Sparkle… Shine… Swirl… My Signature Look

This is the final challenge for Project Run & Play, which means I accomplished my goal of participating in the sew along each week!

Ahhh… The Signature Look.  What is my signature look?  That’s the first thing I had to ponder when planning this style.  Refashioning is my favorite type of project, so I knew it had to be a refashion.  Aside from the material source, I’d say my style is classic and simple with a little interest or twist sprinkled in.

I started with a cute but horribly unflattering (empire waist and a full pleated skirt on a broad-shouldered girl with an athletic build – what was I thinking??) sleeveless dress that I wore exactly once on our honeymoon.  The sequined top was a knit halter that saw many a New Year’s eve in my single days, but it’s seen way more of the inside of my spare closet in the past several years and I thought it needed to get out and play again.

This challenge coincided nicely with the Daddy Daughter Dance Arden and Dave were planning to attend at our local YMCA, and I finished within an hour of the dance.  Dave calls it Just In Time sewing.  I drafted the bodice pattern myself and created some features that I thought were pretty interesting, like the side panels that go under the arms without a seam.  I knew the sequins had to stop before the armholes or they would irritate the underside of her arms (speaking from experience).  The bodice is fully lined and I used fold over elastic with a touch of sheen I bought some time ago from Pick Your Plum to bind the edges.  It matched perfectly – yay!  I pulled all the sequins from the seam allowances so the seams would lie flat (thanks for the tip, Miranda!).  After the dress was complete, I hand sewed sequins along the seams to fill the empty spaces.

There’s a keyhole back with a hint of sparkle in the single button closure.  I made another sewn button loop for this dress – I think I’m hooked!  I used the paper bag top hem of the original skirt and also sized down the lining and sewed it in since the material is very sheer.

The best part is that she LOVES it.  She kept twisting and swaying in the sunlight in our breakfast nook making sparkly reflections like a disco ball.  She’s never been quite so excited about anything I made her except the Hello Kitty sleeping bag, but that’s not a dress!  I guess what little girl wouldn’t love a dress that sparkles, shines, and swirls?

I’ll be linking up at many of these great parties as well as the Project Run & Play sew along linkup:

This project was declared the sew along winner for Week 6!

I’m submitting this project as an audition for Sew-Vivor:

And was featured here:

Sugar Bee Crafts

Mondays Making the World Cuter Monday – Making the World Cuter Made By You Monday – Skip to My Lou Craftastic Monday – Sew Can Do FUNday Mondays – C.R.A.F.T. et al. Market Yourself Monday – Sumo’s Sweet Stuff Creative Me Monday – The Southern Institute Tuesdays I Made It Without My Hubby – Shanty 2 Chic Sew Cute Tuesdays – Better Off Thread Take a Look Tuesdays – Sugar Bee Craft Edition Shwin&Shwin Nap Time CreationsWednesdays We Did It Wednesdays – Sew Much Ado Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice – Seven Thirty Three Show & Tell – Blue Cricket Design Show Me What Ya Got – Not Just a Housewife Your Whims Wednesdays – My Girlish Whims Thursdays Strut-Your-Stuff – Somewhat Simple Make It, Wear It – The Train to Crazy It’s Stinkin’ Cute – Sew Stinkin’ Cute Show Off Your Stuff – Fireflies and Jellybeans Making It With Allie – What Allie’s Making Now Pinspirational Thursdays – The ArtsyGirl Connection Fridays Furniture Feature Friday – Miss Mustard Seed Weekend Wrap Up Party – Tatertots and Jello Feature Yourself Friday – Fingerprints on the Fridge Friday Fun Finds – KojoDesigns Weekends Check Me Out Saturday – A Vision to Remember Show and Tell Saturday – Be Different Act Normal Sunday Scoop – I Heart Naptime Sunday Showcase Party – Under the Table and Dreaming A Pinteresting Party – Tutus & Tea Parties Sunday Roundup – A Rosie Sweet Home Just Something I Whipped Up – Project Inspire

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24 Responses to Sparkle… Shine… Swirl… My Signature Look

  1. Without Directions February 11, 2013 at 12:27 PM #

    What a pretty dress. And congrats on finishing every week of PRP!

