knitting lemonade

Liberty Portfolio Tunic

2012-01-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

I might have mentioned this before, but I LOVE Liberty of London fabric. But while I've slowly amassed a little Liberty fabric stash over the years, I've not really sewed much with it, afraid of "ruining" this gorgeous, spensy fabric with my imperfect sewing skills. But I did make that Liberty blouse last year, and that turned out. So it's about time to get the courage up to make another one, right?

Last week, on a very snowy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I sewed up this tunic from one of my Lisette patterns using my Strawberry Thief fabric.

Overall, I like it. But there are some issues. The Strawberry Thief print is so busy that you don't see a lot of the seaming details. Like can you see the placket detail?

Or see the seam that swoops into the pockets?

Hardly. I can barely see them when I am up close. But that isn't a deal breaker.

The last thing, the overall size is a little big, but I'm hoping it comes off like a Japanese-Stylish-Dress-Book-style tunic instead of an unflattering muumuu.

But despite all these imperfections, I really do like the tunic and see myself wearing it.

Here are my tunic-ish stats...

Pattern: Simplicity 2245 (Lisette)

Fabric: Liberty Strawberry Thief, F
Made for: Moi
Date Started: January 15, 2012

Date Completed: January 16, 2012
Mods: None

iStitch

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

There's a place where craftiness intersects with technology. And that place is my hand, y'all.

Like my new iPhone case? I stitched it up myself.

I am a fan of monograms and initials. So I decided to do a fancy-schmancy "K", taking inspiration from Felicity Hall. (BTW...she has some fab patterns for free here.) For the rest, I just winged it. Needless to say, I'm pretty pleased how it all turned out. And unlike most of my projects, I will get to use this one on a daily basis.

It's like carrying a little bit of craftiness wherever I go.

Oh, I got my cross-stitch case from Connect Design. There are also some available at Purl Soho. So go ahead and stitch one of your own.

Better Each Day

2012-01-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

I really don't put a lot of stock into new year's resolutions. Generally, I am oh so bad at keeping them. But you know what? 2011 was tough, guys. I was glad to see its backside walking out the door. So it feels right to try to make some simple changes that will make 2012 a better year to live in.

Helping me is my blog (and now real-life) friend Jessica through her awesome book: Better Each Day. Based on her talks with experts and personal experience, she has created 365 concise, yet helpful tips for a better life. It's this easy-to-digest format that makes me feel like I can realistically make some needed changes, one day at a time. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

I am currently making my way through Jessica's book, but here are a couple of my favorite tips so far:

Be realistic about your resolutions.
Keep your friendships healthy.
Don't dwell on goofs and gaffes.
Go ahead, be a couch potato--as long as you bike or walk to work.

Here Jessica is being her cute self in the book trailer for Better Each Day. (Yeah, my friend has a book trailer. Cool, right?)

With a little work on my part, I think 2012 is going to be a good year.

Last knit of 2011

2011-12-31T11:48:00.001-07:00

Here lies the last project of 2011. For Christmas, my sister, Erin, knit a hat for my other sister, Bri. Since it was super cute and I couldn't bear to be left out, I knit myself one over the last couple of days. (BTW, Erin is knitting herself one too. It is an epidemic!)

Pom-pom, you guys. And little bobbly knots.

I have decided that it is much easier to meet a new year head on when you are wearing a darling hat.

Of course, here is the knitty gritty...

Pattern: Ion by Norah Gaughan

Ravelry link: Here
Yarn: Rowan Renew in Pick Up
Needle size: US 10 and 10 1/2
Made for: Moi
Date started: December 29, 2011
Date completed: December 30, 2011

Happy New Year, everyone! See you in 2012.

Rope Bangles

2011-12-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

I really hope you all had a lovely holiday this year. I definitely did.

For a couple of gifts this year, I decided to go the homemade route. I found this tutorial for making rope bangles on the Crafts Dept. blog at Martha Stewart.

Cute, right?!

Of course this project required me to buy my first glue gun. (Shocking, I know. You would assume I would be a glue gun owner already.) And wouldn't you know, I had to buy the glue gun with the most pizazz.

Hot pink? Check. Leopard print? Check.

These bangles are so fun to make because of all the ways you can use the rope to make a design--knots, braids, twists--they all turn out fab!

After creating the basic bracelet shape, I used fabric stiffener to make them well, stiff. Then I gilded on the gold and copper. Painting on the metallic colors was my favorite part. I felt like King Midas turning ordinary objects into gold treasures. And my fingers sure looked liked his afterwards.

Fancy two-tone bangle. I am got very ambitious.

So there you have it, fun, fashionable, and oh so stackable. And the best thing, they were as delightful to give away as they were to make.

A year later

2011-12-28T12:26:00.002-07:00

A year ago today, I had surgery to remove my thyroid and some lymph nodes due to cancer. I remember going into surgery feeling a little scared and unsure of what's next, but ready to get this disease out of me and move on. The following year has been interesting.

If I'm honest, there are many times this year that I've forgotten I had cancer. I feel very lucky for that. So many others have more difficult experiences--diagnoses and treatments that affect the rest of their lives. My "difficulties" this year have been trying to reach the right hormone balance, tiredness from time to time, and weight gain--all pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things. I have a feeling that in the next year, I will continue to get closer to my new normal.

As of today, everything looks really good. My ultrasounds are clear. And if you will allow me a bit of vanity, my scar looks pretty darn fabulous. It clearly has a super power of invisibility.

I think this whole thyroid cancer thing was just a speed bump in my life. Definitely not a detour.

And now there's a much better reason to remember this day. The birth day of my new niece, Lydia.

Yup, this is what life is truly about.

Chevron Beret

2011-12-11T13:01:00.001-07:00

After a couple of starts and stops, the Chevron Beret is finished.

I don't know why this fairly simple knitting pattern tripped me up at first. A couple of times, I got to the end of a row and had an extra stitch. Of course I could not be bothered expend the brain function to figure out why and put it aside. But eventually I came back to it, frogged some rows, and got on the right track.

When I first tried it upon casting off, disaster. It was like a beanie--very fitted on my head. Not really the look I was hoping for. But after washing it and drying it over a plate, it gained a more beret-esque attitude. While it still is not a full-on beret, it is cute and wearable.

Like my scissors necklace? I got it here.

And here are some Chevron-y stats...

Pattern: La Parisenne Beret
Ravelry link: Here
Yarn: Koigu PPPM (P218 9) and Reynolds Soft Sea Wool
Needle size: US 2 circulars
Made for: Moi
Date started: November 7, 2011
Date completed: December 10, 2011

Stockings Revisited

2011-12-08T13:39:00.001-07:00

Back in the ye olden days of 2006 (before this blog ever lived on Blogger), I knit some Norwegian Stockings.

Over the course of my knitting career, I have knit some things that never made the transition to my "real life." While these knits look great in blog photos and I gush about how much I love the outcome, eventually they end up on a shelf, never really meshing with my day-to-day ensembles (I cannot help but say that word with a faux French accent).

So it may surprise you, these stockings have avoided such a fate. Yes, these crazy, not very versatile, loud stockings are still in rotation all these years later.

Why? Because now and again, a little Norwegian flair poking out of your boots is just the right touch to an outfit.

I shall conquer you, liquid liner! I shall!

2011-11-30T22:54:00.001-07:00

Pinterest has been inspiring to give the whole cat-eye, liquid-liner look a go.

Source

I don't know what it is about liquid liner that makes me have spazz hands but I can't seem to get it right. So I have decided to use this tutorial. The secret? Cello tape.

I just put the tape on my lower lids to curb my inability to draw a straight line.

This picture puts me in a very
vulnerable state with y'all. Be kind.

Then I draw the liner on slowly.

After that, I peel up the tape, leaving a pretty little "flick." This creates a perfect foundation line to add to in order to achieve my desired level of cat-eye thickness.

Look, the process may not be pretty, but here are the results.

Not purrr-fect (Pun hilarity!), but getting there.

Technical Difficulties?

2011-11-17T19:44:00.001-07:00

Several people have said they've not been able to comment on my blog. Hopefully I have fixed the bugs by switching to full-page comments. (It's ugly, but if it works, that is good enough for me.)

If you still can't comment, please shoot me an email so I know that I need to find another solution.

Sigh, the joys of Blogger.

Boys don't make passes...

2011-11-16T20:43:00.001-07:00

at girls who wear glasses. Oh, well.

Lookie loo, I got some new specs.

Liberty Pom Pom Cowl

2011-11-14T19:32:00.001-07:00

Upon seeing the picture of my loot from Purl, my friend, Karen, left a comment asking if I was planning on making a Liberty Pom Pom Cowl. Yup, she nailed it.

I've been eyeing this Purl tutorial for a while now. And Karen and I have held discourses on how fab it would be to use Liberty of London fabric instead of plain linen. We were so right.

Stars! Pom Poms! What a delight!

Don't look too closely at the stitching. Yikers!

I did have to wrangle those pom poms a bit. But luckily I got some help from my mom, aka the Pom-Pom Whisperer. Other than that, this cowl was another quick (and oh so cute) project.

It is time for another vacation?

2011-11-12T10:06:00.001-07:00

Who would have thought that I would do so well posting while on vacation and do so horribly upon my return home? Oh, you did. You know me so well.

