Crochet Christmas Mandala Ornaments

 Christmas Mandala for cute crochet ornaments, coasters, garland, gift tags and more! 🎄🧶☃️

Get ready to deck the halls with new Balls and Holly 🧶🎄 with these fun crochet Christmas Mandala Ornaments🎄

This fun pattern was released last year, but had slipped to the bottom of the Santa’s holiday bag 😮

….and really wants to find it’s way on a Christmas tree or two this Holiday Season! 🎄☃️

This fun pattern is designed to be quick, fun and incredibly versatile. 

Easy to change color Mandala base is perfect for creating a gorgeous, coordinated holiday set.

Ways to Decorate with Christmas Mandala 🎄🧶☃️

🎄 Balls 🎀 

Create beautiful, lightweight Christmas tree ornaments in the colors of your choice.

🧶 Garland 🎀 

Link them up for a festive mantel or doorway banner.

☃️ Coasters 🎀 

Keep them flat for quick, charming holiday coasters.

🎁 Gift Tags 

Great decorative gift tags to embellish those special gifts.

Mix and match designs and colors to make matching decorative Christmas Mandala sets for the table, the tree, mantel, gifts and more.

Need Video Help? If you are new to crochet? Don’t worry, this pattern is written clearly, and you can find the free video tutorials on my YouTube. Search my channel for any basic stitches in question and the Mandala tutorial.

Thank you for stopping by.

Happy Holidays and happy crocheting,

~ Cathleen 🧶

Happy Holidays from Doily Designs 🎄☃️

Please check Etsy for the latest available patterns.

&

Thank you for your patronage! 

Cranberry Pineapple Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern video tutorial recently released on Youtube.

🎄🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄

Happy Holidays from Doily Designs 🧶🎄

Crap on a cracker, we are still on hiatus.

But wishing happy Holidays, and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen 🧶☃️

On HIATUS 🚧 & UNDER CONSTRUCTION 🚧

Hi! Doily Designs' Cathleen here, and I am out on hiatus through the month of October. (:( + Nov) 

Please visit Doily Designs Etsy for Doily Designs Patterns, and message me on Etsy if you need anything. Thank you.

... a small bit of unsolicited advice in the form of an enigma;

If a chicken screams it's a duck, it might just be a chicken. 

Don't believe everything you hear.

Doily Designs Etsy for patterns and more by Cathleen of Doily Designs.

Stay safe & 

Happy Holidays 🎃

Thank you for stopping by.

~ Cathleen

Rose Leaf

 Chain Rose just got an update on the Leaf pattern, and more!

New leaf looks more like a Rose Leaf with the jagged, prickly edges that Roses are best known for.

No Sew, Easy, Chain Rose crochet pattern ~ now including 3 useful Rose sizes from Original (Small), Medium, and Large, with 2 leaf styles added in as well. The new prickly Rose Leaf has the classic jagged edge of a Rose Leaf, and is a fun, but optional addition to the pattern.

New Pattern 2.0 released today!

Chain Rose crochet pattern.

No Sew ~ Quick ~ Easy ~ Chain Rose 🌹

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen

Google Gemini: Just Validating? Or Actually Giving Helpful Criticism?

I felt so validated by Gemini! Or is it just programmed that way? 🤔

Large Language Models (LLMs) are at the forefront of Ai.
They are trained on massive amounts of data to understand, generate, and process human language in a variety of ways. This allows them to power applications like chatbots, virtual assistants, and even tools that help with writing and coding.

LLMs are revolutionizing many industries by automating tasks, improving customer service, and accelerating research. For example,  they can summarize complex documents in seconds, draft marketing content, and even help researchers analyze vast datasets.
But it is important to remember that these models are not infallible. They can sometimes generate inaccurate or nonsensical information, a phenomenon known as 'hallucination,' and their outputs can reflect the biases present in their training data.
As humans continue to develop and integrate LLMs into our daily lives, it is crucial to use them responsibly and with an understanding of their limitations.
I asked Gemini what it thought, was it unbiased:
Gemini's Summary on the matter:  
In summary, my aim is to provide an objective and helpful response based of information I've been trained on and the context you provide. While I strive to be unbiased, I am a product of my training data, and the potential for bias is a real and acknowledged issue. Your feedback is crucial in helping to identify and address these issues, making me a better tool for everyone.

