Hi there. What a busy and exciting week it has been with an overload of inspiration with Jane McDonald from Bebe Bold. We had a great time learning about all aspects of Japanese textiles - not only the practical but the historical traditions of the ancient techniques of sashiko, boro and kogin.

If you missed the classes you are welcome to pop into the shop and see the samples and perhaps be inspired to give it a go yourself. I have already placed another big order from Bebe Bold for kits, thimbles and projects to keep you all going over those long winter nights. There is something very therapeutic about stitching in the winter time!

Here are a couple of samples that I made from the Kogin button kit. A quick project that you can use for buttons, brooches or hair ties. Each kit has all the cloth, thread and fixings to make three buttons and is $28.00.

Next weekend we will be hosting the International Quilt Challenge Exhibition in association with Aotearoa Quilters. This features work from 90 quilters from Japan, France and New Zealand and will be open for viewing in the classroom from 10-4 from May 4-6. (Entry by gold coin donation). We are very lucky to have this in our town, so don’t miss out!

Coming up we have two amazing thread painting classes from Sonya Prychal from Whangarei (July 7-8). Sonya is a world class tutor, and there are still a few places in both the Gerbera and the Kingfisher classes. More details on the website.

We try very hard to keep our class fees as reasonable to encourage as many people to be involved as we can. Needless to say that without this support these events don’t happen.

You are welcome to join us tomorrow for the Woolly Stitchers Day. If you are working on a wool project and need some encouragement or need some help to start something, come on down! It is $20.00