List Making

I have been making lists and checking them multiple times a day. My new computer has these wonderful virtual post it notes. Yes, I do have a thing for post it notes, paper, tape and office supplies.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="342"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/90017260/dragonfly-post-it-notes[/caption]

 

I have a large virtual post it note on my desktop with all the jobs of the day in gray. I have three or four with important dates and happenings for the next two weeks in purple (dear daughter #1) and blue (dear sons'). Then questions for DH and a running list of bills in yellow and  etsy business/ blogging in green. It is helping keep my immediate goals in mind. I get to delete finished items and know that I have a list that won't get lost in all the post move chaos. I also know that I don't have to carry all that information around in my mind which is NOT like a steel trap.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="342"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/82697562/daisy-flower-post-it-notes[/caption]

I also use real ones  to mark my page in a book, recipes, addresses in a phone book, articles I want to read, chore lists, notes on food not to be eaten by my kids, food in the freezer, etc...  I have a large supply right now but I also love these post it notes by http://www.etsy.com/shop/UnicornPaper.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Goals, again...

I know I promised more pictures but I left the camera in Tulsa and I have been a little busy. Packing a house for a move is a huge job. Thankfully, I have had lots of willing helpers (the kids) and we have had quite a few laughs, some new family jokes and some down time watching old tv shows. I have somehow made my kids Agatha Christie fans.  I think it is a great thing and we have watched some old Hercule Poirot mysteries. It has been a lot of fun since they have read quite a few of her books and we keep trying to remember who the murderer is.

It has been a busy couple of weeks and I will get back with my goals in a week or two or maybe even in September. The bad part of moving is getting all internet turned back on and figuring out where everything goes.

See you later,

Karen

Stuck in the Middle

I wish I could just pouf myself to the beginning of September, but if I did I would miss many good times and blessings. So I don't wish too hard for that. We just have so much work between now and then. You see, we are in the middle of the packing part of a move. It is so much work and things are so boxed up. It is a bit discouraging to look at all that is left to do. In my heart I know that we are about 75% complete. It is that the last 25% requires more thought as it is the kitchen, and odd shaped items.

So, I am not going to do that. I will instead tell you all the little things that are being finished. I have not packed all the hand crafting items that I take with me when I am waiting at the dentist, lessons or whatever is happening. At this point I have finished

1. a candlewicking pillow cover for the den


2. an embroidered pillow front for my daughter's room or the Etsy shop


3. 25 + felt Christmas ornaments


4. I am working an an afghan and have another in the thought processes


5. 30 + crocheted Christmas stars

That is quite a bit for this really unproductive time spent packing. I need take some photos but the camera is packed or in Tulsa. I am not sure which. I am feeling some pressure which is a natural part of packing and moving. I know that it will all work out for the best and that this new chapter in our lives will be laughable in September. Our house will be down to two children instead of four and I am not sure how I will handle it. I have some home school concerns about curriculum and classes for the Junior in our house. I hope that everything works out well on that front. I am switching back and forth between state requirements, again. I have a driver that needs driving instruction and time behind the wheel. I have a girl to pack up for college. So, I will do what I always do; which is forge ahead to the path chosen and pray all the while. Here are some pictures of candle wicking so that you know what it is.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/97581326/vintage-1983-unicorn-candlewick-lace[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/103997773/country-cat-pillow-candlewicking[/caption]

It is a tone on tone embroidery with pretty hefty thread. It works up really quickly. The pattern I chose was a more contemporary design of roses and leaves worked on a dark linen background. It is beautiful and will work well with our furniture. All the parts were in the kit so nothing is needed except a pillow form.

see you later,

Karen

How to really clean a bathroom: A cleaning check list

I ran across this form when we were packing for this next move. I wrote this in a fit of desperation. We have four kids, we home school, and my husband worked out of our house; so our bathrooms were/are in constant use. Our kids never could remember exactly what I meant when I said clean the bathroom. You have to understand that my kids are extremely forgetful and literal. I wrote up several different lists and got them laminated. Then they could check off the list with a wipe off marker. This one list tells you exactly HOW to clean the bathroom, or rather exactly what I wanted done. I left a blank so you can write the cleaner of the day in.

