Karen Stewart, Author at Grid and Bloom

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Karen Stewart

2015 Happy New Year in Photos

I so meant to publish this 2015 in Photos earlier in the year. The huge rush of shoppers for the rainbow blanket and the ombre blanket really put me off my blogging schedule.

So, here we are January 15 and I am just now posting the year in photos for 2015.

It was a busy year if you add in knee replacement surgery, sending our daughter back to college, a junior in high school, summer vacation time, the Affair of the Heart craft show and then ordinary life and homeschooling. I am glad that it is over and I can’t wait to see what life is going to bring in 2016. There are some changes that are going to happen to the business. My Mom is having surgery and I will spend time there. Our daughter will graduate from college and start off on the rest of her life. 2016 is full of excitement and just life. I can’t wait to see how it all works out as it will. I know that life is full of unexpected joys and sorrows. I may get to be a Grandma so life is exciting right now.

The photos are a few of the things that happened. I am sure that you are glad that I limited it to a few.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Happy New Year

The New Year is here! Isn’t it exciting to think about all the joys, dreams and happiness that will be written on its pages. There are so many different ways to think about a new year. You can write resolutions, or choose the word for the year. You can set goals and then strive to meet them each and every day. You can make a poster with mind mapping or brainstorming bubbles. You can also just simply choose to take each day as it comes in a carpe diem fashion.

I usually turn a little retrospective at this time of the year. It is a good thing to do as taxes are coming due and it is a great time to look back at the year and decide what you need or want to do differently in the coming year.

Resolutions are good but since the larger percentage of the population forgets to keep them after about three weeks. Resolutions might not be the best way to bring change into your life.

I have no idea why I am writing all of this, except to say that I go into the New Year with neither resolutions, nor goals, nor word of the year. I am not a Carpe Diem sort of girl either. I believe life has consequences and blessings.

So, this year I am going to be myself and live for others. I believe that words have power and that God is the author of the good in my life. I want to reach toward His goodness and out of my little selfish desires. I would like to be more involved with others this year. I’m not sure how that is going to work out. I need my business to be more and less this year.

More income, less hassle,

More free time, less shipping,

More passive, less active,

More fun time, less drudge,

More design work, less routine,

More sewing for fun and less sewing for work

More family time, less work time

In short what I am going to do is create more crochet patterns. While I will still create things to sell I am not going to worry about keeping a full inventory of 200+ items. I am only going to create things that give me joy.

What are you doing different this year?

talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Karen Stewart — 2 Comments

Tips for the Ombre or Temperature blanket

The temperature blanket has had great interest since Repeat Crafter Me on Facebook posted a photo of my blanket. I have had numerous questions asÂ people have needed a few pointers and or had general questions that needed to be answered. Here are a few Q and A’s on the Ombre, Temperature or granny Stripe blanket.

Question: How do I turn from row 2 to row 3 in the temperature blanket, ombre blanket or granny stripe blanket?

A:
I just do the one dc into the turning stitch. Then chain two and turn. I would then follow with two dc into the gap between the 1 dc and the next group of three dc.

Here you are getting ready to turn to row three. You have just completed the last group of 3 dc.

Do the dc in the top of the last stitch of the last group of 3 dc from the previous row.

Chain two and turn. You are now ready for row three!

Question: Do the stripes run from side to side or from top to bottom?

A: The stripes run from top to bottom.

Question: How do I crochet the granny stripe border?

A: The long sides are simply the granny stripe as you would have crocheted the rest of the blanket.
In the corners
dc three times chain one dc three times in the same stitch.

On the short ends. You crochet the three dc in the chain five space at the end of each row of colors.

Q:Â I was wondering if you would be able to tell me the heights of the rows for the two blankets in the subject.

A.Â The dc rows are about 3/4 of an inch high. She, could of course use a shorter stitch like a sc or hdc stitch instead.

Q:Â How many different colors does this take?

A. It uses about 12 + colors of yarn. The exact number and a list of colors used are in the pattern.

Q: Â Â What weight of wool do you recommended for the temperature blanketÂ and how large of a skein?

A:Â The instructions tell what exactly brand of yarn and how much yarn you need to complete the afghan.From that starting point you can figure out how much yarn it will take.

