Thank you to everyone who linked up to the Signature Style sew along and auditioned for Season 18. You all sure gave the panel of advisors a difficult time making a decision!
And, probably the most exciting...she gets a designer spot on Season 18 coming in November!!!
Now that Season 17 is over, Season 18 is less than a month away!! In fact, here are the dates so you can plan ahead: Week 1: October 29 - November 2 Week 2: November 5-9 Week 3: November 12-16 one week break: November 19-24 for Thanksgiving holiday Week 4: November 26-30
Between now and then we have a super exciting giveaway AND a really fun blog tour and a huge sale planned! Come back Wednesday for the giveaway everyone has been asking for!
This Season has been truly memorable. It ignited a fire in so many to design and create and SEW! The results have been tallied (and they were so close!) and we have our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place designers for Season 17.
Here's what Marcie of Oonabaloona had to say about her Signature Style look: What a wonderful thing you've given your daughters--the stories of the women that came before them, and the inspiration behind these gorgeous pieces absolutely shines through every stitch of these gorgeous pieces! Overall Look, Creativity, Craftsmanship, Wear-ability...all home runs.
Jess receives:
Cricut Maker and starter kit from Cricut ($600+ value)
This is the week you've been waiting for! This week the 3 remaining designers show us what makes their designs unique. Prepare to be inspired. Please be sure to scroll through all 3 Signature Style creations and support these talented ladies with your vote at the end.
Lil Luxe Collection - Urban Princess in Nostalgic Luxe
We made it to week four and I couldn't be happier!! I think I've kept true to my style throughout the entire competition with the themes in mind so I thought...ha...Signature Style will be easy. But no, just no. I got to week 4 and got creators block. I kept thinking, "How am I going to interpret my style with something new that I haven't already done in the competition?" I felt like I'd created so much that I had been wanting to do and finally had the chance and occasion to do that I was out of ideas. Truth be told, it was easier having a theme to go with than coming up with just anything. So, I gave myself a theme. I thought about who makes me who I am today...what inspires me...what events stick out to me in my life that have shaped who I am and given me in a sense "my own signature style." I've titled this weeks theme Urban Princess in Nostalgic Luxe because in general I would describe Lil Luxe Collection as everyday street wear for the today's girly girl. Both me and my girls love to get dolled up fancy but comfortable enough that if we spot a park, we're ready to play! As for Nostalgia, each of the three outfits I created this week remind me of all the strong women in my family who have raised me to be who I am and have a certain meaning behind their look which I'll explain.
With my background in Architecture and Interior Design, I think I naturally gravitate toward angles and lines. All of this weeks garments are very linear in either shape or fabric choice. I'll start with the colorful triangular print my oldest daughter, AKA "mini me," is wearing. This outfit probably best exemplifies my signature style...Classic front with a surprise back. The top is light weight scuba knit fabric with colorful blocks of triangles, a minimalistic puff sleeve cap and an inverted box pleat peplum skirt. I hate sewing rows of gathering stitches...I would rather do the math to figure out the distance of pleats and how much fabric I'll need any day. Yes, I'm a total nerd and created an excel formula ready to pump out a number for me, LOL. The pants are a stretch woven, and fitted, slim style with a double pocket detail on the back. The welt pocket is sewn onto the back pocket, then I topstitched the back pocket onto the pants leaving the top open for her hands. This outfit is reminiscent of my days in the city when I was going to college. We had to be ready to be on site in someone's office giving a presentation or building models in class. Being dressed for anything was an understatement but I loved it. The second outfit she wears is a bit of a throwback to one of the first patterns I ever created, the Haute skort. Lil Luxe fans will be happy to know that this pattern will be back in the pattern shop now that I have graded it into our standard size chart with extended sizes. It's made with a lightweight velvet corduroy, complete with pockets and shorts underneath for running around freely without fear of exposing any panties ;) The top is where the nostalgia really starts to get personal. We were raised by our great, great aunt who was like a second mother to us. We did everything together and she really impacted my life. She was a pretty trendy aunt for an older lady...always getting her perms and wearing pretty barrettes in her hair and she always wore an apron. The beige top is reminiscent of an apron that she had. To give it some modern luxe, I added three pleats onto the front, covering the seam allowance with gold piping and three gold buttons along the top of the back. On a hot summer day, I'm sure this style might be ok alone but for this occasion I paired it with a long sleeve tee in french terry.
