handmade Archives - Page 7 of 21

Posted on July 23, 2014 by admin

Bright Flower Afghan

I spent the better part of 3 weeks designing the flower blocks and creating this crochet blanket from them. The blocks are a little intensive and require a tiny bit of advanced crochet skills. I have been waiting to show the blanket to you. It is gorgeous! The flower squares are great for using up small bits of yarn. So it is perfect for using up your stash yarns.

I had some extra flower squares so I created this pillow cover as well. It matches and the black color is really super dark navy.

The back of the pillow with the lovely bright buttons that keep it closed. Here it is inside on our black couch. The colors still look bright and beautiful inside. I really enjoyed creating this granny square and I hope to have the directions available soon. Â The blanket and pillow will both be available for purchase in the Studio. The blanket isÂ 40 x 50″.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on July 23, 2014 by admin

Cleaning!

I gave myself a stern talking to; this week. I am spending the day cleaning up my studio and doing some paperwork for the business. It has been ages/months maybe even years since I last sat down and really worked in here. I have been gifted with a bunch of fabric from friends and family. Some I will use or did use in the 100 items in 100 days ChallengeÂ but some I won’t use, ever!

Isn’t it awful!

I am making progress. I can see the top of the cutting table. I have decided to give the yards of felt in strange colors, like lime green and black to charity. I have no idea what I would use it for as I am not that fond of working with felt. I could make thousands of brooches and Christmas ornaments with the huge amount of felt that I am not giving keeping. I am getting rid of items that I made five years ago that didn’t sell. Like these pincushions. I have 10+ pincushions and if you know of someone that needs or wants one. I will ship it to them for the cost of the shipping! JustÂ send me a message or leave a comment and I will get in touch with you.

Hubs is getting some organizing items for me from Wal-mart. I am super excited.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on July 22, 2014 by admin

Copper and Cream blanket

Ta dah! I am so glad to be able to show this beautiful crochet blanket to you. It is a lovely copper and cream combination. This time of year when the weather is so hot I always think of the cooler weather of Fall. I can’t wait for the back to school sales and the beautiful new Autumn colors.

The pattern is my own design. The blanket was approved by all the men in my house from my husband to the boys (24 and 19 years old). The deemed it properly masculine, properly soft and just perfect. I wasn’t sure I was going to get it away from them to be able to list it in the Studio shop.Â

Even the border was guy approved. Just the right finish to the edging. I left off the picot scallops that were to top the border. It just didn’t seem to need it.

This blanket is longer than I usually make. Anyway, it is finished and I hope to put the pattern in the shop as well. It was one of those lovely “let’s see what happens if I do this” paths and it turned out quite nice. You can find the blanket in the studio shop here!

See you later,

Karen

Posted on July 12, 2014 by admin

Ridged Baby Ripple

I finished the ridged baby rippleÂ quite some time ago. I hated to show it off until I had written the pattern. Here it is: a wonderful soft cottony baby blanket.

The blanket isÂ 18″ x 24″. A perfect size to cover baby in their carseat.

You can find the pattern on etsy, craftsy and the blanket for sale on Etsy as well.

What are you working on and how are you doing this week?

See you later,

Karen

Posted on June 22, 2014 by admin

The New Square

I have been really lacking in creativity in my crochet lately. I have done tons of sewing and I have enjoyed it but I have been spending time with family and not much time with the hook in the evenings. I haven’t been pleased with the projects I have been doing and that seems to breed procrastination and lots of thinking. What I was working on wasn’t pretty or bright or even colorful. It did have plenty of colors in it but I think the background color wasn’t/isn’t working. So, I am not even going to show it to you until I improve it with a new background color. I did get a crochet hook out and start some long stringy things but they also lacked life.So, those also fell by the wayside. This did start this weekend and I am pretty driven to complete it. I am happy and at peace by this one little square. Now to figure out what I did and how to make tons of multiples. Yes it is a granny square, and it makes me very happy. I am off to crochet a bunch more. See you later, Karen

Posted on June 20, 2014 by admin

Neon Crochet Afghan Pattern

I just broke through a pattern writing slump and finished up the pattern for the Neon Crochet Afghan blanket. I first showed this blanket to you in February.

Â The black was rather difficult to photograph at different parts so I did those parts (for the pattern) in the pink and orange yarn instead. I hope it turns out well. I have it listed on Etsy and Craftsy if you are interested. This is another beginner level pattern, half double crochet and double crochet are the only stitches used. You do need to be comfortable in changing colors and counting stitches. The blanket isÂ 45″ x 60″.

See you later,

Karen

Posted on June 18, 2014 by admin

The New Bibs

Here are the new bibs for Chocolate’s baby Shop!

Aren’t they bright and fun! I have more cut out ready to sew but I was out of thread today. I will work on those tomorrow morning.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on June 11, 2014 by admin

New baby bibs!

I have been sewing a bunch of beautiful baby bibs. They are so cheerful and happy!

They aren’t quite finished but they will be soon! Â I can’t wait to show them all to you. I hope to get these bibs photographed and in the shop on Friday of this week, along with some new baby blankets. They are all lighter weight and perfect for summer weather. They all have snuggly flannel on one side and cool soft cotton on the other.

This week has been a busy driving one back and forth to different activities for the kids. One is assisting at vacation bible school and the other has been needing a ride back and forth to work. So I have put many miles on the car this week. It ends tomorrow and there should be more down time next week.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on June 11, 2014 by admin

The Newest Poncho!

I have been working on this for several weeks now. The blues were relaxing and fun to work with. Here are some of the teaser photos that I have shared with you via Instagram and Facebook.

This is a photo of the lovely fringe! So textural and fun! I see this poncho with black skinny jeans and boots or a fun flirty skirt! This is the latest installment in my new line of ponchos/shawls. I love crocheting these wearable boho works of art! Each one is unique and you can be sure that there won’t be another just like it! It takes about two weeks of off and on work to reach the point where I can add the fringe.

I personally picked the yarn for this poncho. At the end of every row I ask myself which color or texture does it need next. It will be available in the http://www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com shop on Friday at 6 pm. I will never make another just like this one, when it is gone, it is truly gone.

See you later,

Karen

Posted on June 10, 2014 by admin

Quilted Hearts

I am sure that you remember these from my sewing binge last week.

Here is the midpoint.

Here they are in all the beauty. These turned out so well that I can almost forget all the zip bag failures!

I spent a whole day piecing these together. Then the better part of a morning stuffing and hand sewing the opening closed. They are cute and lovely. They will also be available in the www.ChocolateDogStudio.etsy.com shop on Friday at 6 pm. There are all sorts of lovely colors in each one and they are stripey and fun. I am working hard on the fun part of the shop! When they are gone they are gone as I used bits and pieces I had been collecting for awhile. Each one is unique. These could easily have fit in with the use my stash challenge!

see you later,

Karen