chocolatesbabyshop Archives

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Karen Stewart

14 days left and two full weekends!

It is Friday and I have 14 days left and two full weekends. I am spending one day with my family, one day at Church and taking a date night as well. I was getting worried about getting everything done until I completed my inventory. I do have my back up help lined up for the show so that is a great thing.

I still have tons to do and today my focus is on boot cuffs and getting supplies for packaging. The image of what we buy is so much wrapped up in the packaging and styling. Things that look average somehow change their image with labels, tags and packaging. How can you tell the difference between a scarf, boot cuff, and infinity scarf when they are all set out on a table? This is what I am trying to solve.

These are a couple of pairs of boot cuffs in process.

Sitting here in my living room and looking at the trees outside my windows. There are about 20 trees out there but what do I see the red, yellow and orange trees. That is what I want for my products a chance to stand out from the crowd. Tags and labels help but packaging can also make a huge difference. I have been to craft shows where all the knit stuff blends in together. It is hard toÂ figure out what each piece is. Packaging and labelling is the way for me to solve that issue. It will also keep everything from look messy.

Talk to you later,

Karen

You can find my items on Etsy here:

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

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

on Amazon here:

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

and at The Affair of the Heart in Tulsa on November 20-22

I am also found on Instagram Â hereÂ https://instagram.com/chocodogstudio/

but right now you can find me at home churning out lovely items for you and your family!

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 October 6, 2014 by admin

Stacks of bibs

Today, I am getting stacks of bibs sewn so they can be available in ChocolatesBabyShop.etsy.com. I can’t wait to get to the photography part. I am adding a bit more to the geeky line of bibs and I actually found some Dr. Who Tardis fabric. I have so much to share that this post should really be two posts but I am short on time these days to condense this down any smaller. I will start with the blankets that I listed for sale this past week. These granny square blankets will be in both shops. This green and lavender granny square is throw sized. It is perfect for keeping on the end of the bed or back of the chair for quick warmth. Crocheted of soft, warm and washable acrylic yarns it is infinitely useful. It is 42 inches square.This beautiful pink granny square baby blanket Â and the aqua and purple blanket areÂ both be available in ChocolatesBabyShop. The pink blanket is 32 inches square and the aqua blanket is 27 inches square. They are both crocheted out of soft acrylic yarns. These washable yarns a greatÂ allergy solution to wool yarns.Â I have spent a huge amount of time with family the past several weeks. It is just that stage of life, I guess. My Mom is is downsizing into an apartment from her house and is moving to town. I am excited as we will get to spend more time together. I have been adding her stash to mine and the sewing room is even more chaotic than normal. I feel a bit sleep deprived and I have been low on energy to sew so waking up this morning to a blast of energy is beyond my understanding. It has been one of those days. A day when I get huge amounts done. Â I fixed a baby shirt a friend was having issues with. I also got all of this done this morning as well; before noon!Â This is the before photo.Â I trimmed, sewed, pinned and turned right side out all of these bibs.Since I seem to be accomplishing things, I am going to dash off before the coffee wears off!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on September 26, 2014 by admin

Works in Progress: Crochet Blankets

The works in progress list of crochet blankets is getting smaller. I was waiting on several yarn orders before I could finish the crochet afghans I had started the past month. Here is the current list of projects in progress.

So I have finished the three granny square blankets in the past four days. I just needed to have a moment to figure out the size and then add the border. I did get to crochet for a long time yesterday on the purple and aqua baby blanket. I managed to get the border on and some sweet little flower embellishments. I think this needs a little beanie or baby bonnet to go with it. Â I am exceedingly close on the ribbon stripe and the Autumn stripe. Currently, I am working on the Autumn stripe as the photographer is scheduled to come by this weekend.
There is sewing that is needing to be done today. So, I will work on it this morning and hopefully finish the large stack of sewing I have all piled up. There are bibs, and press cozies waiting on the sewing.
There are also some new projects I have in mind and I just need to make time to prototype the new ideas.

I have been having issues with the blog and I needed some help to get it all straightened out. I apologize for that.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on August 31, 2014 by admin

Great Fall Sale!

There is a great sale going on right now at Chocolate Dog Studio and Chocolate’s Baby shop, 25% off the SaleÂ items!