NYC was such an amazing trip. I loved showing my mom around the city with Erin. We made some serious memories. On top of that, I was able to reconnect with two of my best friends, Jacqueline and Meredith. It really was one of the best trips.

As such, it was pretty difficult to get back into the groove of work, especially with it being an extra challenging week. But that doesn't mean I haven't tried to be creative on my own time.

I have cast on for a new hat with the koigu I bought at Purl Soho.

Colors are a bit darker and richer in person.

It is going to be a chevron-type beret (I'm using this free pattern). It's still in the beginning stages, but so far so good. I was thinking if I have some yarn leftover, maybe I could make some matching arm warmers, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I know better than to underestimate my laziness.

Packing up

2011-11-05T07:32:00.001-06:00

I think I won the ultimate game of Tetris by figuring out how to pack a helmet and bike basket.

Utopia (aka Purl Soho)

2011-11-04T09:58:00.001-06:00

On the heels oh going to the dream bike shop, I was able to spend some time in the dream yarn and fabric shop: Purl Soho.

With the amazing selection, it's almost overwhelming. But indecision of this kind is a fun predicament to be in.

Oh, did I mention they sell Liberty of London fabric? That had me in a trance for a half hour at least.

Wall of Liberty of London.

Eventually I was able to focus and pick up a couple of things. Shocker, I know.

Items include:

2 skeins of koigu in a purply/blue-ish/pinky hue
3 yards of tan pompoms
1/2 yard of Liberty of London starry fabric

I feel like this purchase was very thoughtful on my part. I could have easily gone overboard and bought so many more things. I left that to Erin and my mom.

One of my most favorite things to see in the city...

2011-11-03T08:32:00.002-06:00

My best friend from high school, Jacqueline.

No matter where we are in our lives, or how long it has been since we talked, we always just pick up where we left off--being the "silly, tall, and awkward girls" that we are.

Because Jacqueline is a avid reader of this blog and I uber love her, I gave her a pair of Rainy Day Fingerless Gloves. Immediately she said, we have to do a photo shoot for your blog!

The artsy hand shot

The "Surprised" look

The "Claws"

The "Vogue"

The "Thinker"

The Peek-a-Boo

Can you see why we are friends?

Shangri-la (aka Adeline Adeline)

2011-11-02T16:15:00.002-06:00

Oh, Adeline Adeline.

Now this is a bicycle boutique. It was so fun to come to a store filled will all my favorite bicycles: Pashleys, Retrovelos, Workcycles, and Abicis...oh my!

And of course there was the famous Kate Spade Abici looking as lovely as I imagined her.

One of the best parts of my visit was trying out the Workcycles Oma in the 61 size. This was the other bicycle I was debating on purchasing before I bought my Pashley. So I took Oma down to the bike path by the Hudson and gave her a go.

Look how little of the seat post is showing!

There's a couple things I noticed. I think the Oma's size fits me really well, which is slightly bigger than my Pashley. With the Oma I truly could get the "sit-up-and-beg" position. Also shifting gears on Oma is superior. I think the 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub totally kicks the 5-speed Sturmey-Archer hub's bottom. It feels so smooth and reliable to shift, which is not the case on my Pashley. One thing that the Pashley does have...style. I will always prefer the Pashley's look. She is just so darn good looking.

Of course I could not leave Adeline Adeline empty handed. And I got a little swept up and splurged on a couple of things.

First off, this basket:

I just love the style of it. It is hand-woven in Ghana and has so much personality. I think would go perfectly on Betty Foy or Libby.

And then, I got this Yakkay helmet:

I know. It's kinda ridiculous, but I kinda love it! I think it combines my love of hats with my love of bicycles. Plus, it lets me show off my super power of looking good in hats while riding.

PS - How cute will the herringbone look on Adelaide?

Swimming in a pool of noodles

2011-11-02T12:02:00.001-06:00

Erin is off in a conference so I have the day to myself in the city. It started with a VERY lazy morning and then a noodle lunch at Momofuku (thanks for the recommendation, Trisha!). And I had fabulous company for lunch in the form of the new Mindy Kaling book on my kindle. She is my new pretend BFF.

Spotted in SoHo

2011-11-01T11:41:00.001-06:00

A yarn-bombed tricycle locked up.

And then there was two

2011-11-01T10:48:00.001-06:00

Mom left us this morning. So Erin and I are drowning our sorrows in Peanut Butter. (We had so much fun showing our mama the city!) Eating at the Peanut Butter & Co. We ordered the Elvis: PB, honey, banana,and bacon grilled. And of course a Death by Peanut Butter sundae: PB Captain Crunch, ice cream, PB sauce, Reese's Pieces, PB chips, whip cream. Yeah, we really like peanut butter.

5 day. 4 plays.

2011-11-01T08:21:00.001-06:00

We've been Broadway babies! So far, us gals have seen:

Mary Poppins

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (with darling Daniel Radcliffe)

Lion King

Phantom of the Opera (which was kinda perfect for our Halloween in the city)

Lady Liberty

2011-10-31T12:51:00.001-06:00

Umm...snow?!?

2011-10-29T13:38:00.001-06:00

Looks like a good day to be inside watching plays. (And love seeing my BFF Meredith! Even in Snowtober.)

Hi from the Highline

2011-10-28T11:38:00.001-06:00

Enjoying a sunny day in the city with my gals. So fun to walk this old elevated train track turned park.

Vacation-ish

2011-10-26T11:53:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow, my sister Erin and I will be taking our mom on her first trip to New York City. Erin and I will be there for 10 days, while my mom will be there for 5. Needless to say we are v. v. excited.

Just imagining Mom, Erin and I seeing NYC via skates. Such fun!
(Source: Pinterest)

There will be shopping, sightseeing, plays, friends, and of course, food galore.

"But Kara," you may be thinking, "your sporadic posting of late has made it feel like you've already been on blog vacation." True. So to avoid my blog from going dark (Broadway term! I'm totally in the NYC state of mind), my goal is to do some mini-posts while out and about in the city. I have downloaded the blogger app on my phone, so I'm ready to post whenever it tickles my fancy. Fingers crossed it works.

There will be a couple of days in the city where I get to wander and explore on my own. Places on top of my list are:

Adeline Adeline
The BRAND NEW Orla Kiely store
My homegirl, Kate Spade
Purl Soho
The High Line
Brooklyn Bridge
Central Park (by bicycle)
And so much more.

What about you? Any other must-dos, NYC-lovers?

Aloha, my friends! See you in the Big Apple.

How to be idle.

2011-10-22T17:01:00.000-06:00

1. Stay in your pajamas until an embarrassing hour. If you have been out of town for work all week, you will have a lot of personal business to attend to (i.e., freeing up space on that DVR of yours.)

2. Assess how much you "really" need to get done today. Justify ditching all errands that are not time sensitive. That includes replacing the expired milk in the fridge. It can all wait for another day. But for that one must-do errand, go by bike.

Tip: If you must run an errand, try to pick a store that matches your bike.

3. Barely do your hair.

4. Barely get dress. This outfit should consist of the most comfy casual items in your wardrobe. Some examples include: a jersey cardi, t-shirt, yoga pants, and toms shoes.

The key to pulling this outfit off in the wild is to act like you are on your way to attend, nay teach, an intense Yogalates session.

5. Be too lazy to make yourself lunch. So buy some gelato instead.

Hey, teaching a fake Yogalates class, burns a lot of calories.

Sharrows on my street

2011-09-21T12:26:00.002-06:00

Looks like the bicycle fairies paid a visit to my street. This morning, when I left on my work commute today with Betty, I noticed some magical new markings on the road.

So it's official. The powers that be in Salt Lake City say my street is "bike-friendly" and have stamped their bike-y approval right there on the road. But really, they didn't need to tell me that this street is good for bikes. I knew that already. Regardless, these sharrow or "shared lane" markings are nice to have anyway.

BTW, don't you like my new ballet flats? They are from that Missoni for Target line. They are one of the few things I managed to score during that cray-cray debacle. I am surprised I got anything between target.com being out of commission all day and ebay trolls buying up all the inventory at my local store to resell for outrageous prices. Ugh! What is wrong with people?! Anyway, focus back on the flats, Kara. Pretty shoes...Pretty shoes...

Toppity Top

2011-09-18T16:23:00.001-06:00

Remember the quilty plan? Scratch that. I decided for this quilt that I would keep it simple...very simple.

8-inch squares. That's it.

I changed my mind after seeing this quilt. It was so simple, yet chic. And I thought this patchwork pattern would really show off the vintage-print fabric brilliantly. Plus, being my first quilt, keeping it simple is probably a very good idea.

After cutting up my squares, it was a matter of planning out their placement. Beds are very good for that.

Then, this weekend, I sewed together the quilt top.

So, it's coming along. Now I just have to sew up the back and quilt it all together. Maybe a little hand stitching perhaps, a la Anna Maria Horner? So much for keeping it simple.

Videogram from the Bike Path

2011-09-13T20:39:00.002-06:00

Libby and I just wanted to say, "hi."

Did you think my voice sounded like that? I sure didn't.

After seeing this, I bet you can imagine how spazzy I am at leaving voicemail messages.

