Write 31 Days: Everyday Quilt Inspiration

Vanuatu Décor color scheme by Clever Chameleon

Welcome to 31 Days of Finding Quilt Inspiration in the Everyday

The Write 31 Days Blog Challenge, Day 1

Surprise! It’s only Sunday and I’m baaaack…..

I was reading the Days Filled with Joy blog earlier today, and Joy said she was not going to do her usual Finishing Stitches linky for October, because she was joining in the Write 31 Days Challenge. And I went: “What’s the Write 31 Days Challenge?”, and clicked on that link…..

So, it turns out, it is a one-month challenge to blog daily. Now, I have no intention of becoming a long term once-a-day blogger. Or I’d get no sewing done at all. And I’m pretty sure you also don’t need that much of me in your inbox either! (Please forgive me for a month! 🙂 ) But it so just happens that I am away from my sewing machine for half of October, and I have an idea that would be fun to try for a little while. Also, I do tend to write long posts and it would be good to practice “less is more” occasionally.

So, I have made an impromptu and perhaps rash decision to join the Write 31 Days challenge. I am currently in Vanuatu for work, and the internet here varies from fine to appalling and back again without warning, so I am not even sure if this is possible. But I will try. I may have to write offline some days and post in batches as the internet allows. The main complication is that it starts Today! And as I draft this I am not signed up and I have no internet……

My Write 31 Day Topic: Everyday Quilt Inspiration

Anyway, my Write 31 Days series will be about finding quilt design/colour inspiration around us in the everyday. Today it is colours.. But it might be shapes, themes, motifs on other days…. wherever the imagination goes. This should actually be quite fun. And I think it is a good flip-side to Colour Inspiration Tuesday. I use professional photos for Colour Inspiration Tuesday because I can make pretty pins and headers out of them. And I do love them. But I can’t/don’t take photos like those. However, there is no reason why the photography skills I do have can’t be enough to convey the quilt/colour ideas that I often see around me. And there is no reason why you can’t use your happy snaps and incidental casual observations for inspiration either…. So let’s explore finding quilt/craft inspiration in real life for a month! I hope you’ll join me.

Finding Quilt Inspiration in the Everyday: Day 1

Red, Teal and Brown: décor inspiration

Vanuatu Décor color scheme from Clever Chameleon Because today’s post is being created at rather short notice (and I will be hoping for internet later to upload this), I am going to start my 31 everyday quilt design series in familiar territory. With a colour board. Today’s inspiration colours are red, teal-blue, coffee, dark chocolate and off-white. Teal and red are complimentary colours (opposite positions on the colour wheel), so look good together with or without the addition of neutrals.

Everyday quilt inspiration in rented accomodation — Tip 1: find everyday colour inspiration in rented accomodation furnishings

Today’s photo is a snap of the décor in our bedroom in the rented concrete block house we are living in in Port Vila. It is a modest house, comfortable and designed to be lived in rather than holidayed in. One of the things I appreciate most about our accommodation is that the play areas are designed so that children behaving reasonably can safely roam and play without constant supervision. No pools or waterfront or other inherently deadly areas.

Décor is a very good place to look for everyday quilt inspiration, especially colour. There are often professional influences in décor choices, even if it only within the fabric prints. In paying attention here, you are using someone else’s knowledge and experience to help guide your own design process. That’s called working smarter!

Why was I inspired by this décor?

I was struck by these particular décor colours because only days before we got here, I posted about using red and teal with black and white for my next quilt design that will be part of the Splash of Color quilt-along. That post was called Hot Chocolate and you can find it here. Today’s colour board is going straight to my ideas folder for when I get around to designing my Vanuatu quilt for the Splash of Color quilt-along!

So there you have it….. my first everyday quilt inspiration post for the Write 31 Days challenge! Hope to see you again tomorrow!

Have you got décor around you that inspires a quilt you would love? Let us know in the comments!

P.S. Links to the posts in my 31 everyday quilt inspiration ideas series will appear here as they are published.

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate color scheme by Clever Chameleon

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: delicious colour combinations to try on your quilts.

