Meet The Designers: Courtney from Sweeter Than Cupcakes

I’m still pinching myself that my name is on the designers list for Project Run & Play!! I’ve been sewing along for years. In fact, I have caught myself talking about it to non-sewing friends as if Project Run and Play is common knowledge in all walks of life. Well, I’ve been spreading the word, so between all of us maybe one day it will be a regular topic in neighborhood coffee shops!

My name is Courtney, and I blog over at Sweeter Than Cupcakes. When I left the corporate world to stay home with two daughters, I found my strengths as a structural engineer lent themselves to an even greater joy found in the technical, mathematical, and artistic demands of sewing. A six month old daughter, an encouraging Mom, and a very old hand-me-down sewing machine came together at the perfect time providing inspiration for what is now a passionate hobby. Over 6 years later, with updated machines, a supply of tools, and endless motivation from favorite designers, I am sewing daily and always looking for new challenges. I love to blog about my sewing adventures. More recently, I became a social media coordinator for MODKID where I host sew-alongs, provide tutorials, and share lots of Modkid inspiration. 

I am looking forward to contributing my own style and stepping up to the challenges of Project Run & Play.

Meet The Designer: RaeAnna from Sewing Mama RaeAnna

I'm RaeAnna from Sewing Mama RaeAnna and I'm ecstatic to be a contestant this season!  I've followed PR&P for years and it's hard to believe I am actually competing!  I'm still waiting for someone to pinch me!  I started my blog in 2011 when my daughter was born and I've been sewing since 2009.  Like so many friends I've met in our virtual sewing circles, the bug hit me when I became a mommy and wanted to create clothes for my kids!  I started off with Children's Corner patterns and still consider myself a person drawn to the classic Southern style in kids clothes.  I love my embroidery machine and my Silhouette Cameo for embellishing outfits with embroidery or vinyl and you'll see that a lot in my looks!  

The past couple years I haven't been as active on my blog as when my kids were younger.  Outside of sewing, I teach private piano lessons, Music with Mommie classes, and I homeschool my kiddos!  I am amazed at the growth in the sewing community - especially online!  It's great to see so many moms, grandmas, aunts, dads, etc. taking up the art of sewing and expressing creativity through making clothes and other handmade items!  I would love to connect with you online!  You can find me at www.sewingmamaraeanna.com, on FaceBook and Instagram @sewingmamaraeanna!  

Meet The Designer: Natasha from Glitter+Wit

My name is Tasha Early, and I am pretty much obsessed with sewing (you may know me better as Glitter+Wit). I live in Springfield, Missouri with my husband of eight years and two kiddos: Emerson (age 4) and Felix (age 2). I am a SAHM turned WAHM--I love sewing so much that I actually design and manufacture my own children's clothing and accessory line in my home studio! I have been sewing for eight years-- in that time I taught myself the basics, enrolled in university sewing courses, worked for two years as an alterations seamstress, and sewed every single thing my daughter wore for over a year. I started a sewing blog, made friends with many amazing seamstresses around the world, sewed and blogged like crazy, and eventually stopped blogging altogether when I realized I could actually make a business out of sewing. I started selling my handmade clothing and accessories a little less than two years ago, via my online shop and at indie craft fairs in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. I eat+breathe+live sewing--any and all hobbies I have revolve around sewing. I love shopping (for fabric). I love watching movies+television (while I sew).

My sewing style is very eclectic. Much of my inspiration is derived from the fabrics in my studio--I love working with different textures and mixing prints. My sewing skill is certainly fine, but I feel my real strength comes from my eye for color and the unexpected way I combine fabrics, textures, prints, and techniques. If you click around my poor, neglected blog you'll get a feel for my core sewing aesthetic. And if you have a peek at my shop, you'll find the kind of sewing I've been up to more recently. I have always been competitive, so naturally competing in Project Run and Play has been a dream of mine for years! This season is going to be crazy good. Crazy, because I always procrastinate. Good, because THOSE THEMES + THESE COMPETITORS. 

Meet The Designer: Ren from The Inspired Wren

Hello Project Run & Play! I’m Ren Murphy a sewer, crocheter, designer, and blogger. While my husband's at work and my daughter's in school, I fill my time by scattering random threads into every corner of my home and by sharing inspired sewing, crochet, and crafts at The Inspired Wren. I’m so very excited to be here this season.

Ren is short for Renée and I'll answer to either and probably not even notice which you use. I had a career as a graphic designer for 12+ years until my daughter, The Peanut, was born. The online sewing community and sewing blogs inspired me to get back into sewing after a decade and half hiatus. They introduced me to PDF patterns and changed my game by teaching me to go off-pattern—to completely alter a pattern into something else, to mash two patterns together, and to draft my own patterns—before that I would never have dreamed of straying from the directions of the Big Four.

