30 June 2014

Snowflake Monday

Renewal Snowflakes

In my quest to make one of each of my one-color snowflakes, I was saddened when I reached A Snowflake for Jaden. Jaden, whom I didn't get the chance to meet, drowned. I love the snowflake but wanted my new project to be wrapped in happiness. So I made a few modifications, and I like the new flake so much, I thought I should share it.

I'd love to have you join me in my 2014 Snowflake-A-Long. I'm trying to make as many snowflakes as we can by about November. See my progress here, and join in and submit your own progress, too, to hopefully inspire others!

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from these patterns, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: 3 to 4 inches from point to point, depending upon interchangeable points made
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Renewal Snowflake

Renewal I Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr in ring, ch 10, * 2 tr in ring, ch 10; repeat 4 times for a total of 6 petals, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3. Do no pull magic circle too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: * 3 sc in next ch 10 loop, 3 hdc in same loop, ch 3, 1 dc in same loop, 1 tr in same loop, 1 dtr in same loop, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, 1 dtr in same ch 10 loop, 1 tr in same loop, 1 dc in same loop, ch 3, 3 hdc in same loop, 3 sc in same loop; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Renewal Snowflake

Renewal II Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr in ring, ch 10, * 2 tr in ring, ch 10; repeat 4 times for a total of 6 petals, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3. Do no pull magic circle too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: * 3 sc in next ch 10 loop, 3 hdc in same loop, ch 7, sl st in 7th ch from hook, 1 dc in same loop, 1 tr in same loop, 1 dtr in same loop, ch 6, 1 dc in 6th ch from hook, ch 5, 1 dc in same ch, ch 5, sl st in same ch, 1 dtr in same ch 10 loop, 1 tr in same loop, 1 dc in same loop, ch 7, sl st in 7th ch from hook, 3 hdc in same loop, 3 sc in same loop; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

Renewal Snowflake

26 June 2014

Cloverton

Cloverton the deaf dog has ridden the MS-150 (now BikeMS) in Colorado three times now! Cloverton is riding again this year! Maybe we'll see him!

24 June 2014

Wordless Wednesday

The Line



Registration

Schwag

Day 0, 2014 Ride the Rockies

Chillin'

Bike Chillin'

Waste Not Want Not

Park Here

Park Here

Clothes Hanger

Boxed Bikes

Demo Bikes

Saddle Adjustment

Power Bar Heaven

Ready to Roll (RtR)

Mini Cyclist

I Scream...

You Scream, I Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

Last week was my 20th anniversary with my employer and the 30th anniversary for one of my co-workers. Wow! (And the 38th anniversary for two bosses, the 39th anniversary for another boss, and the 42nd anniversary for yet another boss. WOWSA!!!)

It also was my annual ice cream social at work.

I wish I had photos to show the difference in size of ice cream containers from ten or even five years ago to now. Who knew ice cream was going on such a terrific diet!?!?! I bet each container has lost half its weight! Suffice it to say this year's even-more-microscopic containers cost even more than last year. What I bought for $90 last year couldn't be purchased for $105 this year. I had to leave out a few of the toppings.

Nevertheless, my co-workers came through, and I raised $625 for the fight against multiple sclerosis. I am less than $300 away from being a High Roller next year. !!!!!

As I've said before, there are still good people in the world, and plenty of them.

The Coolest Jersey!

23 June 2014

Snowflake Monday

I'm so behind.

I've had a pile of unwritten snowflakes sitting next to my computer at home now for at least a year. I've had them stacked from smallest to largest. This one was the top of the stack.

Top of the Stack Snowflake

Because it's so tiny, I had to see how tiny I could make it. I made one with sewing thread. Sewing thread that glows in the dark!

Sewing Thread Top of the Stack Snowflake

Glow-in-the-Dark Top of the Stack Snowflake

If a Snowflake-A-Long would help motivate you to get a pile of snowflakes done in time for Christmas, perhaps you might like to join me in my current ambition. I'm trying to make one of each of my single-color snowflakes for a special project, starting from the top, first to last. I will NOT be making the Ugly Flake for this project. Striped snowflakes will not work for what I have to do, so some of my favorites will be neglected for now. I'm hoping I can come up with another creative idea to incorporate a bunch of multi-color flakes after finishing the current special project. I'm not sure yet if I will be able to incorporate beads into the current project, so I have strung no beads so far. They can always be added later if I find they will enhance the project.

