Tag: Etsy

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#8 and #9 of the 100 items in 100 days!

Here are #8 and #9 in the 100 items in 100 days!

I’m including the photos of the beginning of the project and then the finished product! Some I list in my shop and some I am using at home!

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This is a great cowl. Large enough to pull over your head if you need to but small enough not to be in the way! The buttons are handmade ceramic buttons. The yarn is dark charcoal grey and goes with anything.

#9

2014-01-24 10.35.45Here was the humble beginning of #9 a Head band with interchangeable flowers.

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Whew, this Challenge is a challenge but I am wading through it and I hope to get through #20 by this time next week. My sewing machine is acting up so I haven’t really been sewing much, but I am going to try.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

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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.

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Then there was this point.

2014-01-23 12.53.01It 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.

 

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Here are the “WOW, I can’t believe it is finished photos IMG_3626 IMG_3630 IMG_3632 IMG_3633It 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

 

 

 

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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.

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If you want to know more about the Un-Word you can read this blog by The Nester here: 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!

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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.  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.  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! I 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:

  1. I must make 100 items out of the items I already own before I can buy any more fabric, or yarn.
  2. 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.
  3. Crocheting granny squares, circles or anything like that doesn’t count.
  4. 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.
  5. Plain cup sleeves don’t count, patchwork ones do! So, creativity has to be involved.
  6. A unfinished project that I completely finish does count as I will still be getting rid of supplies
  7. Sewing for the house, hemming curtains and recovering chairs count as long as I do not buy any supplies.
  8. Doing clothing repairs and hems also count as they sit in my studio and take up room.
  9. 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!  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!

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Way back when…

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I made these both in the 70s when I was a girl.Just a glimpse into the past. The granny square blanket I made for my Mom and the stripe I made for my Dad for Christmas. The stripe was my first original pattern and I did pretty good for a young teenager. I am trying to come up with some new patterns for the shop this week and it is a struggle.

Talk to you later,

Karen

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Basket Liner Tutorial

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This isn’t a step by step How-To with pattern pieces. I will show you how to measure your basket to get some approximate measurements so you can make a basket liner for your baskets at home.

I have a large wicker basket that I dearly love. It holds my yarn quite nicely. It holds a bunch of yarn and then fits under my coffee table, but it snags my yarn. I received my Michael’s sales flier by e-mail today and noticed the lovely things for organizing your home. It is January and I do have the organizing bug. So, making use of what I have and improving something I already own is a huge money saver.2014-01-06 14.40.46I have some beautiful fabric that my Mom gave me. In fact I recovered my ironing board with it. I love it. It is bright and cheerful without being in your face.

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I cut this pattern from a left over piece of wrapping paper. I put the basket down and drew around it. This is the bottom.

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Then I placed the base of the basket liner in the bottom of the basket and did some trimming to make it fit a little better. 2014-01-06 14.46.28

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Here you can see that it fits better but seems to not be the same shape. So I folded the bottom in half and trimmed the extra off.

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Here you can see that I am getting ready to cut out the base piece out of fabric. I left 1/4 inch seam allowance all the way around the base.

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I laid the basket on its side and rolled it from one side to the other as I drew the pattern of the side. 2014-01-06 14.50.31

Then I placed it up against the inside of the basket. I left extra at either end but trimmed the side a little bit.

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I cut the fold over cuff. I didn’t measure and I didn’t have a pattern piece for this part. I did lay one piece on top of the other and cut the three of them all the same size. I know that I probably won’t need that much extra but you never know.

 

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I sewed one side seam of the basket sides and then matched up the sides to the bottom part of the liner. I sewed them right sides together.

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I placed the liner in the basket to see if it fit. It does

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There is a pleat at one of the ends of the basket liner and I left one side seam unsewn. I then folded the cuff in two and sewed two of the pieces together. I then matched up the edges and sewed the sides of the basket and the cuff together. It wasn’t too difficult and yes, I did not use pins!

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When I was finished one side seam of the basket liner wasn’t completed. I placed the liner in the basket to see if it would fit. It didn’t quite fit. It needs another two to three inches. So, I added a Gusset!

Here is the definition of a gusset from the free online dictionary.

gus·set  (gst)

n.

1. A triangular insert, as in the seam of a garment, for added strength or expansion.
2. A triangular metal bracket used to strengthen a joist.
3. A piece of mail or plate armor protecting the joints in a suit of armor.
[Middle English, from Old French gousset, perhaps diminutive of gousse, pod, husk.]

 

I could see that I would need to add a triangular piece of fabric into the side or gusset and that it needed to have the cuff on the top as well.

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I added the gusset in and the basket liner fits pretty good.

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The photo directly above shows you the gusset. I like it and it works great!  I saved money and used what I had on hand to improve my organization in my house. Actually, to make it easier to crochet or knit. The basket holds about 20 balls of yarn and fits under my coffee table which makes it easier for people to walk around when I am not using the yarn (which is hardly ever)!