I began The Inspired Wren two years ago in part because I was inspired by contestants on Project Run & Play and I wanted to join in. I can’t believe I’m here! Now I blog to inspire in turn: showcasing what I’ve made and learned; producing engaging tutorials and patterns; and being an active part of the on-line sewing community (like this group of amazing, talented women in Season 11—how lucky am I right now?!).

When I sew I’m thrilled by clean lines, neutral colors with bright accents, femininity without twee, and youth without ruffles. I’m excited to see what everyone produces and I cannot wait to show you what I’ve been inspired to create for each of the challenges this season on Project Run & Play. Until then, come visit The Inspired Wren for a look back at previous PRP sews and maybe a few sneak peeks of this season, too.

Here’s to a great season for all of us!
--Ren

Meet The Designer: Annika from Naeh Connection

Hi,

I'm Annika from Näh-Connection. I'm german, but blog both in german and english. With my blog I try to connect with other sewing-fanatics. „Nähen“ means sewing in german, so now you understand what my blog name is about.

I'm a researcher at the University of Munich (geophysicist), wife and of course a mother of two kids (daughter R, 6 years and son J, almost 3 years) that drive me nuts and that I love to pieces. This school year we also have a 16 year old exchange student from America staying with us. She's the daughter of some friends and wants to learn german and to have some unique experiences. The five of us live in a small village in Bavaria close to the Alps, but also enjoy our daily dose of Scandinavia as we imported our red wooden house directly from Sweden. During the days we love to go hiking in the mountains or for a walk in the forest, but in the evenings you will mostly find me in front of the sewing machine. The kids and I wear handmades on a daily basis and also my husband has more and more me mades in his closet. I'm in general a quite practical sewer. Everyday outfits are much more my thing than dresses that might get worn just once. However, I try to add special and fun details to make also the everyday clothes unique.

This is good, I guess, because uniqueness and details are what the coming weeks are about. Wow, I still can't believe that I get to compete on Project Run and Play. Some years ago I stumbled upon the PR&P blog when season 2 was running. I basically couldn't believe that moms could sew cool and stylish clothes like that for their kids. I was hooked and started to sew shortly after. And the rest is history... I now sew several times each week and think about it pretty much the rest of the time. Sewing and blogging have opened up a whole new world for me that I'm so thankful for. I've made friends all over the world, even met several of them when I got together with 13 other European sewing bloggers in Paris last year and also on some german blogger meetings. Last year I also started a sewing related business: I work together with several of my favorite english and german speaking pattern designers. I translate their patterns to german or english, respectively, and sell the translated patterns in my shop. It's a lot of work to get things running when you are just one woman and do it just as a side business in addition to normal work, family and house work. However, I'm really passionate about giving people access to some amazing patterns from other countries. I hope to one day be able to quit my normal job and to fully concentrate on my own business while at the same time being more flexible and having more time for the kids.

For the moment, however, I'm mainly excited for PR&P. I seriously can't wait to see what the other contestants come up with. I really hope that you all will have as much fun as we have. 

Meet the Designer: Melissa from Sew Like My Mom

Hi readers! I'm Melissa from Sew Like My Mom and I'm thrilled to be part of Season 11!! I've watched this competition for years in awe and it's an honor to be on this side of things this time. I can't wait for February! But first, a little about me...

   

 It’s no accident that I love to create! I’m the fourth generation of avid sewists, and I know my Great Grandmother was extremely talented with all things crafty. She and my Great Grandfather raised 4 girls through the Great Depression in Georgia and I like to think my knack for repurposing came from her! She taught my Grandmother to sew, who sewed for my Mom as she grew up, then eventually taught my Mom as a teen. When my Mom graduated from college, she asked her parents to buy her a Singer sewing machine. She put millions of stitches on that bad boy. We moved all over the world with my Dad’s Army career and my Mom made curtains, pillows, all kinds of decor for each place we lived. She continued to sew for herself on special occasions, but mostly she sewed for us. When I was in college I borrowed that Singer and I’ve never given it back!

 I started sewing by making bags, and that turned to creating bag patterns. Then I sewed dresses for myself and after my oldest was born I started creating things for my kids. I wanted to share what I was doing so I started Sew Like My Mom nearly 6 years ago and it's grown and blossomed over the years! I launched a line of children's sewing patterns in 2012 it's taken me places I never could have dreamed I'd go.

These days my four beautiful kids keep me hopping on a full time basis! My girls are 7, 5, and 4 and my little boy will turn 3 during the competition! I lack a lot of spare time, so my blog posts aren't as plentiful as they used to be since I'm doing patterns almost full time now, but I share most everything I make on Instagram! I'm also an avid runner and love to crochet, but sewing is, and always will, be my jam. I can't wait to get to know my fellow competitors better and I'm so excited to start the season, I'm dying to see what YOU are making, too!

