World Book Day Event Part 2

The week long World Book Day celebrations continue here on This is Wiss, and I am very happy to introduce the first of my very special guest bloggers!

Beth blogs about crafting and stitching by the sea over on Miss Magpie Makes. She is a mother of three, and now all children are at school she has found time to make more and blog about it. She can turn her hand to a whole range of crafts and is still keen to learn more skills. I love the wide variety of her posts, and look forward to seeing what she's been up to next.

To help me celebrate World Book Day she is going to share some of the outfits she has made for her children over the years. Maybe good inspiration for next year? Over to you, Beth...

"As the mother of three children, aged, 3, 9 and 15, I am well-accustomed to the annual ritual of book Day. For the first two or three years that my daughter took part, we got very excited about what she would dress up as and had lots of fun putting costumes together. My sewing skills were rather more limited in those days but we managed.

Over the last few years, my middle son has been less enthusiastic about dressing up but he informed me this year that he wanted to go as a ‘Bin Weevil’. I know it isn’t strictly a book character (although as Alfie informed me, he does have a book of Bin Weevils!) but frankly, anything that arouses his interest in dressing up and having fun is fine with me.

Over the years, Lauren has dressed as:

Rapunzel Alfie was about six months old at this time and I was still struggling to cope with going from one to two children. I took an easy option and made a very long plait out of some nasty yellow acrylic wool. This was a dressing up box favourite for a long time afterwards.

Roly Poly Bird (from The Twits by Roald Dahl) I’m not sure whose idea this one was! To make this outfit, I started by making a cape from some pink fabric. It fastened at the neck with some ribbon and I made two elastic loops at the sides for Lauren to put her arms through so that she could ‘spread her wings’! The beak was just made from card and elastic, while a few feathers stuck on a headband finished off the outfit.

Angelina Ballerina I must admit that the request of making a mouse-ballerina filled me with a certain sense of dread but in the end it was quicker than the previous costume. We borrowed a tutu, made the tail out of some white fabric and fashioned the ears and nose from card.

 

Hermione Granger  Lauren was the proud owner of a Harry Potter wand. We just messed up her hair and used a Halloween Cloak to finish off.

Mr Strong  During what would have been her last year of primary school, Lauren was home-educated so we decided not to dress up that year but instead made Alfie’s Mr Strong costume. Sadly no pictures were taken but the costume involved painting a large cardboard box red and fitting it with elastic shoulder hangers! We also made a funny hat out of a paper bowl and paper mache!

As well as Mr Strong, Alfie has also been:

Dennis The Menace We managed to borrow a stripey  jumper and then had fun with the hair gel to get Dennis’ coiffure.

Horrid Henry I bought a blue jumper and a yellow t-shirt cheaply from the supermarket and then cut the middle out of the t-shirt and sewed it to the jumper. I did it quite neatly, so much so that Alfie took to wearing the jumper as part of his normal wardrobe. It was quite big too, so it was resurrected as the following years’ costume.

This year Thom is in nursery and the children were asked to dress up. I was slightly dreading this as he is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine but he point blank refused to have anything to do with dressing up so I had to dress him up by stealth by putting a striped jumper on him and proclaiming him to be Chip from the Oxford Reading Tree books!

Finally as a chuckle-inducing treat for you all, here is a snap of myself, circa 1989 in my final book day costume!"

I think Beth looks fab as Noddy, don't you?! Thank you for sharing your photos, Beth. You can see how this years 'Bin Weevil' costume turned out by visiting Miss Magpie Makes.

And if you would like to share any Book Day costumes with me then please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you.

Don't forget to look at the Official World Book Day website - there are lots of great downloads and printables in the Resources section.

Tomorrow's special guest will be sharing her Top 20 Kids Books, chosen with a keen eye for great design and illustrations. See you tomorrow!

World Book Day Event Part 1

Welcome to the first post of the week long celebration of World Book Day 2012! I'll be starting things off today but I have a great selection of special guests lined up over the next seven days. Make sure you pop by every day to get some great tips and ideas all relating to BOOKS!

This is my very first Book Day event, and I really didn't realise just what a big thing it is in schools. I think it's a great idea to encourage kids to love reading and books. But the thing that really appeals is dressing up! I was very excited when Wiss's nursery asked all the children to come dressed as a favourite character from a book. Being only 2, Wiss didn't really express a preference (although I'm sure it would have been Gruffalo's Child!) I took the easy option and decided that he would go as Wally to nursery today.

