Project Run and Play Pantone Party featuring Art Gallery Fabrics

Project Run and Play is hosting a month long event in honor of the Pantone colors of the year, a Pantone Party! A party all about colors, fabrics, and sewing for my kids- I’m 100% in! Read to the end to find out how you can get in on the fun too!

The Pantone colors this year are Ultimate Gray and Illuminate, a bright vibrant yellow. I love that these colors have opposing feels- the gray is calming and basic and the yellow is cheery and bright, but together they highlight the best of both. It was fun to create looks that spoke to these colors and what they represent.

I was lucky enough to get to work with some amazing Art Gallery fabrics paired with patterns from the Project Run and Play shop. We’ve had glimpses of spring weather and these looks will be perfect for the season ahead.

Sophie is growing out of most of her dresses (she’s grown 3 inches in a year!) and I knew I wanted to do a cute dress for her. I love Art Gallery stripes and picked Striped Bold in Graphite for her look. Art Gallery knits are such a great medium weight and have great recovery and softness. I think they work well for tops, dresses, and leggings.

I used the Story pattern for her dress with a few alterations. I skipped the bottom sleeve piece and created a cuff piece instead so that she has a cute short sleeve. I also used inseam pockets from another pattern. A dress is ALWAYS better with pockets and I think the inseam pockets add a little more grown up look compared to the kangaroo pocket included in the pattern.

I think this dress will be great all summer long and will even work well as a swim coverup. After taking these pics I was reminded that I have my own version of this too! We can totally be twinners (and I can unapologetically embarrass the heck out of her!)

Charlie got a simple, classic summer boy look. A tee and comfy shorts and he’s a happy camper!

For his top I used Striped Alike Grey paired with solid Daffodil knit. I sewed up the color block option of the Lemon Tee (are you sick of seeing my kids in this pattern yet? I hope not because I’m not giving it up any time soon!). This pattern is so loaded with options and I love when the pattern does all the work for me.

My boys (including the hubs!) are super into trading cards these days and the ultimate score is getting a numbered limited sports card. I knew adding a little 1 of 1 to this Limited Edition graphic would be the perfect touch for this kid. Super personal and oh so true about all of his mama-made makes too!

For his shorts I used the Prose Cargo Joggers. They are the perfect woven jogger pattern and it’s loaded with options too! I sewed up the shorts version, leaving off the side cargo pocket. I love the little hidden side pocket and so does he! I used an Art Gallery Denim in Clouded Horizon. This is actually the ‘wrong’ side of the fabric. The front features a cool crosshatch pattern but I loved the more subtle look the back side gave. It’s a great mid weight denim that was perfect for these bottoms. And if you know this little guy, they got the softness approval which is huge for a denim bottom!

Can I indulge you in a little parenting story?! This little man was BEGGING for a haircut after letting his hair grow out all winter. We loved his curls when done just right but most of the time it was a crazy mess. He loved the length but complained that the sides were constantly getting pulled by his masks (something we never had to deal with in the past!). His solution was to just cut the sides and leave the back so he could have the best of both worlds. Yep, business in the front and party in the back. I took him to the salon and really hoped he would hate it once she did the sides and agree to a full trim but that grin when he saw himself in the mirror with just the sides trimmed up- oh man, I was putty in his hands. And now I have a kid with a mullet and I’m honestly ok with it. Is that what happens with the baby? You just give up? I like to think that I know what battles to pick and also how important it is for them to be themselves. At nine, he’s totally entitled to his own opinions and I want him to feel comfortable being just who he wants to be. Luckily right now it’s just about a haircut!

Ok, back to what you came for- the sewing! For Payton’s look I knew I wanted to use a fabric that would tie all of the looks together. This pretty floral, Fields of Goldenrod, was too perfect! Art Gallery quilting cottons are lightweight but have a drape and feel unlike most cottons. I love using them for dresses and other garments.

For her dress, I sewed up the Robin Dress. This pattern is full of cute details and like I often do, I left them all off! I think for tweens, the simpler the better!

I did the open back, short cuffed sleeve dress with ties. It’s such a classic silhouette!

For this shoot we headed to the local middle school common area. We were surrounded by a group of high school skateboarders as we shot and I love how my kids acted like it was totally normal to be taking pictures there. You can tell some were more comfortable than others. That cute yellow lunch table and stark grey concrete walls were just too perfect for this party!

As part of the party, Raspberry Creek Fabrics is giving away two $50 gift certificates! You can join the sew along for your chance at these amazing prizes. Make sure to check into the PRP blog every day to get more incredible Pantone inspiration (did you see last weeks AH-MAZING looks?!!!). Thanks for joining the fun!