9/11

2011-09-11T01:30:00.001-06:00

Knit your own bicycle parking

2011-09-07T18:18:00.005-06:00

Biking home I caught a glance of some bicycle parking that just SCREAMS, "Kara!"

Looks like I have a kindred spirit out there who also has a great love for knitting and bicycles.

Thank you, Yarn Bombers, for making my commute home in SLC a little more colorful.

T-shirt Necklace

2011-09-01T14:36:00.006-06:00

In further efforts to dash nojo to bits, I've done another quick craft project...the T-shirt Necklace.

My friend, Heidi, was wearing one last night at our knitting group. When asked about it, said she found this tutorial via...you guessed it...Pinterest!

So I decided to take advantage of some time off and whip one up this morning. It is a VERY easy project that anyone can do.

Start with an old cotton tee.

Cut.

Stretch.

Wrap around the side seams of shirt with scraps.

And wear.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

A Work FO*

2011-08-23T11:21:00.007-06:00

There's a reason why I haven't been very productive in my crafty and bikey pursuits for the last month and a half. And here it is...

My work partner, Kristy, and I (plus an amazing director and production team) have been toiling away to create and produce this video for one of our clients. A lot of ideas and work (and I will say, love) went into it, and I feel the end result reflects that.

Being a copywriter at an ad agency can be surreal at times. It is funny to see a "What if we did this..." idea turn into something real. And by funny, I mean very cool.

*For those not in the know, "FO" means finished object in craft terms.

The Square Top

2011-08-14T14:42:00.000-06:00

Guys, this week has been a toughie. So I was in need of a sewing project that was fast and kinda mindless. I found exactly that in this tutorial for an Super Easy Square Top.

So I grabbed this cute lightweight poppy fabric from my stash and whipped the top out in a single morning.

Yoga pants and greasy hair...yup, sums up my sewing look.

My reaction is a mixed one with this top. Sometimes I catch it at certain angles and I think it is super cute, other angles it feels a bit wonky or maternity top-ish. I just think this is one of those tops that has to be styled just so to bring out its cuteness. Here's my attempt...

I do think it looks pretty smashing with my vintage pink pleated skirt.

A couple things for me to keep in mind next time I make this. I think I would make the overall top a bit narrower but longer...so I'd start off with more rectangle pieces versus square ones. Also I would make my neck opening a little smaller.

My biggest issue with the neck is that I just guessed on the neck shape and as a result it is a bit wide and gapey. A part of me thinks I should put a pleat or a pin tuck on the neck in order to bring it in. Another part of me thinks that I should leave it be and just wear an undershirt with it...keeping its slouchiness in tact. What do you think?

Meeting Jessica

2011-08-13T12:47:00.008-06:00

Last week, I had a first for my blog life. I met one of my blog friends. Jessica, of The Happy and Healthy Blog, was in SLC for the Outdoor Retailers Expo so we decided to take advantage of her trip to my neck of the woods and meet up for dinner.

It is funny meeting people from blogs. I liken it a bit to online dating. It is like, I feel like I know this person based on reading their posts and e-mails. I know what they look like from pictures. But when you actually set a date to meet, you still get a little nervous because in actuality, they are still a stranger.

But once I saw Jessica and spent 30 seconds with her, I knew we were going to have a fun time. And we did. We headed up to Park City where we had a lot of great food and laughs.

2 meals become 1. I love sharing!

Us on Main Street, Park City

Of course, being bike girls, we had to take advantage of this photo op!

Yeah, I had a major case of the crazy face.

How it's done.

Jessica has a such a great outlook on life. And it was really interesting to discover that we share a lot of similarities (we're born only three days from each other!) and life experiences.

In this stage of my life, I find that I don't make new friends as often or as easily as I did when I was in my 20s. But it is such a pleasant surprise when it happens. It only confirms to me that this blog has been a pretty fabulous way to meet a lot of wonderful people that I can call my friends, whether we meet in person or not.

PS - I cannot wait to read Jessica's book when it comes out. (Oh yeah, did I mention she is an authoress!)

Telecommuting by Bicycle

2011-08-05T15:43:00.006-06:00

So apparently a remedy for nojo is not in some big grand gesture, but in simple decisions.

I was working from home today and asked myself, why am I cooped up indoors? That is what Nojo Kara would do. Why don't I take advantage of the free wi-fi at Liberty Park and go work there?

So I packed up Adelaide and we went to the park. Of course we picked one of our favorite spots, right by the lake.

Now that is an office with a view.

I know Adelaide likes it.

PS - I will say working at the park is not all unicorns and rainbows. When you sit by the lake, at times you catch whiffs of duck poo. But you know, the pros still outweigh that con.

PPS - The irony of posting this while I am supposed to be working is not lost on me.

Nojo

2011-07-18T11:57:00.003-06:00

Sorry, guys, I seem to be suffering from a bit of nojo (nojo = no + mojo) at the moment. For some reason, I can't really get excited about my current craft projects. And due to some weird tailbone issue I've been experiencing (and the summer heat), I haven't been as committed to my bike riding. Also, there is a big project at work that has been kinda zapping all my energy.

I know, I am totally a Debbie Downer right now. But I'm going to Southern Utah with my family this weekend. Who knows, it might be the place where Kara gets her groove back.

Flags and Fireworks

2011-07-04T13:17:00.003-06:00

To my fellow Americans, Happy Fourth of July! (To the rest, Happy Monday!)

Gotta love, Little Edie! She knows how to celebrate in style.

(Thanks to Jenn Ski's blog for reminding me about this little gem.)

Twisted Turban Head Scarf

2011-06-26T12:35:00.005-06:00

Some of you remember this video I shared last year about a darling way of tying of head scarf. Well, this weekend I made something that gives off the same effect with a little more ease.

To make this Twisted Turban Head Scarf, I followed this sewing tutorial. It was an easy, straightforward project that produces a chic result. What's more, I got to use a lot of my odd scrap fabric from other projects. Huzzah!

But the real question is, are these sunglasses big enough?

A photo for a Pilen

2011-06-24T20:27:00.010-06:00

Lovely Bicycle is having a contest to win the Pilen bicycle she's been reviewing these past couple of weeks. This bicycle is tall and Swedish--just like me! So really I had no choice but to give it a go. On top of that, it would be amazing to win this very cool bike.

The contest is to submit a photo that pays homage to Swedish cinema. So here is my submission, entitled, "Trapped by love."

I was trying to evoke isolation, while having no desire to break from my prison. Layers, my friends. Layers.

Fun Fact: I share a surname with a famous Swedish Director. So I felt like I was getting in touch with my roots with this contest.

The Bicycle Girl

2011-06-15T18:34:00.005-06:00

So yeah, I just went for it.

Fill it in! Fill it ALL in!

I just figured that if it didn't work out, I could stitch another one. But you know, I like it. I think that before, her pants were this big empty space in the center of the embroidery. Filling in those red pants anchored it all. Plus red pants are so hot right now.

Once I finished the pants, there was little hope that the bicycle would remain untouched. But really, who wouldn't want a pink bike with a polka-dot chain case?

After the bike and the pants, the top half felt a little too outline-y, so the hair was next.

And that is that. I still might add a background of some sort at some point, but for now I'm happy with her as is. Now I just have to decide how to show her off. Maybe framed or on a pillow?

Again, thanks to Meghan Eplett for letting me use her fabbity fab design.

Outlines of a Bicycle Girl

2011-06-11T14:52:00.006-06:00

I've gotten to the point where the bicycle girl is outlined in thread. I could call it day. Or I could try to fill it in or embellish it in some way.

So your input is needed...

Should I fill in the hair/pants/bike? Or leave it just outlined?
Should I fill in one but not another? Like pants but not bike.
Should I try to add a background of some kind?

Thanks, peeps! I know you'll know what to do.

Bicycle and stitches

2011-06-08T11:08:00.007-06:00

Remember this darling bicycle girl video by Kate Spade? Well, by connecting with the artist, Meghan Eplett on Pinterest, I was able to find this line drawing of the girl on the bike. (Are you not on Pinterest yet? Um, what is taking you so long?! Seriously, get thee to the Pinterest!)

When I saw the drawing, I thought to myself, "Hey, wouldn't that be a cute embroidery? Why yes, Kara, it would."

So I asked Meghan if I could use her design for my little project and she gave me the green light.

At that point it was a matter of transferring the design onto the fabric. I decided to use a flour sack towel as a practice material for this. If this works out, I might upgrade the material. But for now the flour sack worked great because it's thin enough that I could place the drawing underneath and just trace it through the fabric using a fabric pencil.

Well, hello there, missy!

She is now fully transferred and I have started stitching. Stay tuned...

In the meantime, she was rippling...

2011-05-31T18:06:00.003-06:00

I've been working pretty consistently on the Ripple Blanket for the past couple of weeks. And let me tell you, the progress is sloooow. I thought crochet was supposed to be so much faster than knitting.

After crocheting so many ripples for so little blanket, one gets the case of the crazy eyes...

Over the (Jordan) River and through the (not really) woods

2011-05-29T08:45:00.000-06:00

...to my brother's house we go. This saturday I decided to set a goal: to go from my door to my brother's door by bicycle. A trip that is about 14 miles one-way and most of it on bicycle parkways. Seemed a perfect way to spend a Saturday.

