Tag Archives: paper piecing

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)
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  • 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

Meal Plan {07.07.2013} + Pillow Swap recap

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Remember last month, we had a pillow swap and I made Sea Spray pillow. My partner loved her pillow, and since I was not able to attend she picked up my pillow from my swap partner – Sarah from Stitching and Bacon. Here is my wonderful woodpecker pillow, I so love, sitting in my sunroom:
IMG_7792

My favorite part is the backing Godzilla fabric, which is cool 🙂IMG_7794

Now onto our meal plan for the week, we played a little flexible this week so you will see some repeats this week:

DAY BREAKFAST DINNER
Saturday Smootie Sandwich
Sunday Bircher Muesli Moroccan Lamb (Grilled)+ Cheese Cauliflower Bake + Wheat Berries
Monday English Muffin + Banana + Almond Butter Frittata
Tuesday Bircher Muesli Thai Green Curry + Brown Rice
Wednesday English Muffin + Banana + Almond Butter zPizza
Thursday Bircher Muesli BBQ Chicken + Grilled Vegetables
Friday Berry + Banana + Spirulina Smoothie Cook out with Friends

Most of our vegetables this week are from the garden, which made it a very short list for the week.

GROCERY LIST (NEW STOCK) IN THE CUPBOARD/FRIDGE
  • Soy Milk (TJ)
  • Bread (TT)
  • Frozen Banana /Berries (TJ)
  • Fruit for snack (TJ)
  • Eggs (TJ)
  • Cheese (TT)
  • + Additional Cook out
    items
  • Lamb Shanks (BJ)
  • Gluten Free Pasta (TT)
  • Brown Rice (TJ)
  • Oats (BJ)
  • Sultanas (TT)
  • Wheat Berries (WF)
  • Cabbage (our garden)
  • Broccoli (our garden)
  • Carrots (our garden)
  • Cauliflower (our garden)
  • Tomatoes (TJ)
  • Apples (TJ)
  • Potatoes (TJ)
  • Onions (TJ)
  • Chicken (BJ)
  • Thai Green Curry (TT)
  • English Muffins (TT)

NOTE: We shop majority at Trader Joe’s (TJ), Target (TT) with an occasional visit to Whole foods (WF), BJ’s , Harris Teeters (HT), Lowes Food (LF) and Fresh Market (FM).
NOTE: We do not typically use coupons mainly due to time.

Finish it up Friday {28.06.2013} : The Royal-X-Plus paper piecing block

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Firstly, some of this content you would have seen from Wednesday post please go over and check out the my “Let’s get acquainted New bloggers” post….check out the other participant’s posts for this week.

I am so excited today as I am introducing my first paper piecing pattern…

“Royal – X – Plus Block”TealOrange_Royal_X_PlusBlock

The block reminds me of a mashup of a union jack and the X & + Block (hence the name). It was inspired by a floor tile. I would consider this Intermediate due to the joins but an easy sew since they are all straight lines. The biggest tip I can give, is when joining the 3 sections using opposite pressed seams to match the pieces up (like you would matching up a row of squares).

I reached out to others participating in the New Bloggers blog hop and a big thank you goes out to my three testers that tested my pattern. I am so appreciative of the work and great feedback. Here are their blocks:

Cath @ Wombat Quilts, who posts a paper piece block every Monday which are always amazing!! She made her block 11.5 x 11.5″. finished block

Alison @ Making Happyness, who is a newbie at paper piecing. Her first paper piecing was a beautiful rose.Ali @ Making Happyness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works, made this very cute mini quilt from the block. I could definitely use this as a mug rug or a pot holder/trivet….don’t you think??DSC01700

In the process of making the pattern I tried a couple of blocks, and after feedback from Alison I wanted to show you all how a couple of blocks would work together.Royal_X_Cross_Blocks

You can get the free pattern from Craftsy, here. If you try it out I would love to know, so I invite you to post photo’s of your finished block on my Paper Piecing Flickr Group.

Linking up with Amanda Jean’s Finish it up Friday @ CrazyMomQuilts and with Kristy @ Quiet Play.

Paper Piecing Party