Hello! Happy Colour Inspiration Tuesday! Did you have a chance to try out the Strawberry Vines quilting motifs inspired by last week’s colour board? I haven’t found anymore time to play further with Strawberry Vines as yet. But do you know what goes well with strawberries? Chocolate. Hot Chocolate to be precise. Mmmmm.

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Hot Chocolate

The “Hot Chocolate” colour palette is dark red, red-orange, greyed-teal, off white, and warm shades of grey through to almost black. These colours are a really close match for the Jaffas and Cream charity quilt I blogged recently. You can find out a lot more about that quilt here.

Quilt with Hot Chocolate color scheme — The dark brown, red, red-orange, off white, and greyed teal can all be found in the fabric choices of Jaffas and Cream.

What will I do with this colour scheme? You know there is likely something, right? Well, to tell you that story, first I need to tell you this story …..

The colour scheme that nearly never was

Frosty Berries color scheme from Clever Chameleon — Frosty Berries colour palette

I started the Hot Chocolate colour scheme for last week’s colour inspiration slot. But then I realised that it wasn’t very different from the Frosty Berries colour scheme we had two months ago. And that it also bore a fair resemblance to the warmer colour scheme Red-Eye Flight that we explored three months ago.

Red-Eye Flight color scheme from Clever Chameleon — Red-Eye Flight colour scheme

So, I set Hot Chocolate aside and started over with the Strawberries Vines post instead. I had no intention of resurrecting Hot Chocolate this week either, but then something happened. A good something.

I was drifting around the quilting part of the internet, as I do (a lot). And I discovered that Myra at Busy Hands Quilting is starting a fresh quilt along called Splash of Color. And I have taken the bait. Possibly the line and sinker too. The aim of the quilt along in question is to produce a black and white quilt with colour highlights.

Splash of Color Quilt Along

Now, I have to confess, I don’t do quilt alongs. I don’t do crowds. I don’t do other people’s patterns without a really, really good reason. Let’s be real here – I don’t even do my Handi Quilter homework til the due date! I get distracted. I end up with UFOs and inferiority complexes and all the other baggage that social media can trap you with. But I think this quilt along will suit me, and I’m actually pretty excited.

Why? Because:
– it covers a quilt theme that I have wanted to try ever since I borrowed a certain book several years ago from my local library. That book was “Quilting in Black and White” by House of White Birches. (I have actually borrowed it several times). Many of the quilts in this book are black and white with colour highlights, and the effect continues to appeal to me.
– I have a Pinterest board dedicated to black and white quilts (with or without colour highlights) because I have always believed that some day I will get around to making such a quilt. It has over 300 pins on it. That is not a casual relationship!
– I have two black and white fabrics I specifically want to use. My husband bought them for me as a gift from one of his work trips. They are probably not what I would have chosen. But one should never discourage gifts of fabric! 🙂 And now they are exactly what I need. Yeah!

Black and white fabrics from Vanuatu — Black and white/grey scale fabrics from Vanuatu

– And, probably the clincher…. there is no pattern for this quilt along, the only boundaries are the colours and the timing. So I can create, and emotionally invest, and wander around this quilt theme all I like. Awesome!

So, back to my Colour Inspiration Tuesday/quilt along idea…..

I always thought my future one-day black and white with a splash of colour quilt would be black, white and brilliant blue. Or black, white and rainbow. But it is going to be black, white and red.

Because I realise that I must really like this combo. “Hot Chocolate” is the third colour scheme in this general genera, out of less than 30 colour palettes. And I had another photo lined up in my ideas folder that would have resulted in a fourth (don’t worry, I am NOT doing a fourth). So clearly I am attracted to this graphic colour combination.

black, red and white photo of a puffin — This ultra cute puffin was also begging to be a colour board!

There is also a measure of expediency in my choice. I have a great big piece of red fabric, also purchased by my husband, that is the same print as one of the aforementioned black fabrics. It will be perfect for the backing. Easy.

Here are my fabrics. I will probably have to add to them. (Oh, that’s so unfortunate…. hahahaha). My rainbow batik stash is sooooo wrong for this.