Now for the outfit my little one is wearing...enter mom. I used a striped ponte from CaliFabrics in a classic beige and black in memory of the suits my mom would wear. She's a fierce career woman that I have always admired. The dress is a classic slim fit style on top with a play on pocket placement/direction on the skirt. I made matching shorties for her to wear underneath which will also go great with her leotards for dance class...Bonus! Although I love this dress alone, I had to add a little somethin' somethin'. The baby doll top is micro net tulle with velvety texture spots that I just love. I added some colorful floral beads on the neckline to tie in the colors of my other daughters outfit. The skirt of this top is also pleated. This top is reminiscent of the top Alicia Silverstone wore in one of her outfits in Clueless....a movie my sister and I would watch over and over again when we were kids. This outfit is wrapped up in a sherpa jacket with a metallic front. I just love this fabric and had been dying to make it into something. I hadn't done a garment with zippers this season so this white separating zipper was a must on this crossover with cowl neckline when closed, drape front jacket when open. I embellished the cuff, which is another signature Lil Luxe detail, in leather and denim studded trim. The material of this jacket really spoke me and the women in my family...hard exterior, super softy and emotional on the inside, LOL. Once you get past the zipped up layers, you really see who we are :)
I've made an accessory for each week so I couldn't go without making one for the final challenge. The bag my daughter had with her LOL dolls is a pattern I created when I was in 6th grade. My siblings and I were always the house on the block where everyone would gather. We were always out on the curb playing with our dolls or collectibles cards/toys, etc. One day we decided to put together a carnival for the smaller neighborhood kids and our parents so I hand sewed a bunch of scrunchies and bags in all kinds of fabrics for prizes at the game stations. I guess you can say this is when my sewing career got started! Thank you to everyone who has read, supported, voted and has been with me on this journey. I love my family and especially the women in my family who have made me strong, creative and courageous. I know my daughters will follow lead and I can't wait to see what the future holds for them. They remind me so much of me and my sister...so every time I worry about them like any mother would...I know that like me and my sister, they will be ok. Thanks again! This experience on Project Run & Play has been amazing!!
Holy smokes, we did it!! Here we are for finals week and I could NOT be more honored to be a part of this! When I was asked to be a part of this adventure, the thought of designing a signature look was intimidating. At the time, I didn't know if I even HAD a signature style. But, over these last few weeks, I've learned that I most certainly do. My use of classic lines, solid colors, clean finishes, and small details came though each week. I can see that I definitely design with Thomas's feelings in mind. I use colors he likes, finishes he likes and even the style he likes. So, it was only fitting to title my signature style "Thomas's Closet".
For my signature style, I went with a look that screams Thomas, athletic wear. And, being unable to commit to a single look, I designed a complete mix and match collection composed of a retro ringer tee, a long sleeve hooded tee, half zipper hoodie, training tights, basketball shorts and capri length joggers. The shirts can be layered or worn alone and both work great with the pull over. The shorts work on their own, or with the training tights and the capris offer a fun modern piece, perfect for the kid who is constantly hot. Now, the pieces may look simple, but the details are where we get creative with designing for boys! Detail elements are very limited with boys. Girls have ruffles and bows, beading, cutouts, lace and jewels. Detail elements for boys involves a bit of creativity. I love using bits of my main fabric to create those detail elements. It takes a lot of time, but it's so rewarding! The basketball shorts look like they would be a quick make, but man are they deceiving! They took so much time! Sewn from athletic and compression fabrics and using my Kayak Boardshorts as the base, keeping the lines of the stripes straight was the first challenge. Each stripe was created by pressing the raw edge under, so everything would have a clean look. Some stretch hem tape kept the stripes in place while I sewed them down (after much fighting with the iron, a pressing cloth and my fabrics to get the glue hot enough to melt, but not so hot my athletic fabric melted!) Then, came the topstitching. After countless skipped stitches and ripped out stitching, I reached for my clear thread and that was the trick for the polished look I was after! The band at the bottom encases the seam allowance continuing the polished finish. The simplicity of the training tights makes up for the shorts! Using Love Notions Leggin's as the base, I went up one size, scooped out the crotch curve a bit more and added some length to the rise. Sewn from the same compression fabric as the shorts, Thomas is in love and they look great layered under his basketball shorts. The capri joggers were a fun sew! Starting with Love Notions Moto Max, I sized up a size to create some bagginess and created a capri length cut and added a cuff. I redesigned the shape of the front pocket and added binding for some contrast. Topstitching the pocket in place with a contrasting thread carries the teal into this piece. Adding a zipper welt pocket on one leg gives my little athlete a safe place to store the quarter he found during our photoshoot. The pocket is constructed into the inseam and side seam of the leg, so it doesn't sag even with an ipod in there.
