Well the moment you have all been waiting for has arrived! The final collections are here! Each contestant has done such an outstanding job!

*Since the models have been a mystery each week, we opted to let the ladies use full shots of their favorite muses this week. Out of respect for each of our designers this week we ask that you keep the comments kind and respectful in regards to the efforts of each of our designers. The competition, while a competition is supposed to be fun, and a place for each of the wonderful ladies to showcase their work. Thank you in advance!* 
Now on to the wonderful creations for this week:





#1 MOD podge
[email protected] Brickstory (winner)

Final projects are hard, right? Whether it be in school or in a competition like this, focusing all of your efforts on something that is supposed to represent you is just a large feat. Here’s how my final project went down…
Saw a Diane von Furstenberg color story – mint, black, brown, white. Swoon. Picked out fabric from my stash (essentially free). Score. Stared at said fabric. Sketched a bit. Slept on it. Got pop challenge. Finally decided on a mix of the 60’s and 70’s for inspiration. Added some whimsy.
 The original final collection includes:

Jersey Peasant Tunic. Perfect for picking flowers or picking up toys. Details: flower and heart jersey appliqués, elastic at arms and chest, button accent.

Color Blocked Halter Tank. Made for the little free spirit (as free as you can be when you sleep in a crib). Details: contrast stitching,  tie’s at the shoulders, gathered neckline.
      Mod shorts. Color blocking at its best – because not even a girl this young wants polka dots on her tush. Details: cuff’able’ hem.
I decided since the pop challenge was specific about making an outfit for a child other than the models of the original collection that I would do my first boy outfit of the challenge!
–          Peaced Out Polo. Appropriately green. Upcycled from an adult size polo. Resized. New buttons and neckline accents added. Details: layered fabric patches and peace sign appliqué.
–          Houndstooth Pants. A basic do everything boy pant – run, jump, dance, dig, hide, seek, run some more, repeat.
The Candy Shop Line:

Red Licorice Twist: This little red romper is made from a polyester/spandex blend. It has with horizontal chiffon ruffles to imitate the twist on licorice and has snaps to fasten it.The headband is elastice with a the same red chiffon ruffle that is found on the romper.
Orange Creme Saver: This orange knit vest is upcycled from a woman’s sweater to fit my cute little model. The bow tie is a soft touch to add the creme to this outfit.

The Lemon Drop: Although this had to be improvised, it turned out to be one of my favorites. It’s simple, shimmery, sassy and sophiticated. It’s made from satin, has a thick elastic waistband and hangs elegantly. The shirt is a white t-shirt which cumstomized with a fabric flower embellishment from the yellow satin fabric and the headband is elastic with the same flower embellishment as the shirt.
The Sour Apple: This one was fun. The skirts looks just like an apple. The waistband and bottom layer are made from satin crepe, the middle layer is a thin shimmery tulle and the top layer is chiffon. The chiffon, which drapes nicely, parts in the front to show the texture of the layers. The shirt is again, just a t-shirt, that I added an felt apple applique to compliment the skirt. The headband is elastic, with 2 layers of ribbon, a ribbon flower and a white stud.
The Gumball: Making this skirt reminded me how much I love to sew with solid, meaning not flimsy, cotton fabric. This is made from a gumball blue polka dot cotton fabric and is a bubble skirt with a 2 inch elastic waist. I really love the poof of it! The top, again, a t-shirt embellished with a rosette and a yo-yo, made from the same fabric as the skirt, and also a felt rosette.
The hair accessory is a few layered pieces of fabric with a rosette on top of it.

Rock Candy: This skirt is rough and jagged just like the candy it was named after. The bottom layer is made from a deep purple satin and instead of it being one continuous skirt bottom, it’s six pieces seperatly hemmed and pieced together at different lengths and then sewn into the waistband. The top layer is a very thick rough tulle and is made the same as the bottom layer, except with much more than 6 pieces, coming together at different lengths and sewn into the waistband. Amoungst the layers of tulle, are 4 different sized rhinestones fastened to the tulle. The shirt is a t-shirt embellished with the same rhinestones around the collar. The headband is a plastic with rhinestones on it with an added flower embellishment.
Cotton Candy: This one turned out perfect. This is 3 layers of soft pink nylon chiffon. Each tier is folded under and is consecutively longer and gathered more than its previous tier. The waistband is a pink satin with an elastic and ribbon waistband. The t-shirt is embellished with 2 ruffles around the collar that compliment the ruffles in the skirt. The headband is elastic with a felt layer rose with a soft white pearl center.

First I would like to say thanks so much to the Shwins for hosting this super fun contest.  I have never participated in anything like this and it has been fun and definitely challenging each and every week.  I think each of the contestants are very talented and I am thrilled to have made it to the finals.  For my final collection I wanted to make something I knew my girls would have no problem wearing, was comfortable, and had a youthful spirit.  I believe that the Sun & Sea collection encompasses that. 


For the main piece, I used a soft jersey knit, navy with small white stripes, to make a one shoulder top, with a soft ruffle detail all the way around the neckline.  Because it is already hitting 80 degrees down here, I love that she can stay cool, and look sweet doing it. 


A day at the beach, or out on the boat was definitely my inspiration.  The bright yellow for the gorgeous sunshine and the deep navy for the massive ocean. The skirt is a cotton blend that has a shirred waistband.  I added a lightweight white cotton shrug that can be used if it is a little breezy, as you can see in the pictures, she can also use it as a scarf! 


I loved the color combination of the bright yellow with the navy so much that when we got our “surprise bonus project”  I decided to continue it into that piece as well.  I made a little sundress for my youngest daughter and mirrored the striped fabric on the top of her dress in a lucious chunky ruffle.  Each of the pieces of the main outfit can be worn separately to make entirely different outfits, I could just picture the navy shirt with a pair of white capris, or her twirling in the bright yellow skirt with a hot pink top….yes my daughter, like most little ones, is certainly not afraid of wearing color!  I wish I could have take 400 pictures to show you all the cute outfits we can make, especially since the navy top also fits my youngest as a little shirt dress!!  Thanks so much for stopping by everyweek and checking out our collections, I have no idea what I am going to do with all my free time!!!  Probably chase a toddler tornado through my house!!
Wow! It’s all I can say! These ladies have some serious talent! Thanks ladies for all of your hard work each week and inspiring designs!
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