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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New to Me

(affiliate links to my designs)

I've been trying to add a little bit of variety to my Etsy shop, plus, experiment with new PoD (print on demand) products. I've been doing PoD for a few months now and have netted only a very few sales. But that's okay. Designing is the fun part.

I wish I could sew some of the PoD items I've designed. From my own Spoonflower fabric. I actually made a few backpacks as gifts for the kids I babysat back in the '80s. My corduroy backpacks with hand-embroidered embellishments (and recipient names) were a real hit. But I spend too much time cleaning up accidents and messes these days. I'll have to settle for PoD designs for now.

I've always hoped I could get into weaving one day (and knitting with my knitting machine that hasn't come out of the box since I bought it in about 1997). Lizard bought a loom for me for Christmas back in my Noro fettish yarn days, and I could NOT wait to use my most beautiful yarn on the loom. But the loom, too, has never come out of the box. When Lizard first gave it to me, I couldn't wait to use up my prettiest Noro yarn on my first weaving project. Well, at least I did get a Noro skirt knitted back then, mostly aboard public transportation. The Lanesplitter skirt sold at my very next craft fair. I think that was about 2012.

I did add one handmade item to my Etsy shop, but it isn't something new. I had one of my favorite Wave photos printed on Spoonflower polar fleece back the year or so after our incredible Wave adventure. The resulting fleece was gorgeous, but it seemed so plain. So I crocheted an edging. Then promptly forgot about it. Probably because we were so busy training for a Ride the Rockies or some 14er ascent... I'm trying to prepare to downsize at home, just in case we need to, and I came across this totally forgotten gem. Man, I could have been using it all these years!!!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Those Darned Deer

I was mixing and pouring concrete in the backyard last week when I noticed a gorgeous tulip. My tulips came with the house. I lose them to the deer almost every year. I did not plant tulips in my garden. Tulips are candy to deer. For the last couple of years, I've been clipping them and bringing them inside to enjoy in vases.

I fully intended to clip the tulip when I finished with the concrete. Cleaning up after finishing my concrete work sidetracked me. I forgot until after dark. I went out the next morning to check the concrete and clip the tulip, and the deer had already taken care of the clipping for me.

I've taken note of all the other tulip blooms beginning to emerge. I'll not wait for them to open before cutting them. I'm hoping to have many beautiful blossoms in my kitchen in the coming days!

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