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Posted on January 10, 2017 by Karen Stewart — 1 Comment

Keeping Track of Skeins of Yarn and Using Them

Keeping track of skeins of yarn in my stash is hard. I struggle with knowing what colors I have and the amounts left in each skein. Then there are all those partial skeins and balls of yarn that seem to spill out onto my desk and clutter up my life — do I even need to mention what happens when the yarn basket gets full? Maybe it’s just me, but I’m convinced those pesky balls of yarnÂ unroll themselves and tangle up for no reason other than to spite me. Then I seem to forget what I have and where it is. It can really be frustrating!

Continue reading Keeping Track of Skeins of Yarn and Using Them

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Making Something Out of Nothing

There are many times when I feel like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat — when I find myself making something out of nothing.

Like mealtimes, when it looks like there is nothing to eat in the house, and family and friends drop in unexpectedly –Â yetÂ somehow what gets to the table looks fabulous. (This happens occasionally.)
When I need to get ALL the errands run within a short time limit –Â yet somehow I manage to drive the speed limit and still get all the errands done with time to spare.
When I was teaching art and the project for the kids was all wrong and required an instant, on-your-feet adaptation –Â yet it looked great and was easy to explain.

The list seems endless! These can be very stressful situations.

MyÂ Super Power

This making something out of nothing is what I love to do. I love to create things using what I have sitting around the house (often referred to as scraps).

Scrap yarn, scrap fabric, scrap art supplies, scrap odds and ends. Creating something out of what looks like nothing is a muscle which needs exercise. You could say It is a super power that doesn’t require a super suit. Our great-grandparents used this muscle daily during the Great Depression; it was just a part of life.

These days people call it recycling or green living, but it still feels a lot like making something out of nothing.

The Use Your Stash ChallengeÂ is a great way to exercise your creative muscles when it comes to using up your stash of supplies. Give yourself some boundaries (would you even wear crocheted shorts?) and create to your heart’s content!

Creative Months

I often allow myself to be really creative and use all my stash on hand, not just my yarnÂ stash. Doing this helps me to create lovely things for our home. Often, during the Christmas rush, I forget to take theÂ time to make things I like for the house I live in. January and February tend to be a nesting time for me as we pull-in and deal with ice and/or snow storms here in Oklahoma.

Scrap afghans keep me warm while I work on them, and the works-in-progress list gets smaller as the stash is used up. This allows me to make room for new yarns and projects.

Ideas to Get You Started

Here are a few of my favorite scrap projects from my archives and some from Way, way back.

Granny Square Scarf with Scalloped Border — granny square scarf

Some of these next items could be scrap busting projects if you need ideas. I crocheted or sewed all of these. They weren’t necessarily scrap projects but could easily be Use Your Stash projects. There are a bunch of ideas here that you can pick up and go with.

The items above were created out of small bits and pieces of fabric, beads, and yarn. They can all be created out of stash items.

Use Your Stash Challenge

Can you tell that I am trying to get you to join the Use Your Stash Challenge January 2017? It is an excellent way to use up your bits and pieces.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Karen Stewart

December Memories

Christmas seems to bring to mind so many memories. This year is no exception as I think about Christmases from the past with my Granny and Papa. It wasn’t often that we saw them in December. Memories of them during the Christmas season are few because we were living in other states and countries for years.

To Grandmother’s House We Go

I do vividly remember one particular Christmas with my Granny — probably because it was the year I was learning to play the bass clarinet. If you’re not familiar with a bass clarinet, let me just say it’s a wind instrument. Looking at it, you wouldn’t think it would be loud. But it is. Especially in small homes filled with people. That year, the band director thought it would be a wonderful idea for us to practice for 21 hours over Christmas break. My horn barely fit in the enormous trunk of my parents’ sea green Pontiac with all the suitcases, but we got it in and made the drive from Denver to Oklahoma.

My Granny and Papa lived on an Oklahoma farm. Which means that while they had chickens and cows, the cows lived in the pasture and the barn was used for hay, not milk cows. The barns were built about the time of the land run. I remember them as old, weathered, and silvery-gray.

Free Concerts

Granny saw the horn and told me that I could practice in the hay barn. It wasn’t really cold, but the air was nippy enough that a coat and hat were in order. I took the chair, stand and huge instrument case down to the hay barn followed by a couple of faithful farm dogs. I played quite a bit that Christmas trying to finish up the 21 hours of practice required by my Band director.

FamilyÂ members would drift down from time to time and listen to me play. It was kind of cool to practice in the big hay barn to an audience of one and a couple of the farm dogs. Except the dogs didn’t hang out for long. But it was cool anyway.