How to really clean the bathroom

1. Pick up the trash and put it in the trash can


2. Pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the hamper


3. Using ________ and paper towels, mist and wipe clean the mirror.


4. Lift the toilet seat and squirt ____________________ toilet cleaner under the rim of the toilet.


5. Wipe down the sink and counter top; put away the things that need it and throw out the trash, be careful not to get cleaner on anyone's toothbrush.


6. Scrub the toilet with the toilet brush and flush the toilet; there should be no stains in the toilet when you are done. Rinse the toilet brush in the toilet after you have flushed it and put it in the toilet brush holder.


7. Dry the sink out with a used towel off the towel rack and put it in the laundry hamper when you are done.


8. Using ______________________________ wipe down the toilet set top and bottom, inner part and seat part, behind the toilet lid and the toilet lid, the tank top and all of the outside of the toilet.


9. Fold or roll up the bath mat. place the bathmat outside the bathroom and using a broom and dust pan; sweep the whole floor in the bathroom, moving the trash can and toilet brush. Empty the dust pan into the trash can.


10.  Using _______________________________and water; scrub the whole tub, sides, bottom and edges. There should be no dark rings, or splotches in the bottom of the tub. Be sure and scrub the faucet and knobs. Rinse the tub with hot water and if the tub is not shiny do it again.


11. Clean the soap holder with _______________________and rinse it with hot water.


12. Clean the shampoo rack with ____________________and a scrub brush and rinse it under the tub faucet.


13. Mop the bathroom floor with ________________________________________. The mop should not be dripping but damp enough to do a great job.


14. Put all empty shampoo bottles in the trash


15. Put out new soap, shampoo and toilet paper if needed.


16. Take all towels off the towel racks and put them in the hamper.


17. Empty the trash can into the trash bag and put trash can back in the bathroom where it goes. Take the trash bag out to the large trash can outside.


18. Shake out any bathmats outside. Put it in the laundry hamper to be washed or lay it back down in the bathroom on the floor.


19. Put clean towels out on the towel racks folded so that people know they have clean towels.


20. Refill hand soap dispenser or put out fresh soap.

You have just done an awesome job cleaning the bathroom it is now spotless and totally clean. I am thrilled with how clean it is and you did an incredible job.

**********************************************************

Ok, for some of you neaties this will seem like over kill, but in our house it was needed and it works great. I am sure that there are better or different checklists out there. Feel free to use this one as the beginnings of your own personal checklist. Cut and paste this into any  word processing  program and do your own thing. Slip it into a page protector or laminate it.Then assign a different number every day of the week or they can put initials next to each item when they complete it. The point is, make it yours and then use it!

Yes, you can tell that my kids left leave clothes on the bathroom floor even if there is a hamper to put them in. Yes, they even leave empty shampoo bottles in the shower to play with, to trip over. I ended up writing this out because they felt that I had arbitrary rules for how clean the bathroom should be and this solved any disputes we had. I am posting this because one of my kids mentioned that it was an incredible list. So here you go! Have fun and keep your kids helping you around the house. It blesses everyone and when your kids go to their first job their employer will be excited to see a kid that actually knows how to clean!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Do you have a chore check list? How does it work at your house?

 

Monday's Goal Check Revisted!

Yes, I know that it is Tuesday but all of these goals are going to change as it turns out we are moving soon. I will keep working on some and change some others. Here is the edited list that will expand and grow as the move evolves.

Business goals:

• Finish three two afghans (I have two left to finish this goal. Currently I have three afghans started....

 

The zig zag chevron stripe is finished. The one on top is started....and I have a granny striped started in my new yarns, and a sampler granny square afghan started.

• Start three more afghans


• Sew 50+ cup cozies in new styles ( I prepare for the holiday buying season in advance, because I also home school.)


• Sew the 30+ new items I need him to photograph


• Make the new Christmas items.... I started and finished a bunch of these this past week.


• Blog more consistently (I have been writing ahead and found my blog planning pages...)


• Write a business plan

Family goals:

• Take two summery day trips every week (I will be doing this while driving from the old house to the new house.)


• Make some meals for the freezer for THOSE days when I just really need them. I still really need these and will focus on these for this week.


• Help K get her things ready for College.... (two simpler things completed this week)


• Take T for driving practice


• Exercise (walked and/or exercised three times last week.  YAY!) Totally missed out on this one. I did, however, climb up and down a ladder painting the laundry room and inside of the kitchen cabinets, so maybe I am still ahead on this.)


