Happy New Years Eve 2019

Fireworks colour board at Clever Chameleon

A brief moment to wish you well. See you next year!

It is times like these that I am reminded why colours, creativity, quilting, blogging and connecting with people all over the world are activities so important to me. Australia is doing it tough this summer, with devastating fires having now hit every State; several more jaw-dropping tragedies unfolding today, even as I write. It is good to have something positive to be outward looking to, to balance the bad news and heartache a little.

So while I am not really in the mood to party tonight, I am still thankful at the turn of this year. Thankful for personal safety and two healthy kids who are fit to burst at the thought of staying up “all night”, the youngest for the first time (if he makes it through to midnight awake this time, poor kid! lol). Thankful for the magic of colour, and for the inspiration that people generously share on the internet, and for the cross-cultural language of creativity. And also thankful for all the bloggers who have become my internet friends and real life friends, thankful for all the readers who have shared a comment or made one of my quilt patterns, and thankful to Island Batik for helping me find my groove in the past two years.

I am also looking forward to new creativity, with relish, after this bit of forced break. I’m still packing and sorting our yesterdays like there is no tomorrow. All the while actually thinking about “tomorrow”…. and working around the Help, of course!

Mew and Thomas doll
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Enrolling in another PhD – 2020 planning

I already have one PhD, but this one might suit me better!

There are so many things I want to do in 2020, but one thing high on my list is to reduce the number of unfinished objects (UFOs) in my sewing room. I’d like to substantially clear the decks for a fresh start in 2021.

Many of the unfinished quilts against my name are from my early quilting days (2012-2015). I found that once I became an Island Batik Ambassador in 2018 I didn’t have time to get back to many of my pre-existing UFOs. And while that was ok for a time, 2020 is my year to fix this.

To get this done, I have chosen a support crew. You! And Gail of Quilting Gail blog, who has a PhD program…. for Projects Half Done. I probably need to do this program for both my sewing in 2020 and my pattern writing, but let’s just go with sewing for now. The rules are: Finish what you start in 2020, and nominate 12 (or more) already started projects to also finish in 2020.

You are invited to join me in tackling your unfinished sewing projects in 2020. And to take a rare peek into the Chameleon’s sewing past before the blog and Island Batik ambassadorship. There are a couple of newer projects in the mix, but many of them well and truly pre-date my blog.

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Warm Wishes: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Christmas Star colour board at Clever Chameleon

The Christmas Season is Heating Up!

The tree is up, presents are bought, plans are mostly laid. The weather outside is variable; this week it is stinking hot, until it’s not. It’s going to be 44C by Friday. For those of you not familiar with Celcius to Farenheit, 44C is about 111F. Then Saturday will have a maximum of 25C….. that will be one heck of a cool change when it blows through. It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas!

weather forecast

Although 44C is not the hottest we’ve ever had (46.6C in Jan 2019), it will equal our hottest December day on record. In fact, heat records are set to fall in much of this sunburnt country of ours this week while I try to pack and quilt. Two not-so-great options for this weather, but we have health, water and shelter, and no bushfires nearby – a lot to be thankful for. Christmas Day will be more like our December average of 28C.

And in harmony with end-of-year thankfulness, it’s that time of year when the Chameleon expresses his gratitude to you my readers by breaking out in song. Continue reading for your annual dose of Clever Chameleon Quilty Christmas Carols!

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Penguin Play Date: 3D Island Batik Challenge

Mario and Luigi themed penguin toys

Meet Mario and Luigi, the Dauntless Dynamic Duo!

Island Batik 3D challenge logo

The Island Batik Ambassador challenge for December is to make something 3D. So, today we have….. two 3Ds. Two delightfully dapper dudes! 😀 I made these two penguin guys from a Funky Friends Factory pattern and dressed them in the dashing designer decor of my nephew’s favourite game characters. And so my main project for the 3D challenge is decidedly, definitely, done.

My new penguin pals are only staying with me until Christmas, as they have a plan to adopt said nephew and move in with him. I believe their idea is to wrap themselves in paper and stealth themselves into his life by pretending to be presents. A dazzlingly daring design. I think it just might work!

But first, these distinguished dinkum dreamboats must earn their keep by taking a turn to show off their Island Batik credentials. No dogged dull drudgery here though…. Mario and Luigi had plenty of fun on their photo shoot at their choice of delectable day destination….. I’m assured that a day at the local playground and wetlands is a penguin’s most dearly desired dream.

Here’s what happened when two 3D penguins were asked to strut their Island Batik stuff…..

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