It was all yellow.

If yesterday had to have a theme, it would have been yellow.
Sunshine, popcorn, and buttery yellow knitting. Lovely.

I also have a recipe to share with you. I had planned to do so earlier in the week, but it just seems to fit so perfectly with the 'yellow' theme, that it would be a shame not to share it today.
It is a recipe for Zucchini Loaf, given to me by my Mother-In-Law quite a few years ago now. It doesn't sound very appetising, but I swear it is one of the most moist and delicious things I ever bake. The 'healthiness' of the courgette is counter-balanced with a tonne of sugar, and even my kids will eat it. (Though, I confess, I did tell them it was banana until they'd finished the first piece..)

Charlotte's Zucchini Loaf

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 tsp vanilla
1/2c oil

2c firmly packed grated zucchini (green or yellow)
1c walnuts or 3/4c choc chips (optional)

2 1/2c flour
4tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 177C (350F).
Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil.
Stir in zucchini and walnuts/choc chips.
Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
Place in two loaf tins, and bake for approx 40 minutes.

I usually freeze one loaf and we devour the other, slathered in butter, quite promptly. Nyum.

Make my week, baby: Week 4

This week, I decided to do things a little differently : in true Rhiannon style, I decided to start knitting on the hottest week of Summer we've had so far! I'm so smart. hah. But really, some amazing lady told me that I would knit baby hats on circular needles (because double points and I just don't get along..) and I had to give it a go. And then I had to try and do one with stripes.. and well, the cardigan? I don't have any excuses for that one. I just love the pattern so much, I found some wool at the op shop, and had two days left in the week : )
(Hat is this pattern, and the cardigan is another one of these.)





I don't know if you can tell by the pictures, but these wee sets are made from 70's stretch towelling. Am I the only one who has a thing for babies in towelling? It just seems like the perfect fabric for little ones. And these colours are too, so hard to find baby clothes in bright colours these days!
The hats are, of course, more Sweetpea Pilot caps. And the pants are made from the Kwik Sew pattern I used for the merino ones.)



Lastly, I think I nearly perfected a pattern for newborn harem type pants this week.
(They are, heavily, inspired by the pants by this incredibly talented woman. I take no credit at all for this design.)
I made these from light sweatshirting type fabric, and put ribbing bands on the waist and the cuffs. Ribbed waistbands are so wonderful for little new pukus (and for pregnant ones too..), much softer than elastic. I plan to make a few more pairs of these, in a bigger size, they seem like they'll be the perfect comfy pants.


In other news, I'm sure most of you saw that the first of our wee pregnant-bloggy-quartet welcomed her little one earthside this week! Congrats Stella, and welcome to wee Garland James. You are both very lovely, and have me feeling incredibly clucky!
Dee, who will be next, is going to be giving us some baby-related tutorials and posts over the next few weeks. I'm feeling so excited about all the babies at the moment! Eeee.

Make my week, baby: Week 3

Don't you love those weeks where you feel like you haven't really achieved much, and then you realise that, actually, you've done much more than you think? This week has been very much like that for me, craft-wise at least.
I had planned a blog post in my head where I explained to you all that I've been too busy sorting the studio, ready for a bit of a room switcheroo, and hadn't actually managed much sewing at all. But when I went to take photos of things this morning, it turned out that some magic sewing fairies must have been at work, and my 'finished' pile was actually rather impressive!

(Sidenote: I have no idea why the grass is a different shade of green in every photo. Editing the photos was only making it worse, so you'll just have to forgive me. Please?)







I made three more of the newborn wrap tops this week. I told you they were addictive! I made a cream and brown one for our babe, another the same as a gift and a blue and brown one which I am swapping for a skein of the most beautiful wool I've seen in a long time. (With which I will attempt to knit one of those delicious hats with the little cords on the top.)






I finished my WIP from last week. A stretch'n'grow type suit, using the KwikSew pattern #3090.
I repurposed a merino turtle neck for the main part, and some merino scraps from a top for the binding.
I'm absolutely LOVING the press snaps at the moment. Despite them being rather pricey, I want to put them on EVERYTHING. Might have something to do with the satisfaction/stress release of hammering them on?



This was my first attempt at the Sweetpea Pilot Cap. So cuute! Why is everything little so, so much cuter? I made this from a recycled wool jumper, and some spare ribbing, and it came together in about 20 minutes. Yet another highly addictive pattern - I already have more of these in the works.

Lastly, this week I made these:



It's pretty much impossible to tell what they are from this photo, so I borrowed Aesop's friend, Froggy, to help demonstrate:

They are swaddling wraps! Pretty nifty, aye? I used the tutorial over at Prudent baby. I took a few liberties with the sizing, and also used wool blend knits instead of flannel. I'm not entirely sure how practical they will be, but they sure are sweet. I think they'd make very cool baby shower presents, too.