I thought I would give you a little picture tour of my ride. So yeah, lots of pictures ahead.

First off, I had to decide what to wear for this long ride. I am not comfortable being too sporty-looking or all lycra-ed out--it's just not me. At the same time I wanted to be comfortable and nimble. So I decided on this casual jersey dress.

People on the trail, with their jerseys and gear, may look at me in a dress and a pink polka dot helmet and think I'm sooo not hardcore. But they would be wrong. I am undercover hardcore. See?

Under my dress were my new Pearl Izumi Attack Shorts that I picked up at the REI anniversary sale. They are my first pair of padded shorts and thought they would be a nice asset to this ride. Plus, I am still breaking in that Brooks saddle, so I need all the help I can get.

It was then time to head off. I live in downtown Salt Lake City, so as I passed Temple Square, I decided to stop and smell the always gorgeous flowers.

Then I made my way through the streets of SLC to hook up with my old friend, the Jordan River Parkway.

Between the Jordan River Parkway and the Legacy Parkway Trail, was a un-paved gravelly bit. It was actually quite beautiful, but I think Betty and her tires really missed the asphalt.

A grainy view of downtown SLC.

After that, I connected with the Legacy Parkway Trail. You probably don't remember, but this parkway will take me straight to my brother's house. It's the parkway that I ride with my nieces.

After a little bit, I reached my turn.

And then my destination, where my brother had his legendary chocolate chip cookies waiting for me.

Overall, I found the ride very doable. And can see myself doing it often. But why wouldn't I when I have such great incentives at the destination?

The only hole in my plan? I had to do it all over again to get home.

Guest post on Simply Bike's Bike Date Series

2011-05-26T09:54:00.004-06:00

I was lucky enough to contribute to Simply Bike's Bike Date Series. "But Kara, you don't date," you say. That's true. But who says a date has to be a boy/girl thing? And Simply Bike agrees. So I decided to share my bike ride with my sister's family a couple of weeks ago.

You can see the post here.

Thanks, Simply Bike! This series is a great idea.

Ripples

2011-05-19T08:35:00.000-06:00

I've got a ripple. I've got a ripple. I've got a ripple, hey, hey, hey, hey!

So it's official, I can crochet now. (Thanks to Ali and Shannon!) And for my first project, I'm doing a ripple blanket, ala these...

(Images via my Craftoholic pinboard on Pinterest)

I have to thank/blame Karen, who kept pinning these fab blankets on her craft board on Pinterest to the point where resistance was futile.

If you too want to ripple, I used this tutorial.

A little world of my own

2011-05-17T18:14:00.001-06:00

I promise that I'm not trying to be a show off with all my fabulous birthday presents, but I have to share this one with you guys.

My friend, Jeff, has become quite the Terrarium Master. So imagine how happy I was when Jeff gave me one of his amazing creations.

The best part? Well, have a closer look.

Do you see them? Here, look even closer.

Mini-bicycle people! I like to imagine these two bicyclists are enjoying a ride in their teeny, tiny park.

And what's great, I think I can handle the upkeep of a terrarium, considering there's practically none. Oh, how I love it so. Thank you, Jeff!

My Mom, Wonder Woman

2011-05-16T19:21:00.004-06:00

It was my birthday on Saturday. And it was lovely. It was full of special moments with friends and family. One moment really stands out for me: when I opened a gift from my mom.

The gift was this pillow.

Back in 2009, my mom and I went on trip to Paris and London. While in Paris, we saw an amazing embroidered pillow that was a "map" of Paris. My mom and I considered getting it, but decided against it in the end due to price.

Fast forward to this birthday, my mom had MADE me her own version of the pillow. This pillow is so much more amazing because it includes a lot of the specific things that we did on our trip, including our hotel, a visit to Angelina for hot chocolate, the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, and many others.

I especially love the ric-rac ribbon for the Seine river.

Basically, I just needed to share with you guys how amazing my mom is. Her love shows up in so many ways in my life, and this is such a creative one. A tear came to my eye when I saw this gift. It is something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I love you, Dee Dee!

Re-Pond

2011-05-13T10:54:00.004-06:00

The pond at Liberty Park is back. Last year there was an oil spill that affected the pond and it has been out of commission ever since. That is until this week, when they finally took down the fences. It feels so nice to be able to enjoy my favorite spot in the park again.

I predict there will many bike/kindle/pond dates to come this spring and summer.

The quilty plan

2011-05-09T14:11:00.004-06:00

Here is a ROUGH plan for the quilt.

I am so tech savvy that I totally designed this quilt in a table in Word. Yeah, major skills. Forgive all the wonkiness. I threw this together to give me an idea how the fabric could all go together.

So as you can see, I chose to go patchwork--but with varying sizes of rectangles and squares--so I can really show off the fabric (Inspired by this quilt). Plus, I think this pattern offers a vintage-y look that matches the fabric.

Did I make the right choice? (Curse my need for validation!)

Orange you glad you bike.

2011-05-04T11:22:00.002-06:00

A little video by Kate Spade that made me happy. They highlight a new color for every month...May is Orange.

Crafty bicycles

2011-04-27T10:59:00.006-06:00

The bicycle craft movement is spreading!

Jessica of the great health and lifestyle blog, The Happy and Healthy Blog, emailed me a couple of weeks ago. She asked if I had any suggestions to prevent the bottom of the bicycle basket from scratching her new bike's paint. (BTW, her bike is named Betty too! Kindred bike spirits!) We were able to to come up with a creative and crafty solution, which she executed awesomely. Essentially, it's a shower cap for the bottom of the basket.

See the cute result here.

It sure is fun to use crafting to solve a bicycle problem. So, any bicycle crafts on your mind?

The family that bikes together...

2011-04-17T12:30:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I went on a bike ride with my sister, Bri, brother-in-law, Adam, and wee Maggie. I went down to their neck of the woods to ride the Lehi section of the Jordan River Parkway.

It took us a little while to get going, especially when coordinating with bike racks and baby trailers. But eventually we got it all down pat and were able to hit the parkway.

I can help!

This was Maggie's first ride, and she wasn't too sure about it all.

But a bottle soon fixed that.

Since I mostly ride solo, biking with family was such a nice change. Here are some snaps taken from the ride.

The artsy shot where I am pondering something deep.

Adam is looking (and being) hardcore.

Maggie enjoying the ride.

I think the MVPs of the ride were Bri, for toting Maggie in the baby trailer, and Maggie for just being so darn cute.

Love you guys! Looking forward to many rides to come.

Waffles and bicycle corrals

2011-04-15T13:34:00.006-06:00

Today was so beautiful, I decided to ride Betty somewhere for lunch. Then it hit me, it's been a while since I had a Bruges Waffle--the most delicious waffle in all of Salt Lake City, in my humble opinion.

Another reason that I decided to go there was the waffle shop's new bicycle corral. These corrals have been popping up all over SLC. (You can read an article about them here.) Basically, they convert a parking spot previously used by one car into on-street bicycle parking for up to ten bicycles.

With my helmet in hand, I ordered my waffle. (Which I got a discount for because of my Bicycle Benefits sticker on my helmet. Bicycle perks, yo!) I then told the owner of the waffle shop--who is Belgian, so you know the waffles are legit--that I'm using his new parking. He looked out the window, saw Betty, and then gave me a high five. He told me that he just got it put in yesterday. Later he came out of the shop as I was eating and proclaimed, "Look at all the bikes! My new parking is getting used!" He sounded very pleased and excited. I was thinking, "If you build it, they will come."

Mmm...vanilla waffle with creme fraiche and fresh strawberries.

With these corrals and an announcement for a new Greenway (which is right on my commute), SLC keeps pedaling in the right direction.

Lady Liberty

2011-04-12T20:10:00.004-06:00

Thanks for all your comments regarding the quilt. I am still debating a few things, but will let you know when I make a decision and/or some progress.

In the meantime, we had a break in our crummy spring weather (snow last weekend, seriously?!). So Betty and I headed to Liberty Park. Oh, how I've missed these kind of nights.

The best part of tonight was knowing that there are many nights like this to come. Yay for spring!

(Can you tell I was having fun with my Hipstamatic app for the iPhone?)

Upstairs Downstairs

2011-04-10T13:30:00.005-06:00

BPD APB (that's "British Period Drama All Points Bulletin" for your information): Upstairs Downstairs premieres on Masterpiece Classic tonight.

Are you going to be moving into 165 Eaton Place?

Quilt it.

2011-04-08T18:30:00.001-06:00

So I've been thinking about dabbling in quilting. Well, I guess I've done more than think about it since I bought the fabric.

When I saw this special edition fabric from the V&A museum, I knew I had to make a quilt out of it. (And for someone that does not quilt, that's a strong reaction.) The fabric was made to commemorate the exhibit called Quilts 1700 - 2010. All 18 printed cottons feature designs from the V&A quilt collection. Most of the designs are dated from the late 1700s/early 1800s. The V&A collaborated with Liberty (shocker, I know!) to reproduce these prints. The only bad thing was that I couldn't see this exhibit in person. But sewing this quilt will be the next best thing.

