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4589 & 6
Thanks so much once again for your comments on the previous post - your kindness is truly overwhelming at times and I do thank you for your encouragement :-)
Well, my plans for the week were completely overtaken by a need to make myself 2 new tops :-) When I saw this post by the fabulous Nikki, I knew that I just had to try the pattern (Simplicity 4589). Nevermind that I had never sewn my own clothes before! It was a refreshing challenge. The trickiest part for me was attaching the sleeves - I probably had to unpick those stitches 4 or 5 times, but I kept at it and am happy with the result - mostly happy that I have finally found a size 12 that actually fits me properly!
Here’s top 1 (yet un-hemmed), made form a simple black/white floral cotton print:
And worn:
And here’s top2 (also un-hemmed), made from this gorgeous owl print from Superbuzzy:
And worn:
Also, soft-toy artists Dawn and Kate both tagged me with the latest meme doing the blog rounds - “6 weird things about myself“. Okay, so here goes:
1) I can never leave dirty dishes in the sink or Ava’s toys on the floor at night before bed - it all has to be cleaned up no matter how long it takes. When I wake in the morning and see the toys in their place and the dishes clean and ready to be used, it brings a great sense of peace to my day!
2) Wearing socks is a big thing for me - I always have to wear socks, even if it’s really, really hot - which then means I always end up wearing long pants of some kind because I don’t like the short-pants & socks combo.
3) I do believe in the super-natural, simply because I have experienced such things first-hand like doors opening on their own, and lights/appliances switching on and off by themselves. My parents, who grew up in haunted villages in the Philippines, have spoken of their first-hand accounts with the little men with red eyes who live in banana trees, and strangers in the street who have no feet (i.e. they are just floating along). Seriously, some of their stories are worse than today’s horror movies - but I won’t go on just in case it’s all starting to freak you out.
4) On a lighter note, with all the wonderful choice we have in chocolate today, I still prefer a big old block of Cadbury :-)
5) People always comment on how long my fingers are - it’s something I inherited from my Mum’s side of the family. It certainly helps when playing instruments, which I did when I was younger; and definitely helps me to type faster. But it sure makes hand-stitching very awkward and cumbersome!
6) And finally, you may have noticed that I do not have any pictures of my face on this blog. For the longest time, I was insecure about my appearance and even though I have accepted the skin that I’m in so to speak, when I meet new people, I am still always so nervous about how they react to me. As a child, I was bullied and teased frequently - mostly because of the way I looked - so I think that gut reaction to just hide behind something else continues. But I think your ongoing support, kindness and encouragement has given me a little more confidence to share a little more of myself with you. So here I am.
Yes, that is a birthmark on the left-side of my face. The weird thing is that it actually changes colour depending on the weather! It turns purplish when it’s cold and turns orangy-red when it’s hot. I like to view it as God’s ‘handmade’ stamp on me :-)
Hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about me :-) I’m tagging the first 6 people who left a comment on my previous post: Abby, Violet, Shell, Kristy, Dana, Myra (apologies ladies if you’ve already done this meme!).
I dont think I have ever commented here before but thought I would say hello. Love the tops you have made!
People comment on my long fingers too.
And you have a very pretty face.
I too cannot leave dirty dishes in the sink or toys out at night. I think you are beautiful and I thank you for sharing!
I don’t know that I have ever commented before either. The tops are gorgeous — as is your profile. You are lovely.
Hi..I LOVE your blog. All of your photos are beautiful, and you do such wonderful work. I’ve been looking for some Japanese magazines that would show me how to make things such as handbags or coin purses. Can you recommend any, or any type of link?
Thanks,
Lexie.
Hey, I have that pattern for that top. Have not made it, guess I will have to get moving in the sewing department. It looks great and the tops came out really well. Now you will have to make all those items you want to for your girls. And may I say a very nice picture of you. Grew up with a friend that had almost the same birth mark as yours (and yes, hers changed color with the weather too). I will admit I have a few skin issues and I do cover them up with a make-up or bangs when possible because I just don’t want to explain it.
I’ve not yet been brave enough to sew my own clothes, but I LOVE that top!!! It may be time give clothes a whirl.
i’m with you on #1 even though my boy gets out of bed before me and gets his toys out again.
#2… i understand the sock thing.