Comfort is key for Thomas. He is very tactile and struggles with being comfortable in store bought clothing. Because of that, construction is a huge part of my design process. And, I use that to my advantage. Let's start with the white long sleeve tee. I took a classic hooded tee and added some fun elements to it. I knew the light drapey knit would be pulled down with a lining in the hood. So, I took advantage of the seam in the hood and a cool contrasting strip. Creating bias tape with the scrap from the ringer tee, I covered the seam allowance and topstitched the binding in place. I love how this little element pulls the teal into the shirt and keeps Thomas comfortable. Using scraps from the joggers, I created more binding to encase the hem of the bottom of the shirt and the front edge of the hood. Creating bias tape from athletic fabric can be tricky, but it's well worth the work for the detail it adds! I love how it shows off the curve of the hem at the side seam! I used my Driftwood Tee and color blocked the front. Contrast stitching along the seam keeps the seam from irritating Thomas and adds another element of interest. I used the same technique on the shoulder seams. You can see better pictures of these on my blog. The half zip hoodie may just be my favorite piece from this collection! Self drafted and made from ponte, it's warm without the bulk. The lined hood is finished fun pop of neon yellow fold over elastic. To get a clean finish on the neckline, I sewed the FOE to the hood lining before attaching the lining to the hood. Then, I hand stitched the lining to the body of the sweatshirt making sure to only catch the seam allowance of the neckline so no stitching shows on the hoodie. The pockets are trimmed with the fabric from the ringer tee, to continue with our color pallet. The three piece hood also features contrasting topstitching along the center panel to continue with that pop of teal. The ringer tee is also made from my Driftwood pattern. The neckline has been changed to a binding finish, instead of a neckband for a clean modern look. A single stripe of our gray athletic fabric on the sleeve adds a touch of retro feel that I love to mix in with our looks. I love the challenge of creating clothes for an older boy. It's so rewarding to take a stack of simple solid fabrics and turn it into something more than a basic tee and shorts! And it's cool!! He WANTS to wear these clothes. Too see more of how these pieces all mix and match together, visit us on Handmade Boy!
Thank you so much for allowing us to share our look. Please join us at Handmade Boy for more details and photos.
CKC Patterns - Bohemian Rhapsody
I can't believe I made it to the final week of Project Run and Play! I have had so much fun during this competition and have made so many things I never knew I could make! I was a little nervous when I found out this week is Signature Style because I feel like I don't actually have a "signature style". I tend to make simple, everyday, knit pieces--like t-shirts and leggings--with my "free time". As a business owner and a mom, my daily life doesn't involve much sewing, unfortunately its mostly computer work. When I do get a chance to sew I usually make something practical that my kids can wear to school or I can wear while out running errands like grocery shopping, and it HAS to be a fast sew because I don't have much time to spare. This doesn't leave much in the way of creativity and this competition is ALL about creativity. I felt like I was in a conundrum. One of my favorite styles to look at and be inspired by is bohemian, aka boho. Boho style is so carefree with gorgeous fabrics that have movement and color, not to mention the gorgeous trims with lace and fringe....its dreamy! I decided to lean this way with my "Signature Style" but to focus on translating these carefree styles to more age-appropriate styles that can be worn everyday.
The first thing I did was to go through my fabrics and see what I had to choose from. I'm pretty broke from this competition at this point; I've over-extended my monthly fabric budget tenfold! lol. Thankfully as I went through my stash I had enough fabrics to achieve the look I was going for and a good mix of textures to keep it interesting! In fact, every single fabric and trim came directly from my stash so I didn't have to spend a penny this week...thank goodness because I didn't have any money left to spend.
As of Friday mornings results, I only had two pieces completed: my daughter's outfit in the teal high-low dress and kimono with a potential photoshoot (if I made the final week) planned for Saturday. Luckily, I do okay sewing under pressure because the pressure was definitely on for this week! My daughter's outfit is a self-drafted high low with a fun, open back. I put on some inspirational words using my silhouette cameo and heat transfer vinyl because boho is also about being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself! I paired it with a self-drafted high-low kimono and added a fringe trim for interest and texture. I topped the look off with a handmade braided suede choker.
