Missing Kiwi And A New Old Machine


This week was a bit rough around our home. Sadly, we said goodbye to our beloved green Kiwi.

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We’ve had these two parakeets for about 5 years or more and like any pet owners, we fell in love with both Kiwi and Barney. A few years ago Kiwi developed a tumor that eventually went away but then developed another one that became problematic. On Tuesday, she underwent a risky surgery to remove the tumor and unfortunately didn’t make it through the operation. We are all missing her sweet face and Barney sure misses his right hand girl. They were always together even at the surgery. Barney was there for moral support at the request of our vet.

Yesterday I was watching an episode of The Quilt Show where they talked about a website called YouPatch where you can turn a photo into a pixelated quilt pattern. I decided to try it out with a cropped version of the above picture of Kiwi. I thought it would be so nice to make a pixelated quilt as a remembrance of her.

I went online and jumped right in to the very easy online ordering system. I designed the quilt based on their suggestions and had the options of how large, how many colors/fabrics and more. It was super easy. In 10 mins or less, I was ready to order. This is what the quilt will look like. The pictures are grainy cause they are right off my computer screen but you get the idea.

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Here they are telling me how many patches and how long it will take to piece the top. I had options before this to choose the size and how many pieces I wanted, etc. I could also see how long it would take to piece with each change I made.

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It also shows me what a sample quilt block will look like.

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The pattern includes everything you need from yardage to fabric colors and instructions. It’s 18 pages long. The fabrics they suggest are all Kona and the manufacturer’s numbers are on there so I know exactly what to order.

You can design your own quilt, pay the to design it or make one of their already existing patterns. Check it out! It’s very cool.

Last year or perhaps the year before, my husband came upon this Singer Spartan machine at a yard sale.

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He called me to go have a look and it was in great condition so I bought it (sorry ladies, he’s taken! LOL). It’s been sitting under my cutting table waiting to be used. In the meanwhile, last summer I bought a toy Singer handcrank and had fun with it out at my pool.

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I began to wonder what it would take to turn that Spartan into a full size handcrank. I researched it a bit on my own and decided I was probably better off leaving it to the experts. Last week I brought the Spartan over to the Singer store in Pembroke, MA and the nice man who owns it said he could do it for me. Of course first he wanted to know where I was going to sew that didn’t have electricity! LOL!!  I explained it was more of a novelty situation and he seemed to understand that. So I’ve left the machine with him to be serviced and renovated into a handcrank! I’m super excited about this and can’t wait for that phone call to pick it up!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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2 responses to “Missing Kiwi And A New Old Machine”

  1. I also have a Spartan Handcrank machine… so much fun to be able to stitch anywhere. So quiet and makes a perfect stitch. I too took mine to have my service guy service it & convert it. I collect treadles but have seen a “handcrank in the wild” so when I spotted the Spartan I knew this was my chance to have one even if it had to be convert. I take it to classes and workshops where I know outlets are at a premium. I can set up anywhere and be out of everyone’s way at the outlets. One of the things I do enjoy doing is sewing on the back deck in the shade where there’s no outlet… must remember to always take it inside when not in use… those summer showers come up fast 🙂

    Have a wonderful time with your new machine… if you ever have time consider joining the TreadleOn.net char group, we do exchanges that are all done on people powered machines…I’m getting ready to start on my batik stars for the fall exchange…here’s the link for the info — I just know you want to join us http://www.kelsew.info/to/2016BatikStarTOBE.html

    Thank you
    kaylace@bellsouth.net

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