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Snowflake Patterns

We are facing the first possibility of snow this year and it puts me in the mood for lacy snowflakes. I made snowflakes as Christmas gifts to my friends when I was a teenager. I will have to see if I can find the pattern. It was one printed in the newspaper but there are many patterns for snowflakes on the internet. Here are a few. I have given credit to the page I found them on and most of them are pinned to my crochet board on pinterest.

http://flowergirlcottage.blogspot.ca/2013/11/easy-crochet-snowflake-pattern.html

http://flowergirlcottage.blogspot.ca/2013/11/easy-crochet-snowflake-pattern.html

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-snowflake.html

http://www.michaels.com/Snowflake-Sugar-Cookie-Scarf-(Crochet)/39001,default,pd.html

http://cultofcrochet.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/giant-january-snowflake/

http://www.marthastewart.com/270488/crocheted-snowflakes

http://homelealass.com/2013/12/01/let-it-snow-christmas-ornament-free-crochet-pattern/

http://www.beginner-crochet-patterns.com/snowflake-crochet-pattern.html

There are a few to get you started. I think I will try a few this weekend, unless we get snowed or iced in. I have some errands to run before the storm hits. Have fun! Do you have a favorite snowflake pattern. Please share it in the comments as I would love to make some more for our Christmas tree.

Karen

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Resilient, Robust or Anti-Fragile?

The great thing about having facebook is the links that people post are often interesting. This one really spoke to me, in fact it spoke so much that I have asked for the book for Christmas. It talks about the opposite of being fragile or Antifragile. The book is Antifragile:Things that Gain from Disorder is written Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I am taking my understanding of Taleb’s book from this website; http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/12/03/beyond-sissy-resilience-on-becoming-antifragile/

The article discusses the opposite of fragile. They discuss the fact that the opposite of fragile isn’t robust or resilient. As being Anti-fragile should put you ahead of where you started before the bad time happened. Instead of breaking during stressful personal or business times we should become stronger.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113298492/inspirational-quote-coastal-art-surf

I have come through a time recently when I felt very fragile and I am continuing to feel fragile. So this concept is very attractive to me from a personal standpoint and as a small business owner.

The article touches on how large often equals fragile due to red tape, an inability to swiftly react to market changes, or icebergs in the case of the Titanic.  It talks about being optimized to make use of every resource. In my case it would be a calendar with no extra time for the daily life occurrences that happen ie a flat tire, a sick child, medical emergencies that all play havoc with our calendar, budget and life.  People try to reduce this randomness in life by planning it out. An example of this in real life are parents that try to keep their children from experiencing small hurts like Johnny doesn’t want to play with Jimmy. The author states that stress strengthens us and removing stresses from our children’s lives weakens them.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113650600/inspirational-quote-though-she-be-but

Resilience or the ability to bounce back while a great ability to have is useless if you do not grow from your experience. Growing means that you have moved beyond randomness or become anti fragile.

The great news is that Taleb feels that being small is great for being antifragile! Small business are more able to change direction.

You really should read the rest of it and gather some great insight but here are some insights that I gathered from this article.

1. What doesn’t kill your small business should make it stronger. Will you learn from your mistakes? Change your focus if it is needed!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123845997/i-refuse-to-sink-nautical-anchor-art

2. Have a back up plan! Having more than one critical piece of equipment isn’t a bad thing, for my business this would be to have more than one sewing machine that works well.

3. Add some stress to your life!  You can do this by changing your work schedule, or how you do things. See if there is a new way to do what you have always done. Stress strengthens you as it forces you to change.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159592978/rough-days-inspirational-quote-print

4. Play it safe and also take risks. In a small retail business this might be continuing to sell your best selling items while you learn a new skill or sell something else just to see how it goes.

5. Don’t take advice from someone that doesn’t also do what you do.Why would you take advice from someone that doesn’t also run a small business?

6. Reduce the negatives. Remove things that are detracting from your business or life. Do you have bad habits or debt? Get rid of the debt and work on the bad habits.

7. Keep your options open. So,keep some money in the bank for the slow times. If your best selling item stops selling then stop making it and move on.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/163272244/custom-inspirational-quote-print-she

I am excited to get to read this book as it reinforces what I have always known; What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! We just have to decide that we are going to grow from what has happened and move forward or in a completely different direction.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157913517/typography-art-print-life-is-like-a

This poster just says it all! I’m off to change my focus, add some stress, and finish some things up!

See you later!

Karen

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Movies and Crocheting!

I have to admit that I love to watch movies while I crochet. It can be documentaries, sci fi, classics or even cake boss. It just seems to help the time pass. A cup of coffee makes it much better as does a really long movie or series of movies. I am working on a custom blanket right now and it is going well.  Here are some photos of some past work.

IMG_0531I’m thinking about making another one of these Granny Square blankets in the Spring! I will certainly have enough scraps to do so!

IMG_2911-001and maybe another one of these! I have had some inspiration hit the last couple months and I am ready to create some new crochet patterns! I just need to get this beautiful custom blanket out of the way. So, off I go to crochet and watch more movies!