• Pack the house room by room and get it ready to move two states away.


• keep Chocolate Dog Studio open as much as I possibly can since I am paying for some advertising.

Rather lofty goals aren't they. I also have some personal ones that I have not added to this list.

Personal goals:

• Work through my Bible study that I stopped this Spring.


• Keep my kitchen and laundry caught up and ready for action. (I am working on this right now. Having done laundry for 8 days + the before and after camp laundry at a laundromat is enough to make me happy I am blessed with a washer and dryer.)


• Have some friends over for dinner...or coffee or dessert or something.


• Read some books about homeschooling (This is on hold until I get settled somewhere).

It has been a wild 8 or is it ten days. I will write about them when I can think more clearly. Some things in our life worked or didn't work, well at any rate God's plan for our lives has changed our plans. I am sure that his plan is better than mine but it is rather hard to see at this point in time. We are all well and healthy, job is intact and life is speeding along as usual. So, I am making a choice to be content and happy.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

Monday: Goal Check 1!

Here we are another Monday. I am running a goal check. This helps keep me on track and remind me that I AM reaching those goals and actually doing something!

Business goals:

• Finish three two afghans (I have two left to finish this goal. Currently I have three afghans started....

 

The zig zag chevron stripe is finished. The one on top is started....and I have a granny striped started in my new yarns, and a sampler granny square afghan started.

• Start three more afghans


• Sew 50+ cup cozies in new styles ( I prepare for the holiday buying season in advance, because I also home school.)


• Sew the 30+ new items I need him to photograph


• Make the new Christmas items....


• Blog more consistently (I have been writing ahead and found my blog planning pages...)


• Write a business plan

Family goals:

• Take two summery day trips every week


• Make some meals for the freezer for THOSE days when I just really need them (one lasagna down...)


• Help K get her things ready for College.... (two major things marked off our list.)


• Take T for driving practice


• Exercise (walked and/or exercised three times last week.  YAY!)


• Make the kitchen a better place to be, using things I already have. (It seems small and I really have to work at loving being in there.)


• Make the curtains in the living room fit the windows better and the hems the same length (I put these curtains up super quick when I realized that the bamboo shades are see through at night with the lights on.) 

Rather lofty goals aren't they. I also have some personal ones that I have not added to this list.

Personal goals:

• Work through my Bible study that I stopped this Spring.


• Have us sit at the table for dinners 5 nights a week. (Totally missed out on this one this past week, but we have another week ahead of us!)


• Keep my kitchen and laundry caught up and ready for action. ( Frankly, got clothes washed but not folded or put away. Laundry is my most hated chore. It is never finished)


• Have some friends over for dinner...or coffee or dessert or something.


• Read some books about homeschooling


• Attend the home school curriculum sale this weekend.  (Totally missed out on this. Now, I need to find inspiration in another place...)


• Help with the Youth at church at least 2 times a month.

Well, those are my rather lofty goals. I hope that things get better and I get more organized at meeting my goals.

Things I/we accomplished that weren't on my list of things to do!

I started cleaning and organizing my studio areas.We also moved the furniture around in this area and I need to finish organizing, pitching or donating items.  I have a lot of boxes left to go through but we are happy with the new arrangement of the room and how it is starting to come together.  I re-opened my Amazon.com shop by listing more books for sale. We did a quick check up on our budget and re-affirmed our money goals. I sat down with our calendar and checked dates and times of appointments as we missed some important things last week.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

Goals...

I received a wonderful package in the mail last week when my Mom was visiting. I restrained myself and only opened the packages to make sure that the order was right. I set goals for myself to help me finish my projects. I received my yarn that I had mail ordered and I was right it is softer and brighter than what is available locally. I bravely pushed it back into the bag and set it aside. I have two other fish to fry before I can start on the new yarn. It is calling to me. =0) I have two afghans started the zig zag, chevrony  ripple and another diagonal afghan. I am making myself finish both before starting on the new yarn. Mom was visiting so I just spent about 7 days not really creating anything and I think I am refreshed and ready to begin again.



