Snowflake Monday

I wanted to rework last week's snowframe to make it easier to glue a photo to the center. But, I had the most fun trying to change it up a bit so it can have its very own personality.

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!

Finished Size: 6.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 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

Template II Snowframe Instructions

Ch 36. Taking care not to twist work, sl st in starting ch.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, [1 dc in each of next 2 ch, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), sk next ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, in next ch work 3 dc] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 2: Ch 12 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 10), sk over next picot, in next middle dc of 3/dc inc work (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc and last 2 ch of final repeat, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.
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 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [in next ch 10 sp work (2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc, ch 11, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, sl st in next ch (1st leaf made), ch 9, working back down spike, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch, 1 dc in top of next dc, 1 dc in bottom of same dc, sk next ch, sl st in each of next 3 ch (heart tip made), ch 9, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, sl st in next ch (2nd leaf made), sl st in next ch, ch 1, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Friday Fortius

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Change of Season... or Heart

I finished another segment of one of my (four) digital temperature quilts yesterday! I might have to make a new Spoonflower fabric! Below is the fabric design I created after finishing the first half of 2026.

I'd always wondered what it would look like if I included weather conditions, so, I created a three-color option to test it. I changed my template in July because I hated my January "broken heart" theme after suffering a genuine heartbreak, losing my husband in April. (I had to catch up about a month of daily highs and lows because I just couldn't bring myself to work on anything for a while.) I kept the old template version, just in case I change my mind one day.

I don't think I'm going to change my mind on the broken hearts. I still have too much of a broken heart. But I might make yet another version of the whole year and replace the January broken hearts with my new heart templates I begin today. I think I like the new heart template a lot...

While looking up the history of the old template, I found photos of my temperature snake, which I finished at the end of February because Parkinson's had become so overwhelming, I just couldn't manage the project anymore. Seeing those old photos, I'm so thankful I stopped when I did. I had no idea what was going to transpire in the two months that followed, and I'm so grateful now I didn't divert attention away from Lizard when he needed it most. I might do another temperature snake project next year. I haven't decided yet. I have plenty of time to think about it. And change my mind a million times...

Linking up with Alycia Quilts.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Skinned

I've been riding to my friend's work (and then back home alone) on Wednesdays. I couldn't go with her last week because I had my annual skin checkup very early in the morning.

This break in my new routine enabled me to shoot the sunrise. And, oh, was it was a beauty. Many memories, however. I went to one of the places Lizard and I used to visit for sunrise, often by bike prior to Parkinson's. I remembered with tears the last five or six times we'd visited this particular locale, when he no longer had the energy to walk with me the short distance from the parking lot to the shore. I tried very hard to be grateful he is whole now and can walk as far and as long as he wants. I wondered if he is setting speed records in heaven...

I saw my first sundog in ages as I was leaving for my appointment. I wondered if Lizard was sending me another rainbow. He used to sign his emails Beam Boss because he knew how much I love rainbows.

I had a complete meltdown as I pulled into the dermatology parking lot. It was the first time I'd been there alone since Lizard's horrific rash in 2024, and memories of that visit hurt more than words can describe.

I read scriptures on my phone for a few minutes so I wouldn't be a basketcase in the dermatologist's office. When I checked in, I was informed my checkup isn't until December.

I had shown up for Lizard's checkup. I had cancelled all his medical appointments, but I had forgotten to remove them from my phone. We saw the same dermatologist. I really had no idea the appointment wasn't mine. The receptionist was awesome. She kept apologizing as she handed me tissue after tissue. And she wasn't the one who'd made the mistake. It was all on me.

I sat in the car in the parking lot for more than an hour, crying, reading scriptures and, once again, really mourning.

The sun hitting the car finally got me moving. I probably could have sat there reading scriptures all day. It helped.

I realized my December appointment probably won't be as difficult now because I already survived this accidental visit. Kind of like everything else I feel these days. I still cry a lot. But nothing is as hard as Lizard's final week. Nothing is as hard as the first several weeks without him here. I'm able to tell myself now: I've made it through the hardest part. WE made it through the hardest part. Our love for each other stayed strong all the way until the end. It will never be that hard again. There will be sadness. There will be tears. But the hardest part is done. If I can make it through that, I can make it through anything.

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Snowframe Monday

How fitting that I designed a new snowflake frame based on this snowflake, which has entirely different grief meaning in my life now. I love the original flake as much now as I did back then, and I am very thankful Lizard is whole now and no longer suffering. But there is a huge hole in my heart now, just like the huge hole in the middle of this snowframe. This is the second of five of my old snowflake patterns I wanted to try to make a frame from one day. Two down, three to go!

I played thread chicken with this one, and I did not win. Darn it! But just see if you can find the knot!!!

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!

Finished Size: 6 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 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

Template I Snowframe Instructions

Round 1: Ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, [ch 9, sl st in 3rd ch from hook] 5 times; ch 3,.

Round 2: Ch 12 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 10), sk over next picot, in 3rd ch of next ch 6 group work 1 dc, ch 3, in next ch work 1 dc] 5 times; ch 10, sk over next picot, in 3rd ch of next ch 6 group work 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 12 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.
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 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [in next ch 10 sp work (2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc), in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (branch made), ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch (right half of heart picot made), ch 4, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in next ch (left half of heart picot made), work 1 dc in top and 1 dc in bottom of 3rd dc of right half of heart picot, sl st in each of next 2 ch (heart picot made), ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (branch made), sl st in next ch (beneath 1st branch) ch 1, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: I've been stiffening my flakes with undiluted, full-strength water soluble school glue for quite a while now, and I've been squishing the glue onto and throughout each flake with my fingers (yucky mess!!!) instead of gingerly painting the flakes with glue. Yes, it's a mess. But it's faster. And stiffer.

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 snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Friday Fortius

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