Despite being everyday wear, I wanted to add a little fancier piece to the collection, because most runway collections have a fancy piece at the end! I settled on a gorgeous lace maxi. The dress is lined with knit navy fabric that is knee length which helps make the dress a little more casual. Unfortunately the little boho belt I made was lost in the shuffle and got left at home for the photoshoot, but you can see it in the flat lay and it helped make the dress a little more casual as well.
You cannot have a boho collection without bell bottoms. I made this pair out of double brushed poly and added a yoga waistband. For the shirt, I used a ruffled off the shoulder top that is tied at the waist. I also made a cute little turban headband to add that final touch!
Next I made a self-drafted maxi romper! These seemed to be super popular this summer and I never got the chance to make one so I jumped at the chance to include one in this collection. I couldn't be happier with the way this one turned out and most importantly, the little model LOVED it. When she went to get dressed for the photoshoot, the shorts were sewn on sideways! lol. I had to chop them off and quickly resew them back on before we could leave for the photoshoot. That was super stressful! The romper is made with double brushed poly and crepe woven fabric for the skirt. I love the added touch of peekaboo lace on the sleeves and the handmade choker to go with it.
The final look I made with the self-drafted, tiered cold shoulder peasant dress. When the model tried it on it was kind of plain when compared to everyone else's outfit and a tad short so I whipped up that on-the-spot made up skirt extender in about 7 mins so we could rush off to the photoshoot!
This whole collection and photoshoot was insane and seemed like a comedy of errors at times. My friends and I lugged this wicker couch--that I bought for $10 a year ago on a family vacation despite my husbands objections....and its been sitting in the garage since we brought it home--all over this wooded area to try and get amazing pictures. All the girls were completely crazy--despite what these pictures show--and these were literally the ONLY photos from 400 photos that turned out halfway decent. Despite all of the complications, I love how the collection turned out and most importantly the girls loved them and were SO comfortable in them. You can read more about this week's creations on my blog here.
Now it's your turn to vote! Your vote is very important because it's 1/3 of the designers' final score.
1/3 of the vote is determined by the panel of judges
1/3 of the vote is determined by this week's celebrity judge
Marcie of OonaBalloona, our celebrity guest judge, really has her work cut out for her this week!
Thank you to everyone who linked up your Stroke of Genius looks. Every single one was SO artistic and such a pleasure to see! The winner has been chosen:
PLUS...the winner of this week's link up gets a designer spot on Season 18, coming in November! Consider this your audition, and give it your best shot!
If you're sewing along, we'd love for you to grab the HTML in the box below and put it up on your sidebar or post it to social media to let everyone know you're joining the fun at Project Run & Play!
This week's creations were incredibly artistic, that's all there is to it! It seems to me that each week is getting better and better! Which also means it's getting harder and harder for the judges and the voters. It was SO close this week!
Here's what Anna Maria Horner of Craft South, our celebrity guest judge, had to say about her look:
I think the pieces and the combination of them perfectly strike the balance between well made, wearability and keeping with the theme without making them a costume. If you are a lover of PopArt you'll recognize the relationship and if you're not the cute details are so charming! I also LOVE surprises in fashion so the lining of the jacket with the cartoon fabric is just perfect :)
Now the excruciating part...sadly, only 3 designers get to advance to Week 4. And we're very sad to send home:
Lunch with Monet by Terri of Sew Straight Patterns. Plan on seeing more of Terri's work around here in the future, she's part of the Project Run & Play family now!
Thankfully, our sponsors are helping to make this easier by rewarding her with:
Prepare to walk through an art gallery. This week our designers put on their artist beret's and set to work creating the most wonderful art experience ever!
Handmade Boy - Modernly Primitive
I am so excited to be a part of week three!! Thank you for all of your support!
Week three's brainstorming session started much like week two's. Thomas and I had a conversation. Upon being asked who his favorite artist is, Thomas replied with "Oh! That guy who likes red and straight lines and doesn't use a lot of colors." Now, that could be quite the puzzle. But, I was luckily enough to be a helper during his second grade art classes last year, and I had a rough idea of who he was talking about. A quick text to his art teacher (for real, I'm friends with her. ;) ) and she was able to tell me the name of the artist, Horace Pippin. Filled with American Folk inspiration, we designed our look, Modernly Primitive.
