handmade Archives - Page 6 of 21

Posted on October 9, 2014 by admin

Dashing in and dashing out

These days it seems that I am just dashing in and dashing out. The days are overwhelmingly filled until the time I fall exhausted into bed. It is just for a short time and then life will sort itself out again into a more respectable and livable rhythm. I apologize for short and non existent blog postings. I have great peace and I am so thankful that it is NOT health matters, or personal tragedies that fill my time and life. So, all is well at our house and home. I leave you with these photos of some bibs that I had a chance to sew on this past Monday.

My happy Autumn crocheted pumpkins.

Some color inspiration for a blanket for the future. Such a beautiful aqua and orange and this would make a wonderful blanket.

Some lovely warm infinity scarves that I crocheted the past few nights. What are you working on these days?

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on October 6, 2014 by admin

Stacks of bibs

Today, I am getting stacks of bibs sewn so they can be available in ChocolatesBabyShop.etsy.com. I can’t wait to get to the photography part. I am adding a bit more to the geeky line of bibs and I actually found some Dr. Who Tardis fabric. I have so much to share that this post should really be two posts but I am short on time these days to condense this down any smaller. I will start with the blankets that I listed for sale this past week. These granny square blankets will be in both shops. This green and lavender granny square is throw sized. It is perfect for keeping on the end of the bed or back of the chair for quick warmth. Crocheted of soft, warm and washable acrylic yarns it is infinitely useful. It is 42 inches square.This beautiful pink granny square baby blanket Â and the aqua and purple blanket areÂ both be available in ChocolatesBabyShop. The pink blanket is 32 inches square and the aqua blanket is 27 inches square. They are both crocheted out of soft acrylic yarns. These washable yarns a greatÂ allergy solution to wool yarns.Â I have spent a huge amount of time with family the past several weeks. It is just that stage of life, I guess. My Mom is is downsizing into an apartment from her house and is moving to town. I am excited as we will get to spend more time together. I have been adding her stash to mine and the sewing room is even more chaotic than normal. I feel a bit sleep deprived and I have been low on energy to sew so waking up this morning to a blast of energy is beyond my understanding. It has been one of those days. A day when I get huge amounts done. Â I fixed a baby shirt a friend was having issues with. I also got all of this done this morning as well; before noon!Â This is the before photo.Â I trimmed, sewed, pinned and turned right side out all of these bibs.Since I seem to be accomplishing things, I am going to dash off before the coffee wears off!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on September 29, 2014 by admin

Striped Crochet Blanket: Autumn Stripe Afghan

This striped crochetÂ blanket started on a whim. The yarns called to me from the bins at the store. I haven’t bought this brand of yarn in months but I couldn’t resist it.

I love the heathered Autumn colors. They reminded me of the country in the Fall. Brilliant blue skies, brown plowed fields, rusty orange treesÂ mixed in with green cedars, and a golden harvested hay meadow. Â It is a lovely blanket.

This is one of the first Â photos that showed how it was going together. This is a super easy pattern. There was no counting, no tricky parts, no worries about increasing or decreasing just the lovely flowing color row after row. It was soft and warm, almost too warm to work on in September in Oklahoma. Thankfully, we have had a lovely cool September.

You can find this blanket for sale in the Etsy shop. The Autumn striped crochet blanket is 42″ x Â 66″. Â The stripes run vertically and the yarn is super soft. It looks incredibly masculine with its beautiful stripes. It is soft, striped and it has no “holes” all of which make it a superior crochet blanket in Â my husband’s eyes.

It is a great size to lay over the back of the couch, or use with a recliner.

I have already started on my next crochet blanket and I can’t wait to show it to you, I need to get a bit more crocheting done before I start in earnest and frankly, I am giving my hands a bit a of break this week. I finished up five crochet blankets this past week and I am tired of crocheting. I never thought I would say that but it is true.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on September 26, 2014 by admin

Works in Progress: Crochet Blankets

The works in progress list of crochet blankets is getting smaller. I was waiting on several yarn orders before I could finish the crochet afghans I had started the past month. Here is the current list of projects in progress.

So I have finished the three granny square blankets in the past four days. I just needed to have a moment to figure out the size and then add the border. I did get to crochet for a long time yesterday on the purple and aqua baby blanket. I managed to get the border on and some sweet little flower embellishments. I think this needs a little beanie or baby bonnet to go with it. Â I am exceedingly close on the ribbon stripe and the Autumn stripe. Currently, I am working on the Autumn stripe as the photographer is scheduled to come by this weekend.
There is sewing that is needing to be done today. So, I will work on it this morning and hopefully finish the large stack of sewing I have all piled up. There are bibs, and press cozies waiting on the sewing.
There are also some new projects I have in mind and I just need to make time to prototype the new ideas.

I have been having issues with the blog and I needed some help to get it all straightened out. I apologize for that.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on September 12, 2014 by admin

New crochet blanket

Crocheting blankets have filled my mind lately. Â I found these beautiful yarns at the store and just had to put them into a new crochet blanket. Aren’t they beautiful?

