Sew Succulent: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Sometimes you just have to get started. Then the ideas will finally come….

This week I have been working on my crazy diamond quilt idea from my previous post. I started this quilt with very little idea where I was headed…. A bit scary!……. But to put it off much longer would have been inviting worse disaster. Like, no quilt at all….

No captivating ideas had been forthcoming to me for the March Island Batik Ambassador challenge until now, and it certainly wasn’t for lack of pondering. All I had to show for about a month of ruminating was an urge to make improv diamond blocks from my Island Batik fabric scraps. Ever noticed that the calendar is relentless?!

Anyway, although I started this quilt with a sense of trepidation I have not felt in a while, my usual excitement is now building and I think I have a plan. I certainly have some blocks, and the void of ideas has made way for my more usual sea of squirrels. Come on in and see where I (think I) am headed. And of course, find out who scored last week’s Colour & Inspiration features. Happy Tuesday!

Martha’s Crazy Diamonds

I was inspired down the crazy diamond quilt route by Island Batik’s March Ambassador Challenge of “Vintage Reimagined” and a 1880s quilt by Martha Bingley. You can read about Martha and her vintage Australian quilt here.

I started my Vintage Reimagined journey last week by making crazy/improv diamonds from my batik scraps. The colours I have chosen to work with are very similar to today’s colour board – which is exactly why I chose it. The biggest difference is that my scrappy piecing lacks any bright green.

Over the weekend I managed to complete enough blocks and strips to layout my current quilt plan.

There are all sorts in here…. leftovers from nearly every Island Batik project I have done so far…… Shadows of Aunty Green, the Aussie Tangram quilt, the Sleepy Maze quilt, my Sweet Sixteen mid-arm dust cover, Shimmer Light, Shimmer Flight, Cat on a Wall …. the list goes on. There are even some apricot and shaved ice scraps from the current Love with a Twist BOM we are doing.

More design decisions made

I have also decided to go with a grey background. Part of me thinks that black would be more faithful to Martha…. but we are reimagining, right? Grey will give a softer look… and a more usable quilt. OK, I am trying to convince myself here….. truth is, I have a little fear of grey. I like it on other people’s quilts – I’m always admiring it at shows. But I also always chicken out of using it on my own quilts.

But this month will be different. Island Batik have sent me several yards of their solid grey batik-weight fabric. And my creative friend Susan has dared me to use it…. Worse yet, she has said she will hold me to it. And I know she will, because she is a strong, resourceful, creative woman like Martha must have been. So I am being brave, or chicken, depending on your perspective. Grey it is.

I think.

Here is my layout. I will be moving blocks around to get the colour distribution that I want and I hadn’t quite finished the piecing when this was taken, but hopefully you get the idea.

I will be adding some embellishments to honour the crazy heritage of this quilt. I still don’t think it will be as busy as the real deal vintage crazies. And I am still a little undecided about the theme of my embellishments. I was going to do garden motifs, as this is very much what the ladies of the Victorian era did. But looking at my blocks and colours and my layout, I am very much in mind of a coral reef and sand.

It would be fun to do a marine theme, don’t you think? I “found” a few things at the local craft store that might help me keep a vintage crazy vibe without resorting to butterflies and dragonflies. I’d like to find some other marine themed novelties such as turtles/fish/seahorses/anchors etc. But I guess there is always the option of the embroidery I have been avoiding……

Anyway, enough about me and my quilting, what about you?

This week the Chameleon was tickled to see a pink quilt that he really really liked at Quilting & Learning – What A Combo. The Chameleon and I are most definitely not “pink kind of people”, but Andrée’s quilt is beautiful and interesting and nicely balanced. Andrée’s quilt is also a great example of the amazing ninja powers of the disappearing nine-patch. I should definitely do one of these!

The Chameleon also spotted Susan’s Going in Circles quilt among last week’s line up. He loved Susan’s post at Quilt Fabrication. Because not only is her quilt terrific, but she walks you through some of her colour and quilting decisions too. You will not regret investing a couple of minutes in reading Susan’s post.

And, then there was a little mischief to be had too. My children currently have the most amazing music tutor, so I can thoroughly identify with Jen’s desire to make her son’s music teacher a special quilt. Visit de Jong Dream House to see and read about the details of this very special quilt. Minus the pink chameleon hiding among the strings, waiting to scare the pianist mid-concert, of course.

There are so many details done in love for the recipient of this quilt, that you will have to concede that this quilt is amazing.

Now tell me for next week’s fun…..

What are you working on, or have recently finished in your sewing room? We want to know so we can visit and be inspired. Link up a blog post, an IG post or simply a photo from your computer.  See if you can get the Chameleon to turn quilted with happiness. We’d love to see your quilting colours!

• Link up your latest or recent quilt/sewing excitement. All quilt construction stages welcome – finished quilts, quilt blocks – even fabric pulls! Or inspiration sources!
• You have 50 characters in the link description…. tell us who you are and what your fantastic project is.
• URL links are not necessary to link up…. non-bloggers 100% welcome! If you don’t have a URL, you can link up with just a photo.
• Take a moment to visit some friends who came to the party – leave a little love and make their day. And a link back to Clever Chameleon is always appreciated.
• Do it now……. before you forget!

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The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!

Would you like to keep in touch with Clever Chameleon and the fun quilty ideas I design as well as find all over the internet? You can follow directly for email updates, or through Bloglovin’, Pinterest, IG or FB. All your follow options can be found here. Don’t forget to link up all your current quilting projects on Tuesdays at our Colour & Inspiration Linky parties!