Karen Stewart, Author at Grid and Bloom

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Sewing, sewing and more sewing

It has been a long time since I have worked through my to do list. Sewing has been at the top of my list the past few weeks. My photographerÂ (our son)Â is coming to lunch on Sunday and bringing my beautiful daughter in law. He is going to shoot some photos of my items, his blanket ladders and my Mom’s stuff that we are going to sell. There are tons of projects to finish and I have been stacking them up so that I don’t forget anything that I have finished lately.

Here are a few quick photos of the more recent projects.his afghan needs some more design work. It is hard to work on as there are too many yarns hanging on to it as you work.

I have finished what feels like tons of new coffee press cozies. Really, there aren’t that many just several of each color. It is exciting to see them finishing up. They need the final ironing and then they will be ready for their photos.

These are my fabrics for my next quilting class. I bought all of these fabrics. I don’t have a copy of the pattern so I am not sure how it will be cut so it is much harder to use my scraps.

I was procrastinating about sewing on the buttons this morning.Â Then this beautiful box of loveliness arrived and I am ready for a movie and some serious crochet work.

This is yet another hat in the works. The yarn is lovely and soft but it is difficult to crochet. It is slippery and wants to frog itself.

Her e is a prototype of a teapot cozy that I have been fiddling with. I have made them two different ways and I am not sure which one I like best yet. Here is #1.

This is number two with the daisy button. I think the daisy button makes the whole tea cozy!

I couldn’t resist getting the yarn out on the the table to take another look.

There are so many gorgeous colors in this batch.Â I should run and get back to work. As you can see I have so much to do and not enough time!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Karen Stewart

May 2015

May has been a busy month. Â We drove to DD’s college to pick up her stuff at the end of the semester and then also get her outfitted for a trip with her school. She is now off on her trip and headed out to wide, wide world. Â One son started his new job and the youngest is still homeschooling. We are schooling year round the next two years. It will be good and seems to be just what we needed to do. The stress level in our house has dropped. School and church activities have slowed down considerably and we are delighted to have this change in schedule.

We have had a bunch of rain. It has caused quite a bit of flooding. We were under a flash flood alert when I took this photo. We were in no danger the highway at this point is built up higher than the surrounding fields. The rain is good as we have had drought in the summers the past few years. The lakes are starting to fill back up to a more normal level all across the state.

On the creative side of things. I did get some crochet hats created for a craft show that is no longer happening. Â It was great fun to create some quick projects that use up the yarn. (I am feeling burdened by my stash of yarn.) I have been in the process of sewing coffee press cozies, cup cozies, bibs and other lovely things.

I am rather out of steam lately and I think it is time to just be and enjoy family and friends.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Sister Weekend

Sister weekend is happening… somewhere in Texas! I had a great time this past weekend with my Mom and her sisters. It was her sister weekend. We gather and talk, eat, talk, sleep, do something fun, talk, eat. I am sure that you get the idea. These are some photos of the great time we had this weekend. I left out family photos to protect the innocent but you can see a little of the great times that we had. There are no kids allowed as it gives us much needed adult time to visit without tending to all of our little and not so little ones. In fact, until the daughters turn about 25 or so I think they aren’t invited.

The beautiful view on the way to my Aunt’s house.

The ten minutes we got to sit and enjoy the sunset before we launched into either more talking or dinner.

This year we did paintings as our fun activity. This is the part where we are spattering paint on our flower paintings.

These are just quick glimpses into our weekend.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Crochet Hats

Crochet hats seem to be on the hook this month. They are pretty quick and fairly easy. I hope to get several more crocheted during the next month or so. I’m using my stash yarns for these hats. They look cute and are getting crocheted pretty quickly. Pardon the awful photos, I took these really late at night. I am counting these towards my Use My Stash items.

My photos for the yoda hats turned out pretty dismal so you are going to have to take me at my word that # 34 and 35 are in fact Yoda hats

#36 and 37

I made two Batman hats. They turned out great! You can see through the eye holes or roll the brim up and just wear it as a hat.

#38 and 39 Fox hats

These were fun to crochet and both of my models tried the hats on and broke into the song “What Does the Fox Say?” One is child sized and the other is adult sized.

#40 and 41 Two Ninja Turtle hats

#42

1 Cabbage patch doll hat on order for a friend. Her daughter has red hair and the hat turned out so cute!

It seems to have been a productive week and things are happening around the house. What have you been working on and how are your projects going?

