The Top Posts of 2014

This year I was having trouble wrapping my brain around the whole Round-up of 2014 thing. Last year I had fun doing The Best of the Worst 2013 where I pulled out all of the bloopers from 2013's photoshoots. This year I was planning to skip it because I couldn't think of anything new that wasn't an overwhelming task. Let's be honest, now that I have myself a busy toddler and a baby under 1yr, time is not something I have in excess. So today when I was scrolling through my newsfeed during a shockingly long streak of uninterrupted free time, I came across the idea of rounding up your top 7 posts in 2014- Readers choice. I love it! What a great way to show you guys what YOU like and also to get some insight into what makes this place fun for the readers. Shall I venture to say this is definitely going into my thought process about goals for 2015?? 

7. Project Run and Play: Let's go to the Movies

Astro Boy - Project Run & Play 80's Cartoon Sew-a-long

 Another season of Project Run & Play is upon us. 

It's a fun competition full of themes and drama. Yes, only one can be the winner- but for the rest of us, there's the sew-a-long. I've been participating for many seasons now and truly enjoy looking at each seamstresses work, gaining both inspiration and motivation to push my limitations further and further. 

So, week 1. The theme is one near and dear to our hearts... anyone who spent their Saturday morning or after school hours plastered intently to a television screen knows exactly what I'm talking about- 80's cartoons yo. 

Project Run & Play Week 2: Vacation Theme

Alright, week 2. 

You know Lily's favorite colors (pink&purple, duh), and you know she's crazy particular about what she wears, so when I saw THIS PIN on pinterest and loved the pants- I asked her if she'd wear them. She assured me that she would as long as they were the bright colors that were pictured. At Joann's I was able to locate a pastel-ish pink and yellow, and so the pink was purchased.

The last two years we've taken a family vacation to California where we visit family and the ocean. It's been so wonderful and I can't wait to go back. I doubt that will be this year with the new baby and house, but it's certainly not off my list. 

PR&P wk 1: Put Me In The Zoo (FAIL)

I completely intended to participate with the wk. 1 theme of Project Run and Play: Put Me In The Zoo. Seriously guys, I did. I even created the "outfit" that I wanted. "What's the problem?" you may be asking yourself.  

The outfit was a total fail. I hate it. Yeah, hate is a strong word and I don't like to use it ALL THE TIME, but there are times when strong words are needed. 

Planning for PR&P Sew-along

My machine has been a buzzing as I start sewing along for Project Run & Play Season 9. 

Did you see they announced the themes? 

Monday, March 24:  Season 9 Begins!!!  And the linky party opens for your "Put Me In the Zoo" looks.

Monday, March 31:  "Spring Break Challenge" week and the linky party opens.

Monday, April 7:  "Design Your Own Fabric" week challenge and the linky party opens.

Monday, April 14  :  Signature Style Week and the linky party opens.

Last season I found myself sewing up outfits last minute like, uh, every week. So this time around I'm getting a head start and doing some planning/sketching (what?!- yeah you read right) and even sewing some of the items up now. Who is this woman I'm becoming?

Giveaway Winner !

This season on Project Run and Play has been a doozy. Not only did I sew along, but my good friend Karly from Paisley Roots was asked to be a REAL contestant! I was over the moon for her! 

Then, to top it all off, she won! 

You can imagine the excitement I held for her. I mean, we've both been following the competition as sew-a-longers for many seasons and have really bonded over our mutual love to sew. I simply cannot describe how proud I am of her talent and heart. Each week we'd see the looks go up and I would be rooting her on and oggling all of her work. 

To be a part of her "Thank You Giveaway" was a really fun way to end the PR&P season! 

Project Run & Play: Wk.2 "Let's Go To The Movies" Entry

Boy I'm sliding in by the skin of my teeth on this entry (honestly, what's new though?).

In my house, there's a lot of love for all things Studio Ghibli ... and right now the kids are especially stuck on My Neighbor Totoro. Past favorites have been Howells Moving Castle and Ponyo, but really they are all pretty fun. And let's face it, I spend a lot more time watching kids movies than anything with adult content. So, for this challenge I chose to make my daughter Lily an outfit like the big sister "Satsuki."

Project Run & Play Winter Wonderland Entry

Yay for another season of Project Run & Play. Have you guys been over and looked at the entries this week? I've been periodically check the scores and it's been all over the place. I'm really excited to see how the judges will weigh in and who the wk. 1 champ will be! 

Project Run& Play Wk. 3: Mad For Plaid

Hey guys! 