And the Designers for Season 11 of PRP are......

Today we are so excited to announce the contestants for Project Run and Play Season 11 and they are...

RaeAnna Goss from Sewing Mama Rae Anna

Natasha Early from Glitter + Wit

Annika Ferk from The Naeh Connection

Melissa Uribe from Sew Like My Mom

Ren Murphy from The Inspired Wren

Courtney Davis from Sweeter than Cupcakes

Such a great group and we are so looking forward to getting to know each of them better over the next few weeks!

*****

Also today we need to announce the winner of our 5 yard bundle of fabric giveaway!

And the winner is Nikkee who said:

"I'm really interested in the cosplay challenge for this cycle, can't wait to see the rules and results! I like all the challenges that make you think outside the box"

(Nikkee, I think I found an email for you....if you don't hear from us today though please email us so we can get your shipping address!  Our email is:  simplesimonandco (at) gmail (dot) com )

It's Time for a Giveaway!!!!

It's a new year and we are gearing up for a new season of Project Run and Play and so we thought that now would be a good time for a giveaway!!!!

Today's giveaway is a 5 yard bundle of our "Four Corners" fabric line that we designed for Riley Blake Designs.  (It comes in 3 different color waves and the winner gets to choose which color wave they like best.)

To enter all you have to do is leave us a comment telling us either what one of your favorite PRP challenges from the past has been or a challenge you would like to see in the future.

That's it.

But...if you would like another chance to win leave another comment telling us if you follow PRP on facebook.

And...if you want one more chance to win leave another comment telling us if you follow Simple Simon and Company on facebook.

Good luck and we will announce the winner on Monday!

Project Run and Play Season 11 Themes

Alright!

It's time to announce the themes for Season 11 so that you all have time to brainstorm 

and start sewing!!!

So here they are:

Week One: (Feb. 1)  

Nothing But Knit:  For the first challenge you need to design a look where the the majority of your look is created using knits!

Week Two:  (Feb. 8)  

Cos Play Challenge:  Since Cos Play is all the rage we thought it would be fun to have an entire challenge devoted to it!  So for this challenge create and outfit INSPIRED by by the cos play craze. (But not a costume!)

Week Three:  (Feb. 15)  

All that Glitters:  Metallics, glitter, sparkles, jewels...incorporate any (or all of these) into a look of your choice.

Week Four:  (Feb. 22)  

Signature Style:  Create a look that will showcase your signature sewing style.

So there you have it!

We can't wait to see what everyone creates!

The Newest Members of the Project Run and Play Team

Today we are so excited to introduce you to two women who we not only love but we are happy to announce have joined us here at Project Run and Play,

Michelle from Falafel and the Bee:

And Audrey from Skirt Fixation:

We don't have enough good to say about each of these women!  (And we can't believe we are so lucky to have them joining us this year.)

Michelle will be working behind the scenes as our Guest Post Coordinator while Audrey will be our Contributor Coordinator.

We have so many fun things planned this year and we can't do it all on our own!  So we are so so so so thrilled to have two such amazing women to help us.

P.S.  If you haven't checked out these ladies blogs you are missing out...they have skills...for real.

What was Old is New Again...and Where there was Nothing...we need YOU!

Hello and Happy New Year!

We can't wait to get this year going...and today we are full of announcements!!!

So let's get started with the biggest announcement:

PROJECT RUN AND PLAY SEASON 11 BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 1st!!!

That's right...old school, PRP...6 contestants, 4 weeks, prizes, sew alongs...the whole deal.
(And we are so excited...we have been freaking out over here behind the scenes.)

On Monday we will announce the themes for all 4 weeks so you can start brainstorming and creating your looks for the sew alongs.  (And you are going to want to sew along...these challenges are going to be A LOT of fun!)

But in the meantime....

We need to announce that we have hired 2 assistants to help us here at Project Run and Play  (and to find out who they are check back in with us on Friday)....one of them will be coordinating all of our guest posts while the other will be coordinating all of our contributor posts.

Yes, you read that right....our contributors.  In 2016 Project Run and Play will be the home of 8 lovely contributors who are kind enough to share their talents with us!  (And while emails have been received and sent we have not finalized the line up yet...so if you are interested in contributing to PRP just send us an email and we will send you all the details.)

Alright....so Season 11, two assistants, and eight contributors....I think that is all the news for today.

Now, while you are waiting for names, themes, and contestants to be revealed we want to have some linky party fun.

Link up your FAVORITE sewing project from 2015.  Brag, share, revel, whatever.  Just link up your favorite sewing project from last year so we can all be inspired.

(This linky party is not for prizes and there will be no voting on projects in this linky party...this party is purely for fun so don't be shy!  Show us what you've made!)