Tag Archives: patchwork

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

Tula City Sampler (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) + Last week of New Bloggers Blog hop

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I definitely love being on vacation, and to share there is one more vacation post coming tomorrow. As far as my sewing efforts, I did not get 4 hours a day but did at least two which is great if you ask me. I also did not get everything done that I wanted (I was a little too optimistic), but I did make a good dent in my list. I managed to complete or start:

  • Two triple zipper pouches made for teacher gifts
  • One triple zipper pouch for Triple Zipper Pouch Swap (post to come)
  • Basted 60 solid grey 1 inch hexagons, now starting to hand-sew them on to my hexagon quilt and I am almost finished that row. Need to finish this by August 9th to enter A Season by Hand @ Clover and Violet
  • Kiwi Cushion/Pillow front complete (post to come)
  • Finally, I finished Blocks 1, 2, 3 of Tula City Sampler and in 1/2 day managed 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (3 weeks down, only 6 more to catch-up on). Here are what the last 6 blocks look like….remember I a using Spring House by Moda for the fabric.

Summary of my 9 blocksTulaCitySampler_9Blocks

Block 4
TulaCitySampler_Block4_complete

Block 5
TulaCitySampler_Block5_complete

Block 6
TulaCitySampler_Block6_complete

Block 7
TulaCitySampler_Block7

Block 8
TulaCitySampler_Block8

Block 9
TulaCitySampler_Block9

Also, it is the last week of the Let’s get Acquainted New Bloggers Blog Hop which has been hosted by Beth @ Plum and June. A big shout out to Beth who has been a wonderful and inspiring host. If you have a chance check out the last week’s New Bloggers Post.

Plum and June

Vicki @ A Quilter’s Mission
RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts
Elisa Lea @ Lovelea Designs
Elizabeth @ In The Boon Docks
Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew
Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts
Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers
Emily @ Sew E.T.
Em @ Sewing by Moonlight

Finish it up Friday {26.07.2013} + Back to School Give aways

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Print

Today, I am so excited to be hosting a give away for an independent fabric designer, Natasha K. @ Jumping Birds. I met Natasha after using her fabulous whale fabric for a chair bag order. I loved that fabric, so when she reached out and asked if I would join with her on a Back to School give away using her new line “School Days”, of course I jumped at the opportunity.

I went straight over to Spoonflower and checked the line out, decided it was perfect for the Triple Zipper pouches that I wanted to make my son’s Kindergarten teachers to say thank you. I purchased 5 half yards. This week I went to work, matching the fabrics, choosing the zippers and started on those pouches. I love how they turned out – I am sure the teachers will too (even though they are a little late :-))

The first one:

  • Main Pocket and backing fabric:  Inspirational Pencils
  • Small Pocket 1 fabric: Polka Apples,
  • Small Pocket 2 fabric: Diag. Stripes
  • Lining fabric: ABC’s

TripleZipper_Pencil_front

TripleZipper_ABC_Lining

The Second Pouch:

  • Main Pocket and backing fabric:  School Buses (not included in the giveaway but is available on Spoonflower.com)
  • Small Pocket 1 fabric: Polka Apples,
  • Small Pocket 2 fabric: Inspirational Pencils
  • Lining fabric: Diag. Stripes, and Polka Apples

TripleZipper_Bus_front

TripleZipper_Bus_Lining

You can check out Natasha K. via:

We have two giveaways today, all you have to do is leave a comment before 12pm EST Thursday. I will randomly pick two winners and announce next Friday. If you are a follower, you get a second entry, just let me know how you follow.

Prize 1:  2 x fat quarter prints
icm_fullxfull.29138404_4t82u869hyiow4sw84g0

Prize 2: Swatches of 12 fabrics (7″ x 9″)
icm_fullxfull.29138512_b2vleayrfo8co4ccsccs

Linking up my Triple Zipper Pouch finishes with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Friday.