love a bustle

This dress is the first thing I've sewn in quite a while that was completely indulgent and just for fun.  I had no idea how it was going to turn out or where in the world my child would ever wear it, but when I came across this dress created by Kelly at Sewing in No Man's Land, it went to the top of my project list. 

Impractical?  yes. 

In need of frequent trimming?  yes.  (Ironically, Kelly dubbed hers the "mullet dress")  

a whole mess of fun for the girls?  definitely!   

I love the cotton and silk.  Love the frayed edges.  LOVE the flowers for the top of the bustle and the front brooch.  My mom suggested turning the dress around to have the bustle in the front, which looks totally darling as well.  I also love that putting together this dress spawned inspiration for several other dresses, so the project list grows once again. 

I don't think there's a practical place to wear this dress, but that's just fine.   With my total and complete inability to be spontaneous, I'd really like to instill in my girls the ability to let loose every now and then, do something just for the fun of doing it, wear something fancy on any given day just to celebrate the day itself.  We all need a little of that, yes?   

Case in point:  see here how perfect this dress is for lounging on the couch all casual-like?  That little bustle just fluffs right up in the back (but it's the cheeks that just make you toss aside your camera and go smooch on that cutie!)

To whip up your own little bustled mess of fun, go check out Kelly's instructions, here.  And then come back tomorrow for a little tutorial on making these totally fabulous fabric flowers!

I'll be sharing this project here!