I can ‘t decide what blanket pattern to use for them. It will be stripey, I think.

I love this one by Black Sheep Wools.Â It is simply a gorgeous granny stripe blanket!

It would also look beautiful as a granny square blanket made up of solid squares like this one.

I love this blanket from Littletinbird. It makes me so happy!

I love this pattern by Laurence Meriat. It is found on Ravelry. There are incredible options for crochet blankets and I can spend hours exploring each one.

talk to you later,.

Karen

Posted on September 8, 2014 by admin

True Confessions

True confessions: It appears that I have started so many new things that I am totally overwhelmed. The new school year has called for a complete change in routine. I seem to be the spending a Â large amount of timeÂ waiting. I tend to take small projects with me until they get too big to travel well. I started several projects last week. When we were cleaning up the house this past weekend, I noticed that I have these 4 bags, just from last week!

So these are my works in progress or WIPS. You could also call them PIGS (projects in grocery bags!) Here are some up close photos of the actual projects started.

I am not sure what I think about three of these. The granny square, star stitch and the baby bonnet. So, I am letting them rest while I think it over and see what I think. I really don’t like the Granny square so I will probably unravel all the limeyÂ green Â and start over. I’m not sure I like the grey blanket. I started the star stitch to learn a new stitch and I’m afraid that it isn’t comfortable toÂ crochet as I have to keep counting.

This doesn’t even include the scrap blanket that is too big to travel.

The weather is supposed to cool off at the end of the week. Hopefully, I will find time to work on/under this blanket on the weekend. What are you working on? Do you start more than one project at a time?

Karen

Update:

I never finished the baby bonnets. They were too fussy for me and I don’t have a baby to model them for me. Â They are still in the bag and it is over 2 years since I wrote this. Wow, usually I am really good at finishing what I start. I did finish the baby blanket with lavender and green. It is beautiful and sold super quick.

The scrap blanket is finished and sold! Here is the reveal post for it.

Posted on August 31, 2014 by admin

Great Fall Sale!

There is a great sale going on right now at Chocolate Dog Studio and Chocolate’s Baby shop, 25% off the SaleÂ items!

All of my cup cozies are on sale for Autumn!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/200375673/sale-coffee-cup-sleeve-coffee-cup-cozy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185880098/sale-fabric-coffee-cozy-cup-sleeve-aqua

There are also bibs on sale in ChocolatesBabyShop!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on August 29, 2014 by admin

Friday DIY Gift Countdown

If you are going to create gifts for your family for Christmas it is time to start creating! Fridays for the next several weeks will include a DIY Gift Countdown. This weeks DIY gift countdown if for the guys in your life. My guys are all college age or above and I have no babies in my life, though I will include them. Here are some of my favorite ideas that use supplies I already have on hand. I will also have to buy some supplies as I am trying to personalize their gifts as much as possible.

A paracord belt!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32YAvNdYvAM

A personalized coffee cup for my guys!

http://diyopolis.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/94/

I am counting on the fact that one of my guys is too busy to read his Mom’s blog but I will be crocheting this for him for Christmas.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/doctor-who-season-16-17-crocheted-scarf

So there are a few of the guys things I will be making this year, butÂ I am also looking at these ideas as well.

I have made these in the past and will probably whip up a few new ones for the gang this year. I am also thinking about making a couple of these for some of the family., in more masculine colors, but not reversible.

http://www.newgreenmama.com/2010/12/reversible-messenger-bag-tutorial.html

I am also going to make some of these quick fingerless gloves and add hats, without the hearts and in a more masculine color.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178258980/crochet-fingerless-gloves-pattern-pdf

Also a couple pairs of these.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164527383/pattern-diy-fingerless-gloves-crochet

I had better get started as time is running out and there are others in my family that I want to crochet for.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on August 25, 2014 by admin

The New To Do List!

Here is my to do list. I’m back from vacation and we are in our Autumn back to school schedule. So, to be organized here is my to do list for the week. This is the shop to do list, not my personal to do list. I have also been running through my pinterest business pins and working on my blog.

Works in ProgressÂ

This blanket.

and this one

and this one.

I have about ten coffee press cozies cut out
I have 25 felt Christmas Stockings to cut and sew for a cousin.
A wide variety of baby hats, blankets and a couple of new items.

So life is busy and I need to get to work!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on August 12, 2014 by admin

Early Morning

Vacation was incredible. I didn’t crochet any at all over the last week. In fact, it wasn’t until yesterday that I even picked up a hook. I did work on this a couple of times over the week.

I woke early the first morning at the beach and got in a little stitching time while everyone else was still asleep. It was incredible to watch and just to experience. I managed to finish one end of the table runner, not both. So while I didn’t finish it as much as I had planned, I did get a bit more done.

Talk to you later,

Karen