creativity Archives - Page 2 of 6

Posted on May 13, 2014 by admin

Monday!

Yesterday it wasÂ a rainy Monday. I sent two kids off to town. One to apply for a job and the other to drive him there and do some errands. It has been a busy day already with a trip for two to the orthodontist and then a trip to the bank to open a checking account for one of the kids.

I spent time yesterdayÂ morning sewing some new bibs and then I spent a little time crocheting this.

I love the bright red lady bugs. and the red crochet cotton just goes so Â nicely. We will see how it looks when I am done. I am trying something new for the shop. I think the fabric and cotton thread go so nicely together.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on May 8, 2014 by admin

Scraps into Diamonds

If you follow me on facebook or instagram. You have been seeing these photos.

I spent a day combing through my scraps and cutting out diamond shapes.

It was an easy thing to do and still feel like I was accomplishing something. I cut out tons and then I put them together to get these neat little stars.

I’m so proud of the points matching in these two stars. I think I have finally figured it out.

See Â the perfect points in the middle! Can you guess what I am making in the studio these days? I have some others finished and waiting on some photos but it is too dark today. We are finally getting some rain so I am not complaining. I hope that it cuts down on the wildfires that we have had. There have been some huge wildfires in Oklahoma and many people have lost everything. So, our area has been under a red flag, which means no fire pits, no cook outs, no burning of any kind.

If you want to follow me on instagram (I am new there) you can find me with this user name: Chocodogstudio

You can also follow me on Facebook here:Â https://www.facebook.com/Chocolatedogstudio

There is too much to do today. We are in the midst of printing out 300 graduation programs and are running low on toner. One of the nice things about having your child in public or private school as there are details that you really do not have to deal with, like printing graduation programs!

I will talk to you later!

Karen

Posted on April 28, 2014 by admin

Monday April 28, 2014

I had an overwhelming feeling this past weekend that I needed to buy more yarn. I have, after all, crocheted a huge amount of items. I haven’t really ordered any yarn since January when I started the 100 items in 100 days challenge. I did buy two destash orders from friends on Etsy last month but that doesn’t really count! Â Here is the yarn I bought from my friend Rose who knits wonderful blankets, scarves, and shawls.Â

IÂ am combining it with the rest of the wool yarn that I had leftover and it is in the process of being turned into a wonderful one of a kind art blanket. It is full of lovely texture and Autumn colors, but it is wool and it is HOT to sit under right now. Here is the undoctored photo of my foot in the boot. This is the other reason it is hot. This boot is heavy and like wearing an insulated blanket.

I don’t know about you but sitting around is exceedingly boring. I have run through many Netflix marathons in the afternoons and evenings. This is also the reason I have completed so many different baby items.Â So, I was thinking that I needed to buy more yarn and decided that I would first see what I have on hand.

Lovely blues, greens, white, red and navy

A nice assortment of colors from pink to bright orange back to purples, and grey.

Another tub full of neutral yarns. So, I am not ordering any yarn. I have ENOUGH yarn to keep me busy for a little while! These are all full skeins, we aren’t going to look at all the partial sets of yarn.

Actually, I did buy yarn but it isn’t for me. I am having it shipped to my cousin in Keller, Texas because she sitting a lot right now as well.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on April 22, 2014 by admin

Springtime!

Life seems a huge blur right now as we finish up the school work. I am spending great huge amounts of time with my right foot up on a chair, foot stool, or couch. I seem to have torn some tendons or something along that line. Â It is a huge frustration to me. I seem to make plans only to have them changed mid-stream.

I recently opened the new shop ChocolatesBabyShop which is keeping me busy crocheting. I love crocheting little baby hats as they are just so cute and it is fun to think of the sweet little babies that will get to wear them.

We seem to be sitting on the the thresh hold of so many Â different experiences in the next two – three weeks. Our oldest daughter comes home from college. Our youngest son gets ready to graduate. Then we spend the summer preparing them both for the journey back to college and we will be left with one little bird still in the nest.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/101448416/she-sat-on-a-creative-nest-8-x-8-small

This is a wonderful time and I am so looking forward to all of the exciting changes that are happening. I will continue to rest my foot and hope to see you soon!

What is happening at your house this spring?

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 17, 2014 by admin

Felt Brooches in the Works

I had so much fun sewing the felt brooches that I thought I would show you a bit of the process. I just love all of these pretty wooden beads. They came from my stash of beads left over from my daughters’ jewelry making.

I cut out the felt and decided on the design.

Then the stitching and beading began. It was so much fun to create something from start to finish in one day! I have some more in the works and I hope to show them to you later this week.

This is all that I have left of these particular beads, though there is a bunch of felt left!

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 28, 2014 by admin

Scrap Busting with Quilts

Quilts are a time honored way to use scraps. These quilts were made by the women in my family, Grandmothers and Great- Grandmothers and I think one Great-Great Grandmother.

This sun bonnet sue is one of my favorites.

My Grandma was a member of a quilting group. They would meet once a week or month and quilt the top of a member’s quilt. Â It was a social time and also a time to get much needed work done. These quilts were made for use and they kept the family warm on the cold winter nights. Â My Aunts can sit down and tell you where each piece of fabric came from. They came from a time when women made their own clothes and skill with a needle and thread was valued.Â My Mom taught me to sew and I am teaching my girls or at least making sure they learn the basics. Â Sewing is expensive Â these days unlike my Grandmothers’ days when everyone had to have some skill at sewing.

I have been thinking about sewing some quilts with my scraps. I have sewn one quilt top that is just strips of fabric but the more complicated patterns are calling to me. I need to baste all the layers together but I keep putting it off.

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