Horace Pippin was an American Folk artist from the 1940s. He was self taught and used a limited amount of color in his work, with the primary use of colors resembling those from war times with lots of grays. However, he enjoyed adding a stroke of red to each of his paintings. So of course, we needed a bold red in our look, and what is more bold than a pair of red pants? Contrasting topstitching mimics the simple straight lines Pippin used in his works. Specifically, the designs of the back pockets were inspired by the perspective lines used in his rooms. The handcrafted suspenders mimic the style of the men's clothes in the painting. They are detachable with buttons sewn to the waistband and buttonholes through the leather tabs. Pants were self drafted and have a working zipper and button closure, back welt pockets, yoke elastic in the back of the waist, and suspenders. Pippin liked to include striped rugs in his paintings. That was a detail we had to include! This striped pull over is easy to wear over anything from a tee to an oxford with it's exposed zipper adding a touch of modern style.
Another element Horace Pippin enjoyed was the use of numbers. He would feature a number by including groupings of items, for example, three windows, three cracks in the wall and three chairs in a painting. We had fun with the challenge of this detail! With the exception of the bow tie, each article of clothing was drafted to be made from seven pieces; pants (front and back leg, yoke, waistband, fly guard, welt pocket, belt loops), shirt, (front, back, sleeve, collar, button placket, pocket, cuff), pull over (front, back, sleeve, collar, collar lining, zipper placket, cuff), and jacket (front, back, sleeve, collar, pocket, pocket flap, bottom band) The shirt features seven buttons (two on placket, two on collar, one on each sleeve cuff, and one on the pocket.) The pants have seven belt loops. The line art of the bow ties in his shirt reminded me of the primitive feel of many of Pippin's sketches, but has that touch of modern that I love. I used my Driftwood as my base to create a woven collar shirt typical of boy's clothing in the 1930s. The jacket is our modern take of the overcoats worn by men. Simple, clean lines keep the look fresh, while the gray bottomweight fabric pulls in the gray tones used by Pippin. Black piping at the collar and limited black topstitching were inspired by the straight, bold lines from the art. We really enjoyed creating this look and Thomas can't wait till fall is really here so he can get some good use of that jacket! (Anybody else have a kid who loves coats?!)
Thank you so much for bringing me back for one more week! I was so excited about this week so I'm happy I get to share it with you all.
Art has always been so inspiring to me, and one artist in particular I have always been drawn to: Vincent Van Gogh. So much so, that we got a puppy earlier this year and named him Vincent. So when I saw this week's theme I instantly knew I was going to choose something to do with Van Gogh. After a little narrowing down I settled on the idea of doing Van Gogh's Flowers. Of course, he has many more flower paintings than this, but these are the ones that inspired me most.
The first design I worked on was based off of Van Gogh's Almond Blossom painting. I'm no artist, but when I was younger I enjoyed drawing trees and branches so I got the crazy idea to attempt to recreate this beautiful painting on the dress. I worked for 6 hours on free hand painting this skirt. I didn't trace it out or practice beforehand, I just started painting and hoped for the best! Originally I wanted to paint the entire skirt but after painting for three hours and only doing a quarter of the skirt I abandoned the plan and settled on it being a focal point of the dress and not an overall design of the fabric. Hey, I only have a week, right?!? Once I completed painting the skirt, I hand sewed 60 chiffon flowers onto the branches to mimc the blossoms in the painting. The skirt turned out more beautiful than I imagined it would and while it doesn't look exactly like Van Gogh's painting, its clearly inspired by it and I've never attempted anything like before so I'm proud of the 8 hours of painting and hand sewing I put into this skirt.
The second design I chose to work on was based off of one of Van Gogh's most recognizable series of paintings: Sunflowers. Sunflowers have always been a favorite of mine because the colors are so bold and just a beautiful golden yellow-orange hue. I was lucky enough to find the perfect color of fabric for the sunflower--I am limited to what colors my local Joann has in stock since I am not ahead of schedule for this competition so "lucky" is not an exaggeration! I decided to make a one shoulder color blocked romper to mimic the painting and instead of adding lots of sunflowers, I made one bold flower. I also hand beaded the center of the sunflower to further draw attention to the sunflower--not that it needed any help because that flower is bold, but it really topped off the look!
