Brown Stripey Blanket!

Here is the big unveiling...finally!
It has grown from this

and yes, I know that is a miserably bad photograph. I have posted about this blanket multiple times and it is good to finally have it complete.

to this...

It is made out of Vanna's Choice yarns, 100% washable. It is very masculine with all the men at my house wishing it was theirs. It is a big 65" x 42" rectangle which makes it a perfect size for the recliner. I love the basket weave pattern. It has taken me a long time to get this one finished but the wait was worth it. I put a very simple border on it of a blue stripe followed by a chocolate brown stripe.
I am so pleased that it is as beautiful completed as it was  a joy to make.
Talk to you later,
Karen

Yes, it is available in my  Chocolate Dog Studio shop.

Future plans

Ok, so here is where I tell you all my great and wonderful future plans....

I am going to make at least one large size afghan like this one.



I am going to finish this diagonal afghan. The brown one in the middle.



I know that the above picture leaves a lot to be desired but the afghan is so incredibly soft and beautiful. I will have better pictures soon. I am also going to make some more football team cup sleeves. Like this one only different teams than what I already have...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="456"] https://www.etsy.com/listing/89660331/coffee-cup-cozycoffee-cup-sleeve-coffee[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="337"] https://www.etsy.com/listing/82106339/cup-sleeve-cup-cozy-green-bay-packer-cup[/caption]

I am going to clean out the studio...well, unpack it better and set it up. I am going to get ready for the Christmas buying season by creating more Christmas ornaments and cozies. All of this planning is making me hungry and tired at the same time. So I best get to work.

talk to you later,

Karen

Photo Monday!

Who needs anymore stress on Monday? So here are some beautiful photos of a baby blanket that I just finished and shipped off on Saturday!





I simply love the beautiful colors and it is wonderfully soft. It is 36" square.  It was a custom order and started from these beautiful yarns. It was a super quick crochet job as I started it on Sunday and shipped on Saturday!



I am working on another custom order now and it is huge. I believe it is going to take 150 crocheted granny squares. Yes, 150! Yikes, I have a plan though and it is happening pretty quickly. I have about 80 centers worked now. I will show you more at a later this week.

See you on Tuesday!

Karen

WIP: Works in Progress Update

You are my accountability partner. Did you know that? I need accountability to finish what I start so today is my day to show you my current status on some long standing projects. I do have to say in my defense that I have been working diligently but have had some custom orders come in, in addition to regular http://www.ChocolateDogStudio.etsy.com sewing of cup sleeves and cup cozies along with all the aprons I have been finishing up for the shop. So here is my list of accomplishments.

• finished sewing 10 aprons have three left


• finished embroidery of one pillow top


• finished 5 - 3" embroidery hoop wall art.


• finished two crocheted baby blankets


• almost finished this blanket, I have run out of the blue yarn and I am searching for it.

• Started on this little beauty for fun and there is no deadline.

• Started this out of sock yarn, it should work beautifully for its purpose. (Shhh, it's a surprise!)

• Turned these into something new and fun. Which I will show you later.

• I am working on these to create a beautiful custom blanket for a friend and customer.

• And these to create a warm, cozy, baby boy blanket for a different friend and customer as well.

So that is my accountability list. I hope to have at least four of these off the list this week! I have a bunch of cozies that need to be sewn up and some shipping to do today, but other than that the crochet hook will be flying as I  wait on kids for different activities. I am not even going to start on the all the house chores sitting in front of me this week. I am pretty sure that you have a pretty good idea of what kinds of work it is.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

 

 

 

Granny Stripe Ta Dah......

I know this sounds like so many other Ta dahs that you read about in the crochet blogging world. Actually, there is no other way to celebrate a wonderful finished project, aside from a party, but who goes to a finished project party?

Here you go the newly finished Granny Stripe!

I love the chocolately richness of the zig zaggy border.



This was created with soft new yarns from England. Yes, I actually ordered in enough yarn to finish this crocheted blanket. The yarn is so incredibly soft that it puts our American yarns to shame and the colors are bright and cheerful.



I love the way the granny stripes vary from one section to the next, always with the same  seven colors bordered with the chocolate brown stripe. It is big, twin bed sized.



It is 72 inches long and 45 inches wide. A perfect size for a throw at the end of the bed or couch. The yarn is 100% washable on gentle and low temps with a low temp dry. Yes, it is for sale in the Chocolate Dog Studio shop. https://www.etsy.com/listing/108330486/crochet-blanket-crochet-afghan-granny

 

See you later,

Karen

 

 

 

New baby blanket

I just had to show my newest creation. It is a custom order baby blanket and I just love the colors. They are a bit daring and different for this part of the country. It completely updates the granny square afghan and in beautiful modern colors. The yarn  is soft, cuddly and completely washable. Pop it in the washer and the dryer and have it out clean and ready to go in no time. Perfect for new babies.

Check out the bright and beautiful granny stripes.



