Project Run & Play January 2015

"Yes, I offered to take pictures, but now I've changed my mind."

"Really, I don't want to, Mom. Maybe later."
 (You know, like when it's dark out and there isn't enough light for pictures.)

"Ok, maybe a couple pictures, but I'm not going to smile."

She's trying hard not to smile.

I took inspiration from Alida's bubble dress and made bubble pants because it has been single digits (Farenheit) here a lot lately and Elena needs more pants. I kept the look of the paper bag-like top and straps by adding suspenders that criss-cross in the back. The pants are wider at the top but slim down to very tapered legs. They are made from navy sweatshirt fleece from Girl Charlee. It is cozy stuff. We've paired them with an old Bimaa because I like navy and pink together.

There is a pleat on each side in the front. 

And now I've had enough. Shoot over. Good-bye.

One of my sewing goals this year is to slow down. Actually, I want to slow everything down. I rush through every little thing I do, whether it's washing the dishes or sewing a dress or even watching TV. It pains to me to watch TV other than the shows I've recorded so I can zip through commercial free. I walk fast, I clean fast, I think fast, I read fast. Sometimes when reading a good book, I have to cover the bottom of the page and the right-hand page to keep my eyes from jumping ahead and spoiling the plot. Pathetic, huh?

So some new years resolutions were made and I am working hard on slowing down. Sewing wise, that means that I want the majority of my projects to be completed over days or weeks instead of hours. Of course there will still be the need for a quick t-shirt here and there and how much time does one need to pour into a maxi skirt for instance. But when I look back at past projects, the ones I am most pleased with are the ones that I took my time on and added something special to.

No one in this house really needs more clothes right now. If I slow the process down, I feel like there will be more creativity and more enjoyment. Fewer items made but each made more unique. I'm going to take my time in the planning stages, the cutting stages and the sewing stages. I'm going to look for opportunities to change patterns up and embellish the heck out of stuff. (Not so much this one though.)

So this first challenge for Project Run & Play was super enjoyable for me. You should know that I took my time, that I sat things down for days at a time and that I have not looked at the link-up YET or any posts related to it. That I'll admit, has been killing me, but I am really excited to check it out as soon as I hit publish.