Thanks,

Karen

 

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JackZen Hemp

I found the coolest hemp bracelets on Etsy today. There are so many different colors and styles to choose from.

This shop is owned and run by Ashley Jackson. She lives in Milwaukee WI. She makes beautiful bracelets and there are so many different colors and styles to choose from.

Ashley is a single mom making ends meet. Drop by and say hi! You can find Ashley on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JackZenHemp

Thanks for stopping by today,

See you later,

Karen

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Computer Challenge!

As I look at my computer/internet. I find myself being challenged to change, to remember and to continue marching forward. I don’t know about you but as a stay home mom, I have struggled with isolation. I have struggled with loneliness and feeling like the only one home in this huge neighborhood. This was never so true as when the kids were babies. I am old enough to have experienced life before the internet and cell phones. Life is is better with both.

Allow me to explain…

Pinterest allows me to indulge my need for new information in bite sized pieces. I can be challenged to remember to exercise, to restart that old habit, to find a new way of doing things. Just this week I remembered how easy it was to freezer cook. I simply cooked twice as much and then froze the extra.

http://joyful-mommas-kitchen.blogspot.ca/2012/04/top-5-freezer-meals.html

 

Strange that I had forgotten how easy it was. I have tried new ways of doing things. Flylady.com keeps nudging me and reminding me how easy it is to clean/home repair in little easy baby steps.

http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2013/02/27/you-have-made-me-a-better-mommy/

I also have to confess that I am a visual person so, I tend to keep projects out where I can see them, along with lists, books to read, papers to deal with. That tends to keep things very disorganized. So, once again baby steps on the cleaning. I can fold one load of laundry. Run one load of dishes, wash three pots, sweep the floor and wipe down the bathroom.  Even if I am still not into routines, I do have things cleaner than they were. JUST remember, that if you drop by the house was clean until it sensed you coming and then it self destructs.

Facebook keeps me plugged in with friends and family. I see faces of friends and get encouraged to keep plugging ahead in this life. Heartwarming stories scroll down the screen and  remind me that the world is not always a cold place. It isn’t an answer to everything but it does help keep the odd lonelies away. The ones that come on is a rush when things are quiet. Which seems to be happening more and more these days as the kids are growing up and away.

I get blog updates from different folks that remind me to stretch, to achieve, to reach out and grow. I get tidbits of information on all kinds of different topics from new craft ideas, to organizing, to parenting and marriage  and tips on managing our family finances. I love having lots of resources to pull from. These little gadgets will make my life so much easier. Everyone has cords and what to do to keep them separated….now I can color code the kids’ charging cords. Incredible idea!

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/american/catalog/dotz-identifiers-computer-office-p-2586.php

Yes, the internet has changed our lives for the better or worse, it depends on how you use it. How does the computer challenge you?

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

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Looking Forward!

A new year is here and staring me in the face.  I can’t get away from the fact that another year is starting, with it comes all of the hope of a new start. So as I get out the new calendar there are things I want to improve or change.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/73146917/now-is-the-time-inspirational-art-prints

I have two Jon Acuff books that I want to read. They won’t take long and will inspire me toward more change. I also have several Beth Moore books that I want to read as well.

I have a some crafty things that I want to make for my house.

There are some home improvement projects that are “needing” to be done and some that NEED to be done.

I have a ton of crochet patterns that I want to write.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/168758302/black-fridaytypography-printblack-white

Blogging that is crying out to me.

A boy to graduate from high school and send off to college, which will put us down to one child at home.

College applications to send.

A house to clean, and dogs to care for.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157870226/8×10-pattern-inspirational-quote-print

Friends and family to spend time with and two quilts to sew.

Some college kids to feed and listen to while they are here for Spring break and Thanksgiving.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173613259/8×10-a-friend-loves-at-all-times

A garden I want to plant, sow, harvest, can and eat from.

Some computer skills that need to be learned.

Some bills to pay off.

2 sets of braces that will come off this year.

So my year is going to be full to overflowing and yet time marches on. I need to be careful that I spend time doing the right things or the busyness of life will overtake me and the important things will get lost in the shuffle of papers.

 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/75996440/adventure-time-block-print-in-bold-blue

It is time for the adventure of the New Year. Are you ready?

I must go and get ready…

Karen

 

 

 

 

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2013 in Review

Looking back at 2013 so many things were accomplished and marked off my list. I feel so incredibly productive. I keep a running list on my computer of what has been completed and what is left to finish. The list is enormous, but here are some photos of the year.

These are some of the blankets that I crocheted this year. Some are not in the collage and the other items from the shop are not shown at all.

We drove to our daughter’s college in Texas and back – 5 times. We had one trip to Kansas, and one trip to Houston, Tx, and one trip to the Waco, Tx area.

We had one wedding, one wedding shower, one major surgery, 3 months in a boot or cast, one set of wisdom teeth removed, and all the love and laughter that comes from living in a family of six.

It has been a spectacular year and I have loved almost every moment of it. There were some hard times but there are always some hard times in every year.

Thanks for sharing it with me,

Karen