The V&A is hands down my favorite museum in London. When I lived there, I would spend countless hours looking at their costumes and textile archives. So it only seems fitting to create a quilt that reminds me of that time.

Me at the V&A back in 2008

Now the question is what kind of quilt? A string one?

(Source: Film in the Fridge)

Or a starburst one?

(Source: Film in the Fridge)

Or straightforward patchwork one?

(Source: Film in the Fridge)

Tell me your preference in the comments.

Oh, Kate!

2011-04-07T11:22:00.005-06:00

Kate Spade and the fabulous Adeline Adeline bicycle boutique in New York have collaborated to create a Kate Spade bicycle.

(Source: Adeline Adeline)

Kate Spade has long been a style icon of mine. So I definitely got a little giddy seeing this.

Some of you may be asking, "So, Kara, when are you ordering yours?" Normally, my obsessive personality would not rest until I made this bicycle mine, but alas it is too small for me.

I will have to make do by watching this video and appreciating the style of it all. (Maybe one of those amazing satchels will make me feel better...)

Betty Foy as Jan Brady

2011-04-04T18:39:00.006-06:00

Betty Foy has been pulling a Jan Brady lately. "Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide!" she says as she stomps her wheel. "All you ever talk about is Adelaide! What about me? When are we going to go for a ride?"

So today I took her to work. Just the two of us. And it was oh so fun.

When we got home, I could have sworn she threw a smug glance in Adelaide's direction. Oh, Jan.

(And for the trained eye, that is my Schoolhouse Tunic making its debut into society.)

How do you solve a problem like Adelaide?

2011-04-01T18:00:00.005-06:00

Pushing off during hard times.

Last time we left our fair heroine, Adelaide, she was feeling a little off. Thanks to a lot of your suggestions, I took her back into the bike shop.

I had a feeling this visit could go two ways:
1: They will find a problem and restore Adelaide to her full glory.
2. They will find nothing and I will be labeled a crazy lady.

After he had a chance to look at her, the bike guy told me that there were a couple of issues. "Vindication! I am not crazy!" I said out loud on the phone. The bike guy told me that Adelaide's back brake was too tight and that the cable for the shifter was stretched out. They fixed it and I could pick Adelaide up.

On the bike ride home, things were feeling good. Everything was just as I remembered them. I said to Adelaide, "We're back!" Then something funny happened. As we were going down hill I shifted to a higher gear, as you do, and then my pedals started spinning. "Hmmm," I thought, "That's not right." So then I shifted to what I thought was a lower gear and then I was able to find friction.

EUREEKA! They put the shifter on backwards. Well backwards for me. With the old plastic shifter, to go into first gear I had to move the lever toward me. With this new metal shifter, I have to move it away from me. What's more this new shifter has no number labels on it telling me what gear I am in, so I just assumed it worked the same as my plastic one by the same manufacturer. So here's the jist, all the troubles I've been having, has been because I was pedaling in 5TH GEAR THINKING IT WAS 1ST!

"Duh," says the crazy lady.

At least the bike guys found something to fix. They don't need to know about this little user error. Right?

PS - On my ride home, I saw a BMX-er totally biff it doing a trick on his bike in the middle of the road. I was the only one around and I shouted, "Are you alright?!" But he quickly got up, was too cool to admit he was hurt, and ignored me as I pedaled past.

Baby Cardi for Baby Sophia

2011-03-31T21:53:00.005-06:00

Remember this baby jacket? Well, I thought it was cute back then. Little did I know how the cuteness would be magnified with this baby in it!

Oh, baby Sophia! How cute are you?

Little did Sophia know that by wearing something knit by me she is contractually obligated to make a blog appearance. She's protesting by refusing to look at the camera.

Love this girl. (And her mom too!)

A question about Adelaide...

2011-03-29T18:43:00.003-06:00

Last several times I have ridden Adelaide it has been hard. Like really HARD. Especially on the way home where there are some hills. Adelaide has not always been the easiest on hills, but I have managed in the past. Now she is downright impossible. Like when I need to start after a stop, and happen to be on a small incline, pushing her pedals down seem like a herculean task. This is all in the lowest gear, mind you.

I wonder if when Adelaide got her new shifter, something was tweaked so her low gear is not so low. Is that even possible? My technical knowledge of these things is very limited.

I fully admit that it is possible that I, and not Adelaide, am the likely problem. It has been a while since I have ridden consistently so I am all sorts of out-of-shapeness. Maybe I should just ride Betty Foy around for a while and build up some of the ol' bicycling muscles again.

If it is a mechanical thing, I should get it checked out. But I thought I would ask you guys first, before I embarrass myself at the bike shop.

Any thoughts?

Hair Escapades

2011-03-26T18:32:00.013-06:00

I've been playing around with my hair lately. It's long enough now where I can experiment and try some fun things. The great thing about hair-dos is they're the perfect accessory to an outfit--and they're free.

So here are some of my recent forays into hair along with the tutorials I used.

First off, Heidi braids. I love Heidi braids. When I wear them, I feel like I'm getting in touch with my Scandinavian roots.

I just love that my hair is long enough that I can do them now. Heidi braid tutorial here.

Maybe I've been watching too many period dramas (like THAT's possible), but I've been digging the vintage braid-y up-dos as of late.

Vintage braided up-do tutorial here. (BTW...Casey's Elegant Musings is a great vintage/sewing/lifestyle blog. And she has several great video hair tutorials on YouTube.)

It's not always about braids. Buns can have fun too. Instead of my standard single, low bun, how about three mini ones?

And this style is bike helmet compatible! Tutorial here.

For other inspiring hair looks and tutorials, check out my "Let down your hair" board on Pinterest. There are a lot of styles there that will make you want to get out the ole hairbrush.

Now go on, get your hair did.

Blousey and Paisely

2011-03-24T12:27:00.014-06:00

Liberty of London strikes again! But this time, it comes from my beloved fabric stash. I got this fabric on my last trip to London, at the actual Liberty of London department store. Needless to say, it's pretty special to me.

The fabric has been sitting in my stash for a while, untouched. Sometimes I would pull it out and just stare at it, even pet it. Let's just say, Gollum comes to mind when describing my behavior. "My Precious!"

But this week, I decided to take the plunge and actually make something out of it. The thought of wearing Liberty won out to having it safely stowed away where no one could appreciate it. Despite this new resolution, I can't tell you how stressed I was cutting into it. Cause once you cut it, you can't go back. I didn't want to ruin the fabric with my unworthiness.

But in the end I cut, I sewed, I wore.

I knew I wanted to use this Built by Wendy blouse pattern (Unfortunately it is out of print, but there are copies still out there. I found mine on Etsy.). I thought it would complement the Liberty fabric nicely. I think I was right. The wingy-ness of the sleeve, the mandarin collar, the sash, the paisley--they all came together to make this a really unique, feminine blouse.

The Liberty fabric does not disappoint. Their beautiful Tana lawn cotton is perfect for apparel sewing.

After the cape, I cannot tell you what a peaceful sewing experience this was. It was straightforward and doable. I didn't need to call my mommy once.

Now it's time for a breakdown. (En Vogue shout out!)
Pattern: Simplicity 4112 (Built by Wendy)

Fabric: Liberty Bourton, B
Made for: Moi
Date Started: March 20, 2011

Date Completed: March 23, 2011
Mods: I added two inches of length to the bodice. That meant adding an extra button.

I have a feeling this won't be the last you see of this blouse pattern. I already want to make the long-sleeve version. You know, I have some other Liberty fabric that would be perfect for that. (I have created a Liberty-sewing monster!)

Adelaide tested and approved

2011-03-18T21:38:00.002-06:00

Today Adelaide and I took the cape for a spin.

My face is so serious because my bangs are acting cray-cray.

The armholes at work.

There you go. The cape in action. I have to say, it works really well. It keeps me warm and the armholes are very ergonomic for bicycle riding. Winning!

A special thanks to Jeff for being my photo-shoot art director. It was his idea to go to Salt Lake's gorgeous City and County building--which is close to our work. Plus, I kinda liked being bossed around. "Again! Go back! Now over there!" Jeff, thank you for "getting" it.

The Great Caper

2011-03-16T20:28:00.014-06:00

Clap your hands, the cape is done!

Oh, this cape. It sure gave me the run around. When I started out, I thought, "How hard can this be? It's basically like sewing a blanket. Easy Peasy!" Wrong. With the collar and the lining, it turned out to be quite the adventure in tailoring skills. Not to mention the matching up of the plaid fabric (which turned out pretty amazingly, if I do say so myself).

I mentioned in an earlier post that I hit an impasse with the collar. At that point I took it to my mom for help. Let's just say that I may have started the sewing the cape, but my mom finished it.

My mom told me once that Christian Dior called his seamstresses his "Fairy Fingers." This was due to their fine hand work. Well, mom was definitely my fairy fingers on this project. Thank you, Dee-Dee!

One of the best bits about the cape is the arm holes. It's a feature that makes it perfect for riding an upright bicycle like Adelaide.

I was going to take some action shots of the cape on my bicycle, but unfortunately the downpour outside made that photo shoot a little problematic. So stay tuned for some bicycle shots in the near future.

The lining was also a bit tiresome to sew. But I have to admit, it does make for a nice finished look.