#3 My father and I saw a ‘ghost’ in our old house which we believe was haunted. If I’d seen it by myself I would not have believed it to be true.
#5 I call cadbury chocolate ‘comfort chocolate’ all the other types are for special occasions.
#6 Good on you for being brave and showing your face. You are a very brave and beautiful woman…and a talented sewer too.
The tops are lovely. I have tried that pattern and I don’t think I have the body type for it, but you look gorgeous!
My son is just like you with socks, he likes to wear them all the time even to sleep. It’s funny you should mention #3, just yesterday at work my office mates were talking about stories their parents from the Phillipines had told them about ghost people who come down from the mountains at night.
I’ve been eyeing that pattern ever since I saw Nikki’s. Now I will definitely have to try it since yours looks so great.
And what a gorgeous face you have, and you look a lot like one of my good friends from college.
I think you are beautiful in every way!
Oh, I love the owl print. Especially because the owls are subtle… it looks like a nice, tiny pattern. And I love the red! Very pretty!
i’ve a birthmark in the middle of the front, I used to hide it when i was young, but now i don’t care, and the funny thing is that my daughter has the same , family story!!!
i like the things you do
alexandra from France
How we judge beauty is such an odd thing isn’t it? We think others care about those quirky little things but they don’t really - especially those who are truly our friends and loved ones.
I love your work ,especially Chibi Beatriz, :).
I have an idea. Do you want to make a swap with me? What do you think?
Kisses
Inês (from Portugal)
I love the tops. I’ve never really made clothes for myself either (only altered them), but I think I might be able to do something like that. Hmmmmm….something else to add to my to-do list! lol…
I have the same sock issue as you too. In the winter, I have to have slippers on at all times (with socks underneath). I also always have to have my feet covered in bed-no matter what!
Oh, and you are gorgeous! :-)
Dear Jhoanna,
You are as beautiful as I thought you would be.
I have made that top in the round neck style, as it reminded me of my favourite Country Road tunics. I am dying to try the square neck one now.
Thanks for sharing with us in the blogosphere. I had a friend with a similar birthmark—as a child I was SO jealous because I knew it made her really special, really different and kind of magical and I wanted one just like hers. Our marks make us truly unique.
P.S. Socks can be really cute with the right skirt and shoes—it’s what I do in the summer!
Great tops! We all have our marks. You are beautiful.
love the tops, adore your plushies, and am pretty sure that you rock the house. yep, you rock it.
xoxo
You are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I love your owls and other creations. I also agree with others that you are gorgeous.
Hi, I just discovered your site, and I (and my creative kids too) LOVE it very much! I must tell you what your birthmark means.. It means that Mother Maria kissed you before you went to earth, so you are specialy loved! By the way, your children look so sweet too!
with love from the netherlands.
I have just discovered your website and love it - I must spend some time and buy for my little grandchildren. I loved your photo - turning your birthmark to the camera was very courageous. You brought a lump to my throat. You look beautiful. Wear your birthmark with pride. Your children look like little darlings too.
Lots of woman power to you.
A Melbourne granny.
Hey girl!
You have always been beautiful, and I remember what Cielo used to say about your long fingers!!! Anyhoo - if I had known you were bullied and teased at school, I would have punched someone’s lights out for you!
Luv Jo xx
we are each of us made just how it was planned to be. i am sure from reading your blog that you have an angel’s heart love your blog and the courage it takes that only comes from the heart of a lion happy life little one margie
You are beautiful.
Thank you for posting your pic! You are lovely!
You have a great website. I happened to stumble across it doing an image search for ‘You’re a doll’
Jenny
i think you’re gorgeous! I have a birthmark on my face too but who cares.
Thanks for inspiring me. You are very talented. Love your work.
you have a very pretty face and I love your little designs they’re awesome!! ^_^
Hi - I just found your blog after doing a search for the Simplicity #4589 pattern. Your tops look beautiful!
I have a son who has a prominent birthmark almost exactly where yours is (on the left cheek) and also changes colors depending on the weather. He’s 10 yrs old. What I find really interesting is when mentioning his birthmark to people who have known him for a long time, many of them tell me they don’t even remember him having one. That really touched my heart to see that they never saw anything “odd” about him. They see him for who he really is. People who tease and bully really are the ones that we should feel sorry for - they are missing out on true relationships. Thanks for sharing.