Marvellous Minis with Island Batik

Year of the Pig appliqué by Dione Gardner-Stephen at Clever Chameleon

Happy New Year of the Pig 2019

February is Mini Quilt Month in the Island Batik Ambassador calendar: “Create a mini quilt 24″ x 24″ or smaller, any technique” is the challenge we’ve been given. Minis are a great way to try a new technique, or explore resource/time intensive projects on a doable scale. Or to commemorate an occasion or holiday. Like the Lunar New Year. For my first 2019 Ambassador challenge I decided to make something to mark Chinese New Year. Happy New Year of the Pig!

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Love with a Twist Balloon Dog

Dippy Balloon Dog is the second of our appliqué blocks for the Love with a Twist quilt along. He is a loveable, friendly character with adorable big floppy ears. Awwwww.

Dippy dog, balloon dog appliqué designed by Dione Gardner-Stephen and available free at Clever Chameleon Quilting during 2019.

There are two downloads in this post – make sure you get them both

In this post you will find a downloadable pdf for the shapes and layout to make this charming balloon dog. And a short pictorial on how the parts go together too.

There is also a second downloadable for people wanting to make the dog for the twin size version of the Love with a Twist quilt. For the original throw size quilt design, Dippy Dog faces right. However, because of where he sits in the twin size quilt, I preferred him to face left. It is totally up to you which orientation you prefer.

To allow you to chose your favourite orientation, I have added a layout file for the left-facing dog in addition to the full pattern for the right-facing pooch. To make the left-facing version you will have to reverse all the appliqué shapes before you trace and cut them. Don’t worry, I will remind you at the download button.

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Those Crazy Aussies: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Jacana colour scheme by Clever Chameleon

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi, Oi!

This past weekend was our national holiday long weekend, with Australia Day on Saturday (the 26th and a Monday public holiday). So it only seems fitting to have a look at a few things uniquely Australian today.

Koala tangram appliqué at Clever Chameleon

The bird in our colour board today is a jacana. Like all Australian animals it is a little on the unique side, verging on eccentric. A bit like the critters on my Wild Things quilt. And it occurs to me, I never did get around to posting photoshoot pictures of my finished Wild Things Australian Tangram quilt from December, did I? So, since it’s on topic, let’s do that today too.

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Love with a Twist: Balloon Poodle

Balloon Poodle appliqué by Dione Gardner-Stephen at Clever Chameleon

Balloon Animal Block 1A – Pretty Poodle

Love with a Twist 2019 quilt along at Clever Chameleon

Finally, it’s here – the first appliqué for the Love with a Twist quilt along! You will find the free downloadable balloon poodle appliqué pattern within this post. And a short pictorial on how to put it together too.

You know how I have always had every intention of this quilt along being a little relaxed and random in its delivery?…. Well, that is still so. But I didn’t really intend for it to be quite this long between the throw-size quilt construction instructions and the release of Block 1A. Apologies! But with my Triangle Friends magazine quilt publication, and my big 2018 Island Batik Ambassador finale quilt due, and getting set up for the new 2019 Island Batik Ambassador year, it’s been kinda crazy here. I hope you have enjoyed the eye candy in the meantime. And I hope you’ve got your Love with a Twist fabrics all ready to go.

Yes? Well, let’s get on with the 2019 Clever Chameleon quilt along then! I am loving this one already.

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Triangle Friends: Something to Squawk About!

Triangle Friends bird appliqué by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Today marks a Huge milestone for me

I am very excited to announce my very first quilt published in an independent magazine! It is called Triangle Friends and is now available in Issue 26 of Make Modern. I’ve been sitting on this news for simply aaaaaaages, and it’s such a great feeling to finally be able to tell you all about it. 🙂

Triangle Friends is a fun little quilt. Very quick and easy to make, with very little piecing and only straight edged appliqué. The latter means you can prepare most of the appliqué pieces by rotary cutter. And with the exception of slowing down for the corners, you can also stitch them down at a good speed!

If you’ll humour me, I’ll tell you all about it. And then, to celebrate my first publication, I thought I should do a little giveaway contest…. for a postcard sized mini quilt and copy of the magazine issue with my pattern in.

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