Fabrics from Vanuatu — My three fabrics to work with

I am hoping I will be able to find some other fabrics to match when we go to Vanuatu soon, which is where these first three came from. I also am hoping that the finished product will be a lovely souvenir of our family trip. And an encouragement to hubby to keep bringing that fabric home. (Hello dearest – just checking whether you actually read this.) And a couch protector… my black and white quilting friend with a red collar is playing havoc with the furniture :(.

Cat on Bugs in my Garden Quilt — Who me? Guilty as charged, Mr.

I am going to do a black and white background, and for my splash of colour, I am going to appliqué a red turtle on top. There might also be a hint of teal. The turtle will be inspired by the turtles on the fabric. I hope it will be eye-catching, just like the photos for my mood boards.

Turtle fabric from Vanuatu — I intend to design a turtle appliqué in this genera

Want to join the Splash of Color quilt along but terrified by the open-ended nature of the requirements?

Try my Pinterest Board above for over 300 ideas of black and white quilts with colour, or B&W quilts that could easily have colour added to them. Or get your hands on a copy of either Quilting in Black and White by House of White Birches or the quilt along’s theme book: Splash of Color: A Rainbow of Brilliant Black-and-White Quilts by Jackie Kunkel.

Today’s Photo Credit

Finishing up with the formalities….. Today’s stock photos are from Unsplash.com. Unsplash is a collection of free, high resolution, “do what you want with” photos. These photos are gifted freely and without demand for recognition, but I like to thank people who live so generously. So, if you would like to also use the hot chocolate photo, it is provided by Jennifer Pallian via Unsplash. The puffin photo is by Ray Hennessy. Click on the badges below to explore Jennifer’s or Ray’s other photos.
Jennifer Pallian
Ray Hennessy

Red Clever Chameleon logo I hope you will join in the quilt along. And keep an eye on this blog to keep me accountable….. even leave an encouraging message or two. Comments make my day and I do try to respond asap. If you are joining in the quilt along, let me know and I’ll visit your creations too.

Happy Quilting!

P.S. Don’t forget about the Fabric with Art blog hop. It is coming up really soon!

Art with Fabric blog hop @ tweloquilting.blogspot.com

P.P.S. Linking up with Love Laugh Quilt, Freemotion by the River, Crazy Mom Quilts.

September 19, 2017January 19, 2024

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Strawberry Vines

Strawberry Vines color scheme by Clever Chameleon

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – Weekly Inspiration and Colour Happiness for your Quilting Mental Fitness!

Hi! Welcome back to Tuesday! Doesn’t it roll around quickly!? Today we are going to exercise the little grey cells and treat them to some beautiful colours along the way.

Mental exercise is good for your mind. Luckily for us, mental exercise can be waaaaay more fun than the physical sort! Keeping your mind active can be as fun as learning a new sewing technique. Resizing a quilt pattern. Or exploring new colour combinations. Anything that takes you out of your mental comfort zone and requires you to do some actual thinking rather than just consuming information or watching TV.

This week I have been stretching my mind by learning new techniques (playing with trapunto), and thinking about what to explore next for Colour Inspiration Tuesday. I finally settled on some strawberry flowers. These flowers remind me of the time when I was a country teen and had a huge patch of strawberry plants that I grew from a few runners my maternal grandmother gave me. I used to water them, mulch them and even feed them with cow dung that I collected and pre-soaked in buckets of water! And the little fruits were ohhhhh soooo sweet. Accessing happy memories is good for your mental health too!

Strawberry Vines colour scheme from Clever Chameleon

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – Strawberry Vines

In honour of happy memories and mental exercise, today we have the “Strawberry Vines” colour scheme and an accompanying free-motion quilting motif to try. “Strawberry Vines” is a green, yellow and pale grey-blue colour palette. The blue is so subtle it looks white unless there is real white up against it. Go on, have another look at the photo. The main colour captured on the strawberry flower is not really pure white is it?

