Moving Times and New Beginnings

Lunar New Year quilt at Clever Chameleon

Happy Lunar New Year 2020!

As I write this, it is Chinese New Year today and Australia Day tomorrow. So I’m wishing everyone who celebrates either or both occasions a very splendid day.

I am celebrating today, albeit in the absence of the Chinese branch of my extended family, with the next step towards launching our next free BOM here at Clever Chameleon. I got word this morning that the Lunar New Year quilt BOM will be supported by Island Batik, who will very kindly supply the fabrics shown in the picture above so I can make the demo quilt. Auspicious timing! So stay tuned for the beginnings of that adventure very soon in February.

Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby, Arkaroola

I will also be celebrating tomorrow with my first Australia Day in the Australian wilderness. Nothing more Australian than admiring macropods in the desert! We have made it safely to Arkaroola and moved into our new home. At least, the things we brought in our first load are moved in. Most of my sewing gear is awaiting a second trip, along with our bikes and the other fun things not crucial enough to be included in our initial move. I’ll be glad to have them in about a week’s time.

So far we have experienced our first dust storm, received our first shipment of School of the Air supplies, and made friends with the local wildlife. When I get some time I will show you around the place more. But here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to…..

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Texture & Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Scarlet Macaw colour board at Clever Chameleon Quilting

Have you ever played with texture on a quilt?

3D challenge logo by Island Batik

You know me, I often like to experiment with texture and embellishments in my quilt projects. Quilting is for me where “art meets sewing”. Two itches, one colossal scratching!

So when Island Batik announced that December was 3D month for the 2019 Ambassadors, I was in both ecstasy and agony. Right up my alley…. but, oh! Which alley to choose!?!? Thing is, I just about need a street directory for all my alleys. I didn’t even have to make up any new projects for this challenge, and I still had three to choose from.

So, I’ve done the responsible thing, and decided to progress them all……. 3x 3D! Did I mention, I quite like texture? 😀

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Love with a Twist: Serene Seahorse

Serene Seahorse colours at Clever Chameleon

Our penultimate balloon appliqué for Colour & Inspiration Tuesday is here!

I’ve been shunning the internet as much as possible this week to work exclusively on my secret sewing Storm at Sea quilt for next Tuesday. But today I will briefly climb down from my hobby horse that has become a bit of a workhorse to bring you a seahorse instead.

Today our very last standard Block for the Throw size Love with a Twist quilt along – Block 9B. If you are making the Twin quilt, there is still one more bonus block to fill out the design. Read on to collect your seahorse balloon pattern and enjoy the art of making the balloon version on Youtube if you wish. All the Wow of balloon artistry, none of those squeaky noises. And then join our weekly linky party. Happy Tuesday everyone!

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Love with a Twist: Excellent Elephants

Excellent Edward Elephant balloon appliqué from the Love with a Twist series by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

It’s only fair….

Rabbit appliqués for the Love with a Twist quilt along at Clever Chameleon

Do you remember a while back, how we had a mummy rabbit and her baby for Love with a Twist for Mother’s Day? So it seems only fair that we have a Love with a Twist daddy and his baby for Father’s Day too. Not more rabbits, though. That would be asking for trouble…. 🙂

Father’s Day?!? Yes, I know that most of the world celebrates Father’s Day in June… but there are a few outliers, and Australia is one of them. Father’s Day in Australia (and New Zealand, Fiji and PNG) is the first Sunday in September. Which this year, was September 1st. Unfortunately I was not ready to go with this block on September 1st, or even later in that week. And it was Royal Show Week anyway. But it is still September, and I am ready now, so let’s do this! If you’d prefer to come back and read this post on Father’s Day….. try October 6, apparently it’ll be Father’s Day in Luxembourg. 😀

Elephant appliqués for the Love with a Twist quilt along at Clever Chameleon

This elephant duo (Edward and Ellie) is our first option for Block 10 of the Love with a Twist quilt along. You need both elephants to make this long thin block, but they come as individual downloads. So make sure you get both of them.

A very smiley crocodile will be our second option for Block 10. The Croc is currently in my schedule for Tuesday…. that’s the 31st of September, right? Right….. I did say I wasn’t going to be slave to the calendar on this quilt along, let’s show it who’s boss! Anyway…. keep reading today to download your two elephant pdf patterns and find out how to put them together.

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Love with a Twist: Omniscient Owl

Omniscient Owl balloon appliqué from the Love with a Twist series by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Owl Love You Forever…..

Our all-knowing balloon owl for Love with a Twist is an observant old bird. And a bit of a snoop too. In fact, he knows too much about most people and loves us all anyway. Although this version of him looks a bit worried for some reason….. perhaps he knows something about me that he shouldn’t. I wonder what’s ruffled his feathers? haha.

This owl applique is already sewn onto my Twin size version of Love with a Twist. When I make a second owl for my Throw size quilt, perhaps I will take more care in positioning the eyes to get a more optimistic expression. I am sure you will take note of my owl and take more care with yours, unless you like his slightly startled-looking persona, of course. 😀 Then again, maybe it takes all types to make a quilt….. he certainly looks just fine in the context of my entire project so far. He might be worried about me, but the feeling is not really mutual. I like having a few characters around the place.

Omniscient Owl is our second option for Block 7 of the Love with a Twist quilt along. The wisest of followers will add him to their Love with a Twist collection asap. So, keep reading to download your pdf pattern and find out how to put him together.

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