{Riley Blake Designs} Beauty & the Beast by Jill Howarth for Riley Blake Designs

My oldest daughter is right at that age where she's transitioning away from things she has loved for years -- traditional "little girl" favorites.  She's not quite ready to let go, but her taste is a little more grown up.  She's always loved Beauty & the Beast growing up (I even made her a present day Belle-inspired outfit earlier this Spring) so I knew she'd love this new line from Riley Blake Designs.

Beauty & the Beast by Jill Howarth for Riley Blake Designs is the perfect balance of whimsy and charm.  The main prints of the collection depict the princess and the prince/beast, but the coordinates are a subtle nod to the details behind the story.  The color palette is light blue, pinks, cream and golds.

I was drawn to the Beauty & the Beast Floral Blue and Beauty & the Beast Fleur-de-lis Dark Pink as a coordinate.  I knew my daughter would love them too!  

When I started to work on the project, I asked which dress pattern I should use.  She immediately asked for Bali from Little Lizard King again.  It's such a sweet, summer dress.

I added a faux tie panel inset on the front bodice.  I nearly left it off, fearing it'd be a bit too young and theme-y for her to want to wear again.  But as I mentioned that I might leave it off, I could tell she was disappointed.    When I showed her the finished dress, she was so happy that I had added it after all.

I love how the Dark Pink Fleur-de-lis really compliments the roses on the skirt.  The rose fabric is my most favorite.  I love the color combination and the light blue background is always my favorite.

I gave my daughter a choice of 3 buttons for the back and she chose the cream rose shank button.  It's the perfect finish to the back!

I wanted to find a "magical" place to take photos and we don't have any castles nearby... HA!!  So, we went to a local garden and got lucky they had opened back up (they had closed during the stay-at-home orders).  We spent some time walking around, just the two of us, marveling at all the beauty that was surrounding us.  

The Beauty & the Beast Collection is now available

at your favorite local or online quilt shop!  

A special thank you to Jill Howarth and Riley Blake Designs for these gorgeous fabrics.  

{Riley Blake Designs} Gem Stones Brights - Blizzard Blue

I'm back with the second half of my Gem Stones Bright reveal and hopefully it was worth the wait!  The delay was double-fold -- this dress was a surprise for my daughter for her 5th Grade graduation and the dress design is a new release so I had to wait for it to be announced. 

In case you missed last week's post, Gem Stones Brights by PSD2 for Riley Blake Designs features gorgeous, vibrant tones in an ombre confetti pattern that runs selvage to selvage.  This collection contains 16 color combinations.

My oldest daughter had picked out Blizzard Blue as her favorite fabric of the bunch,  It's a gorgeous transition from bright blue to turquoise to purple.   I let her pick the fabric, but the dress pattern was a surprise!

The pattern I chose is Bali by Little Lizard King.  As soon as I saw photos of this dress, I knew immediately that it'd be the perfect choice for her graduation.  (And since it wasn't a typical graduation, I didn't have to worry about dress code!) 

This dress is a sweet, summer dress that has a choice of straps and optional flutters with a gorgeous lower back cutout and elastic-backed waist. The instructions for blending sizes are really helpful -- my petite rising middle schooler is wearing a 6 chest, 8 length graded down to a size 3 waist.  It's a perfect fit!!  (Don't worry, the sizing is not off -- she's that tiny!)

While the overall project was a surprise, I did ask some critical design questions along the way.  Because the colors run parallel with the selvage, she had to decide if she wanted the colors to transition vertically or horizontally.  A vertical transition would have been cutting the skirt with width going selvage to selvage and all 3 colors would have been seen on the skirt.  She decided she wanted the skirt to be mostly purple with turquoise near the waist and blue on the bodice.

I love the design on the fabric that comes into view when you get closer.  It's so pretty!  I looked through my button stash and found a small purple shank button.

I finished sewing late in the night before her graduation so I pulled my mannequin outside her bedroom and popped the finished dress on it and then set up the sign next to it.  It was a great surprise to wake up to that morning -- she was SO surprised.  I love that she's still so grateful for handmade sewing.

After we had a little photo-shoot inside after officially completing elementary school, we spent the following morning a  couple towns away for a little girls' morning of outdoor pictures, bookstore shopping and stopping by our favorite bagel restaurant.

This fabric is just SO pretty!!!  Check with your favorite quilt shop and definitely buy some of these prints!  I need to grab some more colors because each one is stunning.    I'm really curious how it would look on a circle skirt pattern!  Riley Blake Designs --- thank you so much for such pretty fabrics!!  My girls' closets are full of pretty RBD clothes! 

