Snowflake Monday

I had forgotten I had created a new photo gallery for my AI-enhanced genuine (out-of-focus) snowflake photos until I fixed up another shot from 9 January 2026 over the weekend. I was looking for snowflake inspiration, and my original shot wasn't as clear as I wish it could have been. AI is much better at fixing a fuzzy photo now, and I can even set the snowflake in motion! Yes, I played too much when I should have been crocheting.

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: 6 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

Playtime 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 circle too tight.

Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 3, sk next 2 dc), 1 sc in next dc] 6 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in 1st ch of starting ch 4.

Round 3: Ch 1, yo, draw up loop from around Round 1 ch 2, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times to form starting fpdc, 1 dc in same ch as sl st, [1 dc in each of next 3 ch, in next sc work (1 dc, 1 fpdc around round 1 dc below sc, 1 dc)] 6 times, omitting last fpdc and last dc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting fpdc.
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 1, yo, draw up loop from around Round 3 starting fpdc, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times to form starting fpdc, [ch 6, sk next 5 dc, 1 fpdc around next Round 3 fpdc] 6 times, omitting last fpdc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting fpdc.

Round 5: Ch 1, yo and draw up loop from around Round 4 starting fpdc, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times to form starting fpdc, 1 dc behind fpdc just worked into same Round 4 starting fpdc, [1 dc in each of next 6 ch, in next fpdc work (1 dc, 1 fpdc around same fpdc, 1 fpdc)] 6 times, omitting last fpdc and last dc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting fpdc.

Round 6: Ch 1, yo, draw up loop from around Round 5 starting fpdc, [yo and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times to form starting fpdc, [ch 8, 1 sc in 4th ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, 1 dc in dc behind fpdc just worked into same Round 5 starting fpdc (or current fpdc in repeats), 1 dc in each of next 8 dc, in next fpdc work (1 dc, 1 fpdc)] 6 times, omitting last fpdc of final repeat; sl st in top of starting fpdc.

Round 7: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), [working up spoke, 1 dc in bottom of each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, in ch 3 tip work (5 dc, ch 3, 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 5 dc), working back down spoke, 1 hdc in top of next sc, 1 sc in next sc, 1 dc in each of next 2 sc, 1 hdc in next dc, sk next dc, 1 pc in next dc, ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, ch 1, sk next dc, pc in next fpdc] 6 times, omitting last hdc 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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Friday Funny

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I've Been Fleeced

I pulled out my sunflower flimsy Wednesday morning with every intention of completing a backing for it so I can finally finish the quilt.

The day got away from me. Time seems to do that to me these days. Fortunately, I do still have a couple of finished crochet projects I haven't shared yet.

One of my goals this summer was to finish edging, before autumn begins, the summery fleeces I designed for Spoonflower, including the rainbow patchwork of flowers from my garden.

One down, two to go, and, what? A week of summer left??? Or at least ten more days of summer weather??? At least I'm working on getting something done each day, even if not an official completion every 24 hours.

Linking up with Alycia Quilts.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Healing Art

I was looking in my journal for the day I was out in the garden doing something – I couldn't remember what – when I noticed a hummingbird sipping from my hibiscus just inches from me. I had my phone in my pocket and was able to snap two shots – that's all – before the hummer became annoyed and flew away.

Turned out I didn't write about it that day. Not in my journal, and not in my daily letter to Lizard. I was pretty bummed. However, I did learn this same thing had happened four years ago, nearly to the day, and I got better photos that day. I was able to sneak away and grab the good camera and shoot more. The hummingbird returned a few times throughout the day, and I got a few photos I loved.

The hummers have gone south now. I think the goldfinches have left, too. I enjoy shooting them on my sunflowers. I really wanted to get a photo of one in front of one of my red sunflowers, but I could never get in just the right position for it to work without scaring them away.

I got a few butterfly shots this year, too. Not as many as I would have liked. But, considering the emotions I've experienced this summer, I guess it's good that I'm relearning how to use my camera and that I'm using it. I can hardly wait for snowflake photography.