Talk to you later,

Karen

You can find the hats for sale here: Â https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateDogStudio?section_id=12483070

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Quilting!

Spring comes with a rush and with it the days fly by. It has been weeks since I have posted on the blog. I’ve not quite creating. It has been overwhelming lately with so much to do and time seems much shorter these days.

I have started this log cabin quilt after finishing Â the quilt from the quilt class. This quilt is using a jelly roll of coordinating fabrics.

It is going together easily. The quilt from quilt class is finished and looks great on our bed. This is number 33 in the Use My Stash Challenge!

Here it is quilted, bound, washed and dried to get the lovely puckery look of a quilt. It was easier to sew than I thought it would be and I learned so much. I am taking another quilting class next week. I haven’t bought my fabrics yet and I can’t find out any information about the block sizes so I can use my scraps. This might be a fabric shopping situation.

Here is the quilt I will be starting next week, or at least one in the same pattern.

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Spring Break Progress!

Last week was Spring Break for our house and home school. While the college kids were home the first week in March, we did not take off school as we did last week. I am sure that you noticed that I have been missing the past two weeks. I did write blog posts but we were busy doing fun things. I did get so much sewing done last week and it was great. I have a few photos of new items that were on the To Do list a long time. It was good to get them finished as they are also on theÂ Use My Stash Challenge items. They were also on my To Do List, so I am quite happy about last weeks progress!

I finished these baby swaddling blankets. They are reversible with white flannel on one side and the chevron on the other.

I also finished a fox blanket that was sitting around waiting to be stitched. So it counts in the total. I completed two of the red blankets, one blue and and the one fox blanket. So these would be numbers 18, 19, 20 and 21

I also sewed up these cute baby burp cloths.

I completed 8 baby burp cloths total; 2Â in the red chevron, Â 4 truck burp cloths with chenille on the backing, and 2 truck burp cloths with the diaper backing. They sure look cute. These are numbers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28.

I also completed several capes that I bought fabric for two years ago. They are definitely sewn out of my stash fabrics. The capes are reversible. Â There are several different color combinations. My boys would have loved them when they were little. I finished about 4 of them total. I have several more that just need the finishing touches. These are numbers, 29, 30, 31, 32!

The baby items will eventually find their way to ChocolatesBabyShop.etsy.com and the capes are for an event later this summer.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Karen Stewart

4 blocks a week Granny Square sample blanket

I did get my squares finished this week for the 4 blocks a week Granny square sampler blanket. The photos are pretty bad and I will need to retake at least one if not all four of the blocks. I have started with a new crochet book. This one is called The Granny Square Book by Â Margaret Hubert. The directions in this book are great and she includes pattern directions to make different items using the granny squares. I think it is always interesting to see how the squares can be combined to come up with newÂ items.Â The 4 blocks for this weekÂ are beautiful and I think they will do well in the blanket. I have a full zipper bag of squares now and they are looking very beautiful. I can’t wait to get started putting them together.

I have included affiliate links and I will receive a small percentage of any purchase you make.

Â Things are moving pretty quickly here at home in spite of it being a Spring break week. We are lucky enough to have two Spring break weeks. The first is when our daughter is home from college. She usually brings a couple of friend sand then we are busy doing nothing until they head home. This week is different as there are definite things that need to be accomplished that they need my help completing. My daughter’s room mate is engagedÂ and getting married this summer. So, we have wedding things to shop for and think about. It is nice to be thinking and doing lovely bride things without having the emotional part of being Mother of the Bride. I know that I will be totally emotional when our time comes. We have also had some doctor visits to take care of since one of the friends has been feeling very unwell for quite some time. We handled that on Monday and I think things are beginning to look up. The weather has been rainy but is supposed to be beautiful for the rest of the week. I am ready for some sunny spring weather.

Talk to you later,

Karen

P.S.

Last week was so hectic Â that I didn’t get this posted. I am finally able to sit down and edit this post. The week is over and the college students are back at school. This is our Spring Break week and it holds the promise of being a slower week (I hope).

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Use Your Stash Challenge…14 – 17

I know that you are probably wondering where I am in the Use Your Stash Challenge! Have I been hiding, or have I simply forgottenÂ aboutÂ the Use Your Stash Challenge 2015! The truth is neither, I have been hard at work on this challenge. Here are some new things that I have made using supplies that I already had on hand.