December Memories

Do you have any favorite (or funny) December memories? Tell me about them in the comments, and we can reminisce together. And may you have a very Merry Christmas this year!

Karen

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for the Use Your Stash Challenge!

P.P.S. She is also the Granny I crocheted countless nose warmers for when I was a little girl (actually a wad of crochet on two strings), which she put into her china cabinet because they were special to her.

Posted on December 8, 2016January 10, 2020 by Karen Stewart

Studio Organization for the Crafty Woman

Crafty women sometimesÂ have a different idea of what Girls’ Night Out should look like. I recently visited a close friend who had just moved into her new (to her) house. The last few boxes to unpack were daunting for her as they housed her passion–one of her prime interests in life–her sewing. This has also been her business, and there it was, all boxed up, staring at her. She had so many boxes to go through and found it difficult to decide which one to sort through first.Â All the items in the boxes were quite daunting, too! Some needed to be kept, some needed to be given away, and some just needed to be trashed! I would like to think I helped, but I’m not positive. Much of the time I was there, I was thinking about my own studio organization and how much I really want to work on getting rid of some of my old stuff!

So, in honor of all our unorganized yarn/sewing/craft rooms, here are several organizers and room arrangements that I wish I had in my studio!

Organization Walls

Studio organization bookcases — http://raisinguprubies.blogspot.com/2012/05/cute-place-to-make-stuff.html

(I have no idea where the above photo is from, but it is a great storage idea for my studio which has a slanted ceiling. If you know the correct web address, so I can give credit to the designer of this space, please send me a message!)

Organization Bins

Although this is showing toys and books for children, I can just imagine these bins holding skeins of yarn, scraps of fabric, and opened packages of batting and fleece.

Studio Organization

Pegboard on the wall is a great idea, one which I have already made use of in my studio. Organization needs often change over time, though. I find I must change-up my pegboard every now and then to make it more useful. Honeybearlane.com has some great craft room ideas; I need to ~~procrastinate~~ research a bit more to see what new ideas I can come up with for my studio.

Pegboard Organization

Below is a photo of my downstairs pegboard. As you can see, I am just starting to populate it with hooks and miscellaneous things I need to store. (Notice the magnet board directly below it.) I’m working downstairs more these days because the light is so much better, but I share the space with Hubs, so I need to keep it more organized. I have some really great ideas for studio organization, but no time to implement them. One thing on my to-do list is to paint the pegboard, but for now, I’m thrilled just to have it on the wall.

Use Your Stash

Looking for ways to use up and get rid of your yarn stash? Do you have UFOs (unfinished objects), WIPs (works in progress), and PIGs (projects in grocery sacks) hiding around your home? Then you need to join the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017!Â Be watching this blog — details are coming next week!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on December 6, 2016January 10, 2020 by Karen Stewart

Managing My Life

December always seems to be the time when I take stock and check what I need to change and improve. It seems I mostly do this when I clean for familyÂ visits over the holidays. Are your December days like this, too? I guess it is the feeling of starting a new year, of new beginnings. I look forward to getting organizedÂ and setting up better systems for managing my life and planning for the future. Then I won’t have to struggle so much with cleaning/organizing in the New Year.

Three Areas I Struggle to Manage Well

My Time
Crochet Projects
Family/Work Balance

How I Manage My Biggest Stumbling Block

Managing my time has been a huge stumbling block for me. It seems that something is always in the way of doing what I want to do. I recently had a conversation with our adult daughter which really opened my eyes. I was listing everything I had to do and why it seemed like I never had any time. Along with the list was my chief complaint that I am tired all the time. We talked about it for awhile and, finally, she said, “It sounds like you need a day off.” She was right, but my schedule is too full and too busy with too much stuff going on.

I took a long look at my calendar and started canceling things that were not immediately necessary. Just because something is good doesn’t mean I need to participate. If you take the rock, pebbles and sand analogy too far you can see yourself coming and going. Then there is no time to just be, to just enjoy life. Family, art, and creativity take time; you just have to know how to spend that time. Otherwise, you miss the small minutes that can mean so much. It is possible to structure your time so heavily that you never have time to look at the rainbow. or the flowers. I catch myself not looking my kids “in the eye” and telling them I love them. And I forget: why I started this crafty business in the first place; to tell my husband I love him; to laugh and have fun with my family.

Wow, I forget a lot. It must be the doer/manager part of me that is so strong. If you forget the sweet things in life, then you really don’t have a life!

