Backyard Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday…it’s weird to have a birthday during such a wild time in our world…and because of social distancing, I couldn’t have a party or anything. Not that I’ve had one that was my own really in recent years. My birthday weekend has fallen on Dapper Day weekend the last couple of years, and I have many friends who are also April babies, so we tend to celebrate together during Dapper Day weekend since so many of us attend Dapper Day. For those curious about Dapper Day, the unofficial “dress to your best” day at Disneyland, it has been postponed to June. So this year I had to get creative… and was inspired by one of the four dresses I’ve made (so far) as part of “sewcial distancing.”

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, standing in our yard.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, standing in our yard.

Patrick and I whipped up a cactus cupcake cake we saw online. No guests? No problem! Taxidermy works great! I brought Mr. Van Cleef, our jackalope, out for a little birthday picnic in the backyard. Patrick and I have never decorated cakes before and while this isn’t as gorgeous as the one we based it on, I think it isn’t all that shabby! Colonel Whiskers was forced to stay inside during our little picnic, as he was getting too curious over the cake.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, sitting on a blanket with a cactus shaped cake next to me, and a taxidermy jackalope nearby.

Close-up of my shoes, which are black but feature cacti on the side.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, standing in our yard.

Close-up of my necklace, which is small wooden cacti.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, standing in our yard.

Close-up of the print on my dress, a red background with cream colored jackalopes, cacti, and both human and cattle skulls.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, sitting on a blanket with a cactus shaped cake next to me, and a taxidermy jackalope nearby.

Close-up of my cactus cake.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, standing in our yard.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, sitting on a blanket with a cactus shaped cake next to me, and a taxidermy jackalope nearby.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, standing in our yard.

Close-up of my crown, which features green, orange, and yellow succulents, and a small cream colored jackalope.

Myself wearing a crown made of fake succulents and a small cream jackalope, wearing a dress with a red, green, and cream print of cacti, jackalopes, and skulls, sitting on a blanket with a cactus shaped cake next to me, and a taxidermy jackalope nearby.

If the cut of this dress looks familiar, it is because it’s the same as my Bird Cage dress I made last December. It’s just such a flattering cut, and I think very conducive for prints. So I’ve made this dress in four different prints since the COVID-19 safer-at-home order was issued for California. Most of which have been designs by There Will Be Cute on Spoonflower, and most of those have been Halloween themed actually, which who knows, that might be the next time we are allowed out in society!

I also whipped up a matching mask, because why the hell not? If you gotta wear a mask, why not make it fun?

Myself wearing a face mask made of the same material as my dress.

Has anyone else celebrated or will celebrate their birthday in quarantine?

Outfit
Jackalope Crown: Nancy Fancy Fruits
Cactus Earrings & Necklace: Match Accessories
Dress: Made by me, with fabric by There Will Be Cute, using the bodice from Simplicity 5954 and the skirt from Advance 9406.
Shoes: Miss L Fire

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