crafts Archives - Page 2 of 5

Posted on April 17, 2014 by admin

Monday’s News

It appears that my plans can change in 5 minutes or the length of time it takes the Dr. to say you may have torn your tendon. So, I am no longer looking forward to sewing for the comic con as I was thinking of doing. I can always do the comic con later. The good news is that I will get a lot of time sitting with my foot up which is always good for the crocheted items in the shop! I have been working on some little things but I will surprise you with them next week.

My family cleaned the flower beds out for me this past week. They worked hard as the beds had been neglected over the past year.

Here you can see the rose bush and the sage that grow by the front door. We need to put some weed blocker down and then cover it in mulch in an effort to cut down on the grass growing back. I had a lovely package yesterday that was exciting and cheerful at the same time. I received these beautiful yarns in the mail from my friend Rose. Rose does lots of fancy knitting and these are (probably) a small part of her destash. They are all shades of brown and orange and I can hardly wait to get started on them. I have some ideas and they are percolating while I work on some other little things.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on April 2, 2014 by admin

Recycle Crafts

The Challenge of creating 100 items in 100 days has lead me to some interest recycling projects. Here are some of my favorites. I may use these ideas for my challenge items as they look fun, easy and I already have ALL of the supplies.

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/green-crafts-0309#slide-25

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/green-crafts-0309#slide-28

I like to recycle when I am creating but I don’t want to have to collect 59 million candy wrappers or bread tabs or plastic bottles to be able to finish the project. I like it to be quick and to the point using Â materials that I already have on hand. If I have to go out and buy something to create a recycled craft, I feel like it is defeating the purpose of recycling as a craft. I love the crafts listed on here as I can create them pretty much anytime as the supplies I already own.

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/card-wallets#slide-3

http://craftsbyamanda.com/2012/10/recycle-craft-cd-coasters.html

http://www.henryhappened.com/diy-braided-t-shirt-bracelets.html

http://greenbeesbees.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-covered-altiod-tins.html

These are just cute little tins.

http://www.ohmylookbook.com/2014/01/diy-vela-de-madera.html

Such cute candle holders. These would be perfect for Autumn on through Christmas..

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=329854.msg3809291#msg3809291

and a super cute washer necklace idea!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on March 16, 2014 by admin

70 of 100 Items!

70 items out of 100 in the 100 items in 100 days Challenge! Whew, I never realized that it would be this easy. Yes, easy to create 70 items out of supplies I already have on hand. I almost hit a road block yesterday when I ran out of pins for the felt brooches. I found a bunch more this morning and I am started on some different style of brooches using different beads. I can’t wait to show them to you. Here they all are in random order. There are some items that I am not thrilled about but I promised to show you the good, the bad and the ugly.

I’m off to sew and bead some more!

See you later,

Karen

Posted on March 14, 2014 by admin

Felt Brooches

I have an over abundance of felt in black, pink, red and lime green. I also have a ton of beads slightly larger than seed beads. I thought I could combine them into these brooches. I know that I am going to make more today as the mood has hit and the hands are commanding a prolonged rest.

I have seven brooches sewn and beaded! These would be #64 – 70!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on March 2, 2014 by admin

#49 and #50!

It has been awhile since I posted in my 100 items in 100 days. I have been working on it nearly every day. I have just not had time to post photos of my work. It will be another couple days until I can sit down and take some great photos. It has also been overcast and cloudy, which makes for drab and dull photos. I will leave you with these quick pictures I took of some embroidery hoops I am working on. I am in the process of using up these embroidery hoops. As you can see there are so very many that need to be used!

So these would numbers 49 and 50, which makes me half way there and on the downhill slope of the Challenge. I never thought I would be able to get this far but this is working out quite well! I have been forced to think outside the box and work on bit and small projects for my shop! It has been exciting to sit down and sew everyday. Â I have made about 10 or more items that I need to photograph so I can show you.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on February 25, 2014 by admin

The second challenge

I have been thinking of a second challenge. This one has to do with crocheting Â and granny squares. I have seen so many beautiful squares and I want to make them all. Did you know that the average granny square blanket uses at least 100 squares? So if I make 100 different squares I should have enough for a blanket. If I make a couple of each design I would easily have a nice sized crochet blanket. I am not going to give myself a time limit on this challenge but I am going to make 100 different granny squares and then make them into a blanket. Here is my first square. It looks a little wonky and needs to be steam blocked. Â This pattern is found in the book The crochet Motif by written by Edie Eckman.

