31 December 2015

The Best Kind of Christmas


A few days before Christmas, one of my readers notified me of a yarn bomb in England she helped with that features some of my snowflake designs. Oh, my goodness!!!

You may read about the project and see the wonderful pictures here.


Six of my friends and family have told me this month they still have the snowflakes I made for them more than two decades ago. Two of them told me they still hang my snowflakes on their tree every year. What an awesome feeling!


One of my closest friends showed me a Christmas card he and his wife were planning to hang as part of their Christmas decorations. Tears welled up in my eyes as I gazed upon the photo of he and his family I took about 15 years ago. His children have children of their own now!


After delivering my eight young niece and nephew quilts in California, one of my grown nephews, who is the father of three of the grand niece recipients, bolted from the room. "Too much girly stuff for him!" I thought.

Minutes later, he was back, toting the oh-so-worn quilt I made for him nearly a quarter of a century ago.

"I still have this!" he excitedly announced, showing it to all the little kids. "I still use it!"

At that point, his oldest daughter ripped it from his hands and wrapped it around herself.

"No, I use it!" she giggled. "But now I have my own!"

This is the stuff Christmas is made of. 2015 was one of the best Christmases I can remember!

29 December 2015

Bat-let Vortex


What do you make when you have pink leftovers from this...


color-coded girls camp bandanas

... and this ...


... and this ...


... which some leftovers you turned into this but then still had leftovers...


... and even more pink leftovers from this ...


... and this ...


... and this ...


... and this ...


... and this ...


... and this ...


... and your grand niece loves pink, ballet and Batman?


Why, you draw a pink Batman silhouette, of course, and applique it (because there is no pink Batman fabric)...

Pink Ballet

... and you pick up a charm pack of ballet fabric ...



... and you use up as many pink scraps as you can to create a fabulous Bat-let Vortex!

Bat-let Vortex Back





skins


Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict here.

28 December 2015

Snowflake Monday


In the mood for popcorn?

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

Extra Popcorn Snowflake

Finished Size: 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

Extra Popcorn Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc in same sc, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through 2nd ch of starting ch 2 (starting popcorn stitch made), ch 3, * 5 dc in ring, pull hook out of loop (dropped loop) and insert in top loop of 1st dc of this 5/dc group, insert in dropped loop, pull dropped loop through top loop of 1st dc (popcorn stitch made), ch 3; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st in top of starting popcorn. Pull magic circle tight enough to make popcorn stitches poufy.
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: Sl st into next ch 3 sp; ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [yo, draw up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (starting cluster made), * ch 3, [yo and draw up loop through 3rd ch from hook, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (cluster picot made), ch 14, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next ch, sk next ch, popcorn st in next ch, sl st in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, ch 3, [yo and draw up loop through 3rd ch from hook, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (cluster picot made) (spike made), [yo and draw up loop through same ch 3 sp in main body of flake, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 3 times, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook (cluster made), cluster in next ch 3 sp; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last cluster of final repeat; sl st in starting cluster; 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.

22 December 2015

December Joy


Perhaps I should have done a month of December sunrises (and sunsets) instead of November...













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