I have so much to share. Who has not been busy? At work (Physics department of the University of Pretoria) the lectures for this semester ends on Wednesday 20 May. On that day all semester marks for the 1700 1st year students have to be posted. We are processing final marks. It is amazing how many student realizes during this last week of the semester that they should have actually signed up for a make up lab. And the nature of their excuses for missing lab...
There is a very simple set of rules that apply when a student misses a physics lab, but at this point in the semester the mom in me often gets the better of me. Am I doing them a favor when I apply a shade of gray to the rules or am I encouraging them to be irresponsible? I rather hope that they will see it as grace to get another chance.
Liesl and Renier have been finishing projects on the computer and we have not yet had it fixed. So, still no photos of all the colourful stuff I have been sewing. Even when I get home from work late, I try to sew for at least an hour of two. There is a small nagging voice asking me where am I heading with my quilting, but I simply ignore it by stepping on the foot control. I enjoy the sewing and color and fabrics and cutting shapes and putting them together again. Since I have a rather large stash for South African standards, I will have to think about it. Some other time.

Friday: start of looong weekend

I had my sister-in-law visiting from Oudtshoorn this evening. Had a good time chatting away. Renier is showing his small town niece, Melissa, the places in Hatfield where the Tuks students hangout.

The fabrics came out gorgeously bright and beautiful after the washing and ironing. I am delighted with the dye experience and are desperate for a source of a good quality calico to use. When I shared my dyeing achievement with a friend, she asked me smiling wickedly: and do you intend to do something with the fabric? I think she needs stash education! Will have to show her studio pictures with cupboards stacked with beautiful fabrics. I've only started with my own hand-dyed collection. Cannot use it! No no no not yet!
As soon as we sorted out what is wrong with our computer's USB ports, I will upload photos.
Tomorrow Susara, Marian and myself will visit a fabric shop in Linden which stocks Kaffe Fasset and Amy Butler fabrics. Will only take with a wee bit of cash and no cards. Hope to show you my shopping finds soon.
We have a long weekend and will only go back to work on Tuesday. Sela.

No sewing, only dyeing

Instead of sewing, I did some first time dyeing today. Find myself doing lots of things for the first time lately. Being 50 years old is good! The fabric is curing in containers in the laundry. I am so excited about the brilliant colours. Will do the rinsing after work tomorrow. Hope the colours remain saturated and bright. We do not have easy access to dyes in our country and I recently discovered Melanie Brummer's Slipstream dyes via a facebook friend. This is only the beginning of a wonderful dyeing journey as well.

I have been wishing to do this for a very long time. Today I am making my debut. Through this blog I will be keeping account of my personal quilting journey and share my joys and tears(?) of creating in fabric. I have been reading quilt blogs for at least a year and just love the blog community. The shared passion for creating is inspiring and motivating. Maybe one day I will get to meet some of my favorite quilting ladies. Some of the ladies in our quilt group is planning to visit Houston in the next few years. As South Africans we have to save diligently to be able to shop in dollars!
Today we are voting. We are excited about the fact that the ruling party are up to a stronger opposition since that is very good for democracy. At the majority of the polling stations everything is peaceful and people are good-humored despite long queues.
I will spend the rest of the day sewing.