Happy Birthday...

to my Partner in Crime. Even being in Hong Kong, you manage to be my cheerleader, co-interior decorator, and Jiminy Cricket.


I love you, Dee Dee (aka Mom)!

Putting the "stress" in seamstress

During Erin and I's weekend sewing extravaganza, we each decided to make a pair of lounge pants and a skirt. I know, totally fun. Coming off of the lounge pants high, I dived right on in to making my skirt. Maybe I shouldn't have dived so quickly, cause after cutting the pattern pieces I realized that I cut the fabric upside down. So basically, it looked like this...

Sadly, birds don't hang upside down. If only they were bats.

I was devastated. I couldn't believe I ruined my skirt even before I sewed it. I did consider making the upside-down skirt anyway, but knowing me, it would have driven me mad. After giving me sufficient time to pout, Erin offered to buy my fabric, saying she could easily use it for another project. Then we agreed to go back to the store first thing the next morning and re-buy my fabric. That way I could make the skirt just right. (Big sisters always know how to fix things, huh?)

Back at the store, I found my fabric again. But then, of course, this caught my eye...

Yikes, Bikes!

How could I leave it behind? So Erin and I determined to make 3 skirts in one day (the third one being Erin's). We knew it would be a huge feat, but we were up to it. After working out some kinks, learning some new skills, and dealing with the Invisible Zipper Fiasco of 2009, we were victorious.

See?




BTW, here are the stats...

Pattern: Barcelona Skirt (A-line version)
Source: Amy Butler
Fabric: Echino's "Dew Birds" in Eggplant and "Bikes in the Clouds" by KOKKA
Made for: Moi
Extras: Invisible zippers
Date Started AND completed: February 16, 2009

Overboard with Orla

So I may have gone a titch overboard with the Orla Kiely for Target collection.

Kara's Orla inventory:

• Desk Tray
• Large Tapered Tote
• Small Tapered Tote
• CD-DVD Box (x2)
• Magazine Organizers (x2)
• Oven Mitt
• Laundry Bag

And yet, Kara still wants:

• Serving tray
• Canisters
• Apron

Sigh.

Sew new

So I went to Denver for the long weekend to visit the sis and I picked up something really cool. A new craft. Sewing, people! (It totally beats a "I went to Denver and all I got was this lousy shirt" tee.)

Before this weekend, I never sewed a stitch. Things like bobbins and needles moving really fast around my fingers kind of put me off to the idea. But lately Erin has embraced the whole craft. And since I can't stand being left out, I decided to give the whole thing a go.

So let's take a journey. One where a complete sewer novice person learns to sew the cutest pair of length-appropriate lounge pants for her six foot frame. Seriously. The cutest.

So first there is the shopping...

Why did no one warn me about the addictive power
of Japanese fabrics? So kawaii.

The buying...

Oh my cuteness! Deers!

The cutting of pattern pieces...

Must. Cut. Straight.

The sewing...

Sewing sure doesn't help my bad posture. Shoulders back, Kara!

And, after a couple of hours, the lounging.

I warned you. The cutest.

You may be thinking, "Kara, your lounge pants are darling. But they sure look lonely." No worries. Erin made them a little friend.


Russian dolls and little fawns make the best of friends. Just like sisters.

You would think making the perfect pair of length-appropriate lounge pants would be enough sewing for one weekend. You obviously don't know us very well. Stay tuned...

**Just added**
Oh, I forgot, here are the stats:

Pattern: Wide-Leg Lounge Pants
Source: Amy Butler's In Stitches
Fabric: "Frolicking Fawn" in ivory
Made for: Moi
Date Started AND completed: February 15, 2009

The Knitting Avian Influenza (or Knitting Birds Flu)

I think I've caught something. Something serious. Cause everywhere I knit, there's birds. It must be the Knitting Avian Influenza, most commonly known as the Knitting Birds Flu. My symptoms? First, it was a case of the Little Birds, and now, I've come down full-blown Owls [Ravelry link].

And yes, there's even an Owl looking over my shoulder. There is no escape.

With knits like this, I think I might pass on a cure.

(By the way, Katie Davies, the designer of Owls is offering this pattern as a free download. Gotta love designers that are talented AND generous. And I have to thank my darling friend, Karen, for exposing me to this virus.)

Porom: The Play!

The following is a dramatization of a shopping trip with my gal pal, Jaimi, last autumn:

Jaimi picked up several slouchy knit berets on display and cooed. Yes, cooed.

Jaimi: "Oooh, love this."
Kara: "I know, slouchy berets are the most darling. I look really good in them."
Jaimi: "I do too!"
Kara: "This is why we are friends. Our ability to look fab in hats."
Jaimi: "I wonder how much they are?"
Kara: "I have a better idea, how bout I knit you one?"
Jaimi: "Really?!"
Kara: "Of course! I can have one done in no time. Easy peasy lemon squeezy."
Jaimi and Kara: "Ya Ya!"

A couple months have passed. Kara and Jaimi are again shopping (do you see our pattern?), and again are presented with a slouchy beret display.

Jaimi: "I think I should just buy one of these. I really want one."
Kara: "Oh yeah, didn't I say I was going to knit you one?"
Jaimi: "Uh huh."
Kara: "Ok, I promise I will. [Long pause.] But maybe you should buy that one just in case."
Jaimi: "Well, maybe just in case..."

Jaimi proceeded to buy it. But later returned it. Why? For some reason, she believed in me and wanted to hold out for the slouchy beret she knew I'd knit for her. This week, her wait came to an end.

And Scene.


So I finally knit that girl some slouchiness. No one can say I don't keep my promises, they just can't say I keep them timely.


Jaimi was born to model knits on blogs, no?

Oh so slouchy!

I love having friends that indulge me in my kooky bloginess and embrace my need for "photo shoots." Jaimi, you're a doll. Go forth and slouch!

PS - Here are the stats...

Pattern: Porom
Source: Jared Flood
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed in Melody (Leftover yarn from TYC. Go stash busting, go!)
Made for: My gal pal, Jaimi
Needle Size: US 6/8 circs
Date Started: January 27, 2009
Date Completed: February 3, 2009

Unhealthy crushes on make-believe men

The following post is a little self-indulgent. Not the usual fare for this blog. But hey, why not? It's my blog and and I can write what I want to.

I have come to an important realization in my personal life. I have too many real crushes on fictional men. Books, movies, TV shows--I'm meeting these guys everywhere. Everywhere except reality.

Curious about who makes my heart all a flutter? Well, there's...

• Ned, aka The Piemaker, from "Pushing Daisies"
• Mr. Darcy from "Pride and Prejudice"
  
• Mark Darcy from "Bridget Jones's Diary"
• Marshall from "How I Met Your Mother"
• Benedick from "Much Ado About Nothing"
• Luke AND Christopher AND Max from "Gilmore Girls"
• Jimmy Stewart in anything ("The Philedelphia Story", "Shop around the Corner", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Rear Window"...See? Anything.)

No one can accuse me of not having a type. All of these characters are good guys to the core with a splash of bite. They're all smart but can be silly when the situation calls for it (well, maybe not Darcy, he's not really the silly type). They understand the value of banter. And, oddly enough, they're all tall. Okay, I'm not sure how the tall the "book" guys are, but in my head they're definitely taller than me, in heels.

So how unhealthy is this? Having feelings for guys that "technically" don't exist? I'm thinking it doesn't bode well for a real dating life with real men.