Anyway, I decided against designing us another quilt idea this week. The truth is that there are many good ideas floating around in Colour Inspiration Tuesday already. And I would like to have an honest go at some of them. Without the weight of new ideas to cause drag or distraction. But I did want to still give you something…… I am ever so grateful to you my readers and especially to my growing list of regular followers for coming by.

So, this week’s idea for personalising your quilts is….

How to Quilt the strawberry vines motif from Clever Chameleon blog

Looking at the strawberry flower picture and remembering my garden with the hundreds of plants and gently tending the runners until the new plants had roots and planting them too, made me think of quilting strawberries, strawberry leaves and flowers on a continuous line. Strawberry Vines. Wouldn’t this be a lovely finishing touch for a quilt in summer colours or pastel tones? Or on reds, pinks and greens on a girl’s quilt? Do you remember the Strawberry Shortcake character from the 1980’s? A quilt in her colours!

Strawberry Shortcake figurine — Strawberry Shortcake…. 35 years old(ish) and still scented! This little darling now belongs to my daughter.

Strawberry Vines Quilting Motif

So I started doodling on paper and came up with my first go at such a design. Followed by a quick experiment on a fat quarter left over from Jewel Tone Diamonds and some waste cotton batting.

Strawberry Vines quilting motif

The three elements I used were leaf triplet, a small flower with the characteristic star in the centre between the petals, and of course, strawberries. As you can see, I tried the strawberries with and without seeds.

One of the things I like about my new impromptu design is that any gaps that get missed or are too hard to fill in with continuous quilting can be filled in with a curly “strawberry runner”. How good is that?!?

On my next try, I think I will round out the leaves a bit more. I know that strawberry leaves also have zigzagged edges, but that level of detail doesn’t interest me for quilting. The flowers were a bit tricky, I went through several methods to try to quilt them neatly. Here is the path that worked best for me. Start by travelling into the flower centre, and add the petals second:

strawberry flower quilting design — A strawberry flower quilting path. Note, I have added gaps where lines would normally touch or overlay each other, so that you can easily see the pathway.

Don’t worry if you need to place more than 5 petals around the centre to finish the flower. Strawberry flowers can have 5, 6 or 7 petals. It’s the flat shape of the petals with the triangle gaps between them that make them so distinctive.

How to shape strawberries

The other important thing to remember is to round off the tops of your strawberries where they meet the leaves. And don’t make the berries too symmetrical…. otherwise they look like acorns with the wrong caps instead. Or maybe persimmons. At least to me.

Next time I play with this motif I want to add flower buds as well. I have a UFO in colours not unlike “Lily Pad Glow” that might look nice quilted with this motif. What would you use it on?

Don’t need strawberry vines quilting motifs this week?

Bored sleeping cat — “Strawberries! How dull. Wake me up when you are quilting something interesting… like flies! Flies are cool!”

Don’t worry kitty! We are looking at quilting bugs later on this week. Remember the child’s charity quilt with the cute bug fabrics that I stabilised a while back? I have just about finished quilting it now, and I’ll show you how to quilt the various bug motifs I used (no flies though). Stay tuned via email or Bloglovin’ so you don’t forget to come back!

Credits

Today’s photo of strawberry flowers is from Unsplash.com. Unsplash is a collection of free, high resolution, “do what you want with” photos. Credit is not required, but I’m sure you’d love to know who is being so generous with their talent. Accordingly, this photo was provided by John-Mark Kuznietsov. Be sure to check out his collection of photos on Unsplash.
John-Mark Kuznietsov

green clever chameleon logo

I hope you have fun trying out this strawberry vines quilting motif. See you next time for more quilting fun!

P.S. If you would like to use John-Mark’s photo or another Colour Inspiration Tuesday photo for your own projects, you can easily find all the Unsplash photos from Colour Inspiration Tuesday in one place for free in my Colour Inspiration Collection.

