The new blanket…
These are stash yarns that I ordered before Christmas…in case you are wondering if I have given up the Challenge!
Just a little sneak peak!
Talk to you later,
Karen
Tag: crochet blanket
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 #35
The 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 are # 36 and 37.
Talk to you later,
Karen
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
Progress!
It has been a busy week or two or is it three since I started the challenge? Â Ok, I checked back and I started on Jan. 17. It has been 2 1/2 weeks or 19 days!
In that time I have finished 24 items! Yay! (As of right now, today)
I have written 2 new patterns and listed them on both Craftsy and Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/178258980/crochet-fingerless-gloves-pattern-pdf
https://www.etsy.com/listing/177236880/crochet-blanket-pattern-or-crochet
I have finished two major projects: the repairs on Kathryn’s quilt and the blue, white, red and grey crochet blanket
I have finished a bundle of little things, including 3 scarves, 5 headbands, and 2 purses.
How do I feel about the 100 item in 100 days Challenge? Â I feel pretty good about it, but I feel a little pressured. I have started some new projects but they are going to take some time to finish them. Â So, I am not sure if I can finish as quickly as I want to finish. My projected finish date was about April 28 or 29, if I complete one a day! Hmmm…
I really would like to finish up sooner than that. I have some shopping I want to do!=0)
Talk to you later,
Karen
Grey and Red Granny Circles Blanket Finished!
I feel like I have been working on this blanket forever, but I haven’t.
You first saw it at this point.
Then there was this point.
It was about the straw that broke the camel’s back. It felt SO small, and it was the trouble was that it was already 10 x 10 squares. It need to get bigger…so it did.
Here are the “WOW, I can’t believe it is finished photos 
It is  12  x  16  squares and measures 41  x  53 inches.
It is now listed for sale in the Etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/listing/177178442/crochet-blanket-granny-square-afghan
I hope to list the pattern soon as well.
Thank you for stopping by!
This is #7 for me in the Use Your Stash for 100 projects!
Talk to you later,
Karen
Week One of 100 Items in 100 days Challenge!
I have been working on my different 100 item projects and I think I am doing ok so far. I am worried that I will run out of ideas…not supplies… but ideas! I still have a ton of supplies but it feels good to take the before photos and after photos of different  little projects and see how much is actually being used.Here are some of them so far.
They looks so…so… FINISHED! Hooray! Stash used and finished up!
So I think that I am doing ok. I am finishing up little projects and bigger ones.
How are you doing? Are you getting a bunch done on cleaning out your supplies. Â My sewing machine isn’t happy so I really haven’t been sewing much but I do have high hopes for my fabric stash.
Talk to you later,
Karen
If you are wondering what I am talking about here is the link to the original post!
http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/2014/01/17/1-thing-for-100-days-challenge/
My Un-Word
My Un-word this year is Procrastinating.
I am working hard at not procrastinating. That is the reason for the 100 items in 100 days. The reason I am working hard at being in the moment. The reason I am teaching myself to not procrastinate. Everyday I ask myself. Is _____________something you are procrastinating? You CAN do this and I break the steps down into little baby steps. I am documenting each and every baby step I take so I can see progress and to keep myself motivated.
If you want to know more about the Un-Word you can read this blog by The Nester here:Â http://www.thenester.com/2014/01/un-word-of-the-year.html
Talk to you later,
Karen
p.s. I am not procrastinating on the blanket that you see above. It is now 11 x 14 squares and well on its way!
Use Your Stash #4 and #5
WoooHoo!
people are joining in!
Lou from http://louslabors.wordpress.com/ has decided to join in. She changed the rules to fit her goals!
I grew up with this saying being repeated over and over during my childhood.
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.â€Â
It has had a huge impact on me as an adult. I do feel that it is wasteful to have so many crafting supplies and then to not use them. I find myself running out to buy a little bit of this or a little bit of that and I wondered if I could actually create 100 items over 100+ days without going to the store. So I started this challenge to use up my supplies. You can find  the original blog post here. http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/2014/01/17/1-thing-for-100-days-challenge/
I have finished #4 and #5
#4Â oatmeal colored scarf with brown edges
I completely used the oatmeal colored yarn. I almost finished the brown heather yarn. They were two complete skeins at the beginning.
#5 Shortened and Hemmed curtains for daughter’s bedroom.
Sorry about the awful photo. The curtains look great and don’t drag on the floor.
How are you doing? What number are you working on?
Talk to you later,
Karen
My blog posts are running about a day behind what I am actually finishing up!
people
1 thing for 100 Days Challenge
I did some serious thinking about the 1 thing for 100 days. I like to challenge myself in different ways. I am already doing the New Year’s resolution thing with exercise, house cleaning and devotional/reading time. I really didn’t want to repeat those things again. So this is my challenge and you are welcome to join me.
Here it is!
