Madeira Thread Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Clever Chameleon Quilting

May 28, 2019January 19, 2024

Tic Tac Toad – Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Tic Tac Toad color scheme from CLever Chameleon

An Island Batik Ambassador Quilt Finish

May is drawing to a close – it’s starting to feel more wintery here, and it’s time to show you my finished Island Batik Ambassador quilt for this month. My checkers quilt, Hop to be Square is my Island Batik project for May. I hope you saw last week’s post explaining how the flimsy of Hop to be Square came about…. It was nearly as much of a surprise to me as anyone – it was certainly not the quilt I sat down to make!

Back side of Hop to be Square quilt at Clever Chameleon

Today I get to show you what I put on the back side of Hop to be Square. Just like the quilt top, the back took itself off plan as soon as it was in progress! To begin with, I thought I was the one being clever….. I had three checkered batik fabrics from Island Batik. And since the quilt front is a board for playing Checkers, they seemed like the simple and perfect fit for the backing……

But then the fabrics played me!

May 21, 2019January 19, 2024

Hop to be Square: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Eye’ve got a confession to make

I changed my mind (shock). Several times. (More shock….. you are shocked…… right?!). When I got out of bed on Sunday I was all set to use my sewing time to make a modern quilt for Island Batik and HOBBS. I was going to make a large colourful graphic improv block…. maybe a wonky log cabin or a star. And float it in a big black background.

It was going to be Modern As. After all, this month’s Island Batik Ambassador challenge is “Make it Modern with HOBBS”.

Instead this happened…..

Hop to be Square quilt top with HOBBS batting

“Hop to be square”. Modern, yes. Improv, no. Bright and colourful, no. Floating block, still no. Not my fault though. I am just the medium the quilts use to get here….. 😀

May 12, 2019January 19, 2024

Love with a Twist: Responsible Rabbit

Responsible Rabbit appliqué for Love with a Twist quilt along at Clever Chameleon

Happy Mother’s Day!

A quick post to wish you a very blessed Mother’s Day. To all the mothers, and to those who fulfil the role of a motherly carer in someone’s life, thank you. If this is a tough day for you in any way, I also especially acknowledge you and wish you a double dose of blessings and much comfort.

Mother’s Day can be a complicated occasion for some, and in my house too. This year Paul and I decided to celebrate alone with our kids early on Mother’s Day Eve to try to uncouple our own parenting adventures from some of our other extended family tensions, needs and losses. It was very enjoyable and relaxed and, importantly, simple. A smart choice that “filled my cup”, and one that is helping me be more gracious today than I have felt on some past Mother’s Days. I even found more joy in preparing this Mother’s Day themed post last night than I expected. All good things. 🙂

So, as promised, to mark the occasion of Mother’s Day and to celebrate mums everyday, we have another Love with a Twist appliqué pattern release. A loving mother rabbit to go with Friday’s baby rabbit balloon block. No matter how your day pans out today, I hope this little gift gives you a smile and a warm moment. I made it for you, my quilting friend.

May 10, 2019January 19, 2024

Love with a Twist: Rascally Rabbit

Rascally Rabbit appliqué by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Wabbit Season!

It’s May, and that means it’s Rabbit Season at Clever Chameleon! Today we have the Love with a Twist junior bunny, Rascally Rabbit. Sweet as they come, and just a little bit cheeky. And totally in love with his Mum.

In a few days time, we will also have a bonus rabbit appliqué… Rascally Rabbit’s Responsible Rabbit mummy. Awwwww, they’re such a sweet pair. It’ll be my Mother’s’ Day gift to you. Keep reading now to collect your first rabbit balloon pdf pattern today, see a preview of Mama rabbit, and find out all the details for making the most of the next block of the Love with a Twist quilt along.

May 7, 2019January 19, 2024

Something Fishy: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Something Fishy colour scheme by Clever Chameleon

Does something smell fishy in your inbox?

At the risk of sounding obsessed with all things aquatic, yes, we are still on the theme of quilted ponds and fishes and such things here. Partly out of coincidence though….. I have been drawing up the next few patterns for the Love with a Twist quilt along and one of May’s blocks just happens to be the fish balloon. So I still have fish on the brain. But I promise we will surface from our underwater explorations very soon. I think a sweet balloon bunny with his mummy appliqué would be a nice pattern release around Mother’s Day this weekend. Don’t you?

Before that though, as a little extra, I thought I would add some detail to my blog today about how to create the water-loving critters found on my Pond Life quilt from last month. Including the extra frog shapes from the Accuquilt leaping frog die and the fish quilting motif that was my favourite. Are you ready? Let’s dive a little deeper into Pond Life….