And of course there is that blasted collar. But with my mom's attention, I think it turned out lovely.

Here are some cape-y stats.

Pattern: Vintage Simplicity 6680
Fabric: Purple plaid wool
Made for: Moi
Date Started: February 1, 2011

Date Completed: March 16, 2011
Mods: The biggest modification is that we chopped off about 2 or so inches from the bottom. The shorter length--one were you could see my fingers peeking out of the bottom--was a bit more modern.

For the most part, I am pretty pleased with the result. The only thing is that when you're wearing a cape, you become acutely aware that everyone else isn't. It's a bit "Hello, World! I'm wearing a CAPE." Not a bad thing. Just may take some getting used to.

There's something familiar here...

2011-03-13T12:45:00.000-06:00

Picked up some new nail polish yesterday. I'm not usually a paint my own nails kind of girl, but for some reason Ocean Love Potion really spoke to me.

Huh. I wonder why this color pulled me in so. If only I could put my finger on it...

Oh.

Well, I guess that should be no surprise. Betty is a total trendsetter.

Bicycle Basket Bunting

2011-03-10T10:11:00.007-07:00

Feel that? Could it be? Spring, is that you?

The weather is starting to shift. The good days are outnumbering the bad. This mean the riding season is upon us. (To be fair, there are many awesome bicyclists who pedal year around. Like in the snow and cold and stuff. They are my rock stars.) As a result, I took Adelaide into the "doctor's" for a little check-up before I started commuting again. And lookie loo, she came back with some new hardware.

It was awesome. I took her in. Talked to the guys at Cyclesmith about how hard it has been to for me use her plastic shifter (getting to first gear was always a little shady) and they called Sturmey Archer and got me a nice metal one to replace it. No charge. Adelaide is definitely happy about her posh new shifter.

Also to celebrate Adelaide's first ride in 2011, I decided to whip up something special. The seed was planted when I saw this picture on Flickr.

Source

How cute is that? Bunting on a bicycle? Stop it.

So I searched the world wide webs, found a tutorial, pulled some cute fabric from my scrap pile, and got sewing.

You are correct. That fabric has little bicycles on it.
Couldn't resist.

It turned out pretty cute as is. But I have to admit, it became even more darling on Adelaide.

So, hello, 2011. Adelaide sends her warmest regards.

My Flat: The bedroom accessorized

2011-03-09T14:17:00.007-07:00

You guys always offer the nicest comments on my flat when you get glimpses of it in posts. So I thought you won't mind if I share some pics of my updated bedroom.

I've already showed you my bedroom right after it was painted. It was a bit bare back then. After two years it definitely has a more "lived in" feel. I really love getting all cozied up and reading a great book in bed now.

Who's afraid of prints? Not I.

Maybe that is a Pride and Prejudice bus roll. So?

Some may say cluttered. I say eclectic.

For me, putting a room together is like finishing a knitting or sewing project. When it all comes together, and feels totally me, I get that FO high, but supersized.

(And if you think that I am just stalling with this post so I don't have to tell you about my cape progress...you are right.)

Ok, I surrender...

2011-03-07T10:21:00.010-07:00

I must learn to crochet.

Found this picture of a scarf created by Sophie Digard and I am in LOVE. (Thanks, Pinterest! You did it again.)

This type of crochet is so delicate and romantic. It reminds me of the gorgeous-can't-stop-staring-at-it-but-I-must-in-order-to-follow-the-plot shrug that Fanny wore in Bright Star.

So there you have it. There is no choice but to become a crocheter. But alas, I have no idea where to start. Any suggestions out there on how to start a project like this?

Feet of Liberty

2011-03-05T11:01:00.004-07:00

How much do I love Liberty of London, you ask? Well, I love them from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. See?

Lovin' my fab new kicks. They are Bensimon Tennis shoes made with Liberty fabric. Best part? On sale.

I think these shoes and Adelaide are going to be a match made in anglophile heaven.

Overheard at the tea room...

2011-02-24T15:03:00.004-07:00

Today I had a lunch date with my Kindle at one of my favorite places in downtown Salt Lake City, The Beehive Tea Room.

There were two girls, about 5 years old, sitting at a nearby table coloring. I happened to overhear their conversation.

Girl #1: "I love you."
Girl #2: "I love you too."
Girl #1: "You're my best friend."
Girl #2: "You're mine too. Well, my second best friend."
Girl #1: "Second best friend?"
Girl #2: "Yeah, my first best friend is me, silly!"

Yeah, I kinda loved that.

Happy Thursday!

Back to life. Back to reality.

2011-02-19T11:00:00.004-07:00

On Monday, I went to the doctors and had a whole body scan. The results were normal and positive. So looks like the radiation treatment did its job.

On Tuesday, I was back at work. Back to life. I am not sure if I told you guys, but I have actually been on medical leave from work since my surgery. So this was my first time back to work in 6 weeks. I have to say, it was a little hard to go back. I know this sounds silly, but I think your body builds up an endurance to sitting behind a computer for 8 hours. So when you have been off doing your own thing for so long, going back to cubicle life is tough. I almost felt more claustrophobic back at my desk at work than I did during the five days of isolation. But it does feel right to start to get back to my real-world routine.

On the craft front, I worked on my cape a bit. However, I got a little frustrated working on the collar so I put it aside for now. It's now waiting for my mommy to help me. I love having my mom live close by. Now I can just throw up my hands and call, "Moooooooom!" And she'll come over, bringing her vast sewing knowledge, and help me work it out. Aren't moms the best?

After the cape frustration, I decided to pick up Little Birds once again. It is time, people. I have all the yarn for it. I have the skills to do it. I just need to get it done. Right now I am stuck in the very non-interesting, non-photogenic stage of ribbing.

On the hair front, I figured out how to do curly hair without applying any heat. Essentially, turning this into this...

For a girl with straight hair, curls are no small feat. But this process was actually very simple. (This is the YouTube video tutorial I used, for all you curl lovers out there.)

And lastly, I finally got one of these...

Consider that bandwagon jumped.

So to sum up, life is going well. I feel great. And happy to be back having adventures in the real world.

Cooped up with the girls

2011-02-11T12:00:00.006-07:00

This morning I was reading on my couch and said to myself, "You know, this being cooped up thing could start to get a little old." And I could have sworn I heard a voice behind me utter, "Is that so?" I turned around only to see Adelaide, my Pashley.

From my perspective, it appeared as if Adelaide was sulking behind the couch. Then I heard, "If you think 5 days is difficult, I beg you to try a whole season." I immediately felt guilty because it was true. Adelaide has been cooped up for the winter.

Adelaide in her spot.

Then a voice came from the dining room. "What about me?" It was Betty, my Rivendell. "At least, you get to watch tv, Adelaide. The only entertainment I have is when Kara is sewing. BOOORING."

Betty in her spot.

With everything going on, plus being a wimp about riding in cold and snowy weather, both my girls have been stuck in the flat this winter. I decided it was in good taste to stop my complaining. And instead talk about the adventures we will have soon.

So do you have "flatmates" of the two-wheeled variety? What spots do they claim as their own? Do they ever get tired of being cooped up?

Disclaimer: I do not actually hear voices. So no need to be too concerned.

Alone and radioactive.

2011-02-09T11:32:00.005-07:00

Well, folks, it's official. I am radioactive. Today I had my radiation treatment for my thyroid cancer.

The preparation for the radiation has been hard. I had to go on a special low iodine diet for the past two weeks. Low iodine means no dairy, no egg yokes, no iodized salt, among other things. That eliminates most packaged food and any food at restaurants. Basically, I've been living on meat, fruit, and veggies. Oh, and don't forget the oatmeal. Ugh. I have tried to look at the diet as a cleanse, but it still has been very hard. But hey, I did lose about 8 pounds.

The treatment itself was very simple. I basically drank a small vile of liquid that tasted like stale water. That was it. Now I have to be isolated from the public for 5 days. I think that is going to be the hard part. But when one has to be holed up in their flat for 5 days, you need a game plan. I will be keeping myself busy with:

Knitting and sewing projects
My new Apple TV that streams Netflix
My Kindle filled with books to be read
Lonely walks/rides around the neighborhood
My taxes

I've had a realization during this whole Thyroid cancer/radiation thing. That I am the perfect candidate. I am single, live alone, have no kids, have no plans to get pregnant, not breast-feeding--all things that make my radiation treatment go smoothly. Plus, I am young and female, so my chances of beating this thing are very good. So I know this sounds weird but I feel lucky that my circumstances were just right so I can get treated with little disruption to my life.

When I was little, I loved the comic series, X-Men. I particularly loved the mutant, Rogue. She couldn't touch anyone with her skin because she would absorb their powers or life-force. Today I sort of feel like that. Like I have this superpower but I need to stay about 6 feet away from people for their own protection and, you know, the greater good. It's a lonely life for Rogue and me (for the next 5 days anyway). But that is the burden of being a superhero mutant.

Rainbow Brite

2011-01-28T19:53:00.011-07:00

Last week, I won a giveaway on the blog, Anyone can knit. Maryse had the coolest idea for the prize. She would gift a knitting pattern via Ravelry. Being the lucky winner, I decided on a cute new hat pattern, Ida's Kitchen. (Thanks Maryse!)

