It is the second last day of the year and many takes the time to look a little bit back at the year that have passed. So I thought it would make sort of sense to bring home a post that looks 32 years back.
Earlier this year was I invited to Suz from Sewpony's series When We Were Young and today I am bringing home the post. The concept is simple. Find a photo of yourself as a child and recreate it for one of your children.
The result of the post turned out to be way more emotional than I expected.
First you have to see when I was young, right!
I don't think I have to explain that I am to the left and Evelyn is to the right, ha.
The photo is 32 years old (yes OF COURSE it is taken before I was born, ahem). Okay, so I am skyping with my Mom in Denmark and she shows me a few photos she has found for this post, looks at the back of this one and says: "oh, it is from your 4 year old birthday." And since Evelyn is turning 4 years old in January it could simply not be better timing.
But before we start talking about the outfit, let's get the basics in place.
Suz also sent me some questions.
Where were you born?
I am born in Denmark. On a small island with 45.000 people called Bornholm.
When you look at a map you would actually think it belongs to Sweden, and people there have this funny dialect that is a mix of Danish and Swedish. The island is a bit of a Danish vacation 'paradise' and we have tons of German and Swedish tourists in the summer.
Who did you grow up with?
I grew up with my Mom, Dad and my little sister Karen. We are five years apart so we were pretty much adults before we got a good relationship. But now it is as good as it can get. Love you Sis!
Did you have any childhood ambitions?
I had tons. I LOVED going to school and I honestly thought I was going to study for years and years and years. It did not really matter what is was but I remember doctor was definitely in the running. And when I was a little older I would do something for the environment.
But then I started on the university (studying the intro to economics, politics and sociology) and I absolutely hated it. I felt super stupid (I do not come from a university family) so I stopped and started sewing...and I have never looked back. Best decision of my life!
Do you see any similarities between yourself and your children?
Hmmmm, yes. My oldest got my personality and my youngest got my looks.
My oldest is scared of a lot of things - well used to, I am starting to see some changes - but she is certainly not a daredevil. She is also a girl who very easily gets friends and I have always been like that too.
My youngest IS a bit of a daredevil but she is also totally stubborn and, ahem, I do know who she got that from (sorry!).
What did you like doing when you were little?
I loved reading books and playing with Barbies (mostly dressing them in outfit after outfit).
I also remember being outside quite a lot and playing with the neighborhood friends.
I also loved all sorts of crafts and I always started making homemade christmas tree ornaments in like October. I was (am) not one of those who is very good a crafts but I definitely enjoyed doing it.
Do you live far from where you grew up?
YES.
Now I live in the US on the 6th year.
Where do you live now and who with?
I live in North Carolina with my British husband and our two daughters who are turning 4 and 6 both in January - two days apart actually. Yup, great planning there, ahem!
I knew all along that I would sew for Evelyn since she is the one of my two daughters who look like me. Normally I would probably have said: Who looks a little bit like me - my oldest does not look like me one bit - but after seeing the comparison I think it is safe to say she looks like me.
It actually almost brought me to tears looking at it.
It is really kind of freaky looking at us dressed the same because that really makes us look alike.
Fun and freaky.
I was not able to find a corduroy in the correct color so I used this cotton twill instead. Unfortunately that is a more stiff material so I decided to skip the front pockets on the skirt because I think it would have taken even more drape out of the skirt.
The skirt I am wearing is by the way also homemade. My Mom could not remember wether it was herself or my paternal grandmother who made it. We had a lot of sewers in my family. Which makes it even more weird to think about that I only even considered starting sewing when I was like 20 years old. Buuut I think I have made up for my late start!
So I had to guess how the back looks like and I made it this way.
The front of the skirt is gathered to the front waistband but the back is gathered with an elastic inside. This way it is easy to get on and off. I have buttons on the inside of the back waistband and button holes in the straps.
The shirt is a Japanese pattern that I made more fitted. It had the right details such as front button placket, the collar and sleeve cuffs.
To make it looks like the cotton lace ribbons my original has, I made these tiny ruffles with some baby pink cotton voile.
I know the original also have ruffles where the sleeve is sewed on the bodice, and I did try that but is simply did not work out. It looked silly.
A closer look at the sleeve cuff.
Here in the end I have to tell you a short funny story.
So after the photo shoot we went out for lunch and even though Evelyn did not wanted to wear the skirt or have her hair made before the shoot, yeah we managed with some bribing, she ended up wanting to wear it all the whole day - yup, that a three year old for you.
SO at the restaurant she starts telling the people at the next table that she is dressed like Mommy. Ha, they looked at me and was totally lost. And me? I did not even try to explain that one - too complicated.
Yeah you know I am a blogger and I am participating in this series and......ohhh, forget about it. But I had to tell you because you will understand!
Thank you all you amazing readers for your support in 2013.
Happy Happy New Year!
See you!