Three Simple ThingsÂ for Managing My Life

Delegating

I have been delegating more house chores to family members–the kids need the experience and practice, plus the knowledge that cleaning should happen every week. Whenever I can have someone else do a chore, then I do. Delegating to the kids to do their own laundry and “hiring” their help around the house has freed up some of my time and keeps the cleaning chores down to a dull roar for me.

Set Office Hours

I posted my office hours for my online sales venues. This helps customers know that I am not ignoring their comments on the weekend. I am truly off work. I also am ~~trying~~ learning to schedule work time around family/date night/me time. I’m getting better at it. When you work in your living room, your work can become your life.

Work Ahead

In an effort to reduce stress, I am trying to work ahead. From freezer cooking to errands to crochet patterns, I am attempting to work in advance of when it is due. This gives me a little spare time to fight off that cold or welcome the new Grandkids that arrive unexpectedly.

Now if I can just get my Christmas/Birthday shopping and card buying done early too!

You notice I did not say one word about crocheting, organizing yarn, or using my stash yarns. That’s because my focus this month is on using my stash yarn. Be watching for a post next week when I tell you all about the Use Your Stash Challenge because we must, after all…

Shop Our Stash First!

Already, I am getting so excited about it–I can’t wait to get started! I want to see all of your projects and ideas, and I can’t wait to feel the excitement as we all work through our stash and WIP’s (works in progress).

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Before Buying New Craft Supplies, Remember These Four Things

Stepping foot into a craft store is dangerous for many crafters’ pocketbooks. It is so easy to over-buy and spend a ton of money on craft supplies which–after the first initial project–just sit in a closet or on a shelf. Having craft storage is great, but not if you fill it with supplies you will never use again. There are so many fun Pinterest projects to choose from; it is easy to buy duplicate supplies instead of checking your stash and working with what you have. I have created a checklist which I run through before I head out to the store. This keeps me more focused with my crafting dollars and allows me to spend more money on yarn. Ha! You knew there was a reason behind my method! Here is my list of things to remember before buying new craft supplies.

1. Do I already have something that will work?

I was at a crossroads; a major element in my project broke. After a quick Internet search for how to fix it, I was ready to pick up my car keys and head to the craft store. Then I stopped, and thought to myself, Would a permanent fabric glue work instead of spray adhesive? Could I use Tacky Glue instead?

How many times have you jumped in the car to go out and buy a single craft supply when what you already have would work fine? {Raising my hand in guilt!} I’m happy to report that my alternative idea not only worked like a charm, but I was able to use up the whole bottle of Tacky Glue. Score! I used up a craft supply without adding any more stuff to my house. This made my husband very happy.

2. Can I creatively solve the problem?

What can I do to get the same look called for in the pattern or instructions? Would adding glitter to regular glue give me the same effect as glitter glue? Instead of stickers, can I cut out cars and trucks from wrapping papers and use packing tape to decorate the kids’ folders? Before buying new craft supplies, remember:Â You are a crafter–start thinking creatively.

3. Do my friends and family have it?

Ask around to see if someone has what you need, or a suggestion for a replacement. Many people are overloaded with leftover craft supplies and fabric remnants. You are not alone! (Hence, this blog post.)

My mom’s, my mother-in-law’s, and my friend Dawn’s stash fabricsÂ plusÂ my fabric scraps make up a great quilt!.

4. Can I get the supply second hand?

Birthday party supplies, craft supplies, holiday party decorations–these are all items that you can find secondhand at garage sales, thrift stores, and estate sales.Â You do need to be careful and use due care before buying new craft suppliesÂ at garage sales, thrift stores, and estate sales, though. You can read more about that in this blog post on garage sale shopping.

What I’ve Been Up To

It has been busy this past week, but– when isn’t it busy?! I am pretty sure that your life has been overloaded with things to do as well. We are gearing up for a garage sale in the next couple of weeks, which means there are random boxes of stuff sitting around and waiting forÂ the day they will be sold. Constantly seeing these boxes reminds me that I need to go through the rest of my belongings and make sure that I am really and truly ready for the sale.

I have been crocheting up a storm these days and have so many new ideas. Did I tell you that Fall is one of my most productive and creative times of the year? I have been working on more color pooling, and I can’t wait to show you. I’ve also been thinking about the giveaway in November (it’s the anniversary of my Etsy shop, so I’m having a giveaway) and the January challenge (this year is flying by and will be over before you know it). I just received the cutest little things to include for the giveaway–I can’t wait for you to see it all! (Yes, I am one of those people whoÂ wantÂ to give Christmas gifts in November.)

