I Saw Red

I saw red


September opened up its door


I saw red


The acorns spilled onto the floor




And I didn't need to see the gauge










I saw leaves










I saw red and then I saw some more










And I don't think that you'll be bloomin' anymore...

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Snowflake Monday

Yes, you guessed it! Today's pattern is yet another created for my my snowflake lamp. The Lizard named it.

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: 3 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


Ice Cave Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 17 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same ch as sl st, * ch 5, sk next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 5, sk next 2 dc, 2 dc in same ch as starting dc, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, *ch 5, sk next ch 5 sp, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 5, sk next ch 5 sp, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip 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 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dc directly below, * ch 2, 1 sc over both ch 5 sp below, ch 2, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 5 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 4 times, ch 2, 1 sc over both ch 5 sp below, ch 2, 5 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (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.

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Joy of Books

...and joy of rainbows dancing!

Can you imagine how long it must have taken to do the photography for this gem???

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Wordless Wednesday

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Colorado Dreamin'

(affiliate links to my designs)

When I did my first calendar (what feels like a century ago) the shop planning to sell copies requested I have them done by the beginning of September. They said that's when people buy calendars. That's not typically when I buy calendars, but okay. I can do that.

I printed the calendars myself the first few years and had Kinko's print them for me the last two years of this endeavor. I was fortunate to sell out every year.

A few years later, I designed weekly planners for the office where I work. My employer paid me a licensing fee to use my photos, which meant I was unable to use the photos in each calendar for two years after publishing. The venture was great while it lasted; the money I saved the few years of this enterprise helped pay off my emergency back surgery. When the economy tanked in 2008, the printer we used went out of business, and the office where I work scaled back and stopped printing a thousand calendars with 56 of my photos each year to send to clients.

I started printing calendars on my own again, just for me and my family and friends. The printer I was using was fabulous. I could design and order calendars at the end of November and still receive them in time to get them in the mail for Christmas presents! I could sell extra calendars in the annual Christmas craft fair I participate in, but not online because the printer wasn't set up for that.

That particular printer went out of business about four years ago now, and it took a while for me to find a new printer. I finally selected Zazzle, and Zazzle is set up for online sales. 2017 will be my third year offering calendars online!

"Colorado Dreamin'" features 14 photos of the Pacific Ocean. In Colorado, we have lakes and ponds and rivers, but we don't have oceans. So I dream. And this calendar features a few of my favorite beach scenes. (And one of the most unique mountain/ocean scenes you'll ever see, because how could I not?) My 2017 calendar is the perfect imaginary escape during the workday or even while just daydreaming at home!

Zazzle features a new product sale every day, so watch for site-wide savings or the next calendar sale, and go "Colorado Dreamin'" with me!

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Snowflake Monday

Today's pattern is yet another snowflake in my snowflake lamp journey. I must have been feeling a little tipsy when I finished the prototype, because I sure had fun playing with the pattern! Lots of options today!


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: 3-4 inches inches from point to point, depending upon options used
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


Tipsy Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: * 1 sc in next dc, ch 6; repeat from * around 10 times; 1 sc in next dc, ch 2, 1 tr in starting dc to form 12th ch 6 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), 2 dc over post of tr directly below, * 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, 3 dc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; 1 sc in next ch 6 sp, 3 dc in next ch 6 sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round.
NOTE: Binding off here makes a cute little snowflake.


Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 3 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.


Joinable Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Joining 2nd Motif Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 sc over gap between 5/dc shells on side of motif to be joined, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 sc in next tip of joined motif, ch 1, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip, * 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 4 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Joining 3rd Motif Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 1 sc over gap between 5/dc shells on side of motif to be joined, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 1, 1 sc in next tip of joined motif, ch 1, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 3 times joining 3rd motif to 1st and second motif; [1 dc in each of next 2 dc, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip] 2 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.


Alternate Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, * 1 dc in next gap between 3/dc and sc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), 1 dc in next gap between sc and 3/dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 14, sl st in 11th ch from hook, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch 3 tip; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 3 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th double O point of Round; bind off. Weave in ends.


Another Alternate Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc over post of dc directly below, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, * ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), sk next 3 st, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 7, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 5, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch (big tri-picot made), 3 dc in same ch 3 tip, 1 dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last 5 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th big tri-picot; 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.

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Friday Funny

Also, check out these great engagement photos!

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Hearts of Gold

(affiliate links to my fabric designs)

Finally! After three months of focusing mostly on training for this month's MS-150, I finally had a rainy, thundery, lightning-spiked evening to finish up this quilt top! One of my favorites of all time!

Thanks to the inspirations for this quilt top...






I designed some coordinating Spoonflower fabrics!








I worked up my fanciest border yet for a mini quilt top from one of my fat quarter panels!!! I rarely piece with white because the seams show through, but I think the white really makes the color pop in this gem.

Another of my most favorite projects of all time!

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