Completely bordered with granny circles. This beautiful baby afghan is finished with beautiful scalloped edging and a ChocolateDogStudio tag. There is a teeny tiny baby bonnet with flower to go with it. I am so excited that it turned out so well. It was tricky to get it finished while moving from one state to another. So finishing it on time was the icing on the cake. This one won't be in the Chocolate Dog Studio shop but I sure hope to make another in a similar style also complete with bonnet! So keep checking back and I hope to have the next one up quickly. http://www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com

talk to you later,

Karen

 

Good Morning, It's Tuesday!

Good Morning everyone,

Today I woke up and found several fun things had happened.

1. The shop is featured in this contest.  Please vote!

http://etsycontest.com/?votefor=ChocolateDogStudio #handmadebot #shopetsy

2. I was featured in this extremely cool Coffee Treasury.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTA2OTc2MTh8MjcyMzE3ODI5Mg/everything-you-love-about-coffee

Have a great day today! I am busy this week unpacking, dreaming up new things for the Etsy shop, getting a girl ready for college, cleaning, and running a family! It is a busy time of year for everyone isn't it! OH, and I have been crocheting a luscious baby afghan for a new Mom. I called the customer and asked if she wanted a little bonnet to match, of course she said Yes! I love crocheting for babies!

I also finished up the knitted blanket for my college bound daughter. I can give her hugs from another state that way. It is stripey with a wide crocheted border. It was started in all the moving chaos and was supposed to use up yarn but somehow it didn't. Hmmm. My yarn stash is growing, again. I will have some pictures of the projects to show you next time.

Talk to you later,

Karen

PS. What have you been creating?

Scrap Yarn projects

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/62030561/pdf-crochet-pattern-mighty-mug-cozy[/caption]

It seems like my yarn stash has/is growing out of all bounds. I have been searching for scrap yarn projects and found these. I hope that they help you find more room in your house, too.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/89170166/pdf-pattern-pretty-up-your-fruit-bowl[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="240"] http://wolfcrochet.wordpress.com/2012/02/[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300"] http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20077.html[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300"] http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20081.html[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="308"] http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/112553.aspx[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="448"] http://verypink.com/2012/01/26/todays-work/[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] http://elisabethandree.posterous.com/threads-threads-lots-of-threads[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="342"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/38871159/scrap-yarn-afghan-crocheted-stained[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/77038019/knitted-banner-pattern-happy-day-bunting[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] http://crochet.about.com/od/afghansquaresandblocks/ss/Rainbow_Crochet_Square.htm[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] http://knitnut.blogspot.com/[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] http://maribelmade.com/[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] http://sheepspace.ca/category/crochet/[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="460"] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/23/how-to-make-crocheted-flowers[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] http://resurrectionfern.typepad.com/resurrection_fern/2008/10/crochet-acorns-and-felted-pumpkin-bowls-a-tutorial.html[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300"] http://www.crochetbug.com/tag/scrap-yarn/page/2/[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] http://valzcorner.blogspot.com/2012/06/4-more-summer-crochet-projects.html[/caption]

 

Well, this is a small list of ideas that are out there on the internet. I hope it sparks some inspiration for you and sends you in new directions. What do you do with all your scrap yarn? How do you use it up?

See you later,

Karen

 

 

Wednesdays Squared: granny #4

This is a fun granny square and is really simple and you can make it any size. I can see this square being used in a contemporary granny square blanket with diagonal stripes or  any quilting patterns that are created with right angles.



I also got this square pattern from the book Beyond the Square Crochet motifs by Edie Eckman. I haven't decided how many squares of this pattern I will need.

I will see you later,

Karen

Wednesday squared: granny square 2

Here is my next square. I added the border around the edge to make it easier to stitch together. I am going to try to sew it together as I go.  We will see how that goes.



I am also going to try to use four of these in my sampler. So I need to stitch up the other three.  This square is also from Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs book by Edie Eckman. She has done such a great job of writing directions that I would look up the instructions in her book. Don't you like the color combinations in this one? I do. I can't wait to see what the other look like.

See you next week.

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

 

 

Wednesday Squared: square 1

I enjoy the mindlessness of crocheting granny squares. I have long felt that I need to try some new squares. I have been intrigued by this

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="http://www.ecrater.com/p/13757362/better-homes-and-gardens-crochet-knitting"][/caption]

crochet blanket and I have long wanted to put together my own crochet sampler. Here is my square a week.



This pattern is taken from Beyond the square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman.

I think I will use at least four of these in my crochet sampler blanket.

What are you doing new this week?

See you later,

Karen

 

A Sneak Peak

Here are some new things that have been happening at the studio these days...



I can't resist taking yarn and a crochet hook with me on a road trip. So, it started with these  yarns and some little bits that were used up. I then added these beauties halfway through the trip.



Now you can't see all of the colors as this is a big bag. Here is a better look at them.



and another look here.



This is promising to be a big crocheted blanket. I can't wait to have it finished. I did feel silly crocheting in 90 degree weather as we were driving along. It was a long drive and I finished quite a bit. Hopefully it won't be long before it is completed.

Karen

Why do yarn projects seem to grow out of their bags? Am I the only one that has this happen?