Most afghans take on average 8 -10 skeins of Â aran weight yarn. This one uses more colors so that increases the number of skeins you need. It is a DK yarn which is skinnier than aran wool or a yarn like Vanna’s choice from Lion Brand but a bit bigger around than baby yarn. It is a number 4 yarn and takes about a g-h hook

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I apologize for being late on posting this. I have been at the hospital this week with my Mom for a knee replacement. This is the first chance I have had to sit down and write. She is doing much better. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I have so much to do today.

The weather is cooperating and making me want to stay in cozy and warm with a crochet hook or sewing machine. I need to do both and can’t wait to sit down and spend some creative time.

I have started an email newsletter which will come out at the end of each month. Please sign up as the first free pattern will be a pillow to accompany your temperature blanket!

Thanks,

Karen

You can read about all the great craziness that happened with this pattern here:

http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/2016/01/02/the-temperature-blanket/

You can read about the email newsletter here:

http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/2016/01/03/email-newsletter/

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Karen Stewart — 5 Comments

Email newsletter

Sign up for my new email newsletter and receive a free crochet pattern using some of the same yarns asÂ theÂ temperature blanket later this month! I am excitedly planning and writing the new patterns. You will receiveÂ the email newsletter Â once each month with new little patterns and fun things that are happening. You will also hear receiveÂ previews and advance notice of new patterns being released to the shop.

I am going to be writing Â new patterns from old favorites and also creating new designs. Â Please sign up and know that I will keep your email private.

The holiday season is drawing to a close here in Tulsa Oklahoma. A lot of my house heads back to work tomorrow and school. We have been cramming family time in everywhere we can. It has been incredibly hard to fit it in around everyone’s schedules but I can truthfully say that we have tried. Hubs heads back to work this week and life will be approaching a more normal speed.

There are a ton of new projects in the future with the new email newsletter, pattern writing and working on crochet projects. I am trying to decide if I do my 100 things in 100 days again. It isn’t quite fair since I do buy yarn right before the new year. I may skip the 100 things in 100 days this year. I do want to clean up and de-clutter and I will have to begin with the Christmas decorations since they are up all over the house. I imagine that the decorations will wait for a couple of weeks. If I can stand it!

Thank you,

Karen

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Karen Stewart

The Temperature Blanket

My etsy shop has been blowing up this week due to a little share about the Temperature blanket. I discovered this while I was on the phone with my Mom on New Years eve first thing in the morning. I receive the Etsy cha-ching on my phone when I sell something on Etsy. The phone cha-chingd three times in the space of one 20 minute conversation. That’s odd I thought. Well, it went on all day and then I started receiving requests to make a blanket that I had already sold. (I hardly ever go back and make the same blanket twice.) The blanket patterns kept selling all day long, and all day the next day. My views were off the charts. I have had 27,000 views in the last seven days. Yesterday my views were 12,323. I am blown away. It is a beautiful thing. I searched all through my analytics to figure out where the traffic was coming from with no luck. Finally, I questioned a customer and found where all the traffic was coming from. Here is the photo that was posted on Facebook

The Temperature Blanket

I quickly wrote the pattern for this blanket and posted it. It is doing quite well for pattern sales. I was wanting to sell more crochet patterns and less finished items. It fits better with my life goals and family needs right now. I have found a friend that will be glad to crochet this blanket for you. She is my Etsy friend Christie at Luvncrafts. I am going to stay out of the middle of those negotiations.

All because RepeatCrafterMe shared my blanket photo with the thermometer attached to it. It is such a lovely thing to happen.

The blanket above is not a thermometer blanket. It is just a blanket using the same lovely colors as are pictured in the thermometer. I really appreciate the shout out by Sarah. I know it will be a roller coaster ride that will end pretty soon but it sure is exciting right now.

Thank you Sarah. You have made my day and quite possibly my year.

Thank you to all the lovely people that are buying my blanket pattern. I hope you make a wonderful thermometer blanket that keeps you and your families warm.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Here are the links to the two patterns that will work well for this blanket.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/168162461/50-off-blanket-hand-crochet-blanket

https://www.etsy.com/listing/262182198/50-off-crochet-blanket-pattern-ombre

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Karen Stewart

End of Year Clearance Sale

My shops on Etsy have an end of year clearance sale happening right now! 50% off nearly everything but the adult sized crochet blankets. Coffee press cozies and cup sleeves are 50% off! It just doesn’t get much better than these prices!Â

These hats are 50% off!

All of the crochet baby blankets are 50% off!

