Friday Funny

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Snowflake Monday

My sweet Lizard graduated on Friday from LSVT LOUD speech therapy class, all done via Zoom. That kind of makes him part of the class of 2020!

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

Vociferous Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in ring, [ch 5, 2 dc in ring] 5 times; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round. Pull magic circle tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of tr directly below, [ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 5 tip, ch 3, 2 dc in same ch 5 tip] 5 times; ch 3, 2 dc in next ch 5 tip, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip and 12 ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc over post of dc directly below, [ch 2, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 2, 2 dc in next ch 3 tip, ch 7, 2 dc in same ch 3 tip] 6 times, omitting last 2 dc and last ch 7 of final repeat; ch 3, 1 dtr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 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), over post of trtr directly below, work (1 dc, 2 tr, 2 dtr, 2 trtr), [in next ch 7 tip work (1 trtr, 2 dtr, 2 tr, 2 dc, ch 3*, 2 dc, 2 tr, 2 dtr, 2 trtr)] 6 times, ending * on final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.


Optional Round 5: Instead of ch 3 for final tip on Round 4, work ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 tip of Round; ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), in next gap between 4 trtrs, work (1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc), ch 5, in next ch 3 tip work (1 dc, ch 9, 1 dc] 6 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 7; bind off. Weave in ends.
NOTE: This Round also sets you up to make a covered rock, should you desire.

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 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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A Sunday Morning Quilt

Literally! And it made me feel on top of the world because I was finally able to finish something!

Now, this is not a pattern from the "Sunday Morning Quilts" book, but I made the quilt in one morning. A Sunday morning. Really! The project was liberating in many ways.


For the last three months, I've not been able to do much sewing or quilting, other than masks. Instead, I have been working furiously on a necessary landscaping project when I'm not working full time (from home) or taking care of my husband (also sometimes a full-time job). My neighbors have literally been dropping everything when they see me working in my backyard to come help with all the heavy stuff. They know I'm not supposed to lift, and they know Lizard can no longer lift.

As we worked together (but distant) on Saturday, July 4, they told me it was their grandson's birthday. They later brought over a batch of the banana pudding he requested because they know it's Lizard's favorite, and they said the party would have an underwater theme. I'd been trying to come up with something special I could do for them to thank them for their priceless service. I have a bunch of ocean-themed leftovers from one of the quilts I made for one of my own grands.


That night, I went through my stash and couldn't believe I have 24 different ocean fabrics! My easy standby quilt pattern came into my mind, and the next morning, I cut all the blocks and sashing. After home church, I pieced the two different quilt tops, making this quilt reversible. I made the difficult and heart-rending decision to take Lizard's quilt off the longarm and put it away for now so I could use the longarm.

I asked Lizard if he would feel like I was giving up on him if I put his quilt away.

"I can't work on it right now," he replied. "You should be able to use the longarm, so go ahead."

About half an hour later, the simple wave-like quilting was done, and the binding took maybe another half an hour. I initially had planned to use the same fabric for the sashing and the binding, but I didn't have enough of any solid blue for both, so two colors will suffice.


Everything came from stash. I didn't have to buy a single thing. Eventually I will have to get more batting; I think I have enough for only two more quilts now.

I delivered the quilt to my neighbors on the afternoon of July 5, and I told them I will make quilts for the two other grandsons if they will let me know what theme and give me a couple of weeks of advance notice. Turns out one birthday is in three weeks, and the other is next month. Both grandkids are addicted to dinosaurs. (That's a direct quote from the grandparents!) I have plenty of dinosaur fabric in my stash. also left over from quilts I made for my own grandkids, as well as clothing I made for my adopted kids more than two decades ago.


I also have to make a quilt for my newest grandson, who will be making his debut in about 11 more days. I'm planning to incorporate one of the curtains I made for my adopted daughter's bedroom back in the '90s. More stash will be put to use to bring this project to life.

Let the stash busting begin!






Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Flower Girl

I was able to sneak in another short little hike last weekend, and the wildflowers are really impressive! I'm hoping after Lizard's medical appointment today, we might be able to hike and bike together again. I would love to be able to share these moments with him by my side!

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Snowflake Monday

I had a few requests for the pattern for the rocks I made using last week's Reimagined Snowflake pattern. So I made a few more covered rocks and wrote the pattern.

Of course, I had to create a new snowflake from the mandala-shape covering these rocks. I've enjoyed hiding Easter eggs in previous patterns when I update them. You don't have to wait until next spring for this gem.

