Dolled Up

Alright. I know I'm not a fashion blogger. But I do like putting together these posts. (Oh if my pinterest were my closet!) 

We recently had the first Forever 21 open on the island, and I have to say, I'm pretty excited. Like, I think I wore a Forever 21 top to work every day this week. I do have to say that some of the stuff looks pretty icky-quality wise, but if you hunt around and read labels, there are some AMAZING finds. Everything I purchased has been great quality

and is super comfortable.

We're having an H&M and a Joe Fresh as well as a Target (!!) opening this year... so Victoria shopping is definitely improving (but still has an awesome downtown core of local businesses.. it's a great compromise.)

The only sad thing is there is this awesome area called Market Square that is a double-decker, opened courtyard area that used to be full of businesses. An iconic fudge place called Fat Phege's Fudge Factory closed down last year. Apparently the rents are too high and they are trying to attract a "higher" clientele. Boo I say! It could be such an amazing area if only the shops could survive! Keep the exclusive stores in the new complexes, and keep downtown local, handmade and awesome, please and thank you! <<steps off soapbox>>

I'm sure Victoria shopping isn't very interesting for non-locals.... so here's the outfit! 

The outfit:

I really want one of these Cowichan sweaters. I'm allergic to wool (like, I tried on this adorable army green sweater at Forever 21, did a dance and knew within a second that it had wool in it) so it's pretty hard to track down a decent cotton/acrylic one.

Peter pan collars just make everything look cheerful, and I absolutely love this olivey-green colour.

There's nothing cozier than a nice pair of moccasins.... I have a pair that almost looked like that until my parent's dog decided it was a badger (he's a dachshund) and tried to eat it.

Anyways, that's it folks! Have a great weekend!  

Doll Number 4

Okay, I'm pretty excited by this one. I did some devising and realized that a smaller needle makes a (in my opinion) tidier looking arm. I'm going to try this on the legs too. (Never too late for a little experimenting!) I'm really liking her "woodsier" wardrobe. I knitted in a lot of texture into the sweater, to look like one of those Aran ones. She looks very British to me, so I

named her Piper. (Is anyone else loving her little stubby pigtails? As soon as my hair gets long enough... this is happening.. and I do realize I'm almost 24.)

This week has positively flown by. I've been trying to work on devising better systems at work. (I may have come up with a few semi-brilliant ideas to make our lives easier.) Office work isn't very glamorous (unless you're Joan Holloway), but it does feel good to reorganize and reduce the tediousness of tasks.

I'm writing this post Thursday night, before I start my Adobe Illustrator class. I'll have to update you on my impressions/ progress. I'm pretty excited but nervous at the same time!

I'm going to spend some time this week drawing and updating my other blog Dearest Doodles (not linking because I want it to look better and have updates first! I can't wait to draw again, it's been much much too long!)

Hope everyone's having a good week! Are you working on any 52 or 365 projects? 

Thanks for reading!

PS:

Thank you for new readers that left comments! Makes my day! 

PPS

: How gorgeous is the retro rotary phone she is standing on. It's getting it's own post soon!  

Tidy

I mentioned that my mum had taken up crocheting recently... isn't the afghan amazing? I obviously played around with filters on this photo... the colours are much richer and lovelier in person. (also note the adorable crochet coasters-- I'm a lucky girl.)

While the photo is somewhat busy (Okay, I'm not great at staging... who noticed the ipad cord and the space heater?) I did redo my drawing area (yes, my apartment is a cavern) to look a little cleaner and am super excited about it. It's just a garage sale table, a thrifted kitchen chair, a bedroom lamp and a few mason jars, but I love it. Just need to make some drawings to hang in the picture frames. I also re-did my bookshelf to house my yarn.

I can't wait to sit down and get drawing sometime this weekend! 

Here's the actual colours... I'm in love!

Super excited to use this pencil crayons, and to hang my Flapper Doodle Print!

Tuesday Treasures

Hello!

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I'm fighting off the beginnings of a cold right now. I'm so worried about losing my voice. Due to staffing issues, I'm going to be working alone a bit more, and a voiceless secretary is pretty useless. "Ring Ring:" ----------. Hello? Hello?" Yup, I can imagine it right now.

I'm snuggling up on the couch right now in my tidy, well organized home, with my new zigzag afghan blanket (that my mum crocheted me --pictures soon), and thinking about making some Lipton soup. I've been pretty lucky so far this year, it seems like everyone in my office has been sneezing or coughing... so I'm not going to complain. I'm just happy there is a Booster Juice near where I work..... the best thing for a sore throat. (Though at 500 odd calories, more of a meal than a snack! Haha)

Anyways. Here's this week's Tuesday Treasures. The theme is squid. I don't know why. Well, I do. I found those amazing earrings on Etsy... and that was the jumping off point. I dissected a squid in biology class in high school.... I think these plushies are much cuter! 

He looks rather cuddly. Would be great for a nursery or kids room with a sea-side theme.

This is just too cute for words.

This pattern is amazing.. and the gorgeous colour combinations don't hurt either.

I'm always a fan of a nerdy t-shirt

How lovely is this ring?

These intricately carved necklaces are just stunning.

The beautiful squid earrings that started it all! I heart!

Links:

• Squid Plush
• Knitted Squid Friends
• Diver and Squid Pattern
• Art Nouveau Pendant
• Tentacle Ring
• Cephalopod Tee
• Squid Earrings

Have a great week everyone!

Thanks for reading dears,

Karen

Doll Number 3

This whole doll deadline will be much easier in the summer when I'll have more light to photograph them with! I had to run home from work today to take these photos! Glad I did, it's gotten rather grey and gloomy out and it's just 4pm!

This is Lilou. She's probably one of my favourites. I'm loving the beehive/pigtail combination and the super platinum hair is pretty fun. She might be one of my favourite colour combos so far! It's funny, I really like the woodsy/west coasty ones, but the bright ones are rather fun too. I guess with 49 more... I'll have some room for variety!

Work flew by this week! I can't believe it's the 18th of January already. Didn't we just have Christmas? I'm hoping for some snow before winter passes us by completely, but the lack of frost on my windshield this morning and seeing some cherry blossoms in bloom last week has me wondering. The week goes by so fast I'm forgetting to update more regularly... I'll definitely try my best to add in-between posts. I'd love to get outside with my camera too!

I'm getting kind of excited and nervous because I'm starting and evening class once a week at a local college. It's a class on Adobe Illustrator and I've heard it can be difficult to learn so I'm kind of scared. Wish me luck!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! I'll be sitting in drinking tea, watching Prison Break and  knitting for most of it (I'm not really taking orders right now, but I have a hard time saying no when opportunity strikes haha!) I'm waiting for a lovely package of bamboo needles to arrive in the mail! Excitement!

Which doll is your favourite? Visit the gallery here. 

Thanks for reading dears,

Karen