I've Finally Created an Etsy Treasury

It took me awhile, but now the Etsy web development team is testing out their newest treasury design.  They've made it very easy and fun to create treasuries.  Because I've decided to take a more pro-active approach to my Etsy shop, I've decided to join some teams and make some treasuries!  In creating my first two treasuries, I've discovered a new addictive passtime- much like making mix tapes as a teenager growing up in Michigan.

I created this treasury for Team Discovery.  I am interested in joining this team.


I created this treasury for fun.

Sun Kissed Skin - Etsy Treasury

This Etsy Treasury is full of beautiful finds...
and my earrings are included!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf93d553a008eef037c4d6d/sun-kissed-skin

Seattle Modified Style Fashion Show 2010

Here is my finished dress in the Modified Style Fashion Show (Saturday, Nov 14th, 2010).  Annika looked so good!

Annika modeling my dress at the Modified Style Fashion Show 2010

Here's a link to photos from the whole show:  http://kerrydahlen.smugmug.com/Fashion/Modified-Style-2010/14708964_XUZKg#1095688417_RUPjm.

Modified Style, Adventures in Dress Making

During the last two weeks I spent all of my free time working out the final details of a dress I designed for Modified Style.  For those who are not familiar with this Seattle/Portland based non-profit recycled dress making fashion show competition, Modified Style is a challenge to make a dress out of a mysterious bag of recycled fabric scraps  in order to eventually raise money for charity.  Check out this post in the Slog.  It is a wonderful organization and I am lucky to have been able to participate in the first one in 2008 and again this past weekend.  All of the dresses are unique and amazing; they are creative visions released for good fun.

Ki modeling the dress I designed for Seattle Modified Style 2008

Ki and I - Seattle Modified Style 2008

I have learned so much from designing and crafting these dresses together; mainly that I am capable of designing and creating a unique dress!  Also, on the other hand, I know very little about sewing and tailoring in general.  It was very exciting to learn how to make a gathered skirt and how to use my sewing machine to make button holes.  I meant to document my dress making process as it happened over the past 2 months and of course I did not.  Now I will recapture as much of the process as I can, mainly with pictures.

To begin, here are the scraps I started with for Modified Style 2010:

And some of my first ideas.

Brainstorming with fabric

One last thing, a little side note, somehow I won best dress overall in this last competition!  I am a terrible winner- it's always hard for me to believe that I deserve to win because I believe that when everyone works so hard at creating something unique that everyone is a winner.  However, I worked my ass off and I'm really excited to get the wellness massage I won:)

Another side note, my friend Annika and I designed and modeled our dresses for each other.  I got to model her whimsical fairyland dress featuring a hoop skirt made out of a bike tire.  She won most creative dress.  She worked her ass off too!

New Petal Crochet Earrings

I started making these earrings a few months ago and I think I'm going to start making many more in different colors.  They are sort of in the spirit of free form crochet.  I would like to start using more natural colors.  In a way, they look to me like abstract leaves or flower petals.

For me mum for Mother's Day...

To purchase please visit my etsy page!

Continuing Medieval Fashion - McQueen

When I started this blog I was slightly obsessed with medieval fashion.  I wanted to find modern examples of medieval fashion and did not find much.  Well, I just stumbled into something today as I was browsing the NYTimes fashion blog for dress ideas...  Alexander McQueen's Fall 2010 line (his last show)...

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/style/fashionweek/runway.html#/fall_2010_mcqueen_alexander/slide_show/.

I have learned today that much of his fashion may have been influenced by medieval times?
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2010RTW-AMCQUEEN/

Circle Freeform Crochet Necklaces

I must make more of these.  They started out simple and have become more complex.  I am keeping this one for myself:)

Watch this movie!

This movie is definitely a call to action.  About a week ago I said that I want to be a farmer...  I think it's a noble profession.  Look here to learn more:  http://www.freshthemovie.com/.

Sea Glass

I am a beach comber.  I love finding treasures on the beach and on any beach anywhere, there is always treasure.  I used to say that I was going to find candy at one of my favorite beaches in Maui.  The roaring waves would crash in and recede leaving me little candy treasures (beautiful perfect little shells).

In all of my beach combing I have collected a couple jars full of beach glass.  I have been wanting to incorporate beach glass into my creations for far too long.  Finally, here are my first attemps of crochet beach glass treasure hunting designs:

Eyjafjallajokull

The creative forces in Iceland...
More from Eyjafjallajokull April 19, 2010

Iceland's Disruptive Volcano April 15, 2010

Blue Feet!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-footed_Booby

Inspire...

Icicle Style

This is my newest name for these earrings.  Actually, my friend Lindsey coined the name after I gave her a pair for her birthday.  Here are the pictures she took of my newest Icicle Style earrings:

New Earrings & Photos!!!

A couple of weekends ago I had my wisdom teeth taken out.  I was very anxious about this small operation- but it ended up being an overall pleasant experience.  Dr. Hart did an excellent job and the pain killers kept me going through the weekend:)  I spent the weekend on the couch with Netflix and crochet hooks creating a small basket of new earrings!

My friend Lindsey Liguori has helped me by taking some pictures.  She has a good eye and takes good close-ups to capture detail.  I am also playing around with names.  So- here is a sneak peak at some new earrings:

Owl Eyes in gold and green

              

  

Bubble Links in sparkle pink
                 

Ribbon Style in green with turquoise and black beads

Valley of Roses

There is a fun and vibrant shop in the U District, Seattle called Valley of Roses.  Inside of this shop you will find fabulous vintage clothing and accessories, imported rugs, Bruce Lee paraphanalia, and locally made arts and crafts...  You can now find Karlita's Design's earrings and hats in Valley of Roses.  Go, stop by, chat with Mary (the very friendly owner), and check out her awesome store!
Valley of Roses (t)
4748 University Way N.E.
Seattle 98105
206.522.6887

Many Hats

Many hats have been made in the last couple of months...  although not as many as I would like to have made.  Working really puts a damper on creativity.  I have been playing around with different crochet hat designs and more than anything, I have wanted to come up with a fun crochet cloche style hat.  I have made a couple that I am almost happy with.  I have also been enjoying the earflap crochet hat.  They are always so cute and warm.