Tutorial Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Clever Chameleon Quilting

September 27, 2019January 19, 2024

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.

August 24, 2019January 19, 2024

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.

August 24, 2019January 19, 2024

Love with a Twist: Magic Monkey

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

Two Cheeky Monkeys, Jumping on the Bed….

One fell off, and popped his head…. Ooops. Hmmmm, that rhyme doesn’t work so well with balloons…. hahaha. Disturbing antics aside, I am making cheeky monkeys today. And having too much fun. One day they will even be on several someone’s beds, although hopefully minus the jumping. Our Love with a Twist quilt along is up to the balloon monkey! Yay!

Two monkeys today – one balloon monkey for my Twin size Love with a Twist quilt and the other for the Throw size. Don’t worry though, we are back to our usual “one pattern fits both quilts” scenario. This appliqué is one of my favourites from this series. The monkey just looks so happy, it’s hard not to smile back!

August 2, 2019January 19, 2024

Wonky Stars – Bright Beginnings

This month I am getting into my Island Batik Ambassador challenge really early. What a Star!

If you think that the enthusiasm is caused by new supplies, you’d be spot on! A new box of goodies from Island Batik always gets the creative juices flowing. The Island Batik Ambassador Challenge for me for August is to make a project featuring a star block of my choosing. I have long wanted to do something with wonky stars, so now is the time.

Blueberry Patch fabric collection by Island Batik.

I’ve already finished my August flimsy, and I didn’t even change my mind about what I was doing, or with which fabrics! Wonders will never cease. And I’ve even put together a little tutorial about how to make these wonky stars with minimal maths and no geometry lessons. Don’t get me wrong; I love maths and geometry. But I love sewing more. 😀

July 26, 2019January 19, 2024

Love with a Twist: Nifty Neck Balloon Giraffe

Nifty Neck Giraffe appliqué from the Love with a Twist series by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Shall I tell you a tall story….?

Sure! Once upon a time, there were two slightly naughty, spotted goats who lived with their grandma in a thatched cottage in a small village. Their names were Girome and Giraldeen, and they were non-identical twins. Girome had already grown a little larger than Giraldeen, and a little bit naughtier too.

Girome and Giraldeen, the balloon giraffes

One day Girome said to Giraldeen, “I spy a new lolly jar! Let’s raid it”. And Giraldeen replied “I like your thinking, but we’re banned from climbing the shelves. Remember?”

“Ahhh…..” said Girome, “But Nan didn’t ban us from using our Ninja skills. We won’t be climbing to get it”. And with that Girome fetched a rope.
“Ninja skills?! Do we have Ninja skills?” wondered Giraldeen. “Indeed” assured Girome, “We are kids, of course we have Ninja skills”. And he tied the rope around his middle and explained to Giraldeen what he wanted her to do.

Disaster!

Giraldeen had never been particularly good at sports, but Girome insisted. Honest! So Giraldeen whirled Girome around and around with the rope, attempting to throw him up to the lolly jar. But unfortunately, when she let go, Girome overshot the shelves. Instead of nabbing the lolly jar in an awesome Ninja move, his head lodged in the thatch in the ceiling, where he stuck fast. Giraldeen’s throw was way off the mark!

Attempting to put things right, Giraldeen pulled and pulled on the rope, but when Girome finally popped free his neck was streeeeee-tched. Giraldeen took one look and burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard she couldn’t talk. “Gir….. Gir…. ha ha hafff, Gir hahahaha, Gir haff”, she spluttered.

Read on to finish this tall story, collect your two gir-haff balloon pdf patterns and find out all the details for making the most of the next block of the Love with a Twist quilt along.