For my current project, my snowflakes don't need to be stiffened. Just blocked. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps we snowflakers can upload and track our progress here, and perhaps we could even have a challenge with prizes...

Why We Must Block

Blocked

And did you know today is "Let it Go Day"? That's right! The song has its very own day!!! (In reality, the day beat the movie and the song onto the calendar.)

The cold never bothered me anyway...


You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from today's pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Top of the Stack Snowflake

Finished Size: 2.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Top of the Stack Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, * ch 6, sl st in 5th ch from hook, ch 1, 2 dc in ring; repeat from * 4 times; ch 1, 1 hdc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch2, 1 dc in top of hdc to form 6th ch 4 loop of ring. Pull magic circle tight, but leave opening big enough to allow stitches inside it to lay flat.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 1 sc in same loop, * ch 4, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), ch 1, 1 sc in next ch 4 loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 2 dc in same loop, ch 4, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 3, sl st in sc (tri-picot made), 2 dc in same ch 4 loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 1 sc in same loop; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 4 loop, 1 hdc in same loop, 2 dc in same loop, ch 4, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook, ch 5, sl st in sc, ch 3, sl st in sc (tri-picot made); sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

Top of the Stack Snowflake Rock

20 June 2014

Friday Fun

Did you know Monday is "Let it Go Day"? That's right! It has its own day*!!!

"Cold never bothered me anyway..."


* Let it Go Day existed long before the movie "Frozen."

19 June 2014

Hoya Hoya

glorious hoya

Last summer seems like such a long time ago, I couldn't even remember if any of our three hoya plants had bloomed in 2013. I had to go back through my photos and my journal. Nope. No hoya blossoms at all last year.

The three originals had never bloomed for The Lizard before we were married. They never bloomed in my apartment after we were married. But in the house we bought five years ago, one particular plant was a very happy camper. If I remember correctly, it bloomed for the first time right near the Fourth of July and a week or so before our wedding anniversary. What a celebration!

Ready, set, bloom!

opening...

radiant

magnificent

The pink hoya is blooming for the third time in 2012!

Little did I know white stuff lurked within these leaves, too, right after this shot was taken.

We'd lost that treasured hoya plant The Lizard inherited from his father to mealy bugs in 2012. There were two more that had never bloomed, so The Lizard didn't know they were hoyas, just a different kind. One bloomed for the first time ever that year, almost as if to console us.

our first white hoya blossoms ever

glowing hoya

Late in 2012, I found a tight, curly leaved baby hoya plant very similar to the one we'd lost at a home improvment center, and I quickly adopted it. We shelved the tiny little three-inch plant where its predecessor had been, and we've patiently waited for it to grow long enough to bloom. I've read the hoya ropes must be six feet long to produce blooms. Eighteen months later, this toddler might finally be turning into a teenager. One rope is nearly six feet long! Fingers crossed...

baby hoya

Meanwhile, we've patiently awaited a blossom burst from the white hoya plants.

This month, one plant gave us a single blossom. Just one!

Our first hoya flower in forever!!!

The second hoya is throwing out the gauntlet. It's showing TWO blossoms!

The Straight-Leaved White Hoya Blooms Again

17 June 2014

Wordless Wednesday

Full Moonrise, Friday the 13th

Full Moonrise, Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th Full Moon

Tropics in the Foothills

The Tallest and the Shortest

Last June, my precious little clove trees did not survive our high plains heat wave while The Lizard and I pedaled for a week straight during Ride the Rockies. Last October, Hilo Beads in Hawaii finally had a new crop of fresh seeds.

I ordered 12. I gave two to a co-worker, who reports both are still doing well. The other 10 I took home and planted.

October 2013, fresh from Hawaii

Within the next three months, all but two of the seeds turned brown and dried up, even though I tried to keep them moist.

super clove baby

When trying to grow clove trees at altitude and indoors (because they can't survive the chilly nights), a gardener must have patience. The seeds can take a very, very long time to germinate.

One of the two survivors began sprouting leaves in late February.

A leaf!!!

In April, the tiny leaves were beginning to look a little more like leaves.

my new little (indoor) clove April 2

That little sweetheart is now growing a second tier of fragrant leaves!

Big Sister clove seed is sprouting her second tier of fragrant leaves.

And now, in June, nearly seven months after arriving in Colorado, baby sister is beginning to sprout her wings!!!

The second surviving clove seed finally emerges!


Related Posts with Thumbnails