Hand Painted Dress // Project Run & Play Season 3 Reunion

2 years ago, I was lucky to be asked to participate in a sewing competition, "Project Run and Play"-- kind of an online Project Runway for children's clothing design. The girls from my season decided to do a little virtual reunion, because we like each other, and to reflect back and see how we've grown.

 

One thing that unifies a lot of the things I made for PR&P is fabric manipulation. Rather than just buying and using fabric as is, I like doing something to it to make it my own. It's just another fun way to personalize the design.

I dyed, printed on, quilted, and appliqued to create new colors and patterns. I've been playing around with using dye to actually paint on fabric lately, and thought it would be fun to create a dress using fabric I've painted this way.

  

The thing I like about painting with dye, as opposed to printing with ink or paint, is that the dye actually permeates and bonds to the fabric and doesn't leave behind any stiffness. It seems more permanent than the other methods I've tried. I also love the watercolor effect it creates. 

I designed and drafted the pattern for the dress. It's pretty simple, but has a fun shoulder detail. And I made it very roomy so she can enjoy it for years to come.

Here's a look at some of the things we all made during the competition:

Thank you Jessica for putting this together!

Check out the amazing things the other girls made. I sincerely feel lucky to be included in a group with them. Each is incredibly talented and inspiring:

HOORAY!

Did you hear the news? I can hardly believe it myself! Somehow I won this season of Project Run and Play. I am quite happy and excited and feel like in the end it could have been anyone of us who started the whole thing. I loved seeing what everybody made each week and was sad when there was one less design to oooh and ahh over as somebody was out each time. I don't envy the judges at all!

Winning is fun, but what truly makes me happy is just all the love and support I have felt. You guys made it happen! And one thing I know for sure after doing this is that I have the most wonderful family and friends! Not just for voting but for everything you did for me so I could make this happen (watching my kids...editing my typos...putting up with my horribly messy house etc.)

But since I did win...I ended up with quite a haul! The organizers (Liz and Elizabeth from Simple Simon) did an amazing job of rounding up prizes! Thank you girls for all of your hard work and thank you sponsors! Check out these awesome prizes:

$100-- The Fat Quarter Shop

$100-- Five Monkeys Fabric

$100-- Children's Bookstore.com

$80-- Fabric bundle from Fabric Shoppe

12 patterns from Whimsy Couture

$50--gift basket from Pick your Plum

$50--fabric worm.com

I have maybe spent the morning perusing their sites dreaming about what I am going to get! Let me know if you have any recommendations.

This competition has really been quite consuming for the past 2 months or so. Sometimes it was stressful but overall I am so so glad I did it. I feel like in the past I have let myself get stuck not exploring ideas I had for things I wanted to make because I wasn't 100% sure how to make them happen, and felt that if I was going to do it...it had to be perfect. I'd taken part of a pattern making class but hadn't really ever gotten around to doing much with that, and though I thought in theory I could draft patterns...I wasn't totally sure. The greatest gift of this competition was freeing me from being stuck. I just didn't have time for it! I had to plow though and make it work and somehow things always, miraculously turned out how I'd imagined (if less than perfect). And now I feel like creatively, the possibilities are endless. And I know there are a lot of you out there who are interested in designing clothes too but aren't sure how, so I really want to share more about that process with you in hopes that it gives you the boost, or confidence you need.

If you have followed my blog for awhile you know that I am not always very consistent about posting, and when I do the subject matter is varied (sometimes crafts...sometimes chicken farming). I am excited to share more details of each project now that I have a little more time to do them justice, and I definitely plan on sewing more now...but I hope any of you who are new to my blog won't be disappointed that I don't post everyday! I have tons of respect for those who do...I just can't find the time! At any rate...welcome new friends. I'm glad to have you.

So some fun facts about this competition...

1. I was sewing in real time. I could have started earlier but with Christmas and family in town it just didn't happen.

2. Because of that I was still sewing every single week, right up until Thursday afternoon! And for several Thursdays the weather was dark and terrible! Luckily I have huge windows that let in light, but still it was a crazy scramble some weeks to get my sewing finished, kids in the clothes, and photos taken before the light went. And then I had to put my posts together. So if they seemed hurried and incomplete at times...they were!!

3. Taking pictures of kids can be hard...especially when you are in a crazy hurry and its raining/snowing on their heads. I might have promised them, "absolutely anything you want if you just smile!!" I hope you enjoy these outtakes. And while yes I think my kids are cute...they are certainly not always perfect little models as a few comments suggested. They are regular moody kids. I sure love their little personalities!

4. I don't know this for sure, but I have a hunch I was the last one to submit my posts each Thursday. Thank goodness for Project Runway...I think the girls were up anyway watching it so hopefully they weren't too annoyed waiting for me.

5. Those Frye boots Avery is wearing in the last look? Yeah...I bought them from endless.com just for the shoot and was planning on sending them straight back as they have a very liberal return policy. They are obscenely expensive for children's footwear but she LOVES them, so I might keep them? I don't even have boots that nice. She probably earned them though. The things we do for a cute photo.

Anyway...thanks again to everyone who followed along and voted! What an adventure this has been!

And if you have a minute check out this giveaway to benefit a sweet injured dog, passed along my one of my new readers. It'll do your heart good!

Happy Valentines Day! (I have not a single decoration up so...pretty much I'm mother of the year over here;))

Project Run And Play Finale!

Project Run and Play Finale go here to VOTE

It's bittersweet. Project Run and Play is coming to an end. I am so excited to have made it to the very end and get to show you my signature look. It's hard to sum your style all up in one look. I don't know if it can be done, but when I look at what I made...I think it feels like me. So-- success I say! Click on over to vote. Voting is up til Sunday night at 10 MST. And feel free to spread the word;) if you are so inclined.

