Christmas Ornament #3

Pink hearts are always good for Christmas or Valentine's day. Here is my next installment on hand sewn felt Christmas ornaments. This is a heart with beading. I used recycled beads my daughter had removed from a formal. The whole point of these ornaments is to use what I have on hand and not run out for more supplies.



I ran into a few snags since I didn't use a super thin beading needle. I would suggest using one if you make this at home. This is so simple that I don't feel that you need a pattern to make one yourself.

See you later,

Karen

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

Aprons....

When I was learning to cook, aprons were a thing of the past. Grandma's wore them and my Mom had a drawer full of them. We used one apron for years because it was handy. It was also a full apron and covered more than our jeans. These aprons are styled after then one that we used for so many years.









I love these aprons. A perfect size with an adjustable neck strap and long waist ties. Some of these are available in the www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com shop. Others are waiting to be listed. Aprons make a perfect hostess gift or Christmas gift for the cook in your family.

See 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

Christmas Ornament

Here is another Christmas ornament. I sewed this using the same pattern as the star. I love this little house it is so cute.



I know that some of the embroidery is wonky but I think it just adds to the handmade look. I really like the shape of the roof on the cottage.

see you next week.

Karen

 

Christmas Trees

These are new to the shop. A very close friend gave me a bunch of fabric. She sews for a living and often has the most wonderful scraps and pieces left over. Here is a photo of a small portion of what she gave away.



Here is what I made from them. I still have a huge number of squares left. So I will need to figure out what to do with the rest. I love these little trees and they are even more fun as they are made out of reds and neutrals.

These are a few of the new I have been creating. I have these listed at http://www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com if you want to know.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

As always the photos were shot by Stewart Photo Tulsa.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Find Your Voice

Find your voice, find out who you are. These are both phrases that designers and artists hear constantly. This is somewhat true. I say somewhat because true artists change and grow. I would use the word evolve but I think it is over used these days. I like the word grow because it is a truer picture of what we are doing as artists. Perhaps it is a choice determined by marketplace. We have to make a choice based on economics,

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/103093232/baltimore-album-style-wall-hanging-quil[/caption]

what we are creating isn't selling, or the market is flooded. Many times artists grow as they master advanced techniques or decide to grow in a particular direction. Almost all artists struggle with paying bills and making creations that will sell. I say almost because there are the few that create for themselves, but they will at some point run out of room on their walls for more paintings and you can only wear so many scarves or hats.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/98296729/watermelon-malaysia-jade-and-dark-brown[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="570"] http://www.etsy.com/listing/61198767/miss-elsie-mouse-archival-print-nursery[/caption]

So, the problem is how do we listen to the marketplace and still be true to the artist inside us. It is a fine line. The bottom line for me is do I enjoy creating it (whatever "it" is) and are people willing to purchase my creations.  I have read the Quit your Day Job posts on Etsy. I have read many of them over the years and the thought throughout all of the posts is "Follow your passion". Are you passionate about what you are creating? Would you create it regardless of what the world says? How to make it marketable is another question for another day. So find your voice, create what makes you happy. Why spend your time making things that you do not have a passion about! Why create things that make you frustrated or worried. Your joy in creating and your passion in your art will translate itself into sales. If you wonder why on earth anyone would pay for "it", you should not be trying to sell "it". If you create something and then say "I love it" this is great. I have such a hard time selling this because I love it so much. Then you are on the right track.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Do you agree or disagree?

 

Link Up!

Hi all I am linking up with Tip Junkie for the Tip Me Tuesday!

Here are some new coffee cup sleeves from Chocolate Dog Studio. I have been busy sewing some new cozies and photographing some that never made it to the store. So for a quick Christmas preview here they are.





I love this cozy created from Laurel Birch's cat fabric. I love how the button matches the purple in the cozy.



And then last but not least.



There are only one of the Noel cozy. So if you have fallen in love go ahead and shop now.

Things have been a little wild at our house as we adjust to a new Autumn schedule but I am sure that things have also been busy at your house too!

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

 

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

SALE!

All cup sleeves are $2 off in Chocolate Dog Studio!

Stop by and say hi!

Karen Stewart

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateDogStudio

 







 

Christmas Sneak peak

Here is a sneak peak at a Christmas ornament that I have been working on the past several weeks. I have been making several so this is just one. I love the non-traditional colors in this one. It is hand sewn with embroidery floss.



I would love to say that I came up with the idea on my own but the truth is that I used a vintage Vogue pattern for this lovely ornament.

See you later,

Karen

 

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