Saturday 7 June 2014

Made last night - Worn today.

When P was invited to a "Disco Diva" themed party at a kid's function centre, he came to me with his "working idea for an outfit".

I love that he thought he needed an outfit, I love that he trusted I could make whatever he thought up, and his idea itself?... Mum, said he, I need (not want, but need) an all-over white suit with gold lacy stuff as another layer over the top. See through like, so the white shows....

As much as I would LOVE to make another jumpsuit I talked him down to a pair of pants....


I went for my favourite Oliver + S pattern, the Nature Walk pants. He's been wearing two pairs as school shorts, so I knew they were a great fit, and it was a simple matter of redrafting them to be a bit longer and quite flared.

Then we got the paint out. (and if that doesn't sound exciting then you don't know me and my kids!)


While P was at school his little sister and I practised some stamps on fabric using a small rubber stamp we'd purchased.


That seemed to work just fine, but then when P went to stamp his pants the little stamps just weren't cutting it. I cut a sponge into a bigger star and we stamped over the top of the little ones (they're still very visible on one leg, but this is dress-ups and I had to just let that go and not fuss)

With an old skivvie and a bit of "bling" from the party shop down the street, we were ready.

More photos of P getting ready to get down!
(and you might not believe it but he can be so painfully shy sometimes that at the party he held onto my hand for about half an hour before eventually getting into it and getting his groove on)

 
 

There was no way that A was going to be left out when it came to fabric painting. She was merrily spreading fabric paint all over the kitchen bench when she and I both realised the paint dauber thing we were using to put paint onto the star stencil made a perfect circle stamp in it's own right.

Cue Flashback Skinny T:


When a 3 year old expresses an interest in some handmade clothing you don't wait, you make it fast! (although that's still no guarantee they'll wear it, right?). I suggested grey (duh) fabric she suggested purple (double duh) paint. Everybody was happy.

I used a ruler to mark out spots 5cm apart and she dabbed at each spot. (with a little help from me cause I couldn't help myself). There was a bit of purple ribbing in the stash for the collars and cuffs, and that pattern almost sews itself up after making so many.


I made a size 3 with about 1.5cm added length. The sleeves were cut to the full length but then I made cuffs the same width as the neckband so that adds a little sleeve length. She was delighted to find it in her room this morning and chose the Music Class skirt and love hearts tights to create her ensemble for the day!

Photo shoots seem to be ending with a love-in these days. I'm not complaining. There aren't enough of these moments in our days so if it happens in front of the camera so be it. I'm not pretending it's hugs and smiles every day, but it's so nice when it happens.




16 comments:

  1. hahaha soooo awesome. oh P. you're a groovy kid. love the stamped FBST too - those three year olds are definitely opinionated little things, i know that well!

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    1. I swear he has not seen Zoolander. heaven help us if he ever does. He takes his modelling quite seriously.
      Good thing I love making stuff and can handle rejection, still, it is ever so nice when they like what we make, right?.

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  2. He has got the moves down! I immediately started singing "night fever, night fever, HE knows how to do it!" Great outfit! Looking forward to your posts for KCW!

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    1. I love how kids dance, so free of any ideas of what's right or wrong. Just getting down!
      I'm excited about KCW, we hit the art gallery for some inspiration and had a blast.

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  3. Your little guy looks very suave, he totally has the mojo to pull of the disco look! Love the stamper idea.

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    1. Thanks Kristi. We had a lot of fun with the paint, but no photographs as either I document the process or I maintain enough control to keep the paint on the fabric and off the walls. It seems impossible to do both at once!

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  4. Fabulous story behind both outfits! Wait when a 3 y.o. asks for something? No way! You son is working the camera well! I would have never guessed he was shy!

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    1. Thanks. the projects that the kids get to join in on, and therefore are on-side with are always the best. Even if the end result is just more dress ups.
      He's just like me, I can cut loose in the kitchen and then freeze on a dance floor!

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  5. I love that you made (and stamped!) him those pants by-request. And the stamping on that flashback tee is impressively well-spaced!

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth. He was the only kid dressed up for the party, there were some dress ups supplied but it was more showgirl/Beyoncé style. Obviously my interpretation of Disco Diva was a bit older! :) It makes me ridiculously happy when the kids say the need something fun and thus I should make it!
      The well spaced dots was with the aid of a 5cm grid quilting ruler. I suppose I bought it thinking I'd make quilts...

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  6. I love it. Both items are fab....and fun. A perfect combination in my books. But I've gotta ask: where did P get those moves from?

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    1. Ha ha, I genuinely have no idea! He suddenly decided that posing for photos involved, sultry, highly posed stances. Maybe it's the David Beckham undies ads you see in the train station... I haven't a clue but it cracks me up.
      Although when he was a bit shy at the party and I danced for a bit to try and encourage him he did say I was "really funny mum".

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  7. Nice! The Disco outfit is great. I love that he had an idea and inspiration. I've been burned by a 3 yr old mind change too, glad she liked it!

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    1. Thanks. I do love the idea of going with his original plan and making a flared jumpsuit with gold lace overlay. It would be ridiculous but such fun! I just wish I had that much time on my hands!

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  8. HILARIOUS....and AWESOME! Go P!!!! I love how he gave you the idea/vision and you went with it....

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  9. They are both so adorable! I say both the pants and the top are winners. Great job, Shelley!

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