This post was supposed to be about setting goals. So these are my goals for June. I always use bullet points as it helps me realize that these goals aren't in any certain order. I have a bunch of sewing to do as our oldest son is coming in July and he takes the majority of my www.ChocolateDogStudio.com photographs. I bribed him to come (not that he didn't want to come anyway.) but I mentioned that I had some work for him and would pay his gas for the trip. It helps if there is a bunch for him to do.

Business goals:

• Finish three afghans


• Start three more


• Sew 50+ cup cozies in new styles


• Sew the 30+ new items I need him to photograph


• Make the new Christmas items....


• Blog more consistently


• Write a business plan

Family goals:

• Take two summery day trips every week


• Make some meals for the freezer for THOSE days when I just really need them


• Help K get her things ready for College....


• Take T for driving practice


• Exercise


• Make the kitchen a better place to be, using things I already have. (It seems small and I really have to work at loving being in there.)


• Make the curtains in the living fit the windows better and the hems the same length (I threw these curtains up when I realized that the bamboo shades are see through at night with the lights on.) 

Rather lofty goals aren't they. I also have some personal ones that I have not added to this list.

Personal goals:

• Work through my Bible study that I stopped this Spring.


• Have us sit at the table for dinners 5 nights a week.


• Keep my kitchen and laundry caught up and ready for action.


• Have some friends over for dinner...or coffee or dessert or something.


• Read some books about homeschooling


• Attend the home school curriculum sale this weekend.


• Help with the Youth at church at least 2 times a month.

Wow, I had better stop before I organize the world....lol.

Do you have goals for your summer or do you just let it happen? Can you share two of your goals for June? I would love to know that I am not alone. Summer seems busier than the school year.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

 

 

To tweet or not to Tweet!

Using all the different social media to promote your online shop can be overwhelming. Here are a few good sites that can help you understand what twitter is and how it can help your online business.

Twitter: These are pretty basic and a good introduction to twitter.

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Twitter

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Twitter-to-Promote-Your-Website

http://www.squidoo.com/howtousetwittereffectively

http://www.ehow.com/how_5112315_use-twitter-marketing-platform.html

http://www.business2community.com/twitter/how-to-use-twitter-effectively-to-get-a-quality-following-0172889

And then this...

http://www.wikihow.com/Promote-Your-Online-Store-Online

I am trying to spend time reading about how to promote my little business so that it isn't quite so little anymore. That is one of the hard things about running a small business, you get to wear a bunch different of hats. It is also one of the good things about running your own business. Creating and maintaining the image and voice of my company I can  be sure that the image I promote is accurate.

Talk to you later,

Karen

What do you do to promote your online business? How do you advertise? Do you pay for advertising? Curious minds want to know....

 

Photo Friday! Where in the World Am I Today?

        

http://www.etsy.com/listing/93704901/yellow-daffodil-photography-yellow

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68102232/fancy-english-lavender-bouquet-with-hand



http://www.etsy.com/listing/28352784/a-secret-garden-8x10-photo-11x14-mat



www.etsy.com/listing/93147315/vintage-ellgreave-england-teapot-32-oz



http://www.etsy.com/listing/95683195/vintage-english-breakfast-tea-tin-brass

Yes, I am in England (in my imagination) and I am ready for a nice cup of English tea, some chocolate digestives and chat with my Mom, with daffodils on the table. It reminds me of Spring and brings back the hope that Winter really is gone for the year. I think that it will return and I am worried because all of the trees are in bloom and it IS only March in Iowa not May. People tell me that there is a chance of snow all the way to  Mother's Day. So we shall see, but I am pleased that today it is warm and the sun is out part way. It is Friday and we are all glad. It has been a busy week of school, cleaning (sometimes), Etsying, work and we are all ready for the weekend. We were extremely busy last weekend so this one will be a good chance to relax a bit and just do the regular weekend chores.  In addition to our other activities last week, the girls each got their own room. Since we live in a real world and have real messes, you know that it was just that, a mess that seemed to drag out all week! Finally, the youngest cleaned hers up yesterday for the final time and the oldest will do so soon. So progress has been made and they are both excited. I just have curtains to hang properly, a bed frame to put under the mattresses and a re-cleaning of the studio!  The joke is on me! After all of the cleaning of the studio two weeks ago, I now get to do it all over again. Such is life! Have a great Spring day, see you later,

Karen

 

ps. All of the photos come from Etsy shops, stop by and say hi!