The Linky parties I have invited myself to this week:
Monday: Cooking up Quilts,, Love, Laugh, Quilt, Sew Can Do
Tuesday: Quilting Room with Mel, Free Motion by the River
Wednesday: Quilt Fabrication, Sew Fresh Quilts

You are invited too. Come and see what lots of craft-loving people are sharing on the net this week!! Here’s one of my favourites from the parties so far:
Project Sew a Jellyroll by Patchwork Sampler

September 12, 2017January 19, 2024

Colour Inspiration Tuesday Collection 2

Colour Inspiration Tuesday Collection Number 2

Welcome to the second collection of Colour Inspiration Tuesday mood boards. Twelve more colour boards to inspire, and to get you planning your next quilt project! If you missed the first 12 Colour Inspiration Tuesday colour schemes, you can find them here.

Well, what a few weeks of Colour Inspired Tuesdays it’s been! We’ve had another quilt design, a series of matching fabric to colours in photos, and the beginnings of a cheeky parrot appliqué.

hazy days color scheme by Clever Chameleon — Hazy Days fabric mood board featured in the ten finalists for the Summer Crush mosaic contest at Stitched in Color blog.

Cat on a wall design from Clever Chameleon — Cat on a wall quilt idea from Sunset Wall colour scheme, and re-coloured to Another World Blue colour palette.

Dancing Macaw appliqué from Clever Chameleon — Dancing Macaw appliqué from Dancing Macaw Colour Inspiration Tuesday.

And, if that wasn’t enough, I have some extra news! Now we’ve been invited to participate in an art-inspired quilt blog hop. What fun!! Alida at Tweety Loves Quilting blog is holding the fourth Art with Fabric blog hop, starting 9th October. Five days of artworks re-interpreted as quilted items. And Clever Chameleon will feature on Friday the 13th! Lucky for some! Head on over and have a pre-view of the line up.

The second Colour Inspiration Tuesday Collection

To access the colour palettes of the second Colour Inspiration Tuesday collection, click on the thumbnails below.

Follow along and be the first with the free inspiration!

clever chameleon logo

At Clever Chameleon we explore at least one potential quilt colour scheme every week. I also share my own creations and tutorials regularly. Follow Clever Chameleon Quilting on Bloglovin’ to stay abreast of all the fun quilty things I do and find on the internet. Or subscribe to receive regular Clever Chameleon emails that will Colour Your Mood and Brighten Your World.

Colour Inspiration Tuesday is also easily accessible through Pinterest. Follow my Understanding Color for Quilts board for regular quilt colour inspiration.

P.S. If you are an art quilter (or want to start now!), there is still a small window of opportunity to join the Art with Fabric blog hop. Head over to Tweety Loves Quilting for all the details.

P.PS. Linking up with my favourite parties this week:
The Quilting Room with Mel
Crazy Mom Quilts
Be sure to visit these links for lots of great quilt inspiration in one place.

September 5, 2017January 19, 2024

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Hoppy Tuesday!

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – happy, hoppy colours for all your craft projects!!

Welcome back to Colour Inspiration Tuesday! A Hoppy Tuesday!

Well! There was a fabulous response to last week’s colour boards. And many of you liked my dancing macaw as well. I shall have to pull my finger out and get that appliqué design under way. However, this week is Royal Show week in Adelaide, so there could be a few distractions. The Gardner-Stephen household is celebrating two craft wins this year. More on that when I have photos.

In the meantime, I have gone with the fun critter theme for a second week because I found a number of fantastic frog photos on Unsplash.com when I was browsing last.

Don’t you just love these little guys:

Have a guess what my next appliqué creature will be after the macaw?! What? A racoon?! Don’t be daft……. hahahaha. 🙂

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – Hoppy Tuesday

Three frogs, three characters, three colour boards today.

Hoppy Tuesday colour scheme from Clever Chameleon — Why Sit on a Lily Pad?!

Why Sit on a Lily Pad when you can parade around in the lily flower instead?!

Actually, this frog is probably wondering why he can’t just be left to sit in peace in his tank, being a (pet) tree frog and all. But it’s a cute photo, and the purple colour against the yellow is stunning. And surely there no nicer green than tree frog green, is there? It is so ALIVE.

