Are you READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited to launch our first day of the Over the Top Challenge. Get those sewing machines out, because we want you sewing along too!!! Why \sew along???? Well it is fun, and you need holiday wear, right! But also there are PRIZES!!!

Some generous shops that we just happen to LOVE, are donating prizes so that you can win!

*These prizes will be divided into 3 prize packages, 1 for the winning challenger, and 2 for link up contributors.*

Mabel Madison: 2 prizes - Winner's Choice of 2 yards of Knit

Winner's choice of 2 yards of Poplin

L'Oiseau: $20 Store Credit

Bailey Girls: $25 Store Credit

Stitch Box Monthly: $20 Store Credit

Zipper Island: $25 Store Credit

*Each winner will also win their choice of 2 patterns from Winter Wear Designs (good for 1 calendar year)

All right, now that you have that information, on to our first Challenger: Trisha Parker certainly took this challenge and ran with it..... I am amazed, and so in love. I think you will be too....

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Hi everyone!!  I have to say I was a bit hesitant to join this over the top challenge.  I tend to like projects that go together quickly, and wasn't sure if I could handle all the work.  I'm definitely glad I decided to jump in and try it.  I will say it was a lot of work, but when I see the finished project it was totally worth it!  My daughter told me she felt like a fancy princess and even begged me to wear it to church after pictures.  My inspiration came from the idea of a Winter Wonderland Princess. 

For the dress I used a satin fabric that was leftover from my sister's wedding 3 1/2 years ago. The skirt is the bottom of the Peppermint Swirl Dress from Candy Castle. The top of the dress is a modified Beloved Fairytale Dress by FooFoo Threads. Underneath the dress I added an Icing Skirt by Fairytale Pattern Designs. I goofed when making the Icing Skirt when I decided to use a lightweight knit instead of the organza it calls for, which curled wonderfully at the bottom, but didn't add the volume I needed. Too get that volume, I added an extra pettiskirt I'd made from netting last year for my daughter's Halloween costume. The Peppermint Swirl doesn't really need anything under it, but since this was an over the top challenge, I had to go for it.

When I was at the store looking for fabrics for something for the top of the dress, I found this fake fur/minky that I KNEW would be perfect if I made it into a coat or jacket. Nothing else was really speaking to me, but the minute I saw that I knew it would be perfect. I decided to go with a hooded cape, which was the Red Riding Hood Cape from Stitch Upon A Time. With the fur outer, and fleece lining, it definitely kept her warm. I am still, however, rubbing my nose and sneezing from all the fuzzies flying around from cutting and sewing that fabric. I added a jeweled clasp to really give it that elegant feel.

I also knew she couldn't be an elegant princess without her gloves. Those are the Plum Princess Gloves from Zuzzy Patterns. I used a lightweight poly knit, which I believe is called Jet Set at JoAnns. I made the long gloves and she loved wearing them. Every princess needs her gloves! She kept calling them her Cinderella gloves. I also took one of the leftover fancy buttons and added a small piece of elastic to it and it became an instant ring for her, as a princess has to have her bling.

To finish up the look I made a fancy flower headband for her, and added a necklace I wore at my wedding 11 years ago.  I loved making my daughter feel like a fancy princess and she loved acting the part, although with a dress as twirly as this, she had to get some of that twirl action going on! 