And with that, my week finishes. 3 down, 12(ish) to go!

Wardrobe Wednesday ( and a few other days..)

I've been making an effort this week, trying really hard not to succumb to the temptation to wear super comfy (read: fairly ugly) 'maternity' clothing. Been trying to remind myself that dresses are just as comfortable, but look so much nicer, and make me feel a lot better about myself. Wanna see?

Outfit number one:Glasses - Sunglasses place at Bayfair
Dress- Red cross shop $4
Tan belt - The Warehouse $19.99
Grey flats - The Warehouse $17

Otto is wearing all homemade 'cept the jandals, of course!



Outfit number two:

Brooch - Croutons (me!)
Dress - Thrifted in Te Puke $6
Black belt - Salvation army $2
Flats - The Warehouse $15


And today's outfit:







Dress - Thrifted at St Vinnies Yesterday $2
Tan Belt - The Warehouse $19.99
Pink Flats - The Warehouse $12

Stuff (and things) of late.

(Lazing and Lego playing...)


(A spot of doodling..)

(Baby growing...)

(A trip to Spotlight for fabric..)

(Delicious Summer food eating..)

(Goofing around..)

(Sewing a studio sorting..)


(Playstation playing, and Yo Gabba Gabba watching..)


(And even more goofing around..)

Make my week, baby: Week 2

Okay, so I miiiight have gone a little overboard this week. Can I use the excuse that it is Abraham's last week of holidays? And that I'll have less time for sewing as of Monday? Or is extreme nesting instinct enough of an excuse for the fact that I seem to have made one thing per day this week?!

This was the WIP from last week. It's a bit of a funny one, totally not my usual style, but I love it all the same. I used the same pattern that I used for the bunting last week, and made it from olive linen and polka dot cotton. Abraham tells me it's like extreme 'casual wear'. Still working out if this is a good, or a bad, thing.





This set will, hopefully be one of the first outfits the babe wears. It's teensy tiny, and I estimate that it will fit for approximately 2 days, but I couldn't resist making it! I used two merino tops that I picked up at the Sallies, for a few bucks each. I'm so pleased with how 'professional' looking they are (I heart my twinneedle!), feeling much better about the fact that I just can't afford to splash out on Mokopuna/Nature Baby etc.
(Pants and bodysuit are Kwik Sew 3811 and the hat is from this tute)

Girly things. So weird to be making girly things! But, like I said, if by some strange chance this bebe is a girl, I want to have just a few 'pretty' things to put her in. I'm not big on pink, so these seemed like the perfect compromise. They're made using this tutorial, it was so easy I think there'll be a few more in the next few weeks!





I think there might be a few more of these little tops, too. I love wrap-tops on newborns - so easy to change- but they get a bit bulky if you're then also having to put another top over them (to go out etc), so making a wrap jumper seems like the perfect solution! I found this pattern, and then tweaked the sizing a little ( it seemed tiny, and my babies are far from tiny!). I still need to get another two snaps, but I love love it.



And this is a work in progress.. it's super close to being done, but needs snaps and a little handstitching. It'll be my number one for next week : )

Phew!

Frugal Fashion (and fringe!) Friday!

I was hoping to get this post done yesterday (which would of made it an actual Frugal Fashion Friday..) but I went round to a friends house for afternoon tea, ate way too much cake (the pregnant woman's wine..), and somehow ended not coming home until dark. Whoops!

Yesterday morning, I decided it was time to go back to black - hair, that is. I've had black hair on and off since I was 15. And every year I debate whether I'm getting too 'old' for such a harsh colour, and then decide I can probably do one more year. (I'm not sure quite why I have put an age limit on it, maybe because it reminds me so much of younger days?)
One thing I really do need to grow out of, is trimming my fringe. I'm not sure if you can really tell from the photos, but I'm terrible at it. It is always left full of steps and strays. Why oh why is it such an effort to get to the hairdressers for a (free?!) trim every few weeks?

Anywho:
Top: Farmers $29.99
Singlet: Kmart $8
Belt: The Warehouse: $19.99
Skirt: homemade from a vintage one (probably about $2)
Flats: The Warehouse $12



Thought it would be fun to take a photo of all three boys, too. Getting a good one is easier said than done though, those three are crazy. Hah.

Aesop:
Shirt: op shop $2
Shorts: Farmers $24

Otto:
Shirt: op shop (about $1)
Shorts: homemade from a pair of $1 jeans.

Abraham:
Hat: A website (maybe Giantpeach?) - More money than I would let him spend on a hat. Hah.
T-Shirt: Lower outlet store $30
Shorts: Asian clothing store- $20
Shoes: Salvation Army - $3