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: snowflake - 6.5 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 7 crochet hook, smooth round rock

Reimagined Snowflake Rock Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; sl st in starting sc. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sc, [ch 3, 2 dc in next sc] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 3: 1 sc over post of dc directly below, [ch 4, 1 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 12, 1 sc in same sp] 5 times; ch 4, 1 sc in same sp as starting sc, ch 4, 1 quadtr (yo 5 times) in starting sc to form 6th ch 12 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: 3 sc over post of quadtr directly below, [ch 5, 1 tr in next ch 4 sp, ch 5, 3 sc in next ch 12 tip] 6 times, omitting last ch 5 and last 3 sc of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form 12th ch 5 tip of Round.

Round 5 for Covered Rock with Diamond Mesh: 1 sc over post of tr directly below, [ch 5, 1 sc in middle (2nd) sc of next 3 sc group, [[ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp]] 2 times] 6 times, omitting last ch 5 and last sc of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in starting sc to form final ch 5 sp of Round.


Round 5 for Covered Rock with Honeycomb Mesh: Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc and [ch 5), 1 dc in middle (2nd) sc of next 3 sc group, [[ch 5, 1 dc in next ch 5 sp]] 2 times] 6 times, omitting last ch 5 and last dc of final repeat; ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 7 to form final ch 5 sp of Round.


Round 5 for Snowflake: [1 sc over post of tr directly below (or in next ch 5 sp in repeats), ch 5, 1 sc in middle (2nd) sc of next 3 sc group, ch 5, 1 sc in next ch 5 sp, ch 10, 1 sc in 5th ch from hook, ch 7, sl st in sc, ch 5, sl st in sc (tri picot made), ch 5] 6 times, sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.


Rounds 6-12 or 13 (or necessary number of rows required to be able to fit comfortably around rock): Continue working mesh stitch of 1 sc, ch 5 or 1 dc, ch 5, depending upon personal preference, five or six times or amount of Rounds required to enclose rock. On final Round, 1 dc in each ch 5 sp to close opening, then bind off leaving a long tail, and weave tail in and out of each dc; pull tight without breaking, bind off again and weave in ends.

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Words Behind the Words

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Friday Fun

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WIPping Post

I debated sitting out this quarter of the Ravelry WIP challenge. Not only have I not had time to work on any of the projects on my list, I also haven't even touched base with the rest of the group the entire last quarter.

It's the tenth anniversary of the challenge, and the accountable part of me can't walk away from an anniversary challenge.

Between making masks, ongoing necessary landscaping, working full time and being a full-time caregiver, I'm trying to learn how to prioritize to-do lists and how to make time for me every once in a while. It's a very difficult lesson!

Even though I didn't finish a quilt from my list during the spring quarter, I did get quite a bit of work done on my green batik leftovers quilt-as-you-go project, which I'd hoped to finish so I didn't have to add it to my list.


I also started a new charm quilt in April because I wasn't in the mood to touch any of the existing WIPs. (Lizard's quilt is still on the longarm, and untouched, but perhaps after his next medical appointment next week, he might be up to quilting again one day...) Painterly Petals HSTs is another quilt I hoped to finish so I wouldn't have to add it to my list, but I decided it wasn't big enough. Snail mail these days really does move at a snail's pace. I just received the additional charm packs last week but have not assembled the HSTs yet.


I have enjoyed quilting with non-fabric mediums the last couple of months. I've recycled about 15 jars now into decorative vases, which I fill with flowers from my garden and leave on the porches of my neighbors.






The pièce de résistance is the emerging flagstone path I'm building in my backyard. The story behind it is a soap opera, or at least a water opera, and I will share the details at some point. For now, I'm so tickled pink to be building flying geese out of red rock!


This quarter's quilt WIP list is longer than last quarter. I don't know if my time constraints will change, and I don't know if I will be able to squeeze in challenge cheerleading. They say you shouldn't make major life changes when you've gone through something traumatic, so I decided to go ahead and join this quarter's challenge and just see what happens. Having a long list doesn't necessarily mean I'm never going to finish one of these babies. It just means it will take me a little longer than I hoped.

Here's my quilt WIP list for the summer quarter:


1. Hawaiian Punch


2. Lizard Toes


3. Hexie Booboo


4. Tickled Pink, the Sequel


5. Teal Shadows


6. Goodbye Hollyhock Road


7. Snowflake Strip Bar


8. Green Floral Batik Postage Stamps


9. Lavender Sunrise


10. Giant Dahlia


11. Showcase


12. Snowbike II


13. Autumn Splendor


14. Time for Me to Fly


15. Venetian Squiggles


16. Moda Blockheads


17. Tiny Triangle Leftovers


18. Matthew's Quilt


19. My Little Angel Owls


20. Charming Painterly Petals


21. Green Batik Leftovers Quilt-As-You-Go


22. New Grandbaby Due July 19 Quilt
Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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