Tag: crazy quilt

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Crazed Diamonds: Show and Tell Friday

Crazed Diamonds Victoriana tribute quilt by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Another Successful and Fascinating Royal Adelaide Show

The Royal Adelaide Show is our State’s largest agricultural and horticultural show. It is also our biggest annual carnival with all the rides and show games. I’m a country girl by childhood, so I love the animal and farming parts of the show. I am also a crowd-hater, so the games and rides end of the showgrounds are not for me if I can help it. I really would prefer to pick my way through cow dung than buy fairy floss. Anyday.

But it is really the handicraft displays and other competitive arts that make me buy a ticket to The Show. Especially since I usually compete in the quilting and embroidery sections. I went to the Adelaide Show yesterday, and as always, I was taken with so many brilliant things. And I finally got some photos of my Crazed Diamonds quilt. Want to see?

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Victorian Lace: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Victorian lace quilting design with crazy patchwork colour board at Clever Chameleon

Tackling a UFO from the Victorian Era!

Not really. 😀 It’s just an unfinished flimsy from March, but March does seem like ever such a long time ago. Time flies, does it not?

Do you remember my Crazed Diamonds crazy patchwork piece? No?!! 😮 I’d be quite surprised if you did actually, there’s been a lot of water under all manner of quilting bridges since then! But full marks if you have any idea what I am talking about. And bonus points for reading on…..

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Sew Succulent: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Sew Succulent colour scheme by Clever Chameleon

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!

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Vintage Reimagined with Island Batik

Matha Bingley's crazy diamond quilt

“Give the Past a Personal Touch”

That is the monthly challenge for Island Batik Ambassadors this March. An invitation to reimagine a vintage quilt (or a building or furniture or another artefact of some kind) into a new quilt.

Vintage reimagined challenge

As the muse for my challenge piece, I have chosen an early Australian quilt by Martha Bingley. Not much is known about Martha Bingley or her quilt (pictured above). Except for one picture of her and the information contained on the quilt itself. There’s a good reminder to label your quilts right there, people!

Martha’s crazy quilt is now owned by Annette Gero. It is also featured in Annette’s book about Australian quilting history called “The Fabric of Society – Australia’s Quilt Heritage from Convict Times to 1960”. The quilt is dated 1883 and is slightly unusual for its time and place. Perfect Chameleon fodder!

Can you see why this quilt is notable? Let’s take a moment to muse this quilt from yesteryear. And I’ll share with you where reimaging vintage Australian quilts has led me so far.

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