Can a Quilter Have Too Much Fabric?

Yes, sad to say - I think so. At the beginning of the year I made a decision to not buy any fabric until my stash is significantly whittled down - well I haven't, really - OK just 2 small pieces about 1/4 metre. AND, they were for something specific which I didn't have anything similar or could paint.
I have been sorting this weekend as well as making neonate quilts with leftover blocks. I have also made the decision to give away (so it becomes someone else's problem) some blocks from a class I did years ago. It just wasn't making me enthusiastic any more, so perhaps another person can make something of it!
I have also put fabrics onto Trademe  (seller's name is Commuter) because I'm not going to make the quilt I bought it for.
This is an example:

Oriental fat quarters

backing fabric - 5m

Just as well it has been a wet weekend :-)
I have also made some Indian chutney from Mrs Beeton's Jams, Pickles & Preserves recipe book. The base ingredient is apples (of which I still have plenty). 1kg of apples is only about 6, so I doubled the recipe and titivated it a little. Plenty to give away now.

Too Many Things To Do!

I've been pretty quiet in blogland, but feel that I've been running around like a chook with it's head cut off!
Trying to chip away at the final Roosters/Hens quilt - I have the central block to work on and it has over 300 pieces to applique. It didn't help that I couldn't find all the fabric for the vines and flowers, but I have since decided that it doesn't matter too much, so I am now cutting out all the pieces of the Vliesofix and ironing them onto the various fabrics. I think that quilting group will be a good time to cut the pieces out and arrange them on the baking sheet.
There are still heaps of apples, but then they are good to give to friends and family, as well filling up the freezer.
Monday, my friend and mentor, Nolan, and I took 4 wether hoggets to the sale and I received a very good price for them - thank goodness the $$ received make it more viable to have sheep now, than in the last 20 years! Today we (well actually Nolan) dagged the lambs - they need to be shorn which will help them to grow (don't ask me how, but that is what he said!). I think I will be selling most of them as I have mostly wethers.
Anyway, it was a nice morning to be on the mower. I found that the figs are starting to ripen (keep those birds away, please!) and one of our two walnuts, is getting close to dropping:

Tomorrow is my Dad's 80th birthday - it will be a great celebration and good to see him again.

Remarkable Symposium, Queenstown 2011

I can announce that I have had my 4 ANZAC challenges accepted for Symposium (whew!). Also that with the power of positive thinking, with 4 entries - I'm going to win! AND, I'm going to win a Merit prize! So, if you have entered, hard luck I've just claimed 2 prizes!!
I am doing a workshop with Larkin Van Horn (a link to her web site on the right) called Beaded Buttons and Edges. I am also an 'angel' (gopher in other words) for the other 4 days. So I will get to learn things without the stress of doing the class - oh, yeah! How much better could it be - oops, better organise the rest of the travel, too!

Trying Out Camera Lens'

I was playing around with a new macro lens. The cactus dahlias are looking lovely right now, so they seemed to be an obvious choice.
What do you think of this?

I think I'll have to make another 'quilt' as in the Alice's Wonderland in is my Garden series.
I bought a hank of chenille thread (it may need to be darkened a little) from Dianne to make the stamens and pistils with various knots.
And just to be extra lucky, I managed to get some shots of a visitor.

When this photo is enlarged to fill up the computer screen you can see how engorged the butterfly's veins are - so beautiful!

The Bells Will Toll

Today, at 12:51 we, as a nation, will stand in silence for two minutes to remember those who have died in Christchurch. This is the time, one week ago, the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck, shattering lives forever.

Please remember us in your prayers. The effect of this is immeasurable.

Kia kaha!

God bless New Zealand!