Do you think he let me take a photo of him this morning? Of course not! So good job we had a dress rehersal on Monday!

I love the Where's Wally books, and it is a very simple costume to get together. I already had the bright blue trousers as I'd made them for the KCWC 2011, and the red stripey t-shirt is one of Wiss's wardrobe staples. All I needed was to buy some joke glasses and knit a hat (thanks to Nana Daisy for making such a wonderful pompom.) I made up the pattern myself which is why it looks a little like a tea cosy!

I thought that Wiss should at least be introduced to Wally if he was going to dress up as him, but the books are a little tricky for a two year old. Sometimes it takes me forever to find him! So I came up with this idea that is great for little ones, and older ones too! I googled Wally to find a clear image of him, then printed him out onto A3 paper. I mounted these onto thin foamboard (or stiff card) and cut them out.

Then we took our Wallys to the park for some fun! I wish that I could have taken the photos in some sunny and exotic location, but instead it was a grey, cold day in Crystal Palace park. So cold that Wally/Wiss had to wear a coat, but he did show his outfit off for the camera!)

I hid the cardboard Wallys along the path, while Wiss hid his eyes. He then had to find them. Simple but boy, did he enjoy it! "Again! Again!" We played until the cold forced us to go in. We've also been playing it at home this week. I can see that this is a brilliant way to introduce concepts of under, behind, on top etc. Plus it's a lovely way to get the story off the page and further interest the kids.

And of course, he wouldn't wear the glasses so this is the next best thing...

Happy World Book Day to you all! I'd love to hear what you've been up to yourselves, and what costumes have been rocked today!

Check out the official World Book Day website for loads of ideas and downloads.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow as I will have the lovely Beth from Miss Magpie Makes as my guest. She will be sharing some of her inventive Book Day costumes over the years, and there's a cracking photo at the end!

This is Wiss Celebrates World Book Day 2012

Next Thursday, March 1 is World Book Day!

World Book Day is a celebration of books, illustrations and reading which takes place in over 100 countries (apparently!) Since having a child I have (re)discovered a whole world of fantastic books, and we read every day. Often we read the same book over and over every day....but hey, that's part of the fun too! Reading is one of THE most important skills we can teach our children, and it will give a lifetime of pleasure.

I want to join in the celebrations here on This is Wiss, and I've asked some very special guests to participate! Starting on Thursday 1st March there will be a whole week of posts from me and some of my favourite bloggers, including Beth from Miss Magpie Makes, Emma from Lemons for Lemonade, Lisa Rye, and Kelli from Tales From Homemade House plus others.

I am very excited about this collaboration and know that there will be great posts to read and inspire you so please make sure you come back and visit every day starting from the 1 March!

I'm running the London Marathon!

I thought it was about time I got round to writing a post about the London Marathon. In case you didn't know, I'm currently in training to take part in this years event on the 22 April. I'm half way through a 16 week program and although there have been a few hiccups and missed runs, my cumulative total stands at 118.5 miles so far!

As well as it being a personal challenge I am running to raise money for a very special charity.  ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices) provide information and support to expectant parents throughout the antenatal screening process. I really hope that none of you ever need to turn to them for help, but for those that do they provide an amazing service.

Here is my story. In August 2008 I discovered I was pregnant. It shouldn't have come as a complete shock as although we weren't actively trying for a baby, we hadn't actively been trying not to have a baby either! But nothing had happened for some time so it had sort of slipped my mind. We went through what I guess are all the usual emotions: panic, fear, nerves, and of course excitement! We were going to be parents and although that sounded terrifying it was also amazing.

Apart from telling close family and a couple of friends we kept it to ourselves. We were going to wait until after the first scan to tell everyone. Unfortunately, for us that wasn't going to happen. We were both full of anticipation at the start of the scan - we were going to see our baby! I started to worry when the doctor didn't turn the screen towards us. I started to cry when she called in more doctors. They were very good and explained clearly what the matter was. Our baby had anencephaly, a neural tube defect. But I was in shock. All I heard was the phrase "incompatible with life".

We learnt more about anencephaly over the following days (Google is both good and bad!) Our baby was developing without a forebrain and although could continue to grow inside the womb, and possibly could survive birth, she would not be able to live. Learning all of these facts meant that we really felt like there was only one choice to be made, but that didn't make choosing it any easier. Although there were no outward signs I was pregnant, I was surprised at how strong my maternal feelings were already. I wanted to protect my baby, I had imagined holding her, thought about her name, even thought about what school she may go to! It's hard not to get carried away. And yet I also wanted it all to go away. I can't begin to explain how many conflicting feelings were going on in my head.

