"Loving yourself is the greatest revolution."
- thesecleverhands
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
- Ariella Estoria
I began wearing a bikini, for the first time ever, just a few years ago, when my body was as it’s biggest. Some years ago, with a history of disordered eating, self-loathing, & body shame, I set about educating myself towards body positivity, & self-love. It took a lot of reading, a lot of listening, & a lot of therapy to get to where I am today. Don’t get me wrong, donning my bikini in public doesn’t come easily, & it often involves having to quieten my unhelpful inner dialogue. I don’t wear a bikini for the male gaze, I wear a bikini because it’s the easiest fit for my curvy body, & because I want to. It’s for me & me alone. In wearing my bikini I move closer to the woman that I want to be - a woman who doesn’t feel intimidated; a woman who knows that her value has nothing to do with how she looks; a woman who loves her body & is grateful for everything that it allows her to do; & a woman who wants to encourage other women that they too can wear whatever they want. I have learnt not to judge others either, & to remember that size is not an indicator of health. I have no business having an opinion of somebody else’s appearance. All bodies are all uniquely different, equally wonderful, & deserving of love.
All of this all leads me to Odile Bailleoul’s upcoming collection “Riviera”, which speaks to my heart with it’s nod to diversity (check out the bathing beauties). I am excited for this range, & the endless possibilities it offers (I’m thinking some fussing cutting for EPP could be very fun!). Odile fans amongst us will know that if you love this range then you need to jump onto it fast. She has a very loyal following who stock up knowing that it comes & goes quickly. So, here’s your PSA: pre-orders are now open, & do your best to love your uniquely wonderful body!
From These Clever Hands to yours, Jo x
If you love small cuts, then this is the club for you! 16x fat sixteenths (approx. 10" x 10.5"), delivered to your mailbox every month! They will be a mix, mostly from the most recent collections; all These Clever Hands worthy (colourful, vibrant, interesting); & from a range of designers. Equivalent to one metre of fabric off the bolt, this is a great way to add a big mix of fabrics to your stash. Plus, one extra piece each month, at no extra cost!! With an annual subscription, by year's end you will have 204 new pieces of fabric to play with! How good would that be?!
Options of 3, 6 or 12 month subscriptions, with automatic, secure, monthly payments. Combine with another club to save on postage! Message me for details. *Picture above is only indicative of the fabrics you will receive.
And, you can find me here...
Jul 13
Mornington Peninsula Patchworkers
Jul 18
The Green Barn
Aug 15
Bay Quilters
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