Arkaroola Archives - Clever Chameleon Quilting

October 27, 2020January 19, 2024

Rats! Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

2020 – Year of the Rat

In the beginning there was the Rat. And the Rat jumped the queue.

According to Chinese legend, it was the Rat who (somewhat dodgily) won the Emperor’s race that decided the identity and order of the Zodiac animals. And so it is the Rat who is the first animal of the 12-year Lunar Calendar cycle. As one version of the story goes, the Rat caught a ride in the amiable Ox’s ear to cross a river during the race, but then abused the favour by dashing across the finish line first, claiming the honours.

And it seems that the ancient precedent for the Rat jumping the queue still holds. I started designing the Lunarcy quilt in 2018 with the Dog appliqué, and then followed in 2019 with the Pig appliqué, but it is the Rat appliqué that is released first. It seems only fitting though – 2020 is the Year of the Rat, the Year of the Lunarcy quilt, and coincidentally, also somewhat dodgy.

Year of the Rat Appliqué at Clever Chameleon

And so, today is the day to grab your copy of the Lunarcy Rat appliqué pattern. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

READ ON TO KEEP COLLECTING YOUR LUNARCY PATTERNS

September 22, 2020January 19, 2024

A Little Birdie: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

A little birdie wants to tell you…

… all about the quilt I am making. It’s from the It’s A Garden Party row along. Oh, oh, he is hopping with excitement! Of course, the little birdie must not tell you too much just yet, but he can drop a few morsels of information. He can definitely show you what I’ve sewn from patterns already released in the It’s A Garden Party row along.

It's a garden party row along with Seams to be Sew

He can also tell you who is participating in the hop next. The hop hop of excitement has really only just got into full swing…. there are lots and lots of blocks still yet to come. Lots more blog hop hopping you can do to find patterns and prize draws. Lots and lots of garden secrets and secret gardens to discover. Plenty of fun remaining!

Nearly my turn in the row along!

Not to be outdone by a gossipy little birdie, the attention seeking Chameleon is going to give you a sneak peak today of ~~his~~ my our quilt block for the It’s a Garden Party hop… I’ve called it “Garden Bath Joy”. My free pattern is coming on Thursday, only a couple more days to wait! The Chameleon imagines you’re going mottled with anticipation!

While the Chameleon amuses himself and the rest of us wait patiently for Thursday, we can take the birdie’s tour of the It’s A Garden Party blocks I have sewn so far. And I’ve picked out some garden-themed beauties from the Chameleon’s last Colour & Inspiration Party to keep us on theme to the end. This week it’s all flower power and Spring fever at the Clever Chameleon!

September 15, 2020January 19, 2024

Hummingbirds and Hot Springs: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Aren’t Hummingbirds the greatest?

Don’t tell the Chameleon, but I think so. One of Nature’s little oddities, and beautiful into the bargain. We don’t have hummingbirds in Australia, and I’ve never seen one, although I’d love to one day. In the meantime I have settled for making an appliqué version…. yup, I started playing around with some of the free patterns being offered in the It’s A Garden Party Row Along that popped up last week. I hope you’ve had a chance to look into that blog hop for both the patterns and the prizes.

Also, I have devised a cunning quilt plan to use some of the Garden Party blocks. I will reveal my progress as the pattern collection grows. If you like it you are welcome to make one too. I can tell you how it goes together, you find all the parts in your collected patterns, and then you beat me at my own game. No waiting for me to get my act together to write you a pattern. Perfect!

Read on to get your head start on me now. 😀

July 14, 2020January 19, 2024

Dragon On: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Campfire colour board at Clever Chameleon, Photo by Timothy Meinberg

I’m on fire!

I’ve finished three assignments in one week and I’ve sewn down the remaining flowers onto the Lunarcy quilt. I even have a plan for finishing the flower centres, I think. Everything is on schedule for the Chameleon to be able to go AWOL for a few days very soon, touch wood!

Maybe my luck is holding because it is the week to unveil the Year of the Dragon appliqué block. My birth sign, and my favourite block on the Lunarcy quilt. Here he is…. one over-spec’d lizard.

The Chameleon knows a kindred spirit when he sees one. 😀

June 23, 2020January 19, 2024

Winter Solstice: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Moth at Arkaroola colour board at Clever Chameleon

Desert winters are nothing if not unpredictable

Winter is a funny thing in the desert. The nights are mostly bitterly cold, while the days are pleasantly warm. But very occasionally we get a wind blowing in with heat from somewhere, and the night can stay ‘balmy’ for many hours after sunset. We had one of those evenings on Friday night. While the freezing cold nights (think frozen water pipes) are bug-free, warmer evenings bring small collections of brave new winter visitor species we haven’t seen before. Mostly lazy moths decorated in interesting patterns, like this pretty little thing that reminds me of a seventies carpet rug.

On a tree or a bush, I reckon this little guy could teach the Chameleon a thing or two about camouflage. Instead he seemed to be taking lessons from the Chameleon on standing out. Why let all that wonderful patterning go to waste?

What a load of……

Ummmm….. Ox?

Year of the Ox that is. I’m halfway through the sewing of the Lunarcy quilt and still accelerating. You will have to forgive me if next week is a bust though, as the kids have an itinerant teacher visit for the next few days. All bets are off as to what will or won’t get done.

But, as promised, the top half of the Lunarcy quilt is done this week (except the flower centres). Also, another promise: I am not going to beguile you further with insect stories today. Ok, maybe one butterfly birth. But nothing scary or creepy. How about a short walk around the southern side of Griselda Hill into a slightly damp microclimate instead?