What do you do while you are creating?

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

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New Scarves

Here are a few new scarves that will be available in the ChocolateDogStudio shop.

New Scarves, ChocolateDogStudio.com

This is a lovely wool scarf. It is a long scarf and perfectly suited for winter.

New Scarves, ChocolateDogStudio.com

A lovely grey granny stripe scarf.

New Scarves, ChocolateDogStudio.com

New Scarves, ChocolateDogStudio.comThanksgiving has been a wonderful time of friends and family! I must rush off and take care a few things before the college kids head back to school today.

See you later,

Karen

 

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Aqua Granny Square Blanket!

I have finally finished the aqua granny square blanket and the photos were just taken today. You have seen it since the very start. I frogged three rows and started over in the plain Granny Square stitch. I like it much better and it isn’t ruffly like it was starting to be.

Aqua Granny Square Blanket! ChocolateDogStudio.com

 

 

42″ square of luscious soft granny square blanket. It is wonderfully soft! I love the soft washable variegated yarn. It changes from a moss green to a lovely aqua and hits almost every shade of blue green in between.Aqua Granny Square Blanket! ChocolateDogStudio.com Aqua Granny Square Blanket! ChocolateDogStudio.com Aqua Granny Square Blanket! ChocolateDogStudio.com Aqua Granny Square Blanket! ChocolateDogStudio.com IMG_3372It is finished with a plain racetrack border. It is available in the shop ready to ship!  https://www.etsy.com/listing/170542725/crochet-blanket-granny-square-blanket

Thanks,

Karen

 

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5 Years!

Chocolate Dog Studio has now been open for five years! It has been a wonderful, exciting, stretching time. I have made many good friends through ChocolateDogStudio and sold many items. The shop has gone from one sale in 2008 to 1369 in 2013. It is time for me to thank the people that have made Chocolate Dog Studio what it is today. So this weekend I am offering Free Shipping on all orders $20 and over, even to the EU! Just use this coupon code 5yrsale  when you  check out. There are no limits to how many times you can use it this weekend.  I am excited with the new direction that the studio is taking and can’t wait for the next years to fly by!

Here are a few of the items I have sold over the years…

5 Years!

A knit and crochet shawl, some gift tags

5 Years!

A set of magnetic clothespins,

5 Years!5 Years!

A knit child’s purse and a crochet blanket…

5 Years!

Thanks so much for your support! I could not have done this without the support and patience of my family and friends.

Karen Stewart

 

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10 Myths About Improving Your Small Business

 

Myth 1. Read about how to improve your business.

Reading is great but simply reading won’t improve your small business. You need to apply what you read. It is pretty simple. Just pick one thing and work on that.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120895893/miniature-book-kit-and-tutorial-makes

Myth 2. Find someone successful and watch them.

Watching someone successful will simply show you what they did to become successful. It won’t necessarily give you the answers or help you grow your business. Watching someone else might encourage you and give you some ideas or hints of what to do. It might point you in a direction and give you some ideas, but what really matters is are  you working in your business every day!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122528488/weekly-business-planner-editable

Myth 3. Focus all your energies into one area of your business, good designs, or incredible artwork. None of this will matter if you can’t get your items shipped on time. You can only keep your business afloat by keeping people happy with your product.

Myth 4. Get Awesome Photographs

Good Photographers are just that; GOOD at what they do. They can make us look magazine worthy but make sure that  your product is as awesome as the photographs say. The flip is also worthy of mentioning. Bad photographs can make any product look shabby when it isn’t.

Myth 5. You can add Packaging costs into Shipping!

People aren’t stupid and charging more than it actually costs to ship the item is wrong. Put the packaging costs into the cost of the product.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/152476224/kraft-tissue-paper-25-sheets

Myth 6.  Emails don’t matter.

If someone takes the time to e-mail you about an item do your best to respond in a timely manner. The product happiness meter starts running when they first contact you about the product. You have to follow it all the way through to the end of the transaction- when they leave feedback. It is also just plain good manners.

Myth 7. Using Recycled Packaging is a Great Idea!

It is a great idea if your shop is all about recycling and being good to the environment then by all means recycle the packaging. If your shop isn’t into recycling and you don’t tell folks up front when they are ordering, then you probably shouldn’t recycle packaging. Keep it neat and clean looking. Who is your competition and how do they send items? Bottom Line: You need to tell people that you use recycled packaging!

Myth 8. Write your Listing and Post it Quick!

Write your listing and then wait 24 hours and then read it again, this time checking for inaccuracies. I really need to follow this piece of advice for my own shop. I tend to get in a rush to put up new items and forget to let the listing rest, so I can check my grammar, spelling, and all the tags, titles and measurements. This will get you into trouble and tends to look unprofessional.

Myth 9. Find a Great Idea and Do it Again!

Be yourself and follow your own path! Plain and simple, don’t be a copycat. If you are a seller of handmade goods, then make sure that your items are different from everyone else’s in some way. Make your shop stand out!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127900872/be-who-you-are-awesome-printable-poster

Myth 10. Claw Your Way to the Top!

