Tag Archives: kiwi

Weekend Finishes {12.08.2013}

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Have you ever had one of those weekends when you have these lofty plans and ideas of what you will get finished….and you just never quite get there? Yes, that was my weekend.

I had lofty plans to complete:

  • A couple of blocks (2 paper pieced blocks)
  • 6 chair bags
  • Finish 1 kiwi pillow
  • Start 2 pillows/ cushions
  • Attend a sew-in for my MQG monthly meeting

What did I get done (besides the washing and grocery shopping)??

Finished the Little Scrappy Kiwi Pillow 
See this post on materials used, the paper piecing design is by Juliet @ Tartan Kiwi.
KiwiPillow_Front_Finish

Backing: Kona Red cotton, and Diamonds in Red, Textured Basics, designed by Patty Young for Michael Miller. Invisible zip used as the pillow closing.KiwiPillow_Back

Sold on Etsy today – all ready to ship tomorrow.
KiwiPillow_Packed

Finished 2nd set of Chair Bags
Main Pocket: Custom Balloon print “Up, Up and Away” designed by Tamara Serrao and available from Spoonflower.com (printed on Kona Cotton). It is lined with Robert Kaufman Orange corduroy.

Middle Pocket: Is divided into two pockets, and made with Robin Zingone, Flirty Flowers Pink Tonal Dots quilting fabric topped with pink binding.

Back: is made with Robert Kaufman Orange corduroy.
ChairBags_BalloonsOrangeFront

Ok, can someone chime in – how do you photograph neon colors? Yes, that Orange corduroy is neon orange. The photos were taken in natural light – I tried playing around with them a bit but this is the best I could get the corduroy to look. Maybe, this is what I will master for Beth @ Plum and June’s Quilt Photography Workshop challenge this month.

Plum and June

The chair bags/ chair pockets are now available on my Etsy store.

ChairBags_BalloonsOrangeStuffed

So that was it…a long way from my plan but not too bad, at least I had some finishes. Right?

Actually, thinking about it now, my whole last week was like that, never seeming to keep up with the plan. The best thing about last week though, is I caught up on posting all the items I needed to on Thursday. Those folks expecting things from me, should be receiving them this week (unless you are international).

I will be linking up with Janice @ Better off thread for Sew Cute Tuesday.

Better Off Thread

 

The Iconic Kiwi + “Little Kiwi” Pillow

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New Zealand, where I am from, is very well-know, of course, for the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, the scenery and its nature. New Zealand has one of the largest native bird populations in the world. The most famous of which is the Kiwi (which for those that don’t know we refer to ourselves as kiwis,  it’s after the bird not the fruit 🙂 ). They are a flightless bird and represented through New Zealand culture:

  • Used to be the character that said Goodnight when the tv channels ended (1981-1994 before Tv went 24 hours)
    hqdefault
  • Used in the popular Kids books – The little Kiwi
    little-kiwi-flies-to-the-rescue-p
  • As the image for “Buying NZ made” products
    nz-made-logo
  • On our coins
    101416355_-com-1950-new-zealand-one-florin-coin---kiwi-bird- images-1 images-2
  • A mascot for the Commonwealth Games
    games_pastGames_1990_Mascot
  • Represented in the symbol for the Royal New Zealand Airforce
    air_force_roundel3…….

The list goes on, obviously we love the little guys. What do you remember as a iconic symbol of your country and childhood???

Why did I cover the significance of a kiwi you might be asking….Well, Juliet over at Tartan Kiwi has had a paper piecing pattern for a kiwi, which I used before in this cushion/pillow and loved!!!
IMG_7005

Well, she is expanding that pattern to do a complete line of New Zealand Native Birds….I am so excited and delighted. She revamped her Kiwi Paper piecing Pattern, and I decided to give it another go, using colors a friend requested.

Finished Kiwi Paper Pieced BlockKiwi_RedBrown_CloseUp

Little Kiwi Pillow TopKiwi_RedBrown

Her other paper piecing patterns for New Zealand Birds are available on Craftsy and include:

  • Kiwi (free pattern)
  • Pukeko (free pattern)
  • Kea (soon to be available)
  • Fantail (soon to be available)

Over the next week, I am going to give a couple more a go and I will post the finished blocks. These are so much fun and definitely helps grow and improv your paper-piecing skills….I have loved them. Hope you give them a go.

Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day hosted over @ Lily’s Quilts and Paper Piecing Party over @ Quiet Play.

Lily's Quilts Paper Piecing Party

March Goal Progress Report

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I feel I have made quite a bit of Progress on many of my goals this month. I still may have bitten of more than I can chew. Reminder for April – no more than 3 craft goals !!! Checking in with Lovely Year of Finishes.

A Lovely Year of Finishes

Before I move into where I am at for March, I have planned the new technique to try for June (how’s that for planning). For my birthday (June 8th), I booked a workshop with Lotta Jansdotter who does amazing fabric printing, and to top it all off, I can spend the weekend in NEW YORK!!! You can check out her website here. I am so excited.

Ok, back to the now!!!  I did finish a little hexie coffee cup sleeve for a custom order, in addition to my March goals. Here is where I am at for March:

  1. Bottom, Baste and Quilt, the “Four Seasons in one day” (named after a crowded house song).
    Back finish, Basted, and my first line of quilting done.
    IMG_6974 IMG_6980
  2. Finish 2 sets of chair bags.
    No Progress.
  3. Finish 1 set of pot holders (custom order)
    Fabric Ordered.
  4. Finish a E-reader case
    No Progress.
  5. Sew + Finish the Triple zip pouch
    Fabric Cut, ready to start sewing.
  6. Kiwi Paper Piecing Cushion Cover
    Completed on Friday. This by far has been my favorite project and I love how it turned out.
  7. Make 1-2 Blocks for our Madrona Road Challenge
    Design decided and first block complete

Continue with my more general goals

  1. Continue with Life Style Challenge with a focus on:
    – No Sugar or Processed Food
    I am doing ok on processed food but awful in avoiding sugar – need to work on that the next two weeks
    – Exercise 3 times a week
    I have executed a plan and suckered in a friend to walk with my twice a week – Thanks Su 🙂
  2. Post 3 times a week min.
    Definitely doing well on this one
  3. Post a new recipe each week
    Yes, at least one recipe a week