{Project Run & Play} Project Watercolor Beach

I'm so excited to officially kick-off our Summer break with an amazing capsule collection from Project Run & Play!  The Project Watercolor Beach is a collaboration from several designers from previous Project Run & Play seasons.  When Audrey first reached out to invite me to sew, I was just coming off of the madness of Season 23.  I was ready to dive back into sewing, especially after seeing the collection's line drawings.  I was lucky enough to sew up 6 of the 10 patterns and picked out my favorite digital design to add to one.

First, I sewed up the Golden Dress by Suco by Susana.  This is a sweet dolman-style dress with a v-neck and cinched waist.  Optional back waist tie and pockets are included (had major regret not adding the pockets -- don't tell my daughter. HA!)  Based on fabric recommendations, I chose a lightweight fabric from my stash (walmart mystery fabric) that I knew would drape well and still be easy enough to work with.  It's unlined and finished with a neck facing.

My daughter has worn this both as a dress and a swimsuit cover-up to the pool.

Next, for my oldest daughter, I made the Chromium Cropped Hoodie by Call Ajaire.  This hoodie pattern is JAM-PACKED with options and this will be one to make for all seasons.  It has different sleeve lengths, hood, and optional ears.  It's by far her favorite item I sewed her and she's already demanded  requested more.  I used the softest french terry that I received from So Sew English in a cool watercolor tie dye. 

To pair with the hoodie, I sewed the Bodhi Board Skirt by Bubby and Me Creations and used a denim from my stash.  This skirt is an a-line skirt with elastic-waisted back and side pocket.  I love the added detailing the topstitching provides.  This pattern came together very quickly.   I need to order some boardshort material so I can make some to match all their swimwear!

Speaking of swimwear, I also got to try the Viridian Suit by Jennuine Design.  This pattern has multiple options as well, including a one-piece and ruffles, and plain version.  I chose a coral stripe from Mimi's Custom Fabric and used the color-blocked two piece version and had fun playing with stripes.  

While this suit was intended for my older daughter, my younger daughter decided she would claim it for herself...haha!  (They wear the same size).

Lastly, I sewed up a comfy lounge outfit for my youngest (and have a Ripley Suit planned to coordinate) using the Lemon Tee by Suco by Susana, Abby's Marigold Pants by The Wolf and The Tree and the Sun Squad SVG by SewSophieLynn.  The Lemon Tee and Abby's Marigold Pants are both patterns that will be sewn year-round.  

The Lemon Tee has fun color-blocking options as well as multiple sleeve lengths.  I used a soft white rayon knit and embellished it with the Sun Squad SVG in a yellow flocked iron-on and hot pink glitter iron-on, using my Cricut Maker.

Abby's Marigold Pants are the comfiest palazzo style pant that also includes shorts and capri lengths as well as side ruffles and waist tie (optional).  I sewed up just the basic pant in a kelly green DBP from So Sew English and my daughter claimed they feel like heaven.  (I have to agree -- sooooo soft!)

I had so much sewing these up and will be adding more pieces over the summer.  Head over to Project Run & Play and check out the entire collection!! Also, follow along the PRP blog daily for more inspiration.

View the Project Watercolor Collection lookbook HERE!

{Riley Blake Designs} Gemstones Bright - Pretty Flamingo

The most gorgeous collection is coming to Riley Blake Designs this month!!  This will be a two-part reveal because I feel like each dress needs its own post (and possibly because I didn't quite get the other one finished in time).  

Gemstones Bright by PSD2 for Riley Blake Designs features gorgeous, vibrant tones in an ombre confetti pattern that runs selvage to selvage.  This collection contains 16 color combinations.

 

I enlisted each girl to pick their fabric.  I had an idea of which each one would pick and I was totally spot on!  My youngest picked Gemstones Bright Pretty Flamingo.  Not only does she love flamingos, she loved the range of colors from golden to pink to turquoise.  I selected two yards as the colors run parallel to the selvage.

Picking a pattern that would showcase the gorgeousness of the fabric proved to be more difficult that I imagined.  While a maxi dress would show off the ombre effect in its entirety, a shorter dress is what she prefers.  I decided to try out the Holland Dress by Little Lizard King.  I used nearly every inch of the two yards to create the 3-tiered skirt.  My daughter is a 7 height and the 3 tiers fit perfectly across the selvage.  Once I had the pieces cut, I flipped them different ways to see which combination had the most striking outcome.

After I cut the 3 tiers, I had just enough left to cut out the bodice.  I used each of the 3 colors for the different pieces of the bodice.  I really love how the blue back bodice pops against the golden side pieces.

These colors together are so gorgeous.  It reminds me of a triple-scoop cone of sherbet ice cream.

I love how the colors melt into each other and the confetti pieces make it the perfect party dress. Now, we just need a party!  

Thank you Riley Blake Designs and PSD2!  I am completely smitten with this collection!  Stay tuned for my older daughter's selection!!