here we go again, i’m back one more time with my “signature” look for project run & play season 3! the look evolved from a beachy dress to what is actually a mini wedding dress! i know i know, special occasion week was week 5. but my little gal had a large hand in how this look turned out.
my sister had the great idea to go to the beach for photos if i made it through to the finale as a unique photoshoot idea, so i first designed an ombré dip dyed easy breezy beach dress in bright green to allude to the verdant pacific northwest, in my casual but feminine style, etc. see?
but after i was eliminated…i really didn’t want to buy any more fabric or supplies! i only had fuchsia and navy dye on hand and my largest piece of solid fabric was a super soft old white bedsheet. so i mixed the dyes in a big tub and dip dyed the bedsheet to make this little dress. it turned out a lovely shade of purple!
purple is Em’s second favorite color (she is adamant about her favorite colors and wishes all of her clothing was either pink or purple). it’s got a full circle skirt for twirling, and it’s comfortable and soft. i didn’t plan on making a “fancy dress,” per se, but when i tried it on her she immediately danced and exclaimed “IT’S MY WEDDING DRESS!!”
it actually took me a little while to remember that she has always told us that “when she gets bigger” she wants to wear a purple wedding dress and marry her best buddy, N, who she has known since she was 3 months old. once it dawned on me that i had inadvertently designed the wedding dress of her dreams, i decided to go with the “colorful wedding” theme full tilt.
as the saying goes, she is wearing something old (the bedsheet and a piece of lace my grandma left me in a box of notions when she passed), something new (the plaid sash is an H&M scarf that reminds Em of “elmer the patchwork elephant” and i made her a ring out of a sparkly pink button and a gold pipe cleaner), something borrowed (the necklace my husband gave me on our wedding day which she was beyond thrilled to wear), and something blue…er purple (the dress!). actually, there is blue ribbon on her felt flower bouquet, so it’s all good. 🙂
i had way too much fun making her bouquet out of felt, floral wire, ribbon, and hot glue. i think using saturated colors is another part of my signature style, so i enjoyed incorporating lots of color here. i also made her a felt rose hairpiece (we live in the rose city, and i wanted my look to reference portland somehow).
the dress itself has a gathered rectangle bodice encased by a hand-dyed purple band at the top, flutter sleeves sandwiched between purple shoulder straps (i stitched 1/8″ from the edges but will let them fray a bit), encased elastic at the back for comfort and ease of wear, and a long, full circle skirt which i dip dyed for a gradient look, a technique i’d been wanting to try forever. i thought a maxi-dress on a three year old would be pretty rad, and i believe i was right. it’s so dramatic!
so another funny thing is that my plan was to take photos just in her bedroom, sort of ho hum but whatever, this is just for fun, right? i wasn’t making the trek to the unpredictable oregon coast at this time of year unless there were potential prizes involved. 😉 but then a friend suggested that i take the photos in front of the red doors of a church nearby. as soon as she mentioned it, i knew i had to do it. nevermind the fact that it wasn’t nearly warm enough outside for this dress…Em was a trooper and we made it quick, with a cozy sweater waiting in the wings. i love the purple dress with that beautiful red door. i think the plaid sash adds some great color too, and i dressed her in stripey tights because i like to play a bit with my styling and wanted to keep it fun, you know?
oh, and does it twirl? you betcha.
so there it is, my final look for project run & play season 3! thanks for encouraging me to make it! i felt freer to try new things (the dye and maxi-length) and also include some elements i might have avoided if i was designing it for a competition (plaid and circle skirts for the third time), so that was nice.
i don’t feel right entering this dress into the sewalong competition since i was an “official” contestant and i don’t quite have the stomach for more public voting/judging at the moment, but i will encourage you to head over to project run & play to vote this weekend for your favorite “signature look” from the flickr pool! as always, i’m so excited to see what everyone has made! being inspired by everyone’s creativity is probably my favorite part of all of this.
and one last time…
skirt as top 
great job with the dip dyeing ~ the ombre effect is so cool !
Another beautiful design! I wish you had made it to the finale and was kind of grumped out for you over the elimination. The Ombré is great, and the way it all comes together is precious. You did a great job!
I’m not sure I even realized you were from Portland until just now. Until I got married, I spent my entire life in Lincoln city. My hope is that we could move to Portland someday. I love that city. Last time we visited I made it out to Bolt to do some shopping. *sigh*
thanks, tara. i always love getting your comments! that’s pretty cool you’re from lincoln city…you must know all about the crazy beach weather. oh yes, bolt is kind of a must-visit spot! i love that place. 🙂
oh i love it! it just hangs so beautifully! i love the little pops of color, and it’s so pretty against that yellow rug, too. congratulations to E and N, hehe. and to you for your final link to PR&P!!
Just adorable and absolutely twirly!
I am in LOVE with the dip dyed look of this dress! LOVE!!!
thanks, carolyn! totally worth standing in the cold backyard holding a heavy hanger for a half hour, eh? 😉
stunning pics. beautiful girl. sweet dress.
BEAUTIFUL dress and good practice for 25 years from now when you could be making her final wedding dress! I’m glad you went for the red doors on the church….always thought I would take my childrens Christmas photos there. Now there is an idea for THIS years Christmas cards! Can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve next, and of course it will be a “K” made sleeve! 🙂 Em looks adorable in her new dress!
haha, yeah right on the wedding dress!! maybe i’ll just teach her to sew so she can make her own… 😉 thanks for the location tip, sara! perfect.
What a fun dress and story. I like the shape and proportions of the flowers and the dip dyeing is perfect. Darling pictures too!!
Stunning, stunning, stunning. That dress, the photos, the accessories . . . everything is incredible. You have such talent!
thank you, rachel!
Love this dress! Ditto to the previous comments, you are so talented!!!
thanks, martha. 🙂
that dip-dyed skirt is so beautiful! love it that you tried that technique; I have also been wanting to try my hand at it, but haven’t had the courage. You made it look beautiful! Love the signature look, and kudos to your daughter for braving the cold for the photo shoot:)
thanks, you should try it! i cut the circle skirt first and hung it from a pants hanger before dipping in a big tub of dye. just kind of eyeballed how long to leave it in at each layer…i know there are more precise tutorials out there, but i wasn’t overly concerned with “perfect.” 🙂
Such a sweet dress & I love the little pop of color sash. All of your photos are always so great but the last photo of her waiting in front of the church doors is beautiful!
I love the dye technique, and how much she loves it–probably the best part!
dude, I LOVE that dress. The sash is the bomb!!!
thanks, yo! 🙂
kristin, this is so sweet! i love the gathered top and the little ruffled capped sleeves- super cute… you are a wonder!
oh thank you, erin! i don’t think i’ve been called a wonder before…now i think of “an idiot abroad” when i hear that word. it comes with a british accent. 😉
lovely just lovely and I swoon for those tights!
That whole outfit is perfect (really love that you paired the dress with those tights and scarf) and I’m not sure you could have done better for a photo shoot locale. I’m picturing these photos on display at her wedding some day– will she wear your necklace then, too? waaaaah! I don’t like how quickly these little ones are growing up. The love you put in your work (both creative love and love for your children) is so apparent. Nicely done, as always.
your daughter is very fortunate to have you for her mom! this dress you made for her is darling and I totally get why it became her favorite! and the bouquet you made to go with it. wonderful to say the least!
do let me know about all the items you may wish to sell as I am very interested to see more.
it is so awesome to see such amazing talent!