Hi there,

Well, we are back home again after a quick trip northwards for the Marlborough Quilters Exhibition last weekend.   Now it is back to our regular routines of classes, making samples and playing catchup.  We will also start preparations in ernest for the next major event on the show calendar.  

“The Great New Zealand Quilt Show” hosted by Aotearoa Quilters will be held at the Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch 16-18 May with hundreds of quilts of display, demonstrations, and merchants there will be more creative inspiration than you can poke a stick at!
This is the first time this event has been held in Christchurch, so we really need to support it, as this helps to secure more shows of this kind for the South Island in the future.
https://www.aotearoaquilters.co.nz/

What have you been working on lately?  Send me your pictures as I would love to see if you don’t mind sharing.  The two quilts below are my two latest finishes.  The first one is “Flourish” and is available now as a kit ($379.00) in exactly these colours.  It is a good size quilt (80” x 80”) and you could always make it larger with the addition of some borders if you wish.  The fabric is from the Marcus Fabrics Studio and is a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute with a classic look is sure to stand the test of time.

This next pattern “Madeline” is from Meags and Me ($22.00).  This would look great as lap size or as a wall hanging or throw over.  The stitching can be done either by hand or by machine.  I have chosen to stitch this one entirely on the machine, just to prove that if you are not into hand work, you can still achieve a really good result. 

A limited number of kits  ($235.00) are available using some of my very special toile fabrics from the Toile de Jouy museum in Paris along with some of the my French General favourites.

Now….onto the recipe.  One of my favourite meals at this time of year is a fresh zingy salad.  Why not do a deep dive into the fridge and the pantry and see what you can come up with.  ☺

Thai Beef Salad - 400g Beef Schnitzel

Oil

• 1 small red onion
• 1 red capsicum
• 1 courgette
• Baby carrots
• Fresh coriander and mint
• Crunchy noodles
• ¼ roasted peanuts

Dressing:

• ¼ c lime juice
• 2 tbsp soya sauce
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 long red chilli
• 1 clove garlic

Prepare the vegetables and place on a platter or salad bowl.  Mix the ingredients for the dressing.   Heat the oil in a pan and quickly cook the thinly sliced beef until just seared and place on the salad and pour over the dressing, and top with the salted peanuts.

Cross Stitch night Friday and Woolly Stitchers on this Saturday…Yahhhh!!  Come along and be a part of the fun.  More details on the website, or you are welcome to give us a call at the shop.

If you feel like an outing the Alrusa Club’s Fabric and Craft Bazaar is set down for Saturday April 5 at the Sinclair Centre.  If you wish to de-stash you can also leave donated goods at either Smith and Church or Resene Paints.  (This will make room for all the gorgeous new fabric you need to buy from Annie’s!)