Baby bibs are also on sale. Even the ones I sewed this year for the Affair of the Heart. Dr who and other geeky favorites are marked down 50%.

Lovely infinity scarves and boot cuffs are a great bargain!

I have some changes coming to both shops and it is time for you to save money. I need the room for the new things coming and it will be good to send these items on to their new homes. I can’t wait to show you the new plans I have for the shops and I am working hard behind the scenes. Change is hard but it is also good. It is so exciting! I can’t wait to tell you but I need to wait and clear the beautiful bibs, coffee press cozies and scarves out of my shops!

Talk to you later,

Karen

You can shop here: ChocolateDogStudioÂ andÂ ChocolatesBabyShop

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Vacation time

This time of year I take someÂ vacationÂ time to enjoy my family and spend time not connected to a laptop or a project. Â I am pretty close to burn out by this time of year and it helps me to spend time with family. We tend to pull in pretty tight as a family unit this time of year. October and November are increasing in intensity and then add in the Christmas season, it is pretty overwhelming.

I have completed the bi-annual gifts for the dogs. I sewed new dog beds up for them. The one photographed above was created for Sebastian, our son and daughter in law’s dog. He is a little smaller than ours and fits quite nicely in his new bed.Â

It needs some paint but I liked the fact that it was printed with the bulb brand on the front so I left it.

Our dogs loved the new bed as well. Here they are testing the finished product.

My kitchen has been in a semi-useful state the past couple of days as we were changing out the lighting. The old fluorescent fixtures needed changing out as the ballasts were bad and half of the bulbs bad. Here is a photo in a half done state.Â

Removing the ceiling texture is next on our list. It is looking much brighter and I think the LED lights will save us some money. Â I was worried that the constructionÂ would put me behind on Christmas cooking and baking but I think it will be ok. I worked on some other things that needed to be done. This Christmas is just family and the kids are here to pitch in and help.

We have been watching The Great British Baking Show and I am inspired to try baking some new things. So, baking is in the plans for today.

There are great sales happening in allÂ shops and I will keep them open but they won’t be shipped until after Christmas from the Etsy shop. Vacation time has come and it is sorely needed. The time to putter in the kitchen, clean and decorate just a bit more is badly needed.

I will be back before the New Year with a round up post and then BOOM 2016 will happen. There are wonderful things in the works for next year and I can’t wait to tell you. There are new projects, new plans for both shops, new designs, tons of bright new yarn already waiting for the crochet hook! I pray that your Christmas is merry and bright! May you have the peace and joy of the season, may you renew old friendships and make new ones!
Talk to you later,

Karen

P.S. If you still need to shop you can find the shops here:

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

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolatesBabyShop

http://www.amazon.com/handmade/chocolate-dog-studio

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Recover your Card Table Tutorial

It appears as though hubs and I have entered into the redo or maintain your stuff phase of life. My card tables were in sad shape after years of school projects and art projects. Simply covering them with tablecloths didn’t change the fact that they looked awful. I have had this little idea percolating in my mind for awhile. Â I have recovered a card table chair and there would be no reason why I couldn’t recover a card table the same way. All it would take is the laminated fabric or vinyl for the top. I already had the tiny staples and staple gun left over from the chair recover (or so I thought).

Doesn’t my table top look sad, ugly and dirty. I did cleanÂ it and it just doesn’t get any better.

Pretty much all card tables have a little layer of padding under the vinyl. You can see it in the photo above where it is cut. I saved this padding to reuse as it was already cut to size and not in too bad a condition. It is the thin packing wrap that

The supplies you will need are.

safety goggles
Staple gun and short staples
Enough vinyl for the top or laminated fabric
scissors
staple pulling devices ( we used everything from a staple puller to pliers and a flat head screwdriver)
2 small shallow bowls or jars for screws and used staples
scissors and craft knife
phillips head screwdriver

Keep in mind that small children and these tools do not mix well. This is probably the reason why this job didn’t happen any sooner.

Measure your card table top and while you are measuring check to see if your table top screws into the base and legs.

See the little brackets that are riveted to the table top then then screw into the metal table base.

Now you know if your card table is able to be recovered.

Buy your vinyl or laminated fabric for the top. Â I tried to buy a non- stripey design so it wouldn’t matter if I lined up the stripes perfectly. Un-aligned stripes drive me crazy over time. I chose vintage looking Paris postcards.