So this is number 1 out of 100 Granny Squares!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on February 21, 2014 by admin

Friday!

I have several ideas rolling around in my head to sew today. A couple of receiving blankets, pot holders, another coffee press cozy and then some things to finish up. I have a quilt to layout and baste. I have some other wrist warmers I can crochet, grey, yellow and brown and maybe navy. I want to make some place mats for the shop and more potholders. Â There is decidedly too much to do and not enough time to get things done. I am feeling overwhelmed. It seems no matter how much I use up what I have there are still tons of supplies to use. Here are a few photos to prove the point. Yes, it is really a mess but I have been cleaning and these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago.

This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg of supplies in my studio.There are several laundry baskets of yarn, 6-7 large plastic tubs of fabric. I have received 5-6 large plastic tubs and drawer units of fabric from my MIL’s long term stash of items. It is overwhelming me. The little things that I keep making only seems to be making more scraps that take up more and more room! I need to clean the studio this weekend and make order out of creative chaos! So, that is my plan for the weekend and hopefully I will also get some items cut out and ready to go! The good news is that I do have enough of what is needed to make another weekender bag, maybe two!

talk to you later,

Karen

NOTE: So that you know I am human and weird things happen to us. We now have a water leak that requires repairs. So, I will be cleaning up the mess today and probably tomorrow after the repairs are done.

NOTE: I am cleaning the studio and why oh why must it look worse before it looks better….? But it is improving…slowly but surely. The house is repaired and running properly.

The cleaning is coming along slowly but it is getting done. I am trying to integrate my MIL’s fabric with my fabric so I am not buying things I don’t need. I would rather just sew it all up and get it out of my hair. Cleaning craft supplies drives me crazy.

Posted on February 17, 2014 by admin

#39- 46 of 100 items in 100 days Challenge!

Here is a huge addition to my 100 items in 100 days Challenge! I was super productive today and many things were started and finished! A huge Thanks to my Mom! She gave me some elastic so I could stay out of the fabric stores!

So here is # 39

#40

#41

#42

#43

#44

And a couple of pot holders that I finished last week but never counted!

#45

#46

Thanks, Mom!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Note: Almost all of these are listed in my Etsy shop: www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com

Posted on February 12, 2014 by admin

100 items in 100 days: #30 – 35

We decorated the inside of these clear glass Christmas ornaments by adding crayon shavings and then melting them with a hair dryer. They were fun to make and now the box of six ornaments is gone out of my stash! We added them to the jar of sticks and hearts.

So this is # 30!

I crocheted these stars and snowflakes out of up cycled navy cotton yarn. I love the stars in the navy and they just need the hanging loops made. These would be #31-33. I would sell these in a set.

Then I tried these red and white stars. The red and white ragg cotton yarn is thicker than baker’s twine and I am not as pleased with these. This would be # 34Â

These are made out the soft cotton yarn left overs that I use to edge the receiving blankets. It is soft and the colors are beautiful! This is #35The stars are out of baby blue wool yarn and the snowflakes out of crochet cotton. I love these together but I made a ton of the snowflakes as they were so easy. I easily have 20-30 of the snowflakes. These areÂ # 36 and 37.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on February 11, 2014 by admin

Beautiful Brights!

I have been a bit under the weather but I am feeling better now. I spent the week hanging out on the couch with a blanket, yarn, crochet hook and netflix. I am working with these yarns that are from my stash and I have worked quite a bit on the 100 item challenge. I just didn’t take any photos as I felt so bad. I hope to show you some things later this week.

Here are some of the colorful yarns that I am working with this week.

It is Stylecraft Dk Special and I can’t wait to show you. It is another blanket and it is an easy one! I am working on writing up a pattern. It is looking good but I don’t want to give it away.

Talk to you later,

Karen