The final design was one that I really decided to make last minute...as in Friday night before our photoshoot on Saturday. I somehow convinced myself that these two pieces I had completed couldn't be a flower "collection". I think I'm really just a glutton for punishment. lol. I had no idea what I was going to make but I just knew I wanted it to look like an gorgeous ruffled iris--another favorite flower of mine. After digging through my patterns I couldn't find anything that gave the look I was trying to achieve so I self-drafted this dress I envisioned and prayed for the best. It was a relief when I completed it and it both worked out and looked exactly like what I wanted; the model looks like a beautiful iris!
I feel like I was super reckless this week with my creating. I didn't draw anything out, I didn't practice anything before hand, I bought just *enough* fabric for no mistakes, I threw all cautions to the wind and just created! I wasn't even worried or anxious hoping that things turned out! I somehow just knew it would work. Project Run and Play is changing the way I create and for that alone I am grateful for this opportunity! I am not scared to try new things anymore--like painting on fabric when you buy the end of the bolt and have no extra in case you ruin it or sewing 50 yards of tulle when I've never really worked with tulle like that before. I really hope that you guys love my designs and I make it through to the final week even though I still don't know what my week 4 is going to be--but I'm not worried! Even if I don't make it though, I am thrilled with my creations and had so much fun proving to myself that I am worthy of competing with all of these phenomenal designers! To read more about my designs this week and see more pictures, read my blog here.
Lil Luxe Collection - Makers Movement
Woot! Week 3!! I’ve been waiting for the “Stroke of Genius” challenge all season! I knew exactly what I wanted to do and the pieces I wanted to make. For this challenge I chose Pop Art as my inspiration.By definition, “Pop Art is an art based on modern popular culture and the mass media, especially as a critical or ironic comment on traditional fine art values”....thank you google!I was inspired by how DIY has really exploded via Pinterest, blogs and other social media over the last decade and created this “Makers Movement” that has paved the way for artists and makers of all types to really show their skill, introduce people to the love of handmade and for some even give them the opportunity to start their own business.See where I’m going with this?! For my makes this week I really focused on craftsmanship, creative details, different techniques and texture to really show how I have evolved as not only a pattern drafter but as a garment designer and creator. Every garment in this collection was drafted from a basic block that I created based on my daughters’ measurements. I took the photos in my office and edited them in the classic pop art comic book style, removing the effects from the garments so the details were visible.You can see more photos and details with different pop art effects on my blog HERE.
I’ll start with the Jacket...oh the jacket...it was a labor of love that took three days to make. It has a classic denim look with a cropped style. It’s entirely sewn with flat felled seams and a french seam along the arm/sides for a completely polished, beautiful inside. I fell in love with this fabric "Sewing Sorrows" by Alexander Henry (It was so fitting too!), so I used it on the back yoke of the jacket and along the front panels for a fun pop of color on the inside of the jacket. I also used it for the collar stand on the back of the jacket. The front pockets are fully functional and have the same A.H. fabric on the inside of the flap. The culotte overalls have a fun bow on the front with adjustable buttoned straps. I created a fold over pleat along the sides to open/close them for easy on and off and keep with the general pleated design of the shorts. There’s also a second button on the inside of the pleat that you can’t see but it allows the front to pull closer to the waist for an even better fit. I love fitted garments and with this technique, depending on how far you space the button, the fit along the waist is adjustable. The shirt is simple woven top with an invisible zipper along the back and a two tone collar on the front, outlined in a black bias. Her look wouldn't be complete without some fun bracelets that we made together during a craft night and a notebook made with the A.H. fabric for her notes and measurements.
Now for the second look on my little "mannequin." ;) She completely enjoyed playing the part of the mannequin for this photoshoot...and now I know how to get her to stay still for pictures. All I have to say is "Be a mannequin!" and she'll stand still straight away, LOL! I designed the top to have the look of a dress form that my other daughter would be dressing/designing for in the photos. The bananas are bead embroidered (another project that caused me sleepless nights), attached two at a time with clear thread so they would not be loose. My little one loves bananas and asked if I could make them scratch and sniff, LOL...maybe another time I can figure out how to achieve that for her ;) Each layer of the skirt is individually pleated then attached to a layer of tulle over a satin yellow lining. Each of the 6 layers of knife pleats took 40 minutes to create and sew in place. Again, you can see a bigger detail of this on my blog HERE.