I'm going to make this a quick one as I'm on vacation and enjoying all of the California goodness while catching up on PR&P news. 

Project Run& Play Wk. 2 Candy Challenge

Whew. 

Guys, this challenge was so tough for me. I'm a practical clothing maker, which doesn't work so well when "candy" comes to mind. Candy? Clothing? Add that to my tendency to choose neutral or muted colors and you see my problem. 

I actually considered just skipping this week. 

It. Was. SO. Hard. 

So hard that I finished my whole "Mad For Plaid" challenge outfit and only once it was done decided I shouldn't be lame and went back to the drawing board for the Candy Challenge. 

Project Run & Play Challenge 1: The Popover Sundress Flip

First I'll discuss the changes I've made to the original pattern:

1. Took the top of the bodice off& redrafted a scoop neck bodice with button closures

2. I  cut the front with extra fabric to gather & create the more billowy front

3. Lined the inside to make it possible for the sheer outer layer

Formal Attire // Birthday Dress

Week 4 of Project Run and Play is in fully swing & I am ready to go! 

I've been working on Lily's birthday outfit a lot lately. Her 5th birthday party is an Alice in Wonderland Tea party where she will be Alice (of course!). 

Project Run and Play: It's all in the details

Hi! I had so much fun sewing along with project run and play the last session. I thought I would be all over this one, but sadly I haven't. 

I'm still sewing, but I haven't been able to work the projects on my table into the themes so I've been sitting them out and watching everyone else's amazing handywork. 

Truly lovely ladies, honestly I'm constantly blown away at the level of ability everyone manages! 

So this is what, week 3? 

I knew I'd be able to get this one to fit in with her spring wardrobe. I have been working out pattern details for this shirt. The last one I made had a gathered waist, which I also loved, but I wanted to leave it out and make it a bit more dress-like and billowy. 

Project Run (and) Play Challenge 4 Valentines Day

No luck for nice weather to shoot photo's in. 

Project Run and Play Challenge 3 Boys Week

I'm off and running with a boys outfit for week three. 

Look at this guy, isn't he a ham?

PR&P Challenge (number)2

I hope everyone is enjoying the sew along. 

I certainly had a difficult time piecing together this outfit. 

But look, I did it. & again, it was on time! 

Still working!!

Hi! I'm still here, and I'm still working. This has been a particularly busy week at homeschool because on Monday and Tuesday we had a friend of mine's son here with us.
We especially had fun on Tuesday because we went and visited the zoo. It wasn't too cold& the kids ran like mad. A mothers dream.


And today we were lucky enough to have a newborn baby, Katherine, here to play with us. She's just the sweetest little sleeper, i feel so odd not "playing" with her. How could i forget the blob days of my little man simply sitting and observing? 9 months moves by so quickly.

Through all of our visitors, I have been slowly trucking on my stripes and polka dots entry for the second challenge of project run and play. I made a couple of changes to my line up ...

First, I had misunderstood the challenge and thought that you chose either stripes or polkadots. Now after rereading the blog I realize it was stripes AND polkadot challenge. It reminds me of that old commercial ... where they have to change the name from sign& drive to sign THEN drive. lol... well back to the drawing board.

I had not wanted to do another dress this week because of last weeks challenge. Unfortunately, because of the mix up I couldn't use some of the pieces I had created for this weeks outfit. I didn't want it to feel like I was throwing polkadots on top of an already made outfit. It's not a good idea to do with any outfit, but especially with polkadots and stripes together. Am i right or am i right?

Well, thats where i'm at, don't count me out!

Week 1: Project Run [and] Play : Pattern Remix

Happy Project Run& Play everyone! 

I am so excited to be on my game this season & ready to post about my remix on THE FIRST DAY rather than two weeks (*or never) after it's over. booo for procrastination& perfectionism. 

I promise I don't share them because I don't feel like they turned out great. 

Like last season, I was STOKED to do the white sheet challenge. I almost completed an outfit, a pair of comfy fully lined drawstring pants (dyed burnt orange) and jacket that buttoned up the front. First, my pants didn't have enough rise on the waist & were kind of the wedgie-type. Poor girl. Then the jacket dyed a dull brown rather than the fall leaf brown I was shooting for. & from there I completely lost motivation and never even took photos.

The pants sit in her drawer unused& jacket in the closet. slightly used. 

This season I vowed to be different. 

I went big. 

I went bold. 

I even went detailed. 

... and guess what? I really like what I made.