I will try to make 1 thing in 100 days using only the supplies I have on hand. I will not buy any more supplies except for thread, buttons and elastic. I am going to try to use a variety of supplies and techniques to make my 100 things. I have a 100 + item board on Pinterest if you want to see some of the inspirations for my projects. http://www.pinterest.com/chocodog/100-%2Bideas-for-using-up-my-supplies/
I have fabric, yarn, paint, batting, canvas, etc… I hope to make some things for our house that I have been putting off as well as come up with some new ideas for the ChocolateDogStudio shop. Â I am not going to simply make 100 cup cozies or Granny Squares. I could do that in three days.
Some of the projects that are half done will count as well as ideas that have been percolating for some time. I DO have yarn that I ordered last week and fabric that I bought before Christmas. So some of the supplies are new and some are very old. I have a bunch of vintage cottons that are screaming out to be place mats, quilts, houses or bunnies!
These adorable mice are from mmmCrafts. Â http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/02/wee-mouse-tin-house-pattern-available.html
I do have tins! Do, I ever have tins!
Ticker tape quilts! Yes, I have batting and backing! IÂ have a ridiculous amount of crafting supplies, sewing supplies, art supplies, recycled materials, kids craft materials, etc. If you need something just ask. It is overwhelming to think about, dig through, sort, manage, keep organized and find what I need I have so much stuff. I do have two sets of purse handles, modge podge, bracelet blanks, animal fleece, wool suiting and several very nice larger pieces of fabric. It will be a challenge but I am more than ready. I have felt for some time that “Hoarders” could come and make a movie about the amount of craft things I have.
Here are the rules:
- I must make 100 items out of the items I already own before I can buy any more fabric, or yarn.
- I will take photos of the supplies while I am making the items and post to this blog. My last purchase of sewing/craft related items was last week and is yarn for a specific blanket idea.
- Crocheting granny squares, circles or anything like that doesn’t count.
- A completed blanket will count, a crochet flower with a pin back will count. It must be a finished item, no partial projects will count.
- Plain cup sleeves don’t count, patchwork ones do! So, creativity has to be involved.
- A unfinished project that I completely finish does count as I will still be getting rid of supplies
- Sewing for the house, hemming curtains and recovering chairs count as long as I do not buy any supplies.
- Doing clothing repairs and hems also count as they sit in my studio and take up room.
- If it doesn’t work out, I will still post my fails. It is going to be a lot of stretching creatively and my sewing will cover a bunch of new ground. So I will probably fail at some things. That is ok, everyone fails from time to time.
Join in with me and post your item links in the comments. I will post your items on my blog as well. Worst case scenario we will 100 prototype items and the Best case scenario is that we will have found new uses and homes for hundreds of craft supplies that were laying around.
I haven’t been so excited in ages. This is going to be so hard and so much fun at the same time. I am also getting ready to start another challenge. It is a granny square challenge. I will share more about it later.
See you,
Karen
****Note****************************************************************************************After I posted this I started a Pinterest board for all of our wonderful projects that we are going to finish! Â Reach me via my Etsy shop if you want to be added to the Pinterest page. I will need the e-mail you used to sign up for Pinterest with. I reserve the right to remove you from the board if anything above a PG level is posted. I will never, never use your e-mail for anything else, EVER. I will personally start posting on Saturday Jan. 13, 2014!
*************************************************************************************************
#1 out of 100 projects from my Supply Stash!
Here is my first project for the 100 things from my stash challenge.
Honestly, I had started this before I started the challenge and I have been working on it off and on for several days. Here  are some photos of the beginning of the project. I was inspired by different photos on Pinterest and blogs that I read. I try to decorate a little for each of the different holidays but I was wanting something new.
This vase with flowers and sticks is from http://mijnindiansummer.blogspot.nl/2013/02/vintage-altijd-bloeiende-bloemen.html.
Michaels version of sticks in a jar. Â http://www.pinterest.com/pin/364158319839146292/
So I started with the sticks in a jar.
Ok, a little reality here. The sticks are from  my yard. The curly ones are honeysuckle vines that came down in the storm. The jar is an old spaghetti sauce jar that someone felt we needed to keep. The plaster of paris holding the sticks upright in the jar is leftover from some school or scout project. The crochet is made up from the tiny balls of yarn and some granny square extras left over from a blanket. I painted the sticks in about ten minute sessions over a couple of days. So, it wasn’t a big time waster.
The felt hearts I had made up about six years ago to put in a bowl on the same table. They simply looked awful and I put them in a zipper bag and forgot about them. Originally they were simply one color of felt on the front and looked blah. Quite frankly, the felt was collected over the years. Some of the felt, I used in grade school. My Mom gave it back to me when the girls were in scouts.
I pulled out my embroidery floss and felt bits. I Â used the floss bits that I were too short to keep. No, really I had a bunch of bits and pieces of floss that were already separated and cut from the skein.
I used my infinite supply of buttons too small to use on anything on the front and sometimes the back to add a bit of interest and sparkle. It has turned out better than I expected.
Here it is finished and ready for Valentine’s Day!
Talk to you later,
Karen