Are you curious to hear what I am thinking about January? That is the wonderful time when we take down and put away the Christmas decorations; start a fresh, new year; clean up, sort through, and organize our stuff–it’s a new beginning of sorts. It is also when I start the annual Use Your Stash Challenge! I hope you will seriously think about joining us. It is fun and addictive to see what we can make without shopping. It also is a big budget booster and family pleaser (because it helps our overflowing stash fit back into its designated storage space).

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

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Karen Stewart

2 Crochet Baby Blankets

I seem to be on a roll these days crocheting baby blankets. I started this blue and white one before Christmas and then moved on to this grey one. They are both beautiful but I have to admit that I prefer the blue and white one. I have no idea why, well, it might be because I was using a new pattern with the grey one and had to frog it back 9 rows a couple of times.

I do like the almost houndstooth print of the this grey blanket. I also like that it could work with either a boy baby or a girl baby. This makes it a perfect gift for someone that doesn’t know which gender they are having. Â They are both crocheted out of soft acrylic yarn and will wash well. You will be able to find them at ChocolatesBabyShop on Friday of this week!

These are also crocheted out of my stash and will make items 16 and 17 for the Use Your Stash Challenge. So I did make progress last week and things are marching on with the challenge. I also spent some time carefully cutting out some quilt projects. I was being careful of my back so I didn’t get much sewing done but I am working on other projects.

I started a new baby blanket yesterday and I have made good progress. I hope to get it finished this week as well. It is in shades of purple. If you are following me on Instagram you have seen that it looks like this.

The colors are a bit off as I took this photo with my cell phone after dark. Which really changes how the colors look.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Baby Giraffe

I spent some time last week trying to figure out what I could crochet. I had hurt my back and I felt burned out crocheting baby blankets. I have recently finished two blankets and I was wanting to do something completely different. I ran across a really cute pattern on Pinterest. It seemed to hit the right chord and off I ran. I actually was able to use up some bits and pieces of yarn and I love the end result. These two cuties do fit with the Use Your Stash Challenge as I used up some small balls of stash yarn.

I showed you the arms and legs on Instagram and then quickly added the bodies.

Here they are together as they are already best buddies. The colors in the lower photo are a bit darker than they should be.

Perfect for babies or big sisters and brothers. The faces are embroidered on with yarn and the bodies are firmly sewn on. They sure are cute and were fun to make. You can make your own if you crochet. I will be adding these to ChocolatesBabyShop on Friday. The pattern is available on Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-giraffe-2Â

So this would be 14 and 15 on my Use Your Stash Challenge! I love these and I will make some more Amigurumi. They are easier than I thought they would be.

The snow is continuing to fall today. It started looking like this at about 9 am this morning.

Â (I know that this isn’t much snow if you are further North than we are but it happens infrequently enough that it is a pretty big weather event for us!) I live in Colorado for several years when I was a child, so I know this isn’t much snow!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Karen Stewart

Crazy Weather, Spray Paint and Crib Spring repurpose!

The weather here has been crazy good. It is January and it is 70 degrees out yesterday and today. Wow, 70 in January. It is beautiful. I am going to repurpose a pair of crib springs.

I Â also need to work on my squares for the 4 blocks a week. I am behind and I try to stay a little ahead on that challenge. I also feel behind on the Use Your Stash Challenge. I guess last year I really worked quickly. This year I am doing great projects but I also have some custom work that is slowing me down and I am doing some big projects at the start rather than at the end.

So I got out theÂ spray paint. I have been waiting for a warm day with low wind. You noticed that I didn’t say no wind. I live in Oklahoma and that wind really does blow,Â every single day!

I have been wanting to spray paint these wooden Christmas trees gold, ever since I asked the kids their permission. They wereÂ painted to look like Christmas trees complete with ornaments. So, I yanked them out of the Christmas decorationÂ box and got the gold spray paint out. I am afraid I will forget and lose the gold spray paint before Christmas season next year, besides the Christmas season is always so rushed.

I also wanted to prime this baby crib spring. I have done one side with primer and now I am waiting to do the other side.The timer is set and I am hanging out on the couch until time to jump up and put another coat on.Â The trees I want to put on my mantel at Christmas and the weather at Christmas time was just not right. Since I had the tarp out I decided to do it last weekÂ and then pack them away for the year.

This is what I am going to do with the crib springs, but I’m painting mine dark bronze. I have two and actually I mayÂ give one to my daughter in law. She said she might want one.

Crazy Weather, Spray Paint and Crib Spring repurpose! — http://www.diyinspired.com/repurposed-bed-spring-craft-storage/#_a5y_p=2052817

Here is another one.

I should have some Â great progress to chart this week. I am still working on my To Do list and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

It is time to get out and paint some more.

Talk to you later,

Karen