Arkaroola Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Clever Chameleon Quilting

June 16, 2020January 19, 2024

Arkaroola Birds: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Mallee parrot colours at Clever Chameleon

Thirsty, Busy, Romantic Visitors

June seems to be nesting season at Arkaroola. There are lots of pairs of birds around, and I’ve even been seeing a few different species collecting nesting materials. A Little Crow went past my lounge room window on the weekend with several large sticks in its beak. The Mallee Ringneck Parrots seem to be collecting moss or lichen from my roof. And all the lads have started trying to impress their dinner dates by bringing them to the very exclusive Chameleon’s freshwater café and bar.

The nights here have become very cold recently, which causes water to condense on our roof and verandahs. It is also increasingly dry here again, so this condensation seems to be an important source of morning water for the local birds. So, when the conditions are just right, we get a queue of feathered visitors to drink from our gutters. Most are very camera shy, and flee at the first scent of paparazzi, so it has been challenging to get good photos. But I have managed to snap and identify a few of the different species.

The handsome fellow in our colour board is a Mallee Ringneck Parrot. He brought a lady friend, but she stayed on the roof out of sight until they were ready to leave. He posed for just long enough to get a couple of pics for the society pages. My other recently identified visitors include Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, White-plumed Honeyeaters, and Purple-backed Fairywrens. The Crested Pigeons and Willie Wagtails continue to visit too.

In the sewing room, I’m still making good progress on the Lunarcy quilt. The cold nights that are watering the birds are also playing havoc with my bobbin tension though….. so sewing is off the menu until the ambient temperature rises each morning. Not that I am often allowed to touch the quilt until Mr Mew is warm anyway.

June 9, 2020January 19, 2024

Ladybirds for Luck: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Ladybug colour board at Clever Chameleon

Ladybirds for Luck

So…… This week, things are going pretty well here…… Covid restrictions easing. My latest assignment written (and submitted!) on time. Three more blocks on the Lunarcy finished….. which gives me some breathing space to do some of the pattern writing for a change. And a four day weekend due to a public holiday yesterday combined with a student-free day today…. Puts me in the mood for a lighthearted look at Lady Luck, since that’s where the themes in my sewing room, the great outdoors and my linky inbox seem to intersect this week.

Why luck? The Chameleon doesn’t strike you as being overly superstitious, (unless it suits him), you say? Ladybugs, that’s why. They are the latest nice thing to arrive in my desert backyard in numbers large enough for me to notice. The ladybugs here in Arkaroola are smaller than at home in Adelaide, and are quite a fabulous orange, with large “three-lobed” markings. They are the Transverse Ladybird, or Coccinella transversalis, whereas the ones further south are the Large Spotted Ladybird, and are, well, larger and more spotted.

Lucky Charms

Ladybirds are lucky in many cultures, and widely popular as a good luck charm. Good for the garden, and cheery to look at. When I am finished the Lunarcy project, I am tempted to work some ladybird luck into my sewing room next. I am still thinking to design some extra blocks to accompany a paper-pieced garden block I have just developed for Seams to be Sew’s row-along in September. Ladybugs are right at the top of my ideas list. It seems to me that a Ladybug quilt is a must have in one’s gifting repertoire….. Going on a new adventure? – Cool, here’s a ladybug quilt for prosperity in your new place. Getting engaged or married?…. Everyone needs a bit of luck to kickstart the journey. A quilt for comfort in health challenges? Ladybugs are never in bad taste.

Actually, the Chameleon says ladybugs have a very bad taste indeed. Lucky for them, I reckon.

Do you know what else is supposed to be lucky? A rabbit’s foot.

Personally, I think I know something luckier than a rabbit’s foot… the rabbit that got to keep it.

Yup, you guessed it. I’m up to the Year of the Rabbit block on the Lunarcy quilt.

June 2, 2020January 19, 2024

Salvation Jane and Ruby Dock: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Salvation Jane colour board at Clever Chameleon

Happy Winter, from the Southern Hemisphere

Our winter officially started here yesterday. Although if you were here, you’d be forgiven for not noticing: 18C (64F) and sunny. Truly lovely weather during the day, although the nights are chilly now.

Arkaroola in June — Arkaroola at the beginning of June

The desert knows it’s not summer anymore though. The Salvation Jane weeds (also known as Paterson’s Curse) are growing their incredibly perfect rosettes of teal leaves in the creek bed. Hate the weed, but got to admire that growth habit in our colour board! Also, another weed that has been insipidly hanging around for months has suddenly just acquired breathtaking colour. I give you the latest in desert decoration: the Ruby Dock.

I can’t help but admire the colours, the intricate patterns and the marvellous textures of these amazing plants, even if it would be better if they weren’t here.

The beautiful weather has been good for my own intricate patterns too. I’ve had a productive week ….. I’ve finished my secret sewing I mentioned last week, and submitted the draft pattern. I’m increasingly finding that paper-piecing is pretty addictive…. But no squirrels just yet. I am being good and I’m back to working on the Lunarcy. I have even finished tweaking the Year of the Dog block. Another big step closer to starting to release the pattern.

May 26, 2020January 19, 2024

Yellow Butterfly Hijinks: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Yellow Butterfly Hijinks colour board at Clever Chameleon

The little blue flower that started a neighbourhood dispute…..

Or was it the yellow butterfly? Or someone else entirely…..?

Watching the local pollinators compete, you would be forgiven for thinking that flowers are scarce in Arkaroola right now. Which, I think you probably get the idea: they are not. The cooler weather, plus the months elapsed since our big rain, has resulted in a bloom of both flowers and insects. Wanted and otherwise.

But apparently some flower locales are more desirable than other blooming addresses. Even within the best Cattle Bush Restaurants there appears to be premium tables where the best-dressed socialites wish to be seen hanging. The freshest nectar. The showiest location….. or perhaps just a good old fear of missing out? Whatever the reason, the competition out there for specific dining experiences is fierce right now. And, for a butterfly of quiet disposition, eating out is not quite as simple a task as you might expect!

Come sit in a dry Arkaroola creek bed with me and watch the locals fight it out for a feed. Not everyone was as yellow as these guys either. Size and brawn both still count for something when you want your own way, apparently.

After the cheap amusement, we can quickly detour past my sewing room, although most of what I’ve done there this week has to stay secret for a bit longer. No Lunarcy this week, something entirely different- my very first paper-pieced pattern! Ha, you didn’t see that coming, did you? Actually, that makes two of us.

And then join me to find out where some of the best hangouts on the quilt-net were this week. Warning: humble brag forecast this week is for a high chance of self-promotion. 😀

May 19, 2020January 19, 2024

The Centre of the Galaxy! Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Two-spotted Line-Blue butterfly colours at Clever Chameleon

The Chameleon thinks he’s vindicated!

Annoying!

That’s what it is… annoying…. when someone unashamedly thinks that they are the centre of the Universe, and then it turns out that they actually are. Or close enough to. Can you imagine how big the Chameleon’s head is this week since he found out the entire galaxy revolves around him?!

Okay, he is still exaggerating. But he did find a constellation named in his honour this week, thanks to some stargazing adventures in one of the local observatories.

And consequently, the Chameleon’s head?…… it is Huge!

My progress on the Lunarcy Quilt? Not quite so big. We’ve had temporary electricity dramas, which knocked out much of my sewing time. I have started on the Dog block, but it’s a work in progress.

At least having insufficient electricity doesn’t prevent butterfly spotting. A whole new set of species are out lately. They are all small ones, but pretty. Our colour board contributor is a Two-spotted Line-blue (I believe). It was playing with the Common Grass-blues. Which are also very pretty.