If someone goes out of their way to be nice to to you, promote your business, do a blog post about your business, give you pointers or point you in a different direction, Write them a thank  you e-mail, or do something nice.  A little kindness can go a long way and they will remember you later. Simply being a nice person goes a long, long way. At some point rising above the crowd, being a person of your word and being kind will come back to you.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115664072/chalkboard-thank-you-card-printable

I hope these help you. It sure did help me to write these things down.

 

I am off to work my business.

See you later,

Karen

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Finding Inspiration

Inspiration can be as difficult to find as creativity. I think they are so closely linked that it is impossible to separate the two. What inspires you to do the creating that you do? What lights  your creativity? What do you find inspiring?

Finding Inspiration

Sometimes it is nature or the lack of a jingle in my wallet, sometimes it is a blinding illumination when it seems the angels sing, and sometimes it is just a feeling of contentment that I am on the right track. If I were to pick which flash of inspiration I like best, you and I both know that we prefer the blinding flash and angels in a choir above my head. Occaisionally,the creative work can become to feel like drudge work. So how to keep that flash of inspiration coming? How do you keep your creating fresh and new?

I have to take a break from work and get outside for that inspiration to keep coming. I have to be on the hunt for new ideas and color combinations. Like in my Aunt’s needlework from the 70s. I love the wildly bright colors in it. Keeping my eyes open and off of Pinterest can come closer to guaranteeing  that my work is more original and less  “same song, second verse a little bit louder and little bit worse”.

Finding Inspiration

Sometimes my inspiration comes from something as simple as pulling all the yarn out.

Finding Inspiration

Today is a rest day and I have other things to do…which means that I will be inspired everywhere I turn!

I want to know what keeps you inspired and your creativity flowing?

Karen

 

 

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Just for fun!

One day a week a homeschool friend and I trade kids. She teaches mine Algebra 2 and Pre algebra and I get to play in the art supplies with hers.  I know that I have the better end of the deal! Here is what we finished up this week. This is mine in the middle of the work. Yes, it is an artwork off of Pinterest.

IMG_3208

 

Working with her boys is lots of fun. We cleaned the table off with Shaving cream and they loved that. We will water color next week.

See you later,

Karen

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How to Be Productive!

I recently read an interesting article on how to be productive which immediately took me back several years (cough, cough)  to Freshman orientation class at Oklahoma State University. Since I was undecided in my major at that time I was funneled into a study skills class instead of a regular Freshman orientation class. The class spoke a lot about dovetailing work or stacking things that need to be done ie do your laundry and study at the same time. I dovetail work all the time, today it was crocheting while waiting at the orthodontist office.

IMG_0245

You can find the article here: http://www.alibrown.com/blog/2013/02/21/%E2%80%9Cmy-1-secret-to-productivity-batching%E2%80%9D-by-ali-brown/

The article talks about batching which is a new concept for me. It reminds us to do our work in batches or groups of like items. If you are going to work on email then take make a commitment to check email twice a day instead of all day long. Which will save you time. Work on your paperwork at the same time everyday and so forth. Well, the study skills class spoke about the same kinds of things but added in another wrinkle…dovetailing. Sandwiching your work so that the washer is washing while the dryer is drying and you are doing something entirely different. Now in the crafting or handmade business this is a bit more difficult as we don’t have machines that do the work for us. So how can we dovetail or sandwich our work.

This is what dovetailing and batching looks like for my business ChocolateDogStudio;

While cutting out bibs I will also cut out cozies, and French press cozies. Then I arrange them by the color of thread and item and do all of the sewing requiring white thread at one time, then brown, blue etc…. I will also arrange them by the item. So all bibs requiring white thread, then all cozies needing white thread and so on. IMG_0247

Here the bibs are all arranged into thread color families. That way I finish multiple items before I need to change thread. I also sew buttons on in this way.

 

Here are the bibs and cozies all arranged according to color families before I start stitching.

IMG_0248

When I package orders I print packing labels and then do all of the shipping at the same time. This saves me time in the long run but also saves me some walking. IMG_0246

 

What I really like about Ali’s article is keeping your distance from Social media and being careful about how often you check your email and facebook. Yes, I am guilty as charged. It started when I was worried about every little sale on Etsy and then I got a smart phone and the bad habit got worse. I have been working on disciplining myself to only check email and so forth twice a day or at most three times a day.

So now I am thinking about batching on my blog and writing several blog posts at once and having them post during the week. That way I am reaching my goals of blogging three times a week, without having to think about it every day.

If you run an Etsy shop there are several neat programs that will allow you to schedule your tweets.  Check the Etsy apps and see which one will work for you.  What a great time saver! It is time to get those set up again and keep them running. So I could dovetail my tweets and blog posts and then I could do other things during the time that I would normally spend doing those two things every day! Whew, what a time saver and a relief!  I have felt a little stretched for time and I was wondering how to get it done this Christmas season.

Talk to you later, I’m off to write a couple of blog posts and schedule some posts!

Karen