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Snowflake Monday

I recently completed an epic temple trip... nine temples in six days. (Two were open houses, one is still under construction, and two were closed for routine cleaning.) Lizard and I had planned this trip months before he died. I knew there was no way he would be able to do it, and I think he knew, too. But he wanted me to go. Even though he knew it would make him miserable. We had attended the Casper Temple open house last year, and we both wanted to go back after the temple was dedicated. (He also wanted to return to the Grand Junction Temple and the Farmington New Mexico Temple with me after they were dedicated. I observed his birthday by going to the Grand Junction Temple alone, and that was so, so hard but so, so special. He considered the Grand Junction Temple his temple.) We both had anxiously waited for the Cody Temple open house. We planned to go back to Cody again next year to visit the temple after it is dedicated.

For the first couple of months after Lizard's passing, I didn't think there was any way in the world I could do a big Wyoming/Idaho road trip. I didn't even know if I wanted to. Frankly, I didn't know how to exist without him.

A little more than a month ago, I mapped out the planned route and made hotel reservations. I still didn't know if I wanted to go, but I knew he would want me to go.

Out of nowhere, one of my friends told me she and a friend had planned a temple-bagging trip in California but never got to do it. She said she'd always wanted to do a temple-bagging trip such as the one I'd planned. I told her she was perfectly welcome to join me. I'd booked rooms with two queen beds each night because that's what I'd always done with Lizard even before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It gave him more room to walk around when restless legs kept him up most of the night.

The only way my friend could accompany me was if she was able to work in my car while we were on the road because she could not get time off. I had been contemplating changing my internet provider for something less expensive and reportedly much more reliable than what I've been using for many years, and I decided it is time to make the change.

The mobile system I changed to worked great in the car – except when we were under the shade of a bay to get gas. (Ha ha! The unit has to have a clear shot at the sky.) My friend kept me from cancelling my plans, listened every time I cried, strengthened me when I was weak, and put up with my chaotic and tightly packed schedule.

I took a bag of crochet, which included my avocado pit- and skin-dyed thread (which absolutely fascinated my friend) and my snowflake plans for this week. I was able to crochet in a hotel room only one night the entire week, and my goal was to design this snowflake. I did not finish this flake during the trip. But I finished the trip. And I'm a bit stronger now because of it.

Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

There were so many tender mercies during this trip I hope to be able to share one day, but for now, I'm sharing the snowflake that was inspired by the Cody Temple stained glass motif (paintbrush flower from the top looking down, one of Lizard's favorite wildflowers) and by Lizard's heartfelt desire to return to the Wyoming temples with me.

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

Heartfelt II Snowflake Instructions

Special Stitches Popcorn Stitch (pc): Work 5 dc in designated st, take loop off hook, insert hook through top loop of 1st dc and replace loop on hook, pull loop through top of 1st dc.

Make magic ring.

Round 1: [1 pc into ring, ch 6] 3 times, omitting last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr into starting pc to form 3rd ch 6 sp of Round. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Over post of tr directly below, work (2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc), [ch 3, sl st in next pc, ch 3, in next ch 6 sp work (1 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc, ch 6, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc)] 2 times; ch 3, in next ch 6 sp work (1 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc), ch 1, 1 dtr in starting sc to form 3rd ch 6 loop of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 4 dc over post of dtr directly below, [ch 7, in next ch 6 loop work 5 dc] 2 times; ch 7, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 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 1 (counts as 1 sc), [2 hdc in next dc, in next dc work (3 dc, ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook, 3 dc), 2 hdc in next dc, 1 sc in next dc, in next ch 7 sp work (sl st, 1 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc, sl st), 1 sc in next dc] 3 times, omitting last sc of final repeat; sl st in starting ch.

Round 5: 1 sc back over previous sl st of last round 4 ch 7 sp, [ch 6, working behind next petal, 1 sc into next Round 4 ch 7 sp, ch 10, sl st in sc] 5 times; ch 6, working behind next petal, sl st into starting sc, ch 5, 1 tr in same sc to form 6th ch 9 loop of Round.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), over post of tr directly below work, (2 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc), [ch 3, sl st in next ch 6 (keeping ch 6 behind petal), ch 3, in next ch 9 loop work (1 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, * 3 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc] 6 times, ending * on 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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Friday Fortius

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