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Saturday

It has been a long week. Everyone in house has been sick… I mean everyone. It is some kind of toxic cough thing that spread like a wild fire. I was one of the last to get it and it is just dragging on and on. I haven’t done much with any crafty stuff this week but lay around and try to get better. I did put this fringe on…

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It is so incredibly soft and fluffy! It was exciting to feel like I accomplished something.

I took some pictures of yarn, but that is about it. I have thought a lot. I have thought about getting up and doing something but then I decide that it is ok to rest some more. I think I am headed back to the couch and crawl back under an afghan and do some more crochet blanket planning and other thinking and possibly take a nap.

See you later,

Karen

 

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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  She is home and everything is great!
  • Sr. recognition Sunday at church for our graduating senior Done and over!
  • High school graduation for our youngest son Graduated!
  • Our 26th wedding anniversary 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. Done
  • I need to get a child ready for camp
  • send her to camp
  • I have two kids needing to find summer jobs They both found jobs on their own without my interference!
  • feeding all of the people that will be here this summer 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. 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.

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

Talk to you later,

Karen

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WIP’s

WIPS or works in progress have been stacking up at the sewing table. The good news about that is that cleaning has brought a bunch of partially finished projects to light. Here are a few that I have been working on lately.

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There are several many crochet projects in a partially finished state. I tend to work more on inspiration when it comes to the yarny projects. So, yes there are many half done. IMG_4025

Like this one. I am going to take it to the DMV  while I wait for the driver’s license testing to be over. I hope things go well. I also hope that we don’t wait long for his turn to take the test.

See you later,

Karen

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Introducing: The Blanket Club

Introducing the Blanket Club:

There are a select few out there in the world today: lovely people that own more than one ChocolateDogStudio crochet blankets. When you own more than one you get the benefits of being a member of the Blanket Club! Members of the Blanket Club have purchased these lovely blankets from the shop over the years.

Blanket Club membership grants you a discount good every day of the year!

Talk to you later,

Karen

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New and Old Together

I have long wanted to add cute little hats to my crochet baby blankets. These baby afghans are just calling out for some cute newborn hats. I recently opened the baby shop. While I was getting it online and started, I had a couple of days where having baby hats was a great idea. I just ran with it. Here they are, the blankets and the hats on the same page.

They are beautiful and I will be adding more crochet baby hats with matching baby afghans as I get the time. You can find these in my shop at www.chocolatesbabyshop.etsy.com. I am off to get some things completed for graduation.

Talk to you later,

Karen

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Natural light vs Indoor light

I try really hard to take most of my photos with natural light. I wait for a bright day and take the photos with the sun shining. Here is a really good photo illustration why I do this.

This is the same blanket one photo taken in indoor lighting and the second photo taken in natural light.

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There is a huge difference. Sometimes you can successfully edit photos and get a more natural appearance. I am truthfully not that good with photo editing software. I use Picasa, an old program that was free. It is pretty easy for me to use.  These photos are cropped but not color edited in any way.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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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!  Here is the yarn I bought from my friend Rose who knits wonderful blankets, scarves, and shawls. 2014-04-16 12.51.32

I 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.

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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. So, I was thinking that I needed to buy more yarn and decided that I would first see what I have on hand.

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Lovely blues, greens, white, red and navy

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A nice assortment of colors from pink to bright orange back to purples, and grey.2014-04-27 15.02.53

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

 

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Flower Blanket

This is a sweet little baby blanket set. The flowers are crocheted as the blanket and the hat are crocheted together.

2014-04-22 18.04.172014-04-23 10.55.43 2014-04-23 10.55.50  Only one side has the lovely white flowers with the yellow centers.

 

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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Chocolate’s Baby Shop

Introducing Chocolate’s Baby shop! You can find it here: www.chocolatesbabyshop.etsy.com I started it to put all the baby items in since I had so many. Now I am adding these super cute baby hats and blankets to the shop in the week ahead.

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I also have some cute baby bibs and will be adding some taggies and possibly some baby shoes as well.

Talk to you later,

Karen