No Flake Monday

Might be a while before I can do this again. I don't have an ounce of inspiration or motivation right now, and I'm not sure when either will return. I'm sorry.

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Friday Funny

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Woven Dreams

(affiliate links to my designs)

I've crocheted throws, I've designed polar fleece throws, and I've quilted cotton blankets. And, as I noted last week, I've yearned to learn to weave with my loom that has never come out of the box.

Woven throws supposedly are hot items these days. So I tried my hand at creating one. I love the design so much, I created different color variations, including Valentine's Day...

If I do a February version, I have to do a March version...

Spring colors were fun.

No special edition collection would be complete without a 250th anniversary variation!

And no sample blah blah blahg post would be complete without an AI caricature of me waving my patriotic colors in the breeze. (But just until my real life sample arrives! Can't wait!!!)

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Wordless Wednesday

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Scamateurs

(affiliate links to my designs)

I posted a photo of my finished January/February temperature snake on my Snowcatcher FB page, and I was immediately flooded with offers to buy it. But they all wanted me to send them information about various pay methods. And they all wanted to make the purchase immediately, even though I repeatedly said I wasn't sure I was going to sell it.

I posted a photo of the completed quilt for my friend's first granddaughter, and I was immediately innundated with requests for extremely simple quilts anyone could make. I explained I am not in a position to be able to complete any custom orders at this time because I am a full-time caregiver. Each told me, "That's okay, just make it when you can, and let me pay right away. Just give me your financial information."

I received a direct message from a potential buyer claiming to be interested in one of my Etsy shop items. I responded the item was available in my Etsy shop. The reply came with an attachment I was asked to click to see proof of the buyer's purchase. Of course, Etsy showed no sign of anything in my shop being purchased and sent me no notification.

I knew from 30 years of electronic communication at my job (now retired) to never click an attachment unless I know and trust the sender. However, Etsy and FB were new territory for me as far as security goes. I looked up the need to purchase things immediately and via channels outside the official pay method, and my goodness, did I get a quick education!!!

I'm disappointed to learn Etsy and FB are so rife with scam artists. It breaks my heart to ponder how many innocent people are scammed on a daily basis because they don't know or expect such thievery. But it also feels pretty good to be able to share what's happening to hopefully put others on alert so they can avoid being scammed.

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Snowflake Monday

I was able to work on today's snowflake while listening to General Conference. Even though I'm at home during conference, I think I can still call this crocheting in church...

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: 4.5 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

CiC II Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in ring, [ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook, 3 dc in ring] 5 times; 1 sc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch 2, 1 tr in same ch to form 5th ch 5 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, [ch 6, 1 sc in 6th ch from hook, in next ch 5 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 2 ch of final repeat; 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 point 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), 2 dc i over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 5 loop work ([2 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook] 3 times, 2 dc), in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 3, Rock Covering: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc i over post of dc directly below, [in next ch 5 loop work ([2 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook] 3 times, 2 dc), in next ch 3 tip work (3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, * ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc) (picot point formed)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; to form 6th picot point, *ch 1*, yo 2 times, draw up loop through 2nd ch of starting ch 2, yo and draw through 2 loops 2 times, yo and draw up loop through same ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook; 1 sc back over *ch 1*.
NOTE: If the final sequence is too complicated, just bind off same as for snowflake, then work one sc in any picot point to continue.

Round 4, Rock Covering: 1 sc in sc just worked, [ch 5, 1 tr in next ch 3 picot, ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 3 picot, ch 5, 1 tr in next ch 3 picot, ch 5, 1 sc in next picot point] 6 times, omitting last sc and last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr in starting sc to form 20th ch 5 sp of Round. Rounds 5-?, Rock Covering: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), [1 dc in next ch 5 sp] 19 times; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form 20th ch 5 sp of Round. Continue repeating Round 5 until snowflake fits snugly around rock, leaving about a 1- to 2-inch opening on the back or bottom side.

Final Round, Rock Covering:Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each ch 5 sp around, inserting rock after about 2/3rds of Round, gently stitching while finishing Round and closing up hole so as not to damage crochet hook; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off, leaving 4- to 5-inch tail. Weave end through final Round of dc and pull tight. Bind off again, weave in end. Place in garden!

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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Blessed Friday

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