We had so much fun with this challenge! I really hope that through craft night with my daughters and their friends that some of these nostalgic moments crafting/sewing together will stick with them and they can pass on these skills to their children. My daughters love watching me work and it's my dearest hope and dream that I can instill a sense of love, creativity and entrepreneurship in their lives.
Sew Straight Patterns - Lunch with Monet
Hello again friends!!! OMG! Week 3?!?! Totally did not think I would make it here, the makes last week were off the chain, so thank you for keeping me on. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of this week's theme "Stroke of Genius"
My mind went in a thousand different directions chewing over what to do for this week's theme -- from period paintings, architecture, sculptures, photography and fashion itself. Trying to decide how to interpret any art into an outfit that checks all the boxes was so difficult this week. My brain was a puddle, I guess creative block was the perfect thing to get for this week's theme! LOL. I did know that I wanted Claude Monet as my inspiration early on but I was wavering based on lack of ideas to represent the father of impressionism and his art. Monet broke the barriers of interpretation which is so fitting considering Project Run and Play is based on interpretation of a theme each week. Then it hit me like a bag of bricks, what would I wear if I was going to go for lunch with this genius -- well what would I dress my model in? And "Lunch with Monet" was born. This concept of lunch with ....insert name here was inspiring and if I had more time, I probably would have sewn outfits representing multiple sources of inspiration-- Alexander McQueen, Da Vinci and Michelangelo were very high on the list. That being said I chose Monet because he evokes a feeling of happiness, calm and positivity when I look at his collections and the beauty of his works is unparalleled (in my opinion). I did have a particular painting of Claude Monet's that I took inspiration from, which was Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son . A beautiful piece of work that represents a gorgeous array of color and appearal in the late 19th century. I played with the creams and teals from this painting as well as took some fashion inspiration from the time period by sewing with lace and creating beautiful bell sleeves, something very indicative of that century. You can see the painting in my blog post.
I very much imagine her walking with Monet in his garden in Giverny, discussing art, fashion and politics -- very aristocratic! Then having some light lunch before sitting down in front of his garden preparing for some art lessons. Can you imagine! Art lessons from Claude Monet!?! Then quietly painting their interpretations of the current environment together until the early evening! Doesn't that sound so amazing!
The shirt, pants and vest cardigan were all hacked from The Girls Avenue Collection. I hope to have a post up on these hacks after the finale of PRP! Because Monet was my inspiration for the outfit, I had to have a little floral and that's where the scarf came in. It's made from an old lightweight linen dress I had and was the perfect piece to represent the light, airy and floral feel of Monet. The top was very much inspired by the lady in the painting I referenced earlier, I really wanted to modernize the feel of the 19th century dress by today's trends and wearability -- it has quickly become a favorite at school! The color of the vest was inspired by the teal in the painting, the style was based on how I wanted to showcase the top while keeping it trendy. The Jean's -- well what else do you wear when you go painting? An easy wearing, comfortable yet stylish pair of denims! Right?!?!
Thats it! And a huge Thank you for having me on this week! I had so much fun! I have such an amazing finale so I really hope to see you again next week!! Happy Voting Friends! For more on this look, check out the Blog POST
Now it's your turn! Use all your art appreciation skills to vote below. Your vote constitutes 1/3 of each designer's score.
1/3 is determined by this week's celebrity guest judge
1/3 is determined by the panel of judges
It's a good thing this week's celebrity guest judge, Anna Maria Horner, is such an experienced artist...she's going to need that talent!
Thank you to everyone who linked up your Flights of Fancy looks. In my opinion, the quality of the sew along participants just keeps getting better and better! The winner has been chosen:
And now it's time for week 3! Here's the theme prompt for you to sew along:
Week 3: Stroke of Genius
Do you admire the translucence of fine marble statues? The strange brainscapes of Dada? The fine brushwork of the old Spanish masters? Wherever you find beauty and emotion in art, you find inspiration. Let that inspiration move you to make art of your own this week.
It's your turn to link up. The winning entry, as determined by the judges (the talented panel of advisors) will win:
If you're sewing along, we'd love for you to grab the HTML in the box below and put it up on your sidebar or post it to social media to let everyone know you're joining the fun at Project Run & Play!
