It’s that time of year where it feels as if we’re barreling towards Christmas at lightening speed. What is it about the end of September that turns my eyes towards the next year already? I want to put on the brakes – I have way too much 2015 business to attend to before 2016 starts beckoning me towards her. I have, however, made the time for one of my very favorite blog features…
After the craziness that was the making of the Dahlia Dress (which took a good 6 months to complete in between all of the travel and 12 zillion pattern pieces), Sewanista and I thought it was a good idea to try for a quick win – follow a fairly straightforward pattern and quickly reap the rewards. Ohhhh when will I ever learn that when it comes to my sewing projects, nothing is ever as simple as I expect…
My love of scenic prints knows no bounds. I have a particularly soft spot for photo realistic prints, and as Spring is looming here in Australia, flowers are blooming and so is my wardrobe. The bright red poppies on this Chicwish skirt just sing out for warm weather and skipping through fields and falling asleep in the shade of your favorite tree. Naturally a conversation about poppies turns my mind to the Wizard of Oz and the closer I look, I realized I have an deconstructed, Dorothy-themed outfit, complete with ruby slippers and a hot air balloon brooch (I swear, sometimes…
Ohhh September, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love you because (1) You involved Fiji, (2) You involved relaxation on a beach with cocktails and no responsibilities, and (3) You involved lots of beautiful vintage. Ohhh that’s a whole lot of love. As far as I’m concerned, September wins this year, hands down.
Ladybug, ladybird, May bug – the first taste of spring has more than a few names. The subject of many a nursery rhyme and many a superstition, I can’t help but anthropomorphize just a bit and imagine when I’m lucky enough to spot a ladybug merrily zipping my way, she is completely aware of her adorableness and charm as she blows me a kiss (and who doesn’t love a cute red and black polka dot coat?) It’s actually a common misconception that you can tell a ladybug’s age by counting her spots, but that’s just a myth. A lady never reveals her age…
Given my recent trip to sunnier pastures, where it was 28 degrees pretty much every day, I find myself bundling up more than usual this past week, which seems more in line with the folks scurrying past me on a daily basis. It’s odd to be fitting in – truth be told, I’m rarely so seasonally attired. I tend to be the one who’s never dressed appropriately for the weather regardless of where I’d spent the week before on a beach, and the phrase, “You must be FREEZING” is heard about 3 times per day in the winter. But, a…
Bula! As many of you know if you follow my Instagram, the Mr. and I are currently lounging on a beach in Fiji (you have full permission to hate us). I’ve been SO excited for this trip – firstly, because I get to watch one of my very best friends get married and secondly, because hello FIJI! So, in the months and weeks leading up to the trip, there’s been the obligatory planning and booking and list-making. Aaaaaand a bit of online browsing for beach-related essentials, which morphed into beach-related non-essentials, which then just became LOOK AT ALL OF THE…
I was in a “word of the day” sort of mood when I was writing this post, and thought the word Auspicious summed up this past month perfectly, which generally means characterized by success; prosperous. I’m a big fan of the “small wins” concept, which means you don’t only celebrate the big obvious things that are dripping with notoriety, but rather take the time to congratulate yourself on the little things as well.
I think we are constantly learning new things about ourselves. One my most recent work trip, I became acutely aware of yet another quirky Kara-ism. My very favorite (and perhaps odd) thing to do upon arriving at a conference is to check into my hotel and then completely check out. I put up the Do Not Disturb sign, order room service and spend the evening completely alone. Although other friends are filtering into the city and starting to gather the masses, instead I watch terrible tv and turn down all offers to head out to dinner or drinks. I lock myself away…
When things get chaotic in my world, I always find solace in browsing the web. A pretty dangerous activity, as most of my bookmarks lead straight to my favorite vintage sellers and always induce at least one or two heart attacks at the beauty that lies within. I’ve spent the past week in Cairns at a conference, and have found myself falling into the pattern of browsing my favorite websites to unwind from the busy day full of sciencing. y inability to turn my mind off at the end of a chaotic day is definitely your gain, as I’ve pulled together…