 

And the Winner is.......

The winner is Sheila at SewFaithful.etsy.com. She guessed that my WIP project was a rug.



Here it is prior to completion.

Here it is finished....

  

It is about 20 inches across and is a perfect little rug. I had planned on making it much larger and for our daughter's room. That is why it is pastels. I created it as an excuse to use up left over yarn bits and simple crocheted a long strip which I then sewed around the filler. Finally, sewing it like a braided rug. It really didn't take much time to finish it. The family says that it is really soft and comfy under foot.

Sheila's cup cozy will be shipped out today. I really appreciate everyone participating in the contest.

Thanks,
Karen

Still Cleaning

Here is the next step in cleaning off one of the work tables. I had fabric stacked up in piles for different Chocolate Dog Studio projects, dresses for the girls, and some pieces for quilts.



In the process of cleaning, I found these and since they are so pretty I am sharing them with you. These are in good condition but the crocheted lace is coming apart on some of them. So they will go into some cozies. A friend shared them with me for that purpose, so I am not cutting up any family linens.



Aren't they beautiful? What about this one?



I also found a couple of these owls.  I have been carrying the little one in my purse. The bigger ones joined and they became purse organizers.



They are all different sizes and perfect for all the loose items running around in my purse. At one time I was going to offer them in Chocolate Dog Studio but decided that I do NOT like putting zippers in little bags. Here is the top of my table.



I think I am almost finished with this work table. Now I just need to focus on the other. You have to trust me that the other end is just as clean as the one above.



I think this will be my focus today. I have a cup cozy to ship and then I will be ready to get to work. Now that the work space is clean I have a ton of ideas running through my head. I will finish cleaning before I start sewing or creating anything.

Do you ever find treasures when you clean or organize you craft items?

Talk to you later,

Karen

Deconstruction, Re-use, Re-cycle

Deconstruction: what I term taking apart clothing to in order to use for another purpose ie: re-purposing, re-cycling, up-cycling or re-using. I have had several pieces of clothing scattered around waiting for the deconstruction  so that I can use the fabric for another purpose. Why not donate it to Goodwill or some other charity? Well, these particular pieces had issues. One top had a snap front and a snap in a vital position was gone. Well, anyway you get the idea. Here is the stack of tops waiting for the deconstruction to begin. They have been washed and dried and are ready for a new life.



Sorry, I am still getting used to the new camera and I know that this is a bit blurry.



I cut the seams off. So then you are left with little skinny strings of seams. This is the underarm seam from the hem to the wrist.



Here are the seams from this shirt.

Then I cut the cuffs off of the sleeve.





 

This is called the placket and I cut it off and toss it in the trash. Sometimes these plackets have little buttons and I cut those off and add them to the button box.



 

I also cut off the button band and then the buttonhole band as well.



Here is shirt number one, as deconstructed as I like it. I keep the buttons and the fabric.

See the rest of the tops all ready for new life.



See the seam strings to the right of the stack of tops. I also had a nice pile of buttons that I  put away in the button box. The cuffs I am sending to a friend.



So that is one way to deconstruct a shirt.

What would you do with all of the cuffs and seam strings?

I have had some thoughts but would love more input!

Karen

 

 

Wips and Pigs

What are WIPS and PIGS you ask? Some sort of new political designation....nope. WIPS are works in progress and PIGS are Projects in grocery sacks. Which explains why my work tables look like this.



and this...



and then also this. Have I no shame?



Well, Yes, I do have shame and this is really bad. So I went to work on it.  How do you get started and what do you do first? This time I started with a list. I usually start with a list and then get side tracked. Today was no different. Our internet was down which was a really good thing. So I finished several WIPs and finished up some deconstruction that needed to happen, cut out some cozies and put a bunch of fabric away. I am going to show you bits and pieces over the next few days. So bear with me as I get started on all this mess.

Here is the first WIP project; dog beds. Our friendly four footed friends love to use their teeth on their soft plush dog beds and I refuse to spend $20 on  new ones when they finally demolish their current beds. Here is the finished products being tested by the dogs.

Stay tuned as tomorrow, I will do my best to show you how I up cycled the old fluff (clean, very clean fluff from their dog beds) into new dog beds.

Talk to you later,

Karen