This hat is just fun. Is there really another word for it? I mean, just look at those chevron stripes.

For yarn, I dipped into Erin's colorful sport weight stash. (Apparently, I'm really good at stash busting other people's stashes.)

Here are the oh so colorful stats...

Pattern: Ida's Kitchen
Source: Through the Loops!

Ravelry link: Here

Yarn: Dalegarn Falk in various colors

Needle size: US 6 & 8 circulars

Made for: Moi

Date started: January 27, 2011

Date completed: January 28, 2011

I didn't realize until halfway through that my hat reminded me of my childhood friend, Rainbow Brite. But who couldn't use a little bit of rainbow in the middle of a long winter?

Purple plaid...fab or egad?

2011-01-25T09:00:00.006-07:00

Remember the cape? Well, I recently bought this wool fabric for it. But before I go and start cutting and sewing, I simply need to ask: Is purple plaid a little too nutty for this pattern?

When I picked it, I was picturing a modern-day take on Sherlock chic.

So, friends, is it fab or egad?

The lacey begining

2011-01-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Knitting lace takes like forever, y'all. But I'm determined to keep at it. This is a cashmere lace scarf we're talking about here. You just don't give up on something that fabulous. But don't be surprised if it takes me a year to knit.

Much thanks to Jeff who gave me this yarn and pattern a couple of Christmases ago. I think our friendship was sealed forever when he gifted me cashmere.

Guesting on "my hyggelig"

2011-01-23T09:09:00.006-07:00

Hey friends, thought I'd let you know I was lucky enough to write a guest post on my hyggelig. Sigrid, one of my favorite bicycle/craft blog friends, asked me a series of questions about riding bicycles and creativity. Needless to say, it was a fun subject to think about.

If you're interested, pedal over and check it out.

Plain Jane

2011-01-21T12:43:00.005-07:00

This is my new T-shirt. It makes me very happy, indeed.

That, my friends, is a Pride and Prejudice T-shirt. This shirt is from a very cool online shop that puts old book covers on clothing. They call themselves Out of Print Clothing.

Funny story. I ordered two of these shirts for Christmas, one for me and one for Erin. (Come on, like I could NOT buy myself one too.) They didn't arrive on time so I told Erin that a part of her gift was missing. Erin then informed me that a part of my gift was missing too. It took us a beat for us to realize that our missing gifts were the same. And of course Erin also ordered two--one for me and one for her. With four shirts between the two of us, no one can accuse our family of not liking "Pride and Prejudice."

Both Erin and I discovered this shirt via Pinterest. It is my latest obssession. You know how you read a magazine and tear out your favorite pictures and put it in a folder? Well, Pinterest is just like that, but on the web. You "tear" pics from the web and pin it to your Pinterest page. What's more the picture retains the web address it came from, so you can always reference it later. The best part of Pinterest is seeing other's pins and re-pinning it to your boards. It is a perfect place for inspiration. And could leave you swimming in Jane Austen shirts.

(You can see my Pinterest page by clicking on the link in the right-hand column.)

Schoolhouse Tunic

2011-01-18T16:16:00.005-07:00

Confession time. I've done no crafting since my surgery. Oh, the guilt! So it felt like time to get my craft back on. I've had some pattern pieces for a sewing project all cut out and sitting in a basket for two months now. Today felt like a good day to whip it together.

Presenting the Schoolhouse Tunic...

I really liked how this turned out. I can see myself actually wearing it in my actual life. (Always a plus when you make a garment.) I'm especially relieved at the result, because I used some spensy Japanese fabric called Nani Iro. The double gauze fabric is really unique and fun to sew with. And I think it gives my tunic a nice little drape.

Ready for some stats?

Pattern: Schoolhouse Tunic
Source: Sew Liberated
Fabric: Nani Iro Fuccra fabric in brown
Made for: Moi
Date Started and Completed: January 18, 2011
Mods: I added length to the bodice.

You know, I forgot how much I like this craft thing.

Blog Love: Rides A Bike

2011-01-12T13:09:00.005-07:00

Want to see glamourous movie stars of yore riding a bike? Then you must go to the blog, Rides A Bike.

It is full of gems like this:

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward riding a bike. She is standing and pedaling while he is sitting and steering. That's teamwork, folks.

This is just the kind of eye-candy I needed on this cold, cold Wednesday.

The Great Scar Scarf Parade

2011-01-10T13:52:00.004-07:00

When a girl acquires a new scar, the first thing she should do is accessorize. And in the past month, I have been very lucky in that department.

So here it is, the Great Scar Scarf Parade...

This lacey cowl was knit by a blog friend, Rachel. She was so sweet to send this to me upon hearing my news. I love it so. And the color is so me.

My friend Karen sewed this beautiful Figure 8 scarf using Liberty of London fabric. Liberty fabric, people! Karen so gets me.

My big sister, Erin, knew I was obsessed with a certain ruffle cashmere scarf from Anthropologie. But I never bought it because it was a bit spensy. Guess what Erin got me for Christmas?

My baby sis, Bri, also got in on the scarf action and gave me this beautiful flower scarf. She and Erin have one too for Sister Scarf Solidarity. Love my sisters.

And of course, I had to pick myself up something too. A little scarflette from Anthropologie.

So here is the real question: what lies beneath all these beautiful scarves? This...

I am pretty pleased with the scar so far. My hope that it continues to fade and flatten. Who knows, all these scarves just might be a case of much ado about nothing. Fabulous, darling ado.

(A huge thank you for everyone mentioned in this post. I am a very lucky gal!)

Downton Abbey

2011-01-08T11:51:00.003-07:00

From the overwhelming response I got from my post, "The Brit List - Moving picture edition," I know there are a lot of you kindred spirits out there that enjoy a good British period drama. So consider this a PSA for us Yanks: Downton Abbey premieres tomorrow on Masterpiece Classic. (Check your local PBS station.)

What can I say, it looks brilliant. But I wouldn't expect anything less of a Julian Fellowes creation. (Love you, Kilwillie!)

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

It cannot be borne. I am all excitement.

It's out. All is well.

2010-12-29T19:39:00.004-07:00

It's official. I no longer have my thyroid and "Lumpty Dumpty" (the growth and I were so close I had no choice but to name it). My surgery was yesterday and it went very well. I am tired and sore, but happy that it's behind me.

Thank you all for your love, thoughts, and prayers. I am so very lucky.

My little elf

2010-12-24T16:10:00.007-07:00

This year I did a little knitting for Christmas. When I say little I mean little. It was one little hat for one little niece.

I used some chunky yarn to make the Elf cap from Handknit Holidays. Then I knit a little white owl to applique on to the hat, complete with buttons for eyes.

Easy peasy and darling to boot! Here are some stats:

Pattern: Elf Cap/Hoot (Pattern for owl)
Source: Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick

Ravelry link: Here

Yarn: Rowan Ribbon Twist for the cap and some random alpaca for the owl

Needle size: US 15

Made for: Ellie

Date started and completed: December 23, 2010

All I know is that my ability to look good in hats definitely runs in the genes. (I do tend to brag about that, sorry.) I mean, how cute is my Ellie Bellie as a little elf?

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday!

Thank you notes

2010-12-16T10:23:00.005-07:00

First off, I must say thank you. I always knew how amazing you all are, but I was still overwhelmed by your lovely messages. Your thoughts impacted me deeply and I will carry them with me as I get over this little bump in the road of my life.

Jane Austen said, "Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love." In this case I would shorten it to say, "Friendship is certainly the finest balm." Yeah, you guys are definitely the balm. (Cringe, then laugh. Oh, puns!)

On a lighter note, it is Jane Austen's birthday today. What can I say, love her. She just gets it, doesn't she? In fact, I'm actually looking forward to some recovery time, because that means I can dig into one of her novels and watch a mini-series or two. Or three.

Jane Austen had a lot of disappointments in her life, yet she never lost her wit. When the odds were against her, she created beauty in the form of stories that still affect people centuries later. Safe to say, I consider her a role model.

A couple days ago, Debby sent me the best/silliest video which seems suitable for the occasion. Roll it!

Happy Birthday, Jane! Thank you for everything.

Dear friends and family,

2010-12-13T16:10:00.001-07:00

So my Middle East trip was life-changing in many different ways. While touring Galilee, a doctor (who was traveling with us) approached me and just started feeling my neck. I was a little taken aback, to say the least. She said she noticed a lump there and suggested I have it checked out when I got home. I did and it turns out I have a growth on my thyroid that is most likely cancer. So at the end of the month, I will have surgery to remove it (the lump and my thyroid). After the surgery, I will have to go through a one-time radiation treatment.

People keep telling me that of all the cancers, thyroid cancer is a great one to have. Yay? I do know that I will be fine--the prognosis of returning back to a normal life is very good. It just may be a rough couple of months followed by an off year, BUT in the end I will be fine. It is just something I need to get through.

Is it bad that the thing that I am most worried about is having a scar on my neck? I think it really speaks to my priorities, or lack of them. But come on, I have a really lovely neck. Sigh.

