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And hello to you, whoever you are, finding your way here.
If you're here because you've been wanting to learn to sew but keep putting it off, keep telling yourself you won't be good at it anyway, or feel completely overwhelmed by all the information out there and have no idea where to even start — I get it. I've been there too.
There was a time when sewing felt like something other people did. People who were naturally talented, or who grew up watching their mother or grandmother at the machine. Not me. I had no experience, no one to teach me, and every time I tried to research where to begin, I'd end up more confused than when I started. So I'd close the tab, tell myself "maybe next month," and move on.
That's part of the reason why I started this blog — to be the resource I wish I'd had.
Oh, where are my manners? I haven't even introduced myself yet.
I'm Romae, an introverted creative from the sunny island of Jamaica, and the woman behind Hallo Berri.

A Little Backstory

I grew up in a house with two parents and four siblings. I moved away from the busy city to a quiet rural village, and honestly, I can't imagine ever going back.
Some of my happiest memories are from my childhood in the countryside, spending time with my siblings, parents, and grandparents. That's where I first felt connected to nature and to myself.
I love journaling, long stretches of alone time, black coffee with too much sugar, and taking on more sewing projects than I can manage. What can I say? I love trying new things.
Speaking of which, I'm always excited to travel and immerse myself in different cultures, especially their food. Yum!

My Sewing Journey

The idea of learning to sew never crossed my mind until shortly after I left high school. I was watching a haute couture fashion show with my older sister, and while she was wondering what it would be like to wear clothes like that, I was wondering what it would be like to make them. But it never felt like something I could actually do. I had no experience, no one to teach me, and every time I looked into it, I felt more overwhelmed than inspired. Eventually I started working, which pretty much consumed my life.
A few years ago, the idea came back and this time it wouldn't leave me alone. I kept thinking how great it would be if I could make my own clothes. But I was still working full-time, didn't have the money for supplies, and felt completely overwhelmed by how much there was to learn. I kept thinking, "If only I had used the free time I had years ago to learn this... I'd be so much further by now."
I guess that realisation sparked something inside me. The past is the past and the future will come. There is nothing we can do to change that. But we do have control over what we do now. And if I started learning now, it's a skill that will benefit me in the future.
So I stopped waiting for the perfect moment. I saved up for a basic sewing machine, bought a few metres of cheap fabric, and made my first project. It was a drawstring bag and it was honestly terrible. The seams were crooked, the measurements were off, and I nearly threw the whole thing away. But I didn't. I decided to keep it and use it as a way to measure my future growth.
And now, five years later, I make about 90% of my own wardrobe. I draft my own patterns. I'm even building toward launching my own brand. Learning to sew has done wonders for my self-confidence — not because I'm perfect at it, but because I proved to myself that I could stick with something hard and get better.

Why I Created This Blog

I started thinking about this blog shortly after I began my sewing journey, but I didn't have the courage to launch it. I fell into the common trap of thinking that no one would care what I had to say. I wasn't an expert seamstress, I didn't have a fashion degree, and I was still very much a beginner. Who was I to start a sewing blog?
A lot has changed since then. I'm not the same person I was, and I'm no longer afraid to show up as someone who's still learning.
While my initial intention was to document my own sewing journey, I now want to use this space to help others who feel the same way I did.

"Your future self will live in the results of the choices your current self makes."

A Note To You

I look back and feel proud of the version of me who finally stopped overthinking and started doing.
Right now, in this moment, you hold the power to change the entire trajectory of your future. So when you're struggling to feel motivated — when you're telling yourself you won't be good enough or it's too late to start — try to look beyond how you feel right now.
Think about how your future self will benefit from the effort you put in today.