I had the termination at the end of October and a few days later we went away on a pre-planned holiday. I came back three weeks later and started to get on with 'normal' life. Most people hadn't known I was pregnant and it seemed odd to tell them I wasn't now, so nothing was said. On the outside everything was the same but on the inside I was screaming. It wasn't until mid January that I realised I wasn't coping and I asked for help. Luckily, I work for a fantastic company who have a great employee support system. They organised a series of counselling sessions and gradually I began to manage all the feelings I had been struggling with.

Unfortunately, throughout all of this we had no idea that ARC existed. I really feel that they would have been able to help us at a much earlier stage, and although our decision to end the pregnancy would have stayed the same, we would have had more information and support afterwards. More than anything it would have helped to know that we were not alone.

I came to know about ARC through a close friend who regrettably had similar devastating news at her 22 week scan. They provided support through a helpline, a web forum, newsletters and counselling advice. The amazing thing is ARC provide this support for as long as it's needed, not just at the time of the screening. This is so important as it takes time to process all the feelings and other events can trigger things off. For example, trying for another baby can be an extremely difficult time.

I had enjoyed running for some time but throughout the grieving process I channelled a lot of energy into it. It made me feel good, gave me time to think, and to not think but just get away from it all for a while. Once I decided to run the London Marathon there was only one charity I wanted to raise money for. If I can help just one couple with the money I raise, or even by someone reading this story then it will all be worthwhile. If you are able to donate any money to support ARC you can do so by visiting my page here All donations will be hugely appreciated both by me and ARC.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. A very good friend of me told me at one of the low points that "it will all be alright in the end. And if it's not alright, it's not the end." If you have read my blog before you will know that we now have a beautiful two year old son. I hope he will be proud of me on April 22nd!

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly!

As usual, life is getting in the way of my 'To Do' lists (but I can't complain too much, we had a lovely weekend away) It does mean, however, that it has taken me an age to get round to posting about this super cute cape.

If I was religious I would have a god-daughter, but instead I am a very special auntie. My very special 'niece' turned 2 at the start of the year and I'd been planning to make her this cape as soon as I saw the pattern. It's from Oliver & S Little Things to Sew I wasn't brave enough to make the cape in Riding Hood Red, so instead chose a red and white polka dot lining (from Ray Stitch) to flash against the charcoal grey wool suiting fabric. When I saw the over sized button in John Lewis I knew it would be the perfect finishing touch.

The pattern says it's for beginners and honestly, it was so easy to make. It did suggest sewing the exterior and lining alternately which I ignored as I didn't want to keep changing matching threads and it didn't cause any problems.

It is such a cute design and I think it could be thrown on top of any outfit and still work. I'm wondering if I could scale the pattern up to make one for me I like it so much!

Literally the moment I finished sewing, the postman delivered a package for me. The timing could not have been any better if it had been scripted. I ordered some woven labels from etsy after a tip-off on Twitter - I thought they'd be a great way to finish projects I made for fun, or for presents. Just look at how fantastic they are!

I am so pleased with how this cape turned out, I can't wait to see Holly wearing it (although I hope the button doesn't topple her over!!)



The Force is Strong with This One!

I've had a pretty productive week and managed to get a couple of things ticked off my to do list. Not all of them were high on the priority scale but that's the way things go and I'm just glad when I finish something at all!

First of all I have booked This is Wiss into a couple of upcoming events in March. Sell It Mama is back in Gipsy Hill on Saturday 3 March. I love this event (both as a vendor and a customer!) and I'm happy to be part of it once again. You can get yourself some great bargains (see here), support some new local businesses plus there is always coffee and cakes! What more could you ask for?! I will be selling all my usual products and I have got some fab new fabrics to showcase this year.

(photograph from www.sellitmama.com)

The other event is a new Craft Fair, organised by Emma Barrett to be held at the Balham Bowls Club on March 25. I was looking to push This is Wiss into uncharted waters and was interested by a tweet from Emma (@ebarrettdesigns) asking for makers and designers to get in touch with her. This is her first event, and the first craft fair to be held at the BBC so it's all a bit of an experiment but with 9 of the 12 tables already booked it looks like it's going to be exciting! I will post more details when I have them.

