"Artificial" is Dead-on

I've known for quite a while Pinterest is loaded with AI not always accurately labeled as such. Same thing with other social media. It bothers me that so many people think it's okay to try to pass off artificial intelligence as real. It alarms me sometimes how many people don't recognize AI, but I kept hoping the tide would change.

I recently read an article that heightened my sense of alarm. I wanted to tell the whole world. I wanted to warn the whole world.

I enjoy using AI to create images, and I ALWAYS label them as such. Enjoyable use, however, is part of the problem. People enjoy using AI to create. Some people just don't have the scruples to be honest about what they are creating and/or sharing. Some people are downright scumbags for what they are trying to achieve via AI.

Perhaps Pinterest is finally taking action, thanks I'm sure in part to journalists who were willing to risk calling out inappropriate use of AI. I'm afraid to get my hopes up too high, but Pinterest has enacted a new AI policy.

I feel helpless about so many things these days. I can't change the world. But I can do what I can to help raise awareness, which is why I'm sharing this information. Trying to make a difference is better than sitting on the couch.

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Snowflake Monday

The name for today's snowflake comes from one of the girls I used to teach many, many years ago. She's now serving a full-time mission in Finland. She shared with me the word Ilotulitus, which translates into the word "fireworks", but literally means Joy Fire! Is that a perfect snowflake name or what?!? Inspiration for today's snowflake is from an old Photoshop filter that doesn't work anymore on modern computers. How I used to love creating snowflakes from my photos, such as this kaleidoscoped firework photo.

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: 5.25 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

Joy Fire Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 1, 1 sc in ring, ch 1, 3 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 1, 1 sc in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 6, 1 sc in middle dc of next petal, [ch 5, 1 sc in middle dc of next petal] 5 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 6.

Round 3: [Ch 7, sl st in next sc] 6 times, working last sl st of final repeat into same ch as sl st at end of Round 2.
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 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 6, 1 sc over next Round 2 sc, ch 9, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 6 ch, ch 10, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 6 ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch (* remember or mark 4th sl st to sl st into it again after next 2 branches), ch 8, 1 hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sl st in next 4 ch, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch, sl st in same ch as final ch of previous * 4 sl st branch, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 6 ch, working back down spoke, sl st in each of next 2 ch, ch 8, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 6 ch, sl st in next ch, 1 sc in same Round 2 sc] 6 times; 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 Fantastic

...except they spelled Pluto wrong...

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just in time

My little neighbor isn't so little anymore. In fact, she's got her learner's permit. I still can't believe she is sweet sixteen! I worked up the perfect birthday present for her.

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Wordless Wednesday

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A Different Kind of Yum

I've been trying to make all our bread homemade for the past month or so, and for the last couple of weeks, I've wanted to try pizza or calzones.

Calzones won on Saturday. I didn't have enough homemade spaghetti sauce left, and I didn't want to buy grocery store tomatoes. (I've got my first two tomatoes in my garden, but they are way too tiny, so I've been buying a few tomatoes every couple of weeks at the Farmer's Market. Oh, are they yum!)

I did have about a cup and a half left of homemade green chili chicken (with my own peppers (from last year), onions and cilantro) we've been making into burritos, so I decided to try southwest calzones. Added in some grocery store corn and black beans. Drizzled with grocery store green enchilada sauce.

Oh, my gosh! We are in heaven!!! I can't wait to try this again!!!

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Snowflake Monday

Today's snowflake is inspired by my hand-dyed blue crochet thread in about 50 different shades...

... AND my crocheted jewelry and my Medallion II Snowflake from 13 years ago. Today's snowflake is inspiring even more crocheted jewelry!!!

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: 7.75 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in at least 2 colors (I used 7), 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

TIP: This snowflake has a lot of ends to weave in. If the snowflake will be stiffened (and why wouldn't you?!?), ends may be pulled under just a couple of stitches, then clipped when snowflake is dry. Stiffened snowflake thread ends will not unravel.

Medallion I (make 6)

Make magic ring. Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Pull magic ring tight. Weave in ends.

Medallion II (make 6)

Make magic ring. Ch 1 (does not count as hdc), 7 hdc in ring; sl st in starting hdc; bind off. Pull magic ring tight. Weave in ends.

Medallion III (make 6)

Make magic ring. 6 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Pull magic ring tight. Weave in ends.

Medallion VII Snowflake Instructions

Round 1: Working with all 6 Medallion I motifs, 3 sc in each sequentially for a total of 18 sc; sl st in starting sc to form inner hexagon of snowflake; bind off. Weave in ends.

Round 2: Lay snowflake center flat. Each Medallion I motif will have 9 outward-facing dc. You will be crocheting into each of these. Beginning in any motif (with 4 dc on either side), 2 dc in top middle dc, [1 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, draw up loop in each of next 4 dc (2 in current motif and 2 in next motif), 1 sc in next dc, 1 hdc in next dc, in next dc work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc)] 6 times, omitting last 2 ch and last 2 dc of final repeat; 1 dc in starting dc to create3 6th ch 2 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 3: Using remaining medallions as directed, ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [4 sc in Medallion II, ch 3, 3 sc in Medallion III, ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 1 dc in next ch, working back down spoke, 1 sc in each of next Medallion III sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 ch, 1 sc in each of next 4 Medallion II hdc, 1 dc in same ch 2 tip, ch 3, 1 fpdc around next sc dec at joint between Medallion I motifs, ch 3, 1 dc in next ch 2 tip] 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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