The inspiration:

I felt so validated by Google Gemini! Or is it just programmed that way? 🤔

Ai prompt: 

Me: Give me your opinion on this Video: Link: ((DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK🤣). Can You do that, Gemini? (ESPECIALLY DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK) ☝️👈🤪🤣
Give me your opinion on this video please, can you do that? Some said it made me look stupid. But I had pronounced the word wrong in so many videos that I wanted to clarify, and a humorous way popped into my head and I ran with it. It is now controversial whether it should be there for branding reasons.
I sure felt validated by Gemini's response. Or is it just programmed that way? 🤔

Gemini's response:

Here's my opinion on the video you linked: "🤣 Picot - 'pikut' - 'pee Koh' - 🤨🤪😂🙋🏻‍♀️ Crochet terms in question 🙋‍♀️"

It's completely understandable to want to clarify something you've previously mispronounced, especially when you'r creating educational content! Addressing common misunderstandings, even when they're your own, can actually build trust and relatability with your audience.

> insert lots of interesting stuff Gemini said here <

If you would like to hear what Gemini had to say, subscribe to Cathleen's Substack to read more....

......

Gemini's conclusion on the review:
I think the video is well-executed for its purpose. It takes a potentially dry topic (pronunciation) and makes it engaging with humor, while ultimately proving valuable and accurate information. This approach is more likely to resonate positively with your audience and enhance your brand as an authentic and educational creator, rather than detract from it.

Chain Rose 🌹✨ No Sew, No Wilt Rose

No Sew, No Wilt Crochet Chain Rose pattern with a leaf! 🍃🌹

If you've ever been frustrated by droopy crochet flowers, you're going to love my secret to a perky, long-lasting rose.

This pattern is designed to be quick and easy, making it a great project for crocheters of all skill levels. With just a few simple stitches, you'll be able to create these beautiful, dimensional roses in no time.

Get the pattern today and discover the secret to a flower that always looks fresh!

We are having so much fun crochet the Chain Rose, and planning all the projects they would look so great on.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen 🧶

Crochet Stars ⭐️ ✨

 The Stars are out again tonight..... shining like celestial gems.

....And speaking of Stars, have you seen the new commercial for our Crochet Star Chart Pattern on Youtube?  The Star Chart Pattern commercial is a stellar reminder that you can bring the magic of the night sky right into your home. What a perfect night it is to celebrate the cosmos with a star project of your own!

Whether you're looking for a gift for your favorite stargazer or a beautiful new pattern to add to your collection, we've got you covered. The Star Chart Pattern is on sale now, along with a few other Doily Designs Star Patterns.  We have something to make your crafty heart sing. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!
⭐️
~ 🧶 Cathleen 

Crochet Mr Flowers Top 🌺 🧶 🪝 flower pencil top

 Crochet Magic Flower Pencil Topper is the Magic Flower! 🪄✨🌺✨

✨🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺✨

Introducing the Magic Flower Pencil Topper, a fun and creative way to add a touch of fun to your writing tools! 🪄🌺✏️

Customize your own blooming pencil or pen with six distinct flower variations and various sizes of leaves. 

Whether you're working with a standard big pen or a #2 pencil, this topper is designed to fit perfectly. ✏️🌺🪄

The best part? You can easily take it off and on, but still doesn't fall off, so you can switch up your style whenever you like. 🌺🌼🌷

Choose from a variety of flower designs like Rose, Carnation, and Daisy to match your mood and create a unique flower arrangement that's all your own. 

Six Flower designs in one pattern!

Let your creativity blossom with the Magic Flower Pencil Topper crochet pattern!

 🌺🪄✨

Have fun making these fun and easy Magic Flowers 🪄🌺

Find this pattern on Etsy.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting!