All of my cup cozies are on sale for Autumn!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/200375673/sale-coffee-cup-sleeve-coffee-cup-cozy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185880098/sale-fabric-coffee-cozy-cup-sleeve-aqua

There are also bibs on sale in ChocolatesBabyShop!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on July 12, 2014 by admin

Ridged Baby Ripple

I finished the ridged baby rippleÂ quite some time ago. I hated to show it off until I had written the pattern. Here it is: a wonderful soft cottony baby blanket.

The blanket isÂ 18″ x 24″. A perfect size to cover baby in their carseat.

You can find the pattern on etsy, craftsy and the blanket for sale on Etsy as well.

What are you working on and how are you doing this week?

See you later,

Karen

Posted on June 11, 2014 by admin

New baby bibs!

I have been sewing a bunch of beautiful baby bibs. They are so cheerful and happy!

They aren’t quite finished but they will be soon! Â I can’t wait to show them all to you. I hope to get these bibs photographed and in the shop on Friday of this week, along with some new baby blankets. They are all lighter weight and perfect for summer weather. They all have snuggly flannel on one side and cool soft cotton on the other.

This week has been a busy driving one back and forth to different activities for the kids. One is assisting at vacation bible school and the other has been needing a ride back and forth to work. So I have put many miles on the car this week. It ends tomorrow and there should be more down time next week.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on May 29, 2014 by admin

Looking Back…

I wrote this about a month ago. Believe it or not everything that I was worried about has been handled. All of the things that I thought were worthy of worry are now solved, resolved or handled. Shall I share the outcome of each of these worries.

I am starting to push the panic button. In the next month we have a ton of things happening.

The college girl comes home with all of her belongings Â She is home and everything is great!
Sr. recognition Sunday at church for our graduating seniorÂ Done and over!
High school graduation for our youngest sonÂ Graduated!
Our 26th wedding anniversaryÂ Celebrated and wonderful!
Memorial Day, a day which we now try to put flowers and remember those who have passed away and those who have served in the military.Â Done
I need to get a child ready for camp
send her to camp
I have two kids needing to find summer jobsÂ They both found jobs on their own without my interference!
feeding all of the people that will be here this summerÂ I have two extra cooks and meals are getting accomplished daily!
find out about my foot in the boot and what needs to be done.Â The boot is gone. I am mobile and taking up the rhythms of life again!

I guess I am discouraged by the busyness of life. I need to take time to remember that these busy times are sweet family time. We will once again all gather around the table and share stories, insights and food. It seems that my family places importance on food as it gathers us all together.

Yes, we do place importance on food as it is hard to get all of us together at any other time.

I hope you and your family find some sweet family time this summer!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on May 27, 2014 by admin

The May Garden

I love perennials in my flower beds. These grow in the raised flower bed at the front of the house. I am transplanting an off shoot to the new flower bed.

Aren’t they bright and sunny. I can’t remember the name of them. We also have Russian Sage growing in this flower bed. The sage was planted in the middle and has migrated out to the front edge.

It has bright blue flowers that the bees love. It is tall and ferny and simply lovely and yes I cropped this photo so you can’t see the tree growing in the bed at the back. Here is a good shot of reality. It is the area around the corner from the front garden bed.

It is pretty wild and needs a lot of work. These are the new flowers that we added last week.

English daisies and Purple cone flower both of which we had at our last house. They seem to love hot summers and the so- so watering job that I do.

I have too many projects going right now and I feel really stretched thin on the creative side of things. I am in the process of adding some new to the shop and I feel really pretty overwhelmed and terribly forgetful. I am tending to skip around from project to project during the day and not seeming to accomplish much.

I guess I need a new challenge and there is one I am thinking about but I just can’t decide if I really want to participate. It is a daily listing challenge and I am wondering if it would be wise to try it. I would have to list something new in the shop everyday. Summer, has been a little crazy so far. We have three of the kids home. One is working a full time internship with regular working hours and the other is working almost full time hours at Arby’s. This means that he has crazy hours. So I am not sure about the listing challenge. The other challenge is a one hundred Granny Square block challenge. I am still thinking about this one. I have been tossing it around since we lived in Iowa, which is close to 2 years ago. The other challenge has to do with more scrap busting! I am still thinking about this one, but I know that it wouldn’t be wise to totally stop buying supplies like I did for the 100 items in 100 days challenge! Â http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/2014/01/17/1-thing-for-100-days-challenge/

I do need to use up some scraps so we will see!

talk to you later!

Karen