Aren’t Hummingbirds the greatest?
Don’t tell the Chameleon, but I think so. One of Nature’s little oddities, and beautiful into the bargain. We don’t have hummingbirds in Australia, and I’ve never seen one, although I’d love to one day. In the meantime I have settled for making an appliqué version…. yup, I started playing around with some of the free patterns being offered in the It’s A Garden Party Row Along that popped up last week. I hope you’ve had a chance to look into that blog hop for both the patterns and the prizes.
Also, I have devised a cunning quilt plan to use some of the Garden Party blocks. I will reveal my progress as the pattern collection grows. If you like it you are welcome to make one too. I can tell you how it goes together, you find all the parts in your collected patterns, and then you beat me at my own game. No waiting for me to get my act together to write you a pattern. Perfect!
Read on to get your head start on me now. 😀
Distracted by a Hot Date at the Springs
Changing the topic briefly – as you probably well know by now, hummingbirds aside, Australia has more than its own share of natural oddities. And Arkaroola is especially over-represented in that criteria. This past weekend we were blessed with visitors, so we went for a drive to one of the local strange attractions – Paralana Hot Springs.
Arkaroola is a geologist’s paradise. There seems to be a little of just about anything you can imagine here…. Copper? Tick. Gold? Tick. Jasper, Ochre, Magnetite, Geodes, Granite, Talc? Tick, Uranium? Tick? Oldest known fossils? Tick. Glacial rock deposits? Tick. Geothermal hot springs? Tick. And yes, when I say hot, I mean both thermal and radioactive. Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick. Did I mention I have a Geiger Counter in my lounge room? What do you mean “That’s not normal?” It’s only a little one.
On the surface of things, the hot springs are not that impressive to look at. But consider… there is algae and plant life almost right up to the source of the water. The water that emerges is physically hot enough to steam at times, is radioactive, and it’s got plenty of salts dissolved in it. Those are some tough conditions, and life here has done some pretty significant genetic adaptation to survive. It sounds a bit daunting, but it is safe enough to look around there for a few minutes. Even the gentlest breeze dissipates the radon gas to undetectable levels within metres of the vent, and we never stay long.
On this trip to the springs I saw at least two species of dragonfly I haven’t seen before, and a big flock of zebra finches. Zebra finches make the cutest beep-beep sounds, like a squeaky toy – and they do it constantly when they are in a flock together. It is very distinctive. I like zebra finches, and they waited until I was alone to arrive, perform and depart… VIP treatment!
It is quite a long rough drive to Paralana Hot Springs for such a short visit, but there is plenty to see on the way as well. Such as the colours of the Ochre Wall along the riverbed.
Tillite conglomerate rock structures deposited by glaciers.
Abandoned copper and gold mines.
Wildlife and wildflowers. And springy branches to play on. At the moment the wild Sturt Desert Peas are flowering in the river beds, and they are glorious.
I hope you have enjoyed another insight into the variety of interesting things to find here at Arkaroola.
Speaking of Variety; the “It’s A Garden Party Row Along” continues
It’s the second week of the “It’s a Garden Party” pattern hop organised by Marian of Seams to be Sew. I hope you enjoyed the first week (if not, head here to catch up before you miss out).
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Daughters of Dorinda | Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Just Let Me Quilt | Lovingly Lissa | The Quilt Rambler
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Fabric Bash/Carpe Blogum | For the Love of Geese
Kathleen McMusing | Ms P Designs USA | QuilterChic
Don’t forget to check them all out soon! Some designers will leave their patterns up for free for a long period or even indefinitely, but some are only available for a week. Don’t be a sad Chameleon by leaving it too late.
I’ve got my Garden Party quilt started!
As mentioned earlier, I have started a few of last week’s Garden Party patterns for a small quilt that will have my own block design in the centre. With 50 designers, I can’t fit all the wonderful blocks of this hop into one smallish quilt, so I have had to make some tough decisions about which blocks to use. I am even using part blocks to allow me increase my selection. So far I have started on:
The appliqués from Brenda of Songbird Designs. Hence the hummingbird colour board theme.
I plan to put Brenda’s appliqués over a pieced wall panel designed by Nancy A Myers. I shall leave Nancy’s 3D flowers for another project even though I’m keen to try them, as they seem more suited to a hanging piece.
Also, I am going to make three of Made by Marney’s snails, but at half size so they fit better into my plan and match the scale of other elements. Cute! Actually, Arkaroola has a native snail with a red shell about that shape! But I digress.
And I’ve started on the pieced flowers by Cindy Pieters of Stitchin at Home.
I also plan to use some Cone Flowers by Beatrice of Pumpkin Patch Patterns. Now to start adding Week 2 ideas.
Did you catch the Lunarcy?
If you missed it, I released the first pattern for the Lunarcy quilt last week. Head back here to get it if you haven’t already.
As I mentioned last week, this will be coming out more often than monthly…. my friend Kathleen suggested it may be more of a BOWIFLI (block of when I feel like it) than a BOM. That made me laugh, I think I will go with that! Branches and blooms, coming soon.
From our weekly quilt shares
Pam of Appliqué Paintbox has a beautiful painted quilt block to show, adapted from a Helen Goddern pattern. The Chameleon is impressed – he is convinced that this block depicts some sort of lizard paradise where the food volunteers.
A very popular share this week was Carole’s Embroidered Quilt of Valor at From My Carolina Home. Carole quilted a charity quilt made from donated blocks with a very skillfully handworked embroidery in the centre. Head over to Carole’s for close ups.
Turid at Den syende himmel is participating in a quilt along in colours that reminded me of the hummingbird. And there we have it, this blog post has turned full circle!
Time to Share
What’s got you humming? Tell us – 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!
The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll to the end and tell me what 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!
I always look forward to seeing your post and seeing your projects as well as seeing your world. I did not know that you don’t have hummingbirds. Here in the USA, we do have them, and we enjoy planting flowers that attracts them.
I also love seeing the wild life and plants of Australia. It is an inspiration for future travel on less famous places abroad.
I enjoy seeing your progress with the garden row a long.
Wonderful post, as usual. Inspiration and education.
Your blog posts are like a fun little visit and seeing some sights, so thank you! I look forward to them. Had no idea about the radioactivity, so that was fascinating. Will be fun to see your garden party quilt come together. We have hummers here – not sure how many, because only two come to the feeder at a time, but they fight over it, which is amusing. Plenty of room for them both!
Hi Dione! I am sort of surprised that you don’t have hummingbirds there. They seem rather common here, although I was thrilled to have them visit my feeder. I’ve yet to get a good picture of one feeding – the scare off very easily. I had no idea about the radioactivity – but also believe the radon would dissipate quickly in the breeze. Take care, my friend! ~smile~ Roseanne
Awesome post and I love you adventures.
Great post, and so fun with the full circle. I love those colours.
oh but that hummingbird is gorgeous. We have had them since spring and they are still here. I love hummingbirds. Our cats like watching them also. LOL Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures of the area. I am so enjoying The Garden Party also. Have a wonderful week
Hi Dione, thanks so much for sharing your trip. Sounds wonderful. Your little quilt from the row by row sounds great. I’ll have to check it out. Have a great week. Take care.
Dione, thanks so much for mentioning my pattern! I love the fabrics you chose for your pieces and cannot wait to see what you put together with elements of these blocks! Enjoy your project. There are so many great designs to collect! Sorry I’m late to the party but life’s been nuts! I always love seeing your plants and wildlife where you are. While I’ve never seen a hummer like the one in your colour inspiration, we do have a couple of different varieties that visit our feeder. I love sitting on the porch, drinking coffee and watching them!