Project Runway Episode 3 Challenge!

In challenge number three, the designers were taken on a double-decker bus ride, given cameras, and told to find their inspiration on the night-time streets of New York City, and create a look suitable for a night on the town.

So, my interpretation of that is to take pictures of inspiring images/things in my immediate environment and create a "look" of my choice - in Lincoln Nebraska! I promise - no party dresses made from prairie grass...or buffalo hide...

Challenge 2 Results

(Click on the photo to see more.)

Just in time to watch Challenge 3, here's what I came up with for Challenge 2: to create a cocktail dress for my model using eco-friendly materials.

The dress is made of a "jersey knit" bamboo fabric and embellished with glass beads. The fabric was a bit of a challenge to work with. Not to mention that my girl is not old enough to be going to cocktail parties much less wear a chic cocktail dress.

Challenge 2 - Pink Bamboo!

My girl is sitting on the fabric she picked out for Challenge 2. What could be more eco-friendly and Blythe-worthy than PINK BAMBOO FABRIC? (She also convinced me to buy some pink zebra-striped flannel backed satin...it was on sale...ooOOOooooo!)

Organic Anything

So, I stopped into a fabric store today (Calico something), and asked if they had organic anything. The lady showed me some bamboo batting. Hmmmm, maybe I could make my girl a cocktail dress that makes her look like a stuffed animal....I ended up buying a half yard of raw silk ("raw" is good, right?), but I'm not sure it's right for my girl....

Project Runway Episode 2 Challenge!

And...the second challenge is....to create a look for your model as a client using "green" (eco-friendly) materials. And your girl gets to pick her own fabric and notions!

Since Tim Gunn won't be here to supervise the shopping, we'll have to take our girls ourselves.

So...somebody tell me...what is "eco-friendly" fabric? All natural materials? Organic dyes? How about un-bleached muslin (yawn).

What will the fabric-ladies at JoAnne's say when I ask them for eco-friendly fabrics? This could be interesting, but I'm always up for a fabric shopping challenge...

Challege 1 results

Project Blythe's look, made from cupcake cups, Sharpie pen, and cake decorations: (click on the image to see more):

Project Runway Episode 1 Challenge!

***ANYONE IS WELCOME TO PLAY!***

The challenge for this week is to construct a "look" for your Blythe doll using only materials that you would buy in a grocery store. I think going to SuperTarget would be cheating but that's just me!!

If you watched the show you saw the designers use everything from thumbtacks, produce, and oven mitts to garbage bags and rubber gloves. (The garbage bag lady was almost thrown out! Pun intended...sorry.)

Now think of the possibilities in terms of scale with Blythe! A whole other realm of materials are available just because of her small size.

So, over the next week, make your "look" then post a comment to this post with a link to a photo. I'll compile the links into a "results" post as they come in. No time limit or budget limit for this, just have fun.

I can't wait to see what you all come up with! Any questions, post a comment or email me at projectblythe@aol.com

"Neon Whimsy" in Australia!

Project Blythe's Etsy shop had its very first sale from Australia. Above is a photo of "Neon Whimsy" on Jaffacakejo's Flickr photo stream. Isn't she lovely? Click on the photo to see more of Jo's wonderful Blythe photos.

Project Runway Preview

I just found out that Bravo has posted summaries of the challenges and the guest judges for all of the upcoming episodes here: Project Runway Season 5 Episodes. There's also a video preview of some of the designers with Tim in the work room.

Carry on!

Her Sunday Best

Only THREE DAYS until season 5 of Project Runway! Whoohoo! I can't believe I actually have a conflict that night and will have to record it to watch it when I get home. But I will be posting a summary of the challenge to this blog that night after I watch it, for those who don't get Bravo TV.

I couldn't sleep last night so I made another dress. I've been wanting to combine these two fabrics for a while, and I think it turned out pretty well. It's meant to be a babydoll but the bodice might be too long to call it such.

Textual Treasure

I just love this dress. It is based on an altered vintage Skipper pattern and made with three coordinating fabrics. The sash is completely removable and can be worn crossed in the front or the back. The top of the dress is lined, the bottom and sides of the skirt are hand-hemmed-I just didn't like how the machine stitching looked on this. It closes in the back with three snaps, and the sash closes with a snap as well. It is available on Etsy, there are links to the right of this post.

If you look closely at the photo below, you will see stitches in black thread from both the hand-hemming and from the lowest snap. I am thinking of re-doing both in gray thread rather than in black. Anybody have an opinion?

Update: I did re-do the hem in gray, and moved the third snap up to where I could attach it to the seam connecting the top and the bottom. Much better!

One week and counting....plus Nite Nite Kitty

My own pink kitty jammies are my favorites. The light flannel is literally disintegrating but I refuse to give them up. So of course, "Blythe" needs a pair of pink kitty pjs too, or in this case a nightgown. I may need to go back to Hobby Lobby for more "Hello Kitty" fabric and make myself a new pair of pj pants. These are available, of course, on Etsy.

More Blythe Fashions

Project Runway 5 begins a week from tomorrow! I can't wait until I can post about more than miscellaneous outfits. In the meantime, here are two more: "Paisley Jane" and "Lil Miss Sunshine." Both are available on Etsy.

"Lil Miss Sunshine" was my first attempt to crochet for Blythe, and I think it's pretty good. I'm going to try combining crochet and fabric into one-piece outfits next.

I think the sundresses that are in style now (at least the ones I saw in Younkers) are cute with the crocheted tops and fabric "skirts", I don't know what else to call them, they are babydoll/halter dresses.

Two new outfits on Etsy...

Chocolate Mint Swirl 2-pcBubblegum and Licorice 2-pc

See my other blog, http://kimtedrow.blogspot.com to view a couple of altered Barbies, which I promise not to do to Blythe....

Project Runway Countdown - whoohoo!

Just fifteen days to the start of the 5th season of Project Runway. I am going to do something really fun this season: I will take on the challenges and create fashions for my as-yet-unnamed Blythe doll, and post them here. Anyone care to join me? Here's a link to the show's Web site at Bravo TV: http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/index.php

New Items on Etsy

I've been working on my photography skills a bit, and can see a little progress. Funny how I've had this kick-ass camera for five years, and am still learning what it can do.