Snowcatcher

04 December 2009

Fingerprint Friday

This year's collection of handmade scarves.

I started this post about three weeks ago, and now, almost bedtime on a Friday night, I'm finally finishing it. Back then, I was almost done retouching Makeover Madness photos, and I was nearly basking in the thrill of life potentially going back to normal. I sort of forgot this is fourth quarter. My job keeps me very busy the last two months of the year. So, I'm still waiting for life to get back to normal, but I'm smiling a little more today.

The holidays hold many wonderful reasons to celebrate, even if I don't get to do everything I want to do when I want to do it. Being employed in this day and age is a pretty monstrous blessing for which to be thankful. I'm really, truly, genuinely done retouching teenage girls until next year now, and we delivered the gift bags last night. Now, I finally get to focus on my own family, even if I still get home late every night.

Three of the girls at the residential treatment center hugged me after receiving their gift bags. Six of them crowded around a tiny pocket cassette recorder to listen to a message by one of our volunteers who was unable to accompany us on our Santa excursion. All the girls seemed thrilled with their gifts and their photos. And once again, I am walking on air because everything seems right in the world. At least in my little corner of it.

Funny how serving others makes you feel better about life.

***

Steven Curtis Chapman sings:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with
The fingerprints of God

PamperingBeki challenges bloggers each Friday to discover, recognize and see God's fingerprints and share them with the rest of the world. See instructions to join in here. Also check the other blogs linked there to see more great Fingerprints!

Friday Funny

This was for a LOLcat photography contest I entered last year. I didn't win, but I like this anyway. You don't know what a LOLcat is??? See here.

03 December 2009

Eye Candy

During Thanksgiving, I noticed a photo "challenge" on Cat's blog. I ran the instructions through a freebie translator but wasn't quite sure I understood the directions. Yet the photo was good, so I commented.

Next thing I knew, NatureFootstep challenged me to participate in the same challenge, and she provided instructions I could comprehend.

I believe this particular challenge is called a meme here in the USA. This challenge is sort of like an Easter egg hunt. You must read other blogs to find your treasure!

The challenge is to go to the fourth or seventh folder in your My Pictures folder and post on your blog the fourth or seventh image from that folder. You then challenge friends to participate by inviting them via the blog entry. I see great fun potential in this challenge because it gives readers and viewers the opportunity to see why you follow various blogs and perhaps even make new friends.

My ability to follow the instruction precisely was a little convoluted, however. I shoot an average of 22,000 images per year, so my organizational system is a little more extensive than just a few folders in the My Pictures folder. I have images stored in three to four different locations to make sure I always have a backup in case of equipment failure. And I have numerous layers of folders in a sometimes wacky attempt to be able to locate specific pictures more quickly.

So, the first image is the fourth image from the fourth folder inside the fourth folder inside the fourth folder of the fourth folder in the My Pictures folder on my laptop. It's a greeting card I designed over Thanksgiving.

The second image is the fourth image from the fourth folder of the fourth folder... uh, you get the idea, right? There are about seven layers of image folders on my 2009 external hard drive. This particular shot was the first morning of the 2009 MS150, where I pedaled 150 miles in two days for charity. And if I'd named that particular grandparent folder "bicycling" instead of "cycling" the photo from the fourth folder of the fourth folder of... would have been a totally different subject!

And now I pass on this challenge to Canine Crusader, Tulsa Gentleman and Robinella. Sandra, you're included, too, but I know you're really, really super busy right now!

Busted!

02 December 2009

Wordless Wednesday

01 December 2009

Plarn Snowman

I promised a craft to use up all the white plastic grocery bags everyone seems to loathe, and I finally finished this little fellow over the weekend.

Some notes about working with plarn: This is not rocket science. Plarn does not need to be perfectly even. Mistakes will not show. Also, don't get too frazzled about the number of stitches in the snowman pattern below. No one will know if your counting doesn't match up. Row numbers are more important than stitch numbers for this pattern. As long as you are close to the right number of stitches, your snowman will look just fine.

If you would like an all-white snowman, don't use the portions of each bag with printing. It will take you more than twice as many bags, but it can be done.

Growing up in southern New Mexico where snow was somewhat of a novelty, the spottiness of my snowman reminds me of the times we tried to build a snowman with less than two inches of snow. Our snowmen were speckled with rocks, grass and leaves!

I had one white hotel dry cleaning bag I used in this project. Cutting it was sheer joy! Literally! The scissors just glide across the smooth plastic, it was large with very little printing and a little thicker than common grocery bags, with no handles. I got a ton of plarn out of it! But then as I began crocheting with it, I changed my tune. I probably won't use a dry cleaning bag ever again because of how difficult it was to keep moving on my metal crochet hook. The friction really slowed me down. I do not know if this type of bag would work better with a plastic or wood hook, but I won't be the one to find out, either. My days with dry cleaning bags are done!

