A trip to A & E, and a tropical frock refashion

Yesterday, Noah broke his arm, in a soft play incident involving monkey bars and his brother giving him a slightly too hefty shove. He was incredibly brave and didn't complain once although he was at the hospital for four hours. 

The X-Ray was inconclusive, but the doctors and the specialist agreed that it is probably a fracture in his elbow. Its incredibly hard to tell on four year olds as their bones haven't fused yet, and whilst there was no apparent 'break' it did not look 'right'. 

 

They get free teddies now which he was extremely pleased about! He also got to watch a bit of 'A bugs life', saw his bones on the x-ray, and told pretty much everyone his 'poorly arm' story :)

 

He is coping as well as can be expected with the cast.  We will see the fracture clinic in a week to get a second opinion (leave cast on, replace cast, or remove cast)

In the meantime, the poor boy needs to cope with his restricted movement. Not easy for an active pre-schooler. I'm sure he'll be happy to show everyone at nursery though, and at school. (He is having is transition sessions at the mo, ready for school starting in September.)

This is him raring to get to his first session last Wednesday. They don't have to wear uniform, but he insisted!

 

On the craft front, I finally finished my refashioned tropical jersey sundress.

Last year I bought this maxi dress in a sale, because its really hard to come by tropical prints. At least it was at the time. I had no idea they'd be everywhere this summer! I love tropical prints!

I knew I'd have to pull it apart and start again, because I hated the straps, and the bodice, and I don't wear maxis.

I saw this dress in Dorothy Perkins a few weeks ago. I love it, but I wouldn't let myself buy it because we can't really afford it, so I thought I'd try and refashion the existing dress into something similar.

This is the result. 

This is the inside back pinned and ready to sew.

This is the external front. I think that the bodice looks a bit strange on Kirstie!

...and the back...

...and from the side.

I'm really happy with it and wearing it today. Its comfy and light. Just what I was after!

A new machine, a new dress, and lots and lots of Pims!

It was a very eventful weekend indeed. I'm just recovering now!

Friday night I went out with a friend who will be leaving us soon as her husband has a new job in Switzerland. Very exciting! I wore my new black maxi dress from Asda (http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/dresses/jersey-maxi-dress/G004395991,default,pd.html) and cycled into town without getting tangled once! Lots of giggles and Pims later, I cycled back again. Its a good job its cycle paths all the way :)

Saturday the boys had swimming lessons as normal, then we headed forAlconbury to the Norma Major Charity Cricket match. We did see John Major. We did not see the 'Weasley Twins' who either didn't turn up or just didn't play by the time we left. Joey was slightly disappointed by this - but not much. They just wanted to eat ice-cream and hotdogs and play in the park!

  

Saturday evening was spent at friends Sam and Adams house at their luvverly BBQ. Met new people. Drank much pims. The boys had a whale of a time and stayed up until an unheard of time. John stayed home and electrocuted himself on the hedge trimmer ( this has happened before - he really should stay away from outdoor electricals - he has already killed one hedge trimmer and the lawn mower. Luckily he has not killed himself)

Saturday night I stagged home with the boys, got them to bed, and dashed to the garage to unbox this little baby. My lovely friend Anna wants to sell it, but only to someone who will appreciate it - so I'm giving it a trial. So far its fantastic. I've never used a computerised sewing machine before, but my cheap Brother m/c is doing my head in.

So Sunday was a quick trip to the car boot sale (mainly for the bouncy castle) followed by a picnic and craft fair at the Gorgeous Island Hall   The boys always love to have a run around there. There were some older kids playing in the river and mine were very jealous - but its too deep for them to play in just yet!

Sunday evening - I ran these shorts up on the Pfaff in record time. I really wanted an overlocker - but the overlock foot on this machine does fine for my needs. There are a few different stitches available.

Noah wore his shorts yesterday, and of course came back from nursery with them entirely filthy. But thats what little boys do :)

I ended up in Cath Kidston again, and found this cute dress in the bargain basket. Only there due to broken belt loops, I snapped it up for twenty quid. When I got it home, I figured the waistband was too low (I'm quite short waisted) so made the decision to relocate it. I unpicked all the elastic and then sewed it on again 6cm higher up with the Pfaff. Easy peasy! Ironed it and you can hardly tell. I'm super happy.

Newly bought

 Elastic removed and replaced higher up

 Ironed and ready to wear!

Book Purchasing Bargains

I've been looking at buying Sew U Home Stretch (bizarre title) for some time, after I 'd been hankering after Tillys nautical knit dress.

Luckily it happens to be on offer for £3.99 at the moment at the Works. Unluckily, when I nipped in there today they didn't have it instore, so I've had to fork out postage, but still a great deal compared to everywhere else selling it. I may have bought a couple of other books <cough> whilst I was at it. BUT they were ALL bargains I tell you...Bargains!

In which I accidently buy more fabric...

I must not buy more fabric. I must use what i have before I buy more ...and repeat.

The nightfox jersey is my latest purchase. I couldn't help it guv - the shipping was free and all!

Its the cheap this stuff, not cheap at all, but actually when you work out what what you can make with it, its cheaper than buying a full price pair of trousers from a supermarket (will get to that) I just love the scandinavian and german jersey fabrics. They are gorgeous.



So the dinosaur fabric (below) has already been sewn up (see my 'Sewing' page) into comfy trousers for Noah.



This tiger fabric is in the queue for sewing too. I don't think I'll do a waistband for these, just elasticated waist and cuffs for summer.



So then we get to the reason for purchase. This is Noah. He is three :

   

Noah likes to wear many things when he's out and about, but bog standard trousers are not included.

He hates trousers. He went through a long period of refusing to change out of his pyjama bottoms (we still have trouble with that) and so I had to find something that looked like pyjama bottoms but were in fact, not.

Polarn o Pyret leggings were a godsend. Lovely bright stripes and a soft velour fabric, he has worn these all winter (and boy that winter has been long).

I stocked up in the sales and he wears them in rotation in three different colourways. He will also wear lightweight fleecy jogging bottoms so he has a few of those too. But its warming up outside, so we need summer casual bottoms.

                                                                 Noah in his polarn leggings

   

 

I decided we'd have some a bit like the polarn ones, but in nice cotton jersey, keeping the cuffs as they mean the child can wear them for longer as they don't hang over the feet.

The jersey fabric is generally about £20 a metre - expensive no? - but the quality is excellent - and at the moment half a metre is enough (sort of - see below) to make a pair of trousers plus either shorts, couple of pants, or a t-shirt. Which makes it not so bad.

After I ordered the fabric (half metre) I then realised that he was too tall to just elasticate the waistband, so had to add a waistband as well as cuffs.

Noah wearing his dinosaur comfy trousers, with friend Lucas (who happens to be half swedish, although his cute little scandi t-shirt is hidden by his jacket)


My next battle is to get Noah out of his Splats wellies which are the only things he has worn on his feet for the last four months (not counting socks!), and into his shoes. Tried and failed to do that this morning.

Luckily, my eldest Joey, who is 6, doesn't give a monkeys about what he wears. So he lives in what ever I can locate in his drawers that day!

Jersey Fabrics from:
http://kitschycoo.bigcartel.com/category/fabric
http://funkykitsch.co.uk/product-category/fabric-2/
http://www.plushaddict.co.uk/