This week there is no safety...its winner take all! (not actually true..I think 2nd and 3rd get prizes too but its the glory I'm after!;))

Have I thanked you for your support?! I just can't say it enough. It means so much to me to have it. Thank you! Every single comment or email wishing me well (or telling me my kids are cute!) makes me just beam! I truly feel all of your wonderful energy coming my way, and its just magnificent! Win or not...it will have been supremely worth it!

Here is a quick re-cap of everything I've made for the competition. I get a little thrill seeing them all lined up together in the closet!

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

I have to admit...I am on the verge of collapse! Except for the first outfit, I have been doing all of these challenges in real time, most weeks sewing right up until the very end and I am exhausted! But, I have LOVED this experience. I feel like I have grown a ton skill-wise and love that this has given me the little boost I needed to challenge myself and get projects done! I definitely felt like the underdog coming into this competition because I haven't sewn as much as a lot of the other girls but I have been really pleased with what I've made, and I hope you have liked it too!

Here's more of this weeks outfit:

I tried and pay careful attention to the general construction of both pieces I made. I take the time to do things like under-stitching the neckline and armholes so they will lay flat and look neat. It feels like such a waste to me to spend all this time sewing and have it come out looking sloppy, so I try very hard to be neat and take the extra time to get the details right.

Matching stripes.
This fabric is from Jo Anne's. Sometimes they have great fabric;)

Huge THANK YOU!!

First of all thank you everyone who voted for my dress!! I am so excited to tell you that I am in this week, which means that I get to compete in the final week for Project Run and Play next week! Its sad every week to see such talented girls be out and I miss seeing all their looks each week as the group is whittled down more.

To be honest, I can hardly believe its almost over. The past 5 weeks have flown by for me as I have had my head down sewing. I've been a somewhat negligent mother (the TV might have to be unplugged for a few weeks after this so my children can recover), wife, and friend during this time in the competition. I have to say though, its been fun for me to do this and... I don't know, something I kind of needed to do for myself I think.

I've had some requests for tutorials etc. for some of my looks and I just want to let you know that as soon as this is finished, I am planning to get to work to make those available for you. I want to make sure I can put together the info in a clear and doable way, and be sure I can give them the time they need to be right.

OK friends, Thanks again! I've got to get back to work on my look (my signature style!)... and figure out a few things with my poor computer.

I hope you'll come back on Friday and vote!!

Project Run and Play Week 5

Week 5 of Project Run and Play and that means Special Occasion. I hope you like what I made!
Head on over to vote!

It's week 5! And I'm still here. But just barely and I mean barely. Thanks to some last minute facebook linking, and word of mouth, my dear friends and family saved me after seeing how close I was to being out last week. I honestly thought about taking myself out after the judges decided to let us all stay because our scores were so close. You know how on Project Runway the designers always say, "Its a competition...I'm not here to make friends"? Well...I feel the exact opposite. The absolute best part of this for me is the camaraderie and positive creative energy I get to be a part of! I wasn't sure it was worth it to stay if it meant upsetting the other girls who I am sure expected me to be out as much as I did after my votes lagged behind a little all weekend. In the end I decided to stay though, as my votes were fairly gotten, and I really love being a part of this.

(and just so you know...spreading the word via facebook or blog linking or twitter or messenger pigeon is perfectly fine and wonderful and I really appreciate the support! And its double elimination this week so I also really need it!! )

*You guys I'm sorry for this lame post. I have so much more I want to show you but my computer is having all sorts of problems. I will try to get it all sorted and add more later!

Project Run and Play Week 4

Thank you guys so much for voting last week! Phew, I made it through and am so glad because I really wanted to make this coat! Yes it's Outerwear week...week 4 and I am thrilled to still be in the competition. Head on over to Project Run and Play to vote (voting is up till Sunday night) and then come on back and check out these photos.

I just have to say that I was knocked flat by a wicked stomach bug this week so the fact that this coat even got made is kind of a miracle. Luckily there was a good bit of hand sewing which could be done laying on the couch, and I had mostly finished the pattern before it hit.

Unfortunately the coat didn't get done till the very last minute so we had to take photos outside on a dark rainy day (yesterday eek!).

I dyed the linen to get the perfect shade. I've found that adding a touch of black to anything I'm dying gives it a richer, sort of softer look...which is what I am looking for. I use liquid dyes so I can keep adding and mixing and adjusting and I almost never use just one color.

I quilted this coat and I forgot to mention that I used regular 6 strand embroidery floss that I actually dyed also. It started out pale blue and so it turned out just ever so slightly different color than the fabric-- which I love and think just adds to the depth of the coat.

I didn't quilt though all three layers but just the outer and batting layers and then inserted the lining as usual.

I made bias tape and used it to finish all the edges. Linen is really wiggly when its cut on the bias so its a tad tricky to get sewn in neatly.

The cuffs are a little long on purpose #1 so this will fit her for more than 10 min, but also because I wanted to be able to fold them up and get a peek at the lining. I love the tone on tone look of those fabrics together.

I forgot to mention that these buttons are wood. They felt perfect for the natural vibe of this coat.

So one of the hardest things about this whole process is getting Avery to hold still enough to take a decent picture. She is SUCH a ham, which I love and normally would be all about showing her personality in photos, but since its a sewing competition I am trying to make sure the clothes look good and she pulls the funniest craziest body positions and faces constantly. I'm like "Avery...PLEASE just make a normal face."

"But mom...this is my thinking face."

Love this girl.