Put your card table upside down on your dining table or the floor. It is easier on your back and your knees. Using your phillips head screw driver remove all of the screws.

Take the legs off of the top and set them aside. Then start to remove all of the staples any way you can. Take a photo of the corner so that you can see how the vinyl was stapled in the corners.

It was stretched really tight and stapled a bunch.

Remove the vinyl and place your choice of top face down on your work surface. Place the padding on top and then your table top. It will make a sandwich with the top face down, then the padding and lastly the table top also face down.

Cut the top about four inches longer than you need on all four sides. This gives you something to pull on when you are stapling. We will trim the extra off later.

Staple one time in the middle on the first side.

Then I pulled the Paris fabric tight on the opposite side and put one staple in the table (through all of the layers) also in the middle. Then work one on each side of this first staple alternating opposite sides. Leave the corners alone for now.

Then staple the other two sides.

It will Â be stapled on all four sides with no corners done about 1/2 way through.

If your staples don’t go all the way in then you can get a hammer and tack them down firmly.

Then do the corners the same way as the photo stretching and stapling as you go. I tried to staple little bits instead of big folds of the vinyl.

Take the craft knife or scissors and trim the extra vinyl just on the inside of your staples away from the table edge.

Put the table base and legs back on your table top and put the screws back in.

See Tom put the screws back in for me. He also did most of the work but that happens at my house whenever I get out the tools. He did a great job and I just did other things.

I also have vinyl left over to do the chairs as well. So I am pretty happy about this project.

Things I would watch out for before starting.

make sure you have enough staples for the staple gun before you get started.
Make sure the staples you have fit the staple gun you own.

The top isn’t as tight as the original top but it isn’t wrinkled and the laminated fabric stretches more than the vinyl did. It looks good and is easy to clean. It gives new life to an old table and keeps me from wanting to buy a new card table. This is good since we have two tables and they both needed recovering. It keeps them both out of the landfill.

talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Karen Stewart

At the Craft Fair

Here is our booth at the craft fair. It underwent several quick changes as the days progressed. I would love to say that we sold out of everything but I can’t. I am glad to say that we did do very well considering it was our first time at this venue.

Here is one side of the booth on opening day. It looks pretty good and I think we did a pretty good job. The babys breath flowers were fresh and started causing some allergy issues for me. So, I had to pitch them in the trash.

Here are the aprons and the baby bibs. I also added baby hats to this as the day passed. The potholders and aprons were not as big a hit as I wanted them to be but the super hero capes were! Our ten foot booth sure did get filled up quickly. We ended up using my craft fair tent instead of the backdrop as it worked better. This put our set up time behind. It was a really busy and long day.

Here is a close up of the baby items on the second day. People sure liked the giraffes.

Our son had made these great blanket ladders and had them for sale. They are about 18 inches wide and just under five feet high. They made great displays and it was good to see them get so much attention.

I was iffy about pricing so I changed my prices throughout the weekend. I had a great experience and passed out almost all of my business cards.

I jump right into Thanksgiving this week and like you, I have so many things to do and not enough time to get them done. I will see you after Thanksgiving day. I need to get my house clean and dinners cooked because I add four more people to our house for the weekend. I am not sure how much I will be around for Black Friday and Cyber Monday but if you do shop ChocolateDogStudio please use 7THANNIVERSARY as your coupon code for 20% off any purchase $20 or more, unless you are getting Affair of the Heart special pricing. This coupon is good until December 5th to give everyone a chance to save money!

Talk to you later

Karen

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Today is all about Table Covers

Today is all about table covers as I work to create table cloths for the craft show. I have a wide variety of Â fabrics and textures to use and I need to figure out a way to use them creatively without buying anything new. My supplies consist of

burlap. real burlap bags that I have washed and dried three times
canvas …left over from sewing the slip covers on the couch
a white bedskirt that has eyelet ruffles and embroidery all in shades of white
white tulle left over from the wedding
off white and white muslin left over from a variety of crafts

I just need to figure out the most attractive fabric layout so I can stitch up these table cloths.. That is the challenge for today. We will see how it all goes together.

Some bunting or banners would also work well in white and off white colors. We are working with neutral colors. We hope that these colors will stick in the background and all Â the items to stand out more. The balance might be off color wise but I can’t tell until I lay out the colors and see.

I really don’t want to buy any more fabric but we will see how it looks when I’m done.

Talk to you later,

Karen