I'm a Project Toddler Runway Drop Out

Last week was happy and exciting with my first Project Toddler Runway win and making the top 15 on American Crafter.  I was excited and ready to go with my crafty competitions even if my husband was completely annoyed with me .

On PTR the theme was denim and I had been planning on making a James Dean style jacket and giving it a leather finish.  I found a tutorial on how to do this it and looked pretty simple!  So I got to work cutting my pattern pieces and painting them.  When it came time to put my little jacket together I realized it was way to stiff!  So I tried again with a much lighter denim.  Hmmmm... same result.  The fabric looked like leather and felt like leather but it just didn't move like leather.  I started thinking up a plan B but wasn't ready to give up on my James Dean Jacket just yet.  I tried washing it and it looked like it would work but when it dried it was just as stiff.


I had 2 ideas floating in my head... use my faux leather differently (think slouchy leather boots or a hat or belt) or scrap it make a cute little denim jumpsuit or romper. 

I decided to go with a denim jumpsuit.  The looked super cute and seemed simple enough.  I decided to take an early night so I could tackle it first thing in the morning.

I woke up a handful of hours later in my bed, freezing my tush off!  We had lost power at some point during the night and had no heat thanks to Snowpocalypse!

I spent the rest of my day trying to keep my 5 kids warm and entertained (no school for my 2 big kids).  The power would come back on for 15 minutes and I would run to check emails, send emails and microwave a bunch of hot dogs.

Thursday morning I woke up and had power and kids had school for part of the day and I told myself I would work as hard as I could to get something, anything turned in for both of my competitions.  I scrapped my earlier plans to make appliqued Valentine shirts for the American Crafter competition and I'm so glad I did!  I'm still not sure how exactly the idea came to me but I made my boys the cutest Valentine shirts using binary code and freezer paper stencils.  I was a little worried it would be too simple but was still in love with these shirts!  I submitted my pictures with less than an hour to spare!

With American Crafter behind me I could focus on PTR that was due by midnight.  I started on my little jumpsuit.  I gathered pictures online for inspiration and hunted for some tutorials or patterns but couldn't find anything!  I was just going to have to wing it.

The first jumpsuit I made... that's right... I made more than one.... looked dreadful. 

I made the legs to full and the top part fit all crazy.  I tried bringing the pants in and remaking the top but eventually I just decided to start over.  The second jumpsuit was off to a much better start.  The pants looked great and fit perfectly but the top was a different story.  I was almost all out of fabric and time and energy.  It was 10pm and I was in tears but told myself I couldn't quit until midnight.  And so I worked and worked and worked until about 12:15 and finally gave in and sent my email admitting defeat, giving up and dropping out.

I know I should be proud of myself for all of my designs and projects I created for PTR and proud that I worked so hard but I can't help but feel like a big fat quiter! 

So I'll still be working to make that James Dean jacket because I don't think I'll be able to sleep at night until I do.  AND did everyone see that Kelly from Sewing in No Man's Land posted a pattern and tutorial for a romper TODAY!  Ahhh just a few days to late for me but you'd better believe Miss Livi Lu will be getting one of those very soon!