So here we are!! The All Stars season of Project Run and Play!!! I have to tell you, this time around has been even more fun, particularly because the other All Stars are my friends and we get to chit chat and share sneak peeks on Instagram (find me at girlinspired1)! It just feels awesome, more of a group effort than a competition! This first week the theme was Art Inspired and I was stumped. I had a few big fails before I landed on an artist whose work actually inspired me. I chose this beautiful painting by Michelle Armas and set to work!
I love the rich colors of this picture; to me, it looks elegant and happy and beautiful. And if the picture were to become clothing, I just pictured a big fluffy ball gown with beautiful drapes of color all over it.
Addison was all over the dress design from the start. Usually, it’s a total pain to get the kids to try stuff on mid-design, but this time it was actually a pain to get any work done on the dress because Addie just wanted to wear it all the time; she was SO excited for her fancy dress to be finished.
I started with a full-skirted sleeveless gown made from silk dupioni and fully lined with a cotton sateen. Silk is such a beautiful fabric to work with and I thought it was a bit serendipitous as the first time I worked with silk was for the first week of Project Run and Play during my initial run last year. Once I had the dress constructed, I began cutting small circles from synthetics that I had on hand. I made a run to the fabric store once I realized that it was going to take A LOT more “petals” than I had fabric.
I singed the edges of each circle with a flame and pinned them on to the dress in a color pattern similar to the artwork inspiration piece. After I had the entire ensemble pinned how I liked, I started sewing the petals on one by one. I discovered that it was a lot quicker to sew them on with a quick zigzag stitch on the machine than by hand (plus you know I despise hand-sewing). I counted. There were 417 petals in total. And they look amazing all smashed together, right?
The best part is that Addison is in love with the dress. She was so excited for her photo shoot which is a total 180 from the usual. And she wears the dress for hours and hours. I made cupcakes for a little post-photo party; look at that cute cupcake face!
What do you think about the theme this week? Did you sew along? I’ve seen so many amazing sew along projects floating around!
If you haven’t already, head on over to Project Run and Play to check out all six All Stars projects and VOTE for your favorite one! Thank you so much!
Comments & Reviews
Kristie says
Wow. Just WOW!
Four Little Munchkins says
This dress is unbelievable. I am stunned. I truly think you should win some kind of designer’s award for this. It is stunning. Well done.
Karen says
That dress screams ‘designer couture’. It is just absolutely gorgeous! The petal placements and the beautiful full skirt makes this one a show stopper. Would you mind telling me what you used for your base pattern?
Kristin PG says
So if you lived next door, I think we’d be friends…. I always feel like I’m reading a blog about my own personal style! This dress is just amazing and beautiful and I bet your little girl just feels like the most special girl in the world and will remember this dress the rest of her life.
lisa9999 says
Just beautiful.
kristin says
Oh this is glorious – I just can’t stop looking at those petals. The colors are perfectly placed and my eyes just travel all around the dress, drinking it in. Beautiful. Really great work, girl!
Emily says
Amazing dress!!! I want one! 🙂
Charity says
That is incredible! It came out really beautiful, but my goodness, HOW many petals?! That’s dedication! I LOVE the little poses Addison is doing too, she is adorable. =)
Jeanne says
My four year old saw this dress on PR&P amd immediatly started begging for it. She was so ecited. this is a phenomenal dress. LOVE it. question though, why cotton sateen for the linning? i am just curiouse to know if it was for body and stability or just because thats what you had or just becase it feels good on the skin?
Again, phenominal, gorgouse dress. I want one too!
Stef says
Thanks, Jeanne! Now you’ve got to make the dress for your daughter!! That’s a great question about the cotton sateen – I was thinking afterwards that I probably should have clarified that. Actually, I used it because, once my initial project failed, I had this late night idea and I wanted to start working on it right away. I had the silk already and that sateen was supposed to be for another project, but since it was available, I grabbed it and used it. It ended up feeling amazing inside the dress AND I think it did add some good stability under the silk, but it was totally unintentional. I don’t think sateen is a very practical choice for lining, but I DID use a coupon for it and maybe, just maybe, that’s why Addie wants to wear the dress nonstop. Thanks again for your sweet words!!
Ceci says
Oh my goodness, I just saw this on Project Run and Play and I just had to come on here and tell you that I’m in love with this dress. It’s beautiful, and I know how hard it is to sew so many darn petals because I’m currently working on making me a floor-length gown with a ton of silk dupioni petals like that. The point is, I love it!
Stef says
Ceci! Your gown sounds amazing!! I’d love to see it! And thank you!
adirondackinspired says
Whoa….those petals are a little labor of love. This is fantastic, I’m torn between showing this to my 5-year-old to hear her squeal or not ever (evvverrr) letting her see it for fear that she just may request something similar. Ha. I love that your little one loved it so much, you can see it in her big, beautiful eyes!
Stef says
heeheehee! That made me laugh. Sounds like you know your daughter – it’s an all or nothing sort of thing! Thanks so much for sharing this!
zoeope says
Welldone, you did a great job. This inspired by art, has come alive.
Laura says
Absolutely stunning, so much work but so worth it. The result is incredible!
kiki comin says
Stef..it is amazing. i LOVE all those petals and can’t believe the time it took! seriously a piece of art.:)
Bless by Tone says
Just had to come and visit you to tell you how much I love your dress – it is a piece of art in itself!