Introducing: Karen Stewart of Chocolatedogstudio
Karen is hosting a giveaway: If YOU are the lucky winner of Karen’s giveaway, you will receive your choice of one of her pincushions. The winner can pick either a wrist pin cushion or a regular pin cushion. To enter, visit Chocolatedogstudio and then come back HERE and leave a comment on this posting with your favorite item in Karen's shop. Be sure to include your email so we can contact you in case you win. The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post.
Introduction: I have been married to my best friend and husband since 1988. We have four kids ranging in age from 21 to 12. I have been creating in one way or another since childhood. My father worked for an oil company and I spent my childhood living in international cities. We moved home to Colorado and then Oklahoma in time for me to start and finish high school. I was in an incredibly bad car wreck in 1984 two weeks before high school graduation. It was God's blessing and miracle that I survived. They used the jaws of life to extract me from the car. I suffered two broken legs and internal bleeding. I went off to college in a wheel chair and then crutches for 9 months. I met my husband the next year. We dated and then married after we graduated from college. Our kids have been in school, and home school. Right now, we are homeschooling again, after a 4 year stint at a local private school where I taught art. 
How did you choose your shop name? My shop is named after my 90 lb chocolate Labrador that we got from Labrescue. He was my Mother's Day gift when he was not quite 2 years old. He is now 9. He often sits right behind my chair as I create and I have to be careful not to roll my chair over on his tail. 
What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day includes checking e-mail and Etsy first thing every morning. Posting a few new listings first thing in the morning while I drink my coffee and chat with hubs. I then wake the kids and get them started on their day. I trade off work between three rooms; the sun-room, the studio, and the living room. Our youngest follows me with her work in case she needs help. We have lunch and then if the kids have classes, work, or dance we head out to their activities or we spend time cleaning and doing whatever needs to be done. I try to get another hour or more of work done in the evening. Everyday has its own rhythm and I really don't have a typical day.
If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be? If I could be anywhere in the world for one day it would with family, where ever they are. IF I had more than one day it would be London, England or Scotland. There is no way to visit there and only take one day. I love the history and the people in England. 
What is your favorite Bible verse? My favorite Bible verse is: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I have had to lean on this verse many times in the past as I have had to deal with different things that have happened in life. I know where my hope is and with whom my future lies. It is Christ alone that gives us the strength to do what he for us to do.
What is your favorite etsy item to feature? My favorite item to list on Etsy is quite simply one I have listed before because then I can just copy and paste the listing, or something brand new. I like to see the response to new and different items that I list. Which is why I always post my new items on my teams! I need the encouragement to keep going.
Where can we find you on the internet?
You can find my blog at www.chocolatedogstudio.com
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/chocolatedogstudio
On Twitter at www.twitter.com/chocodogstudio
You can find my blog at www.chocolatedogstudio.com
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/chocolatedogstudio
On Twitter at www.twitter.com/chocodogstudio
Don’t forget to visit Chocolatedogstudio and come back here to comment to enter to win the give away.
We have a winner from last week's featured artist. Chin-Lu won a 2 oz jar of WONDERFUL Healing Creme w/Grapeseed and Camelina and a 2 oz jar of DECADENCE Jasmine-Neroli Whipped Crème from BathAndBodyBoutique. You will both receive a convo from me. Congratulations!
1:31 AM |
Category:
chocolatedogstudio,
cup cozy,
Featured Artist,
gift tag,
note card,
squeakybug,
Wednesday
|
11
comments
Comments (11)
Thank you so much!
It is great to "meet" Karen! No way you look old enough to have a 21 year old!
Here's my fave item :-)
Scalloped circle gift tags, green with pink lillies
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69875150/scalloped-circle-gift-tags-green-with
Have a wonderful day!
OH, here's my new giveaway too:
New giveaway from TomRoche.etsy.com
http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/win-it-wednesday-new-giveaway-and_15.html
Karen, after being on the team together for so long, it is great to learn more about you!
It's so great to meet you Karen. I love the cute little covered clothes pins!
Karen is such a great team member to get to know. Love her shop!
Hey, Karen...good to see you here my buddy.
Still love my cup warmers/holders...
Nice to know more about you, blessings to you.
Monika
It's Karen! Yay! I like all of her stuff and can't pick one thing in particular, but if I must I would pick the cup warmer with the owls.
Everything in Karen's shop is adorable and she's our "bnr" queen..........
Nice to "meet" you Karen! I love your That 70s vintage floral stripe cup sleeve! So cute!!
~ Angela
angelasheartwork@yahoo.com
Really enjoyed this interview. I totally relate to the home school lifestyle and not really having a rigid schedule. You are an amazing lady to push on like you have in the face of some pretty overwhelming circumstances. God is faithful!
Choosing a fave was easy....the cat wrist pin cushion! Catcalls.etsy.com
It is so hard to pick a favorite. I love the coffee warmers and I just purchased a tin of beautiful flower embellishments. Karen has a real talent with color.
♥♥♥
Sue