A strand of yarn may be added to any plarn project to add strength or color. I used white yarn leftover from various projects to hide some of the black and red colors on the bags and to give the snowman added durability.

I use the handles and bag bottoms to stuff my plarn creations. I also use whole bags when necessary. I find the project looks better if I use the same color of bags for stuffing as the project. If you don't have enough bags of the color of plarn you are using, stuff bags of different colors into two or three layers of bags the right color before stuffing them into your project.

If you would like to keep your snowman outside for the winter, consider using a rock as partial stuffing in the lower body section. This will weight your snowman and require fewer bags for stuffing in that large section.

To make this into a Halloween project, don't decrease on the second section; just keep working straight for desired length, and you have a plarn ghost!

To make this snowman into a plastic bag keeper instead of a decoration, finish off the lower body section at row 55, about 37 stitches around, leaving this hole from which to add or remove bags you stuff inside. The snowman will still stand without assistance if his lower body is full, even if you don't finish the final rows as directed below.

And finally, this humorous tip is courtesy of my beloved husband. He suggested using plarn from a yellow bag or two on the very bottom of the snowman. (A suggestion I did not use, and I'll leave the punch line for you to figure out. He had me laughing so hard, I nearly had tears streaming down my cheeks!)

You may do whatever you like with snowmen, ghosts or bag keepers you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or any portion thereof. Thanks. Enjoy!

Instructions

Finished Size: 16 inches tall
Materials: Size J crochet hook, about 20-25 white plastic grocery bags made into plarn, one skein of white knitting worsted, all the white plastic grocery bags in the neighborhood and possibly everything you can have all your co-workers bring in, too, for stuffing; size 11 crochet hook, size 10 orange crochet thread, very small amount of stuffing; commercial eyes (I used .5 inch) or small bottle caps; size 13 knitting needles, worsted weight yarn in desired colors for hat and scarf.

Using a strand of plarn and a strand of yarn together, ch 3, join into first ch to form loop, ch 1.
Round 1: 6 sc into ring. Do not join. Continue next round by crocheting into first sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around; 12 sc.
Round 3: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc around; 18 sc.
Round 4: 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc around; 24 sc.
Rounds 5-10: 24 sc around.
Round 11: Dec over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc around; 18 sc.
Round 12: 1 sc in next sc, dec over next 2 sc around; 12 sc.
Stuff head with plastic bag handles and plastic bag bottoms left over after making plarn and uncut plastic bags if necessary to achieve fullness.
Round 13: 2 sc in each sc around; 24 sc.
Round 14: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc around; 36 sc.
Round 15: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc around; 45 sc.
Rounds 16-26: 45 sc around.
Rounds 27-30: Dec over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc around; 29 sc after row 30.
Round 31: Dec over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc around; 20 sc.
Stuff abdomen with uncut white plastic shopping bags until full.
Round 32: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc around; 30 sc.
Round 33: 1 sc in each of next 2sc, 2 sc in next sc around; 40 sc.
Round 34: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc around; 50 sc.
Round 35: Inc 10 sc evenly spaced throughout round (after every four stitches), taking care not to increase directly over increase in row below; 60 sc.
Round 36: Inc 10 sc evenly spaced throughout round (after every five stitches), taking care not to increase directly over increase in row below; 70 sc.
Rounds 37-49: 70 sc around.
Rounds 50-56: Dec over next two sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc around; 31 sc.
Stuff lower body.
Rounds 57-60: Dec over next two sc around until opening is closed. Bind off. Weave in ends. Glue commercial eyes onto head or use matching small size bottle caps for eyes. Glue on carrot nose (pattern below).

Carrot Nose:
Row 1: With size 11 crochet hook and size 10 orange thread, make magic circle, 6 sc into ring; do not join. Pull magic circle tight.
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around; 12 sc.
Rows 3-4: 1 sc in each sc around.
Rows 5-10: Dec 2 sc evenly spaced on each row, stuffing lightly as the hole gets smaller; 2 sc. Bind off; weave in end.

Hat:
Note: Right side (top of hat) faces you.
Row 1: With worsted weight yarn and size F crochet hook, make magic circle; 6 sc into ring; do not join. Pull magic circle tight.
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around; 12 sc.