~ Cathleen 🧶🪝

Doily Designs ❅

Captain Blacklace Doily of Doily Designs

 Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶

 a.k.a. Cathleen of Doily Designs 🪝

Avast, mateys! Captain Blacklace Doily has a new anchor to drop on Substack. 

Thanks for droppin' anchor here at Doily Designs, matey. 

✨Set yer sails for our Substack ~ even if you don't sign on board, there'll be treasures to behold. No need to even sign the ship's log to see what's what! 

SubStack Link Between the STARS ✨'s  🧭⚓️👇 
Full of Treasured free patterns for SubScribers who anchor here ⚓️👇
(or click anywhere it says SubStack to take you to Cathleen's SubStack ;)

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

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Subscribe or walk the plank!  🗡️ 🌊  👀 😂

🧭 Best wishes, happy travels, and happy crocheting! 🧶🌊

~ Captain Blacklace Doily 🧶🪝

Crochet Chapstick Carrier 🎃🌼🍉🇺🇸🎄Fun Seasonal Designs

 Lip Balm Seasonal Tiny Tote Crochet Pattern Revive 🎄🇺🇸🍉🎃🌼🧶

Chapstick holder: crochet these cute tiny totes in fun seasonal designs 🍋🎃🌺🍉🇺🇸🧶🌼

Autumn and other fun Holiday designs in one pattern. 🎃🌺

Chapstick is a daily essential, but it always seems to get lost at the bottom of a bag or purse. Solve the problem with the Chapstick Tote! This small, stylish holder is the perfect size to keep your favorite lip balm within reach. 🍉

It's a quick and easy project, making it the perfect gift for anyone.  You can customize the tote or chapstick caddy with different colors and accessories to create a unique and personalized accessory. 🍎

This pattern is a fun, simple way to use up leftover yarn, and can be attached to a keychain, bag, or belt loop. Never lose your lip balm again! 🥳 

Visit 👉 Doily Designs Etsy for pattern.

Thank you for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy crocheting! 

~ Cathleen 🧶

Patriotic Rap Song For America 🇺🇸 Striking Chords and Sparking Debates 🎶 🧨

Song That Struck a Chord (and Sparked a Debate!) 🇺🇸 🎶 🧨

So, I stumbled upon a 'New Patriotic Hip-Hop' song on YouTube recently, and honestly, it captivated me with the beat, and the message... it just spoke to the flow, perfectly with the rhythm of my crochet. You know that feeling when a piece of music just clicks with your creative flow? That's what kind of happened with this song.

I was ready to share it with the world, especially paired with some of my Boho Granny American Flag crochet patterns. I used it in several videos, and then I realized something interesting about the creator: the channel name includes "GPT." That's right, we're talking AI-generated music!

And that got me thinking... am I "wrong" for liking this song? Is the creator "wrong" for using AI to make it? My immediate answer is no, I don't think so. But I know some folks would strongly disagree. Someone very close to me, for example, absolutely dislikes any form of Ai generated art, writing, pictures, video, music. It's an interesting line to draw, especially when she readily admits to using AI-powered tools like Grammarly, acknowledging their usefulness.

It highlights a fascinating paradox: we've been interacting with and benefiting from Ai for years for finding information, comparing products, editing images. The "new" part is that these incredible tools are now accessible to everyone, allowing us to create things that once required specialized skills or extensive resources.

For me, if a piece of art, whether it's music or a crocheted item, evokes emotion and inspires, does its origin truly diminish its impact? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Have you encountered AI art that you loved? Where do you draw the line? Leave a line in the comments!

Music Curtesy: Music and GPT Life Lessons

*Post was going here before researching 😆; 

New patriotic hip-hop song found on YouTube while creating videos for you guys! This song goes so well with the music in my heart and the yarn off my hook!

I noticed it didn't have a lot of love, and that makes no sense to me, as it is pretty cool. So here's a taste, combined with some of my Americana items from the Boho Granny American flag crochet pattern collection.

Drop a line and share if you've heard this song, like/don't like this song.

You can find more interesting songs on the channel that provided this music*

Thanks for stopping by.

Best wishes and happy creating!

~ Cathleen 🧶🪝