So, yeah. Just thought I would let you all know. It is funny cause I rarely share very personal things on my blog. I like keeping this a place that is fun, creative and light-hearted. But it seemed weird to have something like this going on in my life and pretend it is not happening on my blog. I really don't see myself talking about it too much here, but no doubt it will unavoidably pop up now and again. (As in, I see knitting myself some scar scarfs.)

As far as the blog goes, I am not going to completely disappear. But for the next little bit, I might not be as active. I know you guys understand.

Love,
Kara

United Arab Emirates

2010-11-29T21:22:00.002-07:00

Here it is. The last of my blogs on my Middle East trip. Our last stop was the United Arab Emirates. While there we went to Abu Dhabi and saw the most beautiful mosque--the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

To enter the mosque, us women had to dress appropriately.

Antechamber

Flower tiles on the walls

99 Names of Allah

Hand-woven rug

Later that day, we explored the wonders of Dubai, including a man-made island shaped a like palm tree and a mall with a ski slope in it. Dubai is an architect's playground. Compared to all the ancient things we had seen on this trip, it was amazing to be surrounded by such newness.

Basically, this trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, it so got under my skin, I am already plotting my return.

(Thank you, mom and dad. Love you so much!)

Jordan

2010-11-24T10:10:00.006-07:00

Jordan surprised me with such amazing things. Like the Roman city ruins in Jerash. And Ajlun castle--a castle used to defend the people against the crusaders.

But to me, the star of my visit was Petra, an ancient city cut-out of the rock sometime around 1200 BC. (Some of you may recognize Petra from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.")

Safe to say, Petra totally blew my mind.

Israel

2010-11-22T10:55:00.006-07:00

So how does one even start to follow up an Egyptian adventure? One goes to Israel.

Before exploring Jerusalem, my family drove to the Galilee area to see many biblical sights.

The area of Galilee is quite something. There we visited the Mount of Beatitudes, the town of Capernaum, Nazareth, Mount Precipice and Mount Tabor.

Mount of Beatitudes

Of course what would a trip be without sticking your toes in the sea of Galilee?

And who knew the best falafel I would ever have would be in a take-out restaurant next to a gas station?

Back in Jerusalem, we we able to see the major sights for three major religions. For the Muslims, we saw the Dome of the Rock. It was incredible.

Then we went to the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall where the Jewish people come to worship.

The Western Wall is divided up into sections, one for women and one for men. So we had to peer over the divider to see what was going on on the male side. I didn't know this, but they hold Bar Mitzvahs there.

It's pretty amazing to think how ancient this wall is and its significance.

We then visited some Christian sights including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb.

The next morning we visited the Garden of Gethsemane. There we got to hear a beautiful sermon by a priest in the Church of All Nations.

We finished our time in Israel by visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

In this area full of ancient sights, we did see something very modern. The separation wall.

Jerusalem (and its neighboring areas) is amazing. The fact that three major religions claim it as holy is pretty remarkable. Although it is hard not to notice the division and tension between the people that claim it as their own, it still easy to see that it is a place that can inspire a lot of inner peace. No matter what you believe, there is definitely a special feeling that comes with a visit to this city.

Egypt

2010-11-16T09:54:00.013-07:00

I have a bad case of the wanderlust. The list of places I want to travel is always growing and evolving. So when my dad told me that he had business to attend to in the Middle East (more specifically Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the UAE), I told him, "You know I'm coming, right?" It was a statement, not a request.

So it was settled, my dad, mom, Erin, and I all went on an adventure that would cross some major things off my list.

First up, Cairo. The first thing that struck me about Cairo, the traffic is cray-cray. Lanes mean nothing, 8 lanes of cars on a 3-lane highway is not considered rush hour. And every car has a dent, even the fancy ones. Good thing we had someone driving us, because I don't think we would have made it to our hotel.

In order to fight off jetlag, we went to a night market. Where I got a cute lamp and a marriage proposal. (Not surprising because after 20 hours of flying I was looking GOOOD!)

Next morning, it was off to Giza. Just so you know, Pyramids, totally NOT overrated.

And camels are surprisingly uncomfortable to ride. But they sure are cute.

That evening was spent on a lovely felucca ride on the Nile.

The next day, we visited the Cairo museum before heading out. The thing that struck me most about the museum was how stuffed it was with Egyptian antiquities. Every nook and cranny had something ancient and significant. It was kind of overwhelming. And maybe it was my Western sensibility, but I was shocked at how unprotected all the items were. There were no signs saying, "Do Not Touch" or ropes keeping spectators at a distance. Someone could easily just lean up against a 3,000 year old sarcophagus like is was no big deal. Another funny thing, the signs for a lot of the artifacts were like pieces of scrap-paper with a description typed on it, like from a typewriter. It just made me laugh to think about how the European and American museums would handle these same artifacts (I am sure lasers and security guards would be involved.)

Being in the Cairo museum, seeing actual mummies of the pharaohs (Ramses II's mummy had locks of his hair still!) made me think of this music video from Josh Ritter called "The Curse."

It was probably for the best that I didn't have a mummy love affair, but I did leave with a definite crush on Egypt. Hope to return again and see more. I'm looking at you, Luxor.

Next up, Israel...

Am back!

2010-11-15T07:54:00.002-07:00

Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and United Arab Emirates in 12 days. Safe to say, I saw a lot of things. Truly amazing things. Bottom line: This trip was epic.

Still recovering from about 21+ hours of riding planes to get home. I do hope to share some pictures with you in the next little bit, once I get my bearings and my life organized again.

But as amazing as the past two weeks were, I have to say, it is good to be home.

Off to stamp my passport

2010-11-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hello, my friends. Just thought I would let you know I'll be offline for two weeks. I'm going to go hang out with this guy...

I hope to share with you with some stories and photos upon my return.

Toodles!

Rainy Day Fingerless Gloves

2010-10-31T11:15:00.006-06:00

Wouldn't it be great if I could wear something that would fill me with the feeling of picking fruit in an orchard on a rainy day? Oh wait.

The Rainy Day Fingerless gloves are finished. I will say it, this project was a delight. It was the perfect blend of a quick project that is entertaining to knit which results in maximum cuteness.

I made mention of this before, but I do love knitting these "Happy Little Trees". There is something about knitting a picture that is really delightful. Other forms of fair isle can be more abstract (which don't get me wrong, I still really enjoy knitting). But when you knit an actual picture, it's like you get to tell a story through the medium of knitting. A lovely thought.

The one very small "con" is they are snug. Fair isle knits really don't lend themselves to be very stretchy. So I basically have to shimmy these gloves on. But really, that's no biggie. They don't look to small when they are actually on, and that's what matters.

Lastly, here are those stats you have come to know and love:

Pattern: Rainy Day Fingerless Gloves by Ellie Stubenrauch
Source: Knit.1 Fall/Winter 2008 or here

Ravelry link: Here

Yarn: Hodgepodge of Classic Elite Yarn Fresco/Reynolds Soft Sea Wool/Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift/Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (See Ravelry link for more details on which is which.)

Needle size: US 3 dpns

Made for: Me, me, me!

Date started: October 14, 2010

Date completed: October 30, 2010

Crafting Mama

2010-10-29T18:57:00.007-06:00

Phew! What a week. I have been working my fingers to the bone doing a myriad a crafts...knitting, sewing, cake decorating, balloon making, even some pottery. My crafting knows no bounds.

Ok, so the truth of the matter is that I have been playing Crafting Mama for the Nintendo DS. Basically Crafting Mama is a video game that gives the player a bunch of different crafting projects which the player has to complete step by step.

It's a silly game, yet so addicting. I really appreciate how realistic the steps are for the crafts. Like for sewing a kerchief, you need to cut the cloth, trace the pattern, iron the hems, stitch it all up. The geeky details is what makes it fun.

I have to say, it is gratifying for mama to validate my crafting skills. Look, she says I'm a perfect knitter.

100, yo!

For the most part, I'm a natural at any craft I try. But sometimes, when mama has to fix my mistakes, she gets angry.

(Funny, that's the same face I make when I drop a stitch.)

Don't get me wrong, I am not a hardcore "gamer." But I did buy a Nintendo DS because I enjoy puzzle games and such. (Really like the Professor Layton series.) I find these games perfect entertainment for when I travel. So when I saw that there was a crafting game, how could I not buy it?

So there you go. Some geeky e-crafting fun. Beep-bo-beep-bop-bop

It's raining, it's pouring.

2010-10-22T17:46:00.001-06:00

One glove down. One to go.

Conversations about Fair Isle

2010-10-21T16:21:00.005-06:00

Talking to Erin about Fair Isle knitting last night:

Me: I don't know if I'm knitting fair isle the right way. You know, using the right technique? I'm just kinda winging it.
Erin: Well, are you knitting by holding one color yarn in each hand?
Me: [Scoff] No.
Erin: Oh. Are you keeping in mind yarn dominance?
Me: No. [beat] Nerd.

I love my sister. Even though she's a knitting nerd. But I have to admit, she does know what she's talking about:

It's nice she puts up with her lazy knitter of a sister with such grace and patience.

Am I crazy to cape?

2010-10-21T00:28:00.006-06:00

Seeing this...

Inspired me to buy a pattern for this:

Am I being a tad eccentric? (BTW...only the short version is in consideration. I am not completely cuckoo-ca-choo.)