Project Runway -- Pre-School Edition

In Zoe's Pre-school class, they've been reading a book about a princess who was trying to find the perfect dress for her birthday party. (FYI, the book is all in Chinese, so this is my interpretation of the illustrations, lol). She is given different dresses in all the different colors of the rainbow, but none of them are quite right.





Finally, her family and friends show up with a big surprise, a rainbow dress!



She is incredibly happy, and they all live happily ever after....



So yesterday, Zoe came home with a bag full of materials and instructions to make her own "Princess Dress" (or some kind of clothing.) I felt like this was similar to the Project Runway challenge where they have to go into a hardware store or a pet store, and make a ball gown out of things they find there. Not that 4 year olds are expected to make a ball gown, but you know what I mean! :)

So, here is what we started with...



Maya was really keen to help, so she cut the blue garbage bag in half and planned to make a vest. Once it was cut in half, she wasn't quite sure what to do, so I stepped in and cut the arm holes and folded down the "collar." As I was working on that, I thought that it would be cute to add a little ruffle of sorts to the hem, so I also worked that in. (Thank you double-sided sticky tape!) Once that was on, Zoe tried on the vest, but it kept slipping off, so we fashioned a button to hold it in place.




I added a pocket on the side, and then let the girls go wild gluing and taping all of the decorations on.






What do you think? Is it worthy of the runway?

Cinderella

I have been really neglecting this blog lately. Sorry! I've had so much going on that I haven't dedicated much time to crafting. A month or two ago, I spent several days scrapbooking and got done with Zoe's 2nd year. (Now I'm only 2 years behind with her! lol). Today I spent the whole day sewing and finished this fun little project. I also posted this on my other blog.




I've had this little project in mind for MONTHS. First I was going to make it for Halloween, but that didn't happen. Then I planned to make it as a Christmas present, but that didn't happen. I finally dragged my sewing machine out again and got to work on it today. Next week is Zoe's birthday, and she's having a princess party with a few of her little friends from church. I figured it was time to add a new princess dress to the mix. :) I used THIS TUTORIAL. She did a great job showing step by step instructions with photos, and really made it a whole lot easier.

I had few issues with the bodice... I made the neck hole way too big, and also the back panels are a little too big. But I'm really happy with the way the rest of it turned out. :)



Zoe thinks it is just perfect for twirling...



And curtseying...



And while we were out at the fabric market in Sham Shui Po yesterday, we happened to find the perfect little pettiskirt to go with it so that it flounces out nice and big. :)



It took me ALL day to make it, (I could never win on Project Runway, lol), but I'd say it was a day well spent. Now Maya wants one, too. :)

The Superhero Princess

Last week, the girls and I headed out to Sham Shui Po (read about it HERE) to pick out some fabric for some quilts we have in mind, as well as some reversible superhero/princess capes. Unfortunately, most of the stalls/stores were closed because it was a holiday (doh!), so we didn't find everything we were hoping for. But we did find everything for the capes.

I got my inspiration from HERE and HERE.

I started with Maya's cape, and it took a lot longer than I had imagined. But then again, I still consider myself a novice and I'm kind of slow. :) I had to make a few corrections along the way, and it is FAR from perfect, but Maya loves it, and that's all that matters. I'm just hoping that Zoe's cape goes much quicker! :)

(You'll have to forgive the mess in the living room and lack of furniture. We are mid-fix/change/remodel... something. :) More details later... maybe... )

Maya picked out the colors and embellishments herself. To do the "M", I printed out a rather large one, cut it out, then traced it onto a piece of pink felt. I cut the felt out, then sewed it onto the blue felt with a contrasting color. The silver around the edges is ribbon.

The front is velcroed together.

The princess cape might look white in the picture, but it is a light pink. And that's supposed to be a crown, by the way, in case you couldn't tell. ;)

I hand stitched her name on there. I tried doing it with the sewing machine a couple of times, but for some reason the thread kept tangling on the bottom, and so I gave up. Not perfect, but it's ok. The "bling" is hot glued on. I hope it stays on!!

Maya loves it, and Zoe is now anxious for me to get going on hers! She chose a bright pink for her princess side, and a navy blue for the super hero side. We'll see how it goes!