel drive isn't working like we thought when we bought the vehicle.  Boy I hope not.

So it looks like I'll be sitting at home and knitting today.  Anyone else having a snow day today?

Donna