Hoppy Tuesday colour scheme from Clever Chameleon

The second of my favourite frogs looks more at home in his surroundings. Frog King of All He Surveys. I just love his expression and posture. Probably the colours in this shot are not what I would use for a cheeky frog appliqué, but the rest of the picture is perfect inspiration.

Hoppy Tuesday color scheme from Clever Chameleon

Last up, we have the photo that actually started today’s frog collection. I love the “Hoppy Tuesday” colours of this frog, and the background texture of the wood he is sitting on. I can just see in my mind’s eye a cheeky green frog appliqué on a cushion background made of improv piecing in red, brown, burnt orange and tan fabric scraps.

For a kid’s frog quilt inspiration you might like this blog post about twin girl and boy frog baby quilts at Lo, Ray and Me.

Or you can follow along with Sandra Healy’s calendar quilt. August’s block featured a cute frog on a lily pad.

Not into frogs? (Really?!) Well, its just gone September, so how about some seasonal suggestions instead?

It’s officially spring here in Adelaide now. Not that you’d believe it this week with top temps of 14 and 15°C for the next few days. So in the hope that the sun is coming, I will remind you of another lily colour scheme we had a while ago: Lily Pad Glow.

Or if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, fall is on it’s way….. Try Autumn Splendour for a new take on fall colours.

Credit

I have already covered this to some extent today, but because I really appreciate the talented photographers who generously donate their art to the world without strings attached, I’m going to tell you again. Today’s photos are from Unsplash.com. Unsplash is a collection of free, high resolution, “do what you want with” photos. Credit is not required, but it is totally deserved. So I would like you to know that the photographers featured today are David Clode and Wayne Robinson. Be sure to check out their collections of photos on Unsplash.

david clode

Wayne Robinson

For colour inspiration for your quilts in your inbox weekly follow along by subscribing to this blog by email in the side bar. You can also follow my blog on Bloglovin’. Or follow Clever Chameleon Quilt Colour Inspiration on Pinterest and pin your favourite colour palettes to try later.

I hop 😉 you found some colour inspiration for your projects or the next chapter of your quilt story in among all these beautiful frogs and Hoppy Tuesday colour boards! Have you ever made a frog quilt? Or maybe you keep tree frogs as pets (lucky you). Let us know all about it in the comments below!

P.S. If you would like to use David’s or Wayne’s photos (or another Colour Inspiration Tuesday photo) for your own projects, you can easily find all the Unsplash photos from Colour Inspiration Tuesday in one place for free in my Colour Inspiration Collection.

P.P.S. Linking up this week with Sew Fresh Quilts. Visit for lots of great quilt inspiration in one place.

Tag: colour

Write 31 Days: Everyday Quilt Inspiration

Welcome to 31 Days of Finding Quilt Inspiration in the Everyday

The Write 31 Days Blog Challenge, Day 1

My Write 31 Day Topic: Everyday Quilt Inspiration

Finding Quilt Inspiration in the Everyday: Day 1

Why was I inspired by this décor?

Week1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Hot Chocolate

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: delicious colour combinations to try on your quilts.

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Hot Chocolate

The colour scheme that nearly never was

Splash of Color Quilt Along

So, back to my Colour Inspiration Tuesday/quilt along idea…..

Want to join the Splash of Color quilt along but terrified by the open-ended nature of the requirements?

Today’s Photo Credit

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Strawberry Vines

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – Weekly Inspiration and Colour Happiness for your Quilting Mental Fitness!

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – Strawberry Vines

So, this week’s idea for personalising your quilts is….

Strawberry Vines Quilting Motif

Don’t need strawberry vines quilting motifs this week?

Credits

Colour Inspiration Tuesday Collection 2

Colour Inspiration Tuesday Collection Number 2

The second Colour Inspiration Tuesday Collection

Follow along and be the first with the free inspiration!

Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Hoppy Tuesday!

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – happy, hoppy colours for all your craft projects!!

Colour Inspiration Tuesday – Hoppy Tuesday

Not into frogs? (Really?!) Well, its just gone September, so how about some seasonal suggestions instead?

Credit

cleverchameleon