Project Run and Play Reunion

Today, the girls that competed in the third season of Project Run and Play are getting together to have a reunion of sorts. It’s been two years since our season concluded (TWO YEARS!!!) and we thought it would be fun to do a little reflecting or sewing or whatever! I thought it would be fun to look back at which of my garments have been used over and over again and which were never worn past the contest photo shoot! Have any guesses?

This velveteen coat was maybe one of my very favorite pieces from that season. It took so much brain power to figure out how to draft the pattern to get the look that I wanted, I remember thinking my brain might explode. I also loved this particular week because my husband thought I was completely CRAZY when I came home from the thrift store with ice skates excitedly shouting how I was going to turn them into boots. He wasn’t too amused either when it became a huge task to actually pry the blades off the bottom of the skates, though he was super impressed with the end result. It was also the week that my mom came over and hung out with me until 4 am or something while I was sewing and we had such a rare night to just chat. But, alas, the coat from this week was never worn again. So sad, I know. It wasn’t that Olivia didn’t like the coat, she just maybe never quite had the occasion to wear it.

Let’s talk about the 80’s outfit, shall we? This jean jacket was another major challenge. I made the jacket about three times before I finally got the pattern to work out the right way and in the right size. I was so proud of the asymetrical front and that MTV collage in the back. I’m still impressed with myself – ha! The hot pink skirt has made an appearance in a few dress-up games, but that jacket still gets worn at least every couple weeks. And it still fits Olivia. It was the envy of the first grade class and she wore it ALL the time that first year. She also wore the finger-less gloves daily until one got lost. Very entertaining for me, I have to tell you! hee hee hee.

And finally, the item that has seen absolutely the most use? The sweet pink minky jacket I made in a hurry for the final week! Before the contest started, I purchased the swirly minky in pink, brown, and cream and had planned to do a Neopolitan kind of look using all three girls for  outerwear week. I ended up going in a different direction for that theme. The week before the final week, my family and I were in Hawaii for vacation. I had finished the little dress ahead of time and carried it with us to Hawaii, hoping to fit in the photos, but there never seemed to be a great time. When we came back home and I had just a couple days to take photos and submit my work for the week, I decided to make a quick jacket. I didn’t even include it much in the photos because it was just a simple add-on. The minky swing jacket has an A-line shape, giving it theswing. It’s lined with more minky, providing the ultimate draw to little girls who love soft fabric – that would be my girls! Addie LOVES this minky jacket; she wears it ALL the time. It just has a simple loop and button at the neck, making it so easy to put on and take off. It’s also not very bulky, which seems to be a major plus for her. This is her go-to cover whenever she needs sleeves. Most days, she wears a short-sleeve dress, I force her to put on leggings in cool weather, and always she picks her minky jacket. The fancy dress with all the ruffle and trim detailing? Never worn again.

I made a new minky swing jacket for her over the weekend – still had that brown minky sitting in my sewing room! I drafted a pattern in a 4T and added a collar. I’ll share the free pattern and tutorial with you later this week.

I’m loving these wooden buttons! There is an elastic hoop that hooks over one of the buttons and then the other is just sewn on for decoration. I thought the brown color might be a put-off for my pink lover, but the cozy fabric won out. She wore the jacket all weekend!

I can’t tell from the pictures…do you think she likes it much? Alrighty, hop around and see what everyone else cooked up for the reunion…

AND…today is the LAST day to enter for the $500 giveaway from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store – my source for all the minky here 😉 Last chance to enter, click here!