This giraffe is number 14

His friend is number 15.

This is number 16.

This baby blanket is number 17.

So, I have been working on it but the items are more complex and take more time! It is great as they also use up more supplies! This is the last post I made in the challenge.

I have started a couple ofÂ new blankets but it is taking longer than I expected to get them finished.

I have been looking at some ideas that will use up more of my fabric stash. The Use Your Stash Challenge is making me think about what I can do to use up what I already have. I feel a bit guilty as I bought some yarn yesterday in order to work on a new crochet blanket idea. Â I gave myself permission to buy if needed. The purchase is within the rules I set.

Here are some cool ideas I found on Pinterest.

This i

Use Your Stash Challenge — http://thesewingloftblog.com/create-scrap-binding/

This is a brilliant idea and while I found it on Pinterest I am not pirating any one else’s idea. I can use my scrap binding on anything I want!

http://www.howdoesshe.com/easy-diy-road-for-toy-cars-made-out-of-your-old-jeans/

This is also a brilliant idea. I would add hook and loop tape to the back since we have carpet on our floors.

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5d14f8180102dt0k.html

These are wonderful. I used google translate and the meaning is never quite right but I think the photos are enough direction to be able to make these scissor keepers.

This pot handle pocket is along the same line and just as simple.

These bunnies are so cute and a perfect Spring time sewing project.

http://733blog.com/2014/03/scrap-fabric-bunny-softie-tutorial/

Just a few ideas to get your creativity flowing! Winter will soon be over in my part of the country. Well, at least it will be in the 70 degree range next week. We do have ice and some snow forecast for this week. We still have snow in the yard from this weekend.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Log Cabin Quilt

Taking a quilting class can be fun. It can be educational. It can be both if you take the class with friends. I have never really quilted. I decided to use my scraps as it would be a great way to use up scrap pieces. This was not a great idea. It has been really hard and I have ripped out more than I care to admit.

I set out the fabrics to see if my idea would work. Â After taking all the squares apart and putting them back together about 4 times. I have learned some things.

When you take a quilting class for the first time. Buy exactly what they say. If it calls for 1 1/2 yards of color A then either have 1 1/2 yards or buy 1 1/2 yards of one fabric.
A class is not the time Â to vary from the instructions in any way. There is a reason why they want you to do the work a specific way.
Buy the gizmos and gadgets that they list in the instructions
It is stressful to the teacher for you to vary greatly from what everyone is doing. She worries that you won’t get it done, or that it will reflect badly on her.
It takes time away from the other students, if the teacher spends her time working with you on your crazy project.

Now you know what I learned this week. It has been incredibly stressful and I spent several nightmare days ripping out sewing and then doing it again wrong. I can easily say that this has been the single more frustrating thing I have ever done, and I brought it all on myself. I persevered and got it done.

I almost have the blocks finished. I have two left to rip out and sew again. That will give me 13 blocks and allow me a spare for the layout process.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Karen Stewart

4 crochet blocks a week: Week 7

Here is the next installment of 4 blocks a week. These 4 blocks a week are giving me fits as time seems to grow ever shorter. I seem to have more things to make than I have time to make them. I have so much to do and I have been incapacitated lately. Which means that I have been getting exactly nothing done.

This was a fun square within a square pattern. I like the diamond shape in the middle.

This on is a fun mitered square. It has no holes which would make it a good blanket square.

This square reminds me of butterflies.

Here is a compilation of all of the squares so you can see them all together.

I think this is all of them. I may have left a few of the easier ones off. I have bought a new book for a few new squares and I will get started with it this week for next weeks blocks.

I am also behind on the Use Your Stash Challenge. It has been hard to sew with a bad back. So, I babied my back the last two weeks and I think I am getting better. At least today I woke up feeling good! Yay, progress!!

Talk to you later,

Karen

You can find the previous weeks squares here:

I have been behindÂ on posting these squares. Â I hurt my back and it kept me off the computer. Â I am also behind on the Use Your Stash Challenge. It has been hard to sew with a bad back. So, I babied my back the last two weeks and I think I am getting better. At least today I woke up feeling good! Yay, progress!!

Talk to you later,

Karen