Ladybirds for Luck: Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Ladybug colour board at Clever Chameleon

Ladybirds for Luck

So…… This week, things are going pretty well here…… Covid restrictions easing. My latest assignment written (and submitted!) on time. Three more blocks on the Lunarcy finished….. which gives me some breathing space to do some of the pattern writing for a change. And a four day weekend due to a public holiday yesterday combined with a student-free day today…. Puts me in the mood for a lighthearted look at Lady Luck, since that’s where the themes in my sewing room, the great outdoors and my linky inbox seem to intersect this week.

Why luck? The Chameleon doesn’t strike you as being overly superstitious, (unless it suits him), you say? Ladybugs, that’s why. They are the latest nice thing to arrive in my desert backyard in numbers large enough for me to notice. The ladybugs here in Arkaroola are smaller than at home in Adelaide, and are quite a fabulous orange, with large “three-lobed” markings. They are the Transverse Ladybird, or Coccinella transversalis, whereas the ones further south are the Large Spotted Ladybird, and are, well, larger and more spotted.

ladybird beetle

Lucky Charms

Ladybirds are lucky in many cultures, and widely popular as a good luck charm. Good for the garden, and cheery to look at. When I am finished the Lunarcy project, I am tempted to work some ladybird luck into my sewing room next. I am still thinking to design some extra blocks to accompany a paper-pieced garden block I have just developed for Seams to be Sew’s row-along in September. Ladybugs are right at the top of my ideas list. It seems to me that a Ladybug quilt is a must have in one’s gifting repertoire….. Going on a new adventure? – Cool, here’s a ladybug quilt for prosperity in your new place. Getting engaged or married?…. Everyone needs a bit of luck to kickstart the journey. A quilt for comfort in health challenges? Ladybugs are never in bad taste.

Actually, the Chameleon says ladybugs have a very bad taste indeed. Lucky for them, I reckon.

Do you know what else is supposed to be lucky? A rabbit’s foot.

appliqué rabbit's foot

Personally, I think I know something luckier than a rabbit’s foot… the rabbit that got to keep it.

Yup, you guessed it. I’m up to the Year of the Rabbit block on the Lunarcy quilt.

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Shine Bright: an Island Batik quilt finish

Shine Bright quilt as a bed runner at Clever Chameleon

I was beginning to think this poor project was slightly cursed!

The advice on this beautiful little quilt reads “Shine Bright”. There were times, however I felt like it should have read more along the lines of “Burn, Sucker!”. haha In short; the quilt is finished and it is good. Actually, it’s really lovely. It is exactly what I wanted and needed. The journey, however, was blessed with a few unwanted twists and turns. The long version of the story goes as follows……

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Getaway Blog Hop with Island Batik

Cat on a Wall quilt by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Paisley Park meets Cat on a Wall

Welcome to my stop on the Island Batik Getaway Blog Hop. This is my last project as a 2018 Island Batik Ambassador, and accordingly, a biggie.

Back in July I received a “Surprise” package. Inside were glorious Paisley Park fabrics that had to be kept secret for the longest time! But today I can show and tell all. My instructions were to use as many of the different fabrics as I could to create a quilt of at least lap size. And if I wished, to incorporate themes of travel and destinations.

Paisley Park fabrics by Island Batik.
Paisley Park fabrics by Island Batik

So much beautiful fabric, so many quilt options. But I’d had an idea that had been waiting it’s turn for a very long time, and around September it finally it dawned on me that the colour and contrast spectrums of the Paisley Park fabrics would be perfect for it. My Cat on a Wall design from eons ago.

Cat on a Wall quilt by Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon

Read on…. I’ll introduce you to my Cat on a Wall quilt – Paisley Park Getaway style. Of course, surreptitiously getting you hooked on these new fabrics in the process. 🙂 And then I’ll tell you how you could win a 5″ strip pack of 20 of the fabrics used in my quilt. I’d love you to be able to have a play with these fabrics, they are even better in real life.

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Tulips Go Supernova – Colour Inspiration Tuesday and Link Party

Tulips Go Supernova color scheme by Clever Chameleon

Welcome to another Tuesday! Thanks for being here…. It means a lot to me, as there is a lot of quality quilting activity on the internet this week!

(Click here if you are looking for my Wish Upon A Star blog hop post from Monday). Of course, stay here if you are looking for your weekly dose of Chameleon colour and quilt inspiration. 🙂 Better yet, do both…..

Do you remember these tulips I showed you last week?

Mother's Day tulips

I received these on Mother’s Day. So they are now over a week old and they look like this:

ageing red tulips

Spectacular and artistic, just as I promised. And very hard to photograph as a group, I might add. Too many divas and not enough limelight.

Anyway, each tulip has opened up to reveal a striking and beautiful 6-pointed star in the centre. What can I say? Mother Nature still has my vote as the greatest designer of all time!

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