So Project Toddler Runway is coming to a close and its been both inspiring and tiring!  Lets be honest, its not really the competition thats wearing me out – its my full time work and my 20 month old! This is really an exercise in doing something for me and the late nights are totally worth it! (And husband, if you’re reading this – your cleaning and cooking and patience has been greatly appreciated!!)

Hopefully you’ll enjoy the tutorials as they come (and they are coming – slowly but surely). I hope these tutes for my PTR creation are a little something I can give back. You all seriously keep my ‘to make’ list busting at the seams and I love you for it.

This week I started with the idea of going full fledged back to my roots – I had in mind boardshorts and a hoodie but then decided I didn’t really have a boy to design for. It then turned into a board skirt made from my husbands old boardshorts; so that turned out cute and I’ll show you that look sometime soon. However, as I really thought about where I was going with the challenge, the new concept popped into my mind about how ecstatic I am that my daughter will have a chance to enjoy at least a sliver of the experiences that I did on the water. So when it was all wrapped up this was the Saylorville ensemble:

I had to do a second version of the Sailor pants in order to get the tutorial tweaked so that will be coming later this week. The new pants are laying on the floor beside me waiting for the finishing touches- but tonight the Mac won out over Bernina. (Psst, don’t tell anyone, but its actually my comfy chair that won.)

Last week was the design with meaning challenge and really all of the projects were super impressive and touching. Here is a quick recap on what I loved about each one:

Shanna from Celebrate the Madness came out on top this week with Daddy’s Little Patriot. I love this for a few reasons – one being that my husband is a Marine and two being that a safari style dress is so up my alley. Oh and there is three – which is that apparently Shanna and I were on the same wavelength with the whole anchor thing.  Just like me and Bree with our Varsity Sweaters a few weeks back. Congratulations Shanna on the win! Its adorable and I’m sure your husband appreciated the little tribute as well.

Jenn from A Jennuine Life had what I certainly thought was the most in line with the challenge and the most unique idea for the challenge by far. Hers was the Every Occasion Dress which is a dress with aprons that can be switched out. It was cute and was based on a dress her own grandmother had made her when she was little. I just was touched by the concept. Jenn has been a powerhouse in this competition (her designs were my personal favorite weeks 1, 2, and was a pretty close tie in my book to Bree in week 4).  I’m really bummed that she “went home” because I know her final looks would have been insanely inspiring and original. Also – Jenn is contemplating a giveaway of her amazing dress so go let her know you’d love to enter said giveaway!

Our third finals contender is Chelsea from Creative Mommas, who was also the winner last week with her fabulous Goody Two Shoes dress. Chelsea’s t-shirts this week were awesome because she was working with what she had. With piled up snow (which I know all too well) she made it work with t-shirts, fabric dye, and paint. She dyed shirts, reconstructed them, and then freezer paper stenciled the name of three special places to her and her husband. I loved this because she overcame – and also, who can resist that sweet sentiment. So Valentine’s week appropriate! Congrats on top 3 Chelsea! You and your sister have a fabulous blog, its on my google feed and I’m so impressed by the amount of creativity that gets cranked out!

So thats the update and in about a week and a half you’ll get to see the final looks on the virtual runway. Stay tuned!