Row 3: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc around; 18 sc.
Row 4: *1 sc in next sc, pull up loop through starting magic ring and sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc; repeat from * around; 24 sc.
Row 5: 2 sc in next sc (inc should be in long sc), 1 sc in each of next 3 sc around; 30 sc.
Row 6: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc around; 36 sc.
Row 7: *1 sc in next sc, pull up loop through middle of long sc below and sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc; repeat from * around; 42 sc.
Row 8: 2 sc in next sc (inc should be in long sc), 1 sc in each of next 6 sc around; 48 sc.
Row 9: 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 7 sc around; 54 sc.
Row 10: *1 sc in next sc, pull up loop through middle of long sc below and sc, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc; repeat from * around; 60 sc.
Row 11: Work 60 sc around.
Row 12: Dec across next 3 sc, 1 sc in each of next 7 sc around; 48 sc.
Row 13: *Pull up loop through middle of long sc below and sc, dec across next 3 sc, sc in each of next 4 sc; repeat from * around; 36 sc.
Row 14: Row 12: Dec across next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc around; 30 sc.
Row 15: Sl st in next sc; ch 1; working in only front loops (this row only), inc 6 sc evenly spaced around; 36 sc; sl st in first sc.
Row 16: Ch 1, working in both loops, 36 sc around, sl st in first sc.
Row 17: Ch 1, 36 sc around, sl st in first sc.
Row 18: Ch 1; working in front loops only (this row only), 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc and 1 dc in next sc, 2 dc in each of next 3 sc, 1 dc and 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sl st in next sc, ch 1 and turn.
Row 19: Working in both loops, wrong side (underside of brim) facing you, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 dc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, sl st into back loop of next sc in row below; bind off. Weave in ends. Hat may be glued on snowman's head if desired, but that might take away your husband's enjoyment of trying the hat on while you're trying to count stitches or when you're involved in some other tedious task that requires full concentration. Make sure you snap a picture of your DH wearing the tiny hat!

Scarf:
With worsted weight yarn and size 13 knitting needles, cast on 12.
Row 1: K 1, P1 across.
Row 2: K1, P1 across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 24 inches. Add fringe, and wrap around snowman's neck. And he's ready to greet the season!

30 November 2009

Snowflake Monday

Don't you just love four-day weekends? I finally had time to sit down long enough to write another pattern. Liked this one so much, I made three flakes of various sizes from the same pattern in one sitting!

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

Finished Size: 4 to 5.5 inches from point to point, depending upon size of hook
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stainless steel pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Four-day Weekend Snowflake Instructions

Ch 4; join to form ring OR make magic ring. (I used the magic ring.)

Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), *dc into ring, ch 1; repeat from * around 10 times for total of 12 dc; join in 3rd ch of ch 4, pull magic ring tight or nearly tight, depending upon personal preference.

Round 2: Sl st into next ch 1 space, ch 5(counts as 1 dc and ch 2), dc in same ch space (V-stitch made), ch 2, sc in next ch 1 space, ch 2, *dc into next ch 1 space, ch 2, dc in same ch 1 space (V-stitch made), ch 2, sc into next ch 1 space, ch 2; repeat from * around for a total of 6 V-stitches; join in 3rd ch of ch 5.

Round 3: Sl st into next ch 2 space (top of next V-stitch), ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), dc into same ch space (V-stitch made), ch 3, sc into next sc, ch 3, *V-stitch into top of next V-stitch, ch 3, sc into next sc, ch 3; repeat from * around for a total of six V-stitches; join in 3rd ch of ch 5.
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: Sl st into next ch 2 space (top of next V-stitch), ch 3 (counts as dc), dc into same ch 2 space, ch 2, 2 dc into same ch 2 space (double V-stitch made), ch 5, sc into next sc, ch 5, * 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc into top of next V-stitch (double V-stitch made); ch 5, sc into next sc, ch 5; repeat from * around for a total of six double V-stitches; join in 3rd ch of ch 3.

Round 5: Sl st into next dc and into top of same double V-stitch, ch 3, dc into same double V-stitch, ch 3, [tr into same double V-stitch, ch 3] 2 times, 2 dc into same double V-stitch, ch 3, skip dc and sc into next dc, ch 5, sc into 3rd ch of ch 5, ch 3, sc into 3rd ch of next ch 5, ch 5, sc into next dc, ch 3, *2 dc into top of next double V-stitch, ch 3,[ tr into same double V-stitch, ch 3] 2 times, 2 dc into same double V-stitch, ch 3, skip dc and sc into next dc, ch 5, sc into 3rd ch of ch 5, ch 3, sc into 3rd ch of next ch 5, ch 5, sc into next dc, ch 3; repeat from * around for a total of 6 points; sl st into 3rd ch of ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

While making snowflakes for my special project, I often tweaked patterns to see if I could come up with something I like better. This snowflake was no exception. I also LOVE hiding Easter eggs on my website. This is one!

Alternative Ending

Round 5: Sl st into next dc and into top of same double V-stitch, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), 1 tr into same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 1, 1 tr in same sp, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 dc into same double V-stitch, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, skip dc, sc into next dc, ch 5, sc into 3rd ch of ch 5, ch 2, 1 sc into next dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, * 2 dc into top of next double V-stitch, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), 1 tr into same sp, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (picot made), ch 1, 1 tr in same sp, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 dc into same double V-stitch, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, skip dc, sc into next dc, ch 5, sc into 3rd ch of ch 5, ch 2, 1 sc into next dc, ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook; repeat from * around 4 times; sl st into 3rd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

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

HINT: Pull all the outer chain spaces as tight as possible while pinning the first version of this snowflake to achieve the spider web-like effect.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. 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 foil. 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.