  2. nest full of eggs February 11, 2013 at 2:05 PM #

    adorable !

  3. Brenda February 11, 2013 at 2:09 PM #

    I absolutely adore this dress! It couldn’t have turned out any cuter! 😉 Way to go, Jenn!! 😀

    Brenda
    ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com

  4. marnae February 11, 2013 at 2:56 PM #

    Great upcycle! I’m glad she loves it..I know from experience that it makes sewing for your kids so much more gratifying when they actually WANT to wear what you make them!

  5. The Nelson Family February 11, 2013 at 3:00 PM #

    That is such a gorgeous dress! Great work! 😀

  6. Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom February 11, 2013 at 8:12 PM #

    Very pretty!
    ~Jamie

  7. Mae February 11, 2013 at 8:53 PM #

    Jen this dress is absolutely awesome! I am simply in awe off how you pulled so many cool elements together& yet didn’t overdo it in the least. Plus, i wouldn’t totally wear it!

    • Mae February 13, 2013 at 1:21 PM #

      WHOA. that last sentence was “i would totally wear it” … i looked a tad grouchy huh??? 😉

  8. Max of Max California ★ February 12, 2013 at 10:06 AM #

    So pretty!!

  9. Olga (Kid Approved) February 12, 2013 at 4:19 PM #

    The dress looks great. Love the sparkles.

  10. HandJ Cobb February 12, 2013 at 8:05 PM #

    So cute! The sequins are just to die for!

    http://www.domesticblisssquared.com/

  11. Jo Shaffer February 13, 2013 at 11:20 PM #

    Very lovely. I really like the look great job Momma! I love those last minute sewing project successes!
    with love
    -Jo

  12. Gina February 14, 2013 at 7:57 AM #

    great job sewing along every week! This dress is an awesome refashion and very pretty!!

  13. sallyavena February 14, 2013 at 12:33 PM #

    Such a pretty dress and it’s great that all came together.

  14. Tin Marsh February 15, 2013 at 5:08 AM #

    The dress is so pretty! My girls would love it… and then they would host a dance party in the living room! The sparkles are awesome!

  15. Michelle February 15, 2013 at 12:36 PM #

    This turned out so beautifully! I love all of it, especially the paper bag hem. It’s unexpected and looks so sweet on a sparkly dress!

  16. Alida L. February 15, 2013 at 4:10 PM #

    Oh my. This dress is really, reeeally gorgeous. I could totally see it in Crewcuts going for $100. Great job!

  17. Maegen Foster February 15, 2013 at 5:32 PM #

    I loved this when I saw it on instagram. It’s absolutely perfect. I love the pink and adore the sparkly top!

  18. Simple Simon & Co February 17, 2013 at 5:24 AM #

    Pink, sparkly, twirly—it’s the perfect girly dress!
    liZ

  19. Frances Suzanne February 18, 2013 at 11:29 PM #

    YEA YOU!!! First off: congrats on the sew-along win….but, secondly: a BIG congrats on completing all six weeks worth of challenges. That is a feat in and of itself :).

  20. Chelsea@getyourcraptogether March 4, 2013 at 4:38 PM #

    Very cute! I’d love for you to check out our Pattern Party! Those with patterns and templates to share are invited to link up! Check it out
    http://getyourcraptogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Pattern%20Party

  21. nest full of eggs March 13, 2013 at 3:15 PM #

    I saw that you made it as a contestant for sew-vivor ~ looking forward to seeing what you sew!

  22. Trina March 13, 2013 at 3:51 PM #

    Congrats on your top ten pick for Sew-vivor! Your dress is beautiful! Good luck to you!!!

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  1. REduce, REuse, REFASHION! | A Jennuine LifeA Jennuine Life - May 22, 2014

    […] challenge for this season of Project Run & Play.  I love refashioning, and it was with a refashion project that I won the sewalong in Season 6.  Sometimes I look through my stash of refashion targets and […]

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