I also found time this week to finish off a very over-due birthday present for a special little girl. She was two at the start of January but I am hoping that she will forgive me for a belated present (or more likely, not remember!) I am so chuffed with how it has turned out I will be posting seperately all about it as soon as I've taken some good photos. Sorry, Holly, you will need to wait just a little bit longer before I can post it to you!!!

I felt like I was on a bit of a roll, so rather than start making new stock on Sunday night (which I needed to do) I decided to tackle another over-due project. I have been after a robe for Wiss to wear after swimming as it is so cold when we get out of the pool. My mum offered to make one so I bought this pattern from my favourite website 'Dana Made It'. All of her tutorials that I have used have been so clear and easy that I thought mum would have no trouble with it. I was wrong! She got scared off by all the talk of 'nap' and 'pile' so gave the project back to me to make myself. I am happy to report that is actually a very easy pattern and comes together super-quickly - 3 hours from start to finish!

I made it from a thin Ikea towel, and strips of jersey fabric for the binding. I could say that I was looking for a distressed, urban and modern feel by using the jersey but in reality I couldn't find the bias binding that my mum had so thoughtfully provided! The jersey looks just fine though and will roll over on itself in time. I made the robe in the Large size (3-4 years) so it had a longer shelf-life, with the half belt detail. It is way too big at the moment but that doesn't matter much. If I were to make it again, however, I would make it with a full belt so it could be tightened more over tiny bodies. I would highly recommend this pattern though and not only did it keep Wiss warm after his lesson, it made him look like a Jedi Knight too. Not bad for a few hours work!

Hmmm...not sure abut the smile Obe Wiss Kenobi, but I'm glad you like it!

Little People Who Lunch

Since having a child I spend lots of time in places I didn't before: soft play areas, the city farm, duck ponds, the library. I also find that my day is now firmly arranged around food in a way it never was before. It seems like it's always either time for a meal or a snack! I prefer to have lunch out if at all possible, otherwise I don't think we'd ever leave the house! Picnics are great but seeing as it will be a good few months before they'll be back on the agenda I've had to find some new lunch spots for Wiss and I.

The first one, I thought about not sharing as it's that good! But seeing as I was told about it by a dear friend it only seems fair to pass it on, plus it's a charity run place so the more visitors the better. It's called Discover in Stratford, E15 and is billed as a Children's Story Centre. If you are not a fan of the typical ball pit-type playground then this place is for you!

We met up with all our friends and their kids last weekend to celebrate Wiss's birthday. (You can book birthday parties there but I felt the little ones were too little for the planned activities.) It's large enough and varied enough to keep everyone happy for hours and there's a cafe for parents to get their caffeine-fix on an weekend morning! They have a permanent area on the ground floor and outside, and a changing exhibition space downstairs. At the moment it's 'Monsterville' but from the 1 April it will be 'Super Heroes'; they have readings of similarly themed books twice a day (our favourites are Where The Wild Things Are, Troll and of course, The Gruffalo.) I could go on and on, I love this place so much, so the last thing I'm going to add about Discover is that they have picnic tables outside and allow you to bring your own packed lunches. How cool is that? Check their website for even more details.

I live near Crystal Palace and are lucky enough to have lots of child-friendly cafes nearby. I've met friends for coffee with all our babies, or we've taken Lewis out for lunch with family but I'd never gone out for actual lunch, just the two of us. Until this weekend! The two of us sat down at a table (Wiss on a chair, not in a high chair!) and we ordered beans on toast, times two. It felt so different to be out with a little person rather than a baby. We played with cars between the salt and pepper pots until the food arrived, but my dining companion was on good form and best behaviour. I know it's a little thing but I was so proud and have been smiling all week about our lunch date.

Finally, I have a very secret spot to share with you. Wiss and I go swimming every week; he's been having lessons since he was 3 months old at Crystal Palace Sports Centre. In the summer we have a picnic in the park before swimming, and we had been having lunch in the cafe in the sports centre until recently, but it gets expensive and to be honest, the food is not great. Then a couple of weeks ago my husband suggested eating our sandwiches in the spectators seats alongside the olympic-sized swimming pool.

What a place to have lunch. It's warm, calming (almost hypnotic!), there's always lots to see and people to watch, and we're usually the only ones in the stands. And if the sun is shining, then wow! The light through the huge glass windows and on the water is beautiful. But sssshhhhhh... Don't tell anyone our little secret!

Maybe you have some good ideas to share for a spot of lunch with the little ones? But I've got to go now...I'm getting hungry!