Lunar New Year Quilt Archives - Page 5 of 7

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 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.

May 12, 2020January 19, 2024

Last Minute Colours: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

As luck would have it…..

As I was trying to work out where I should draw colour inspiration for today’s post from, nature volunteered. This was tonight’s sunset, as seen from our back patio. The colours were brief, but some of the very best we’ve had since we moved here.

Good timing, Mother Nature. Just glorious, thank you!

Pinks, yellows and oranges and last minutes on the Lunarcy too

Progress continues on the Lunarcy quilt this week. I now have a Pig block to go with the Rat block from last week. I only finished the pig appliqué this afternoon, getting photos just before the sunlight disappeared in that blaze of glory.

Year of the Pig block at Clever Chameleon Quilting, from the Lunarcy quilt

May 5, 2020January 19, 2024

Birds and Bees: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Autumnal Willie Wagtail colours at Clever Chameleon

Noticing all the Details

Funny how the most obvious things can bypass me sometimes. And amazing how much more there always is to learn about a place if I just stay still long enough. Changes of seasons bring new rounds of wonders….. and colours… and challenges too. Many of our days here in the Australian desert are still sunny and warm, but the nights are getting bitterly cold already. The nocturnal moths have mostly stopped coming to the windows. But the cooler weather is bringing out some more interesting day critters.

So, the Chameleon requests permission to talk a little about bugs again. Only the nice ones, mind. He thinks he was very restrained last week, and should be cut a little slack. He wants to mention the birds and the bees this week, if that’s ok. And rats. All fun things humans are known to be a bit touchy about, but he promises that is nothing icky involved this week. Chameleon’s honour!