Meet Camp Fashionista!

Have you heard?  Project Runway has hit South San Jose- for kids! Camp Fashionista, located on Meridian Avenue in Willow Glen, is an innovative venue where kids "take (their) first steps into the exciting world of fashion design"!  A friend recommended it to me knowing my seven year old daughter has loved to dress up and accessorize since age 2.  We popped in one Saturday afternoon and met the delightful owner, Dori Duncan, who cheerfully introduced us to her wonderfully creative space.  

There were girls sewing away at the row of sewing machines, making themselves halter style dresses.  We saw pajama pants, handbags, 18" doll clothes (the cutest things!), more dresses, peasant style tops, skirts, and breathtaking fashion sketches that appeared to be straight from design school.   We were blown away that this place has remained a secret down here is south San Jose, and that no one had thought of it before!

Dori opened the unique design school for kids and young adults in 2010.  Camp Fashionista provides basics in sewing and fashion sketching during after school classes, Saturday classes, and camps.  Weekly April Classes include Level 1 Sewing (ages 8 and up),  Little Fashionistas (ages 6 and up), Level 2 Sewing, and Adult Sew- Patchwork Tote Bag.  

Saturday classes include Learn How to Use the Sewing Machine, Baby Blanket, Alterations, Pillowcases, and Drawstring Bag.  A Drawing Class on Friday afternoons, entitled "Fashion Illustration Collection",  involves drawing a mini collection of outfits based on current styles and trends in fashion magazines.  

During the month of April, Camp Fashionista also offers camps to accomodate schools' Springs Breaks from April 1-19.  The times are 10AM-12PM, and 1PM-3PM.  You can purchase as many days and time slots and you prefer.  There is a wide variety of spring camps classes, and you can sign up for the 4 components of Level 1 Sewing, which is necessary to attend  Summer Camps! 

Which brings us to Summer Camps!  Half Day or Full Day weekly camps (Monday-Friday) are offered June 10-August 9.  They are appropriate for ages 8 and up and require completion of Level 1 Sewing class or its equivalent.  There are many exciting themes, including Watercolor Fashion Illustration, Summer Dress and Headband, Beach Cover Up, American Girls Doll Shorts & Top, Hand Sewing & Embroidery and more.  All camps end with a fashion show on Fridays for parents and families.

In addition to classes and camps, Camp Fashionista hosts birthday parties!  Pajama Pants, American Girls Doll Clothes, FashionDesign, Lined Totes, and Paper Dolls for the younger ones... all you do is provide the treats, fabric and guests!

With fashion now a part of everyday life, there are sure to be budding fashionistas amongst us just waiting to begin their experience at Camp Fashionista.  Maybe your child is the next Ralph Lauren or Vera Wang! 

Thank you to Dori Duncan and Camp Fashionista for sponsoring this article.

THIS WEEK IN A NUTSHELL:

Spring Fling Discount for Camp Galileo ends 3/29!  Combine it with the Almaden Acorn discount (2013ACORN) for more savings! 

Spring camps (SJUSD Spring Break is April 8-12)! 

Almaden Summer Horse Camp

Almaden Community Center

Camp Fashionista

FUZE Fit for a Kid

Happy Hollow "Land of the Lost" Ages 5-9

San Jose Museum of Art
Los Gatos/Saratoga Recreation

Events & Activities:

3/29         11:30AM         Inclusive Storytime     Almaden Library

3/29         7:30-9PM        Guided Night Hike   Hidden Villa   Los Altos Hills   Ages 6+

3/30         10AM-12PM     The Crooked House Re-Opening!      Happy Hollow  
3/30         10Am-12PM     Kids Club: Hatching Chick       Michael's 

3/30         10-11:30AM     Science Safari "Eggs Everywhere"    YSI Vasona

3/30         12-4PM           Science Saturday  Animals in Winter     YSI Vasona 

3/30         1-4PM            Easter Bunny at the Buffington House    Willow Glen

3/30         1PM & 4PM     CASA Fashion Show "Ablaze"        Los Gatos High School   

3/30         2PM              The Wizard of Oz Puppet Show     Almaden Library

3/30         6:30PM         Castillero's Jazz Around Town   Jazz Concert      San Jose State Concert Hall

3/30-31     Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt   Roaring Camp Railroads    Felton

3/31         10AM-6PM      Opening Day at Gilroy Gardens
3/31         10AM-2PM      History Through a Changed Landscape Hike   Almaden Quicksilver   Ages 5+

4/1-5        Spring Preview of Music Together Program    Los Gatos Library

4/1          3-4:30PM       Author Jennifer Fosberry  at Hicklebee's    
4/3          3-4:30PM       Rosemary Wells & Jim Lamarche at Hicklebee's   

Coming Soon: 

4/7           Annual Spring Festival at Princeton Plaza   
4/14         30th Annual Wildflower Run 2K/5K/10K     Morgan Hill 
4/15-5/5   Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical   Bay Area Children's Theater   Berkeley
4/19-28     A Chorus Line     Children's Musical Theater
4/19-20     James and the Giant Peach    Peninsula Youth Theater

5/18         Girls On the Run 5K at Vasona Lake Park   Registration Open   

Ongoing:

Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival 2013 Design Logo Contest- 
The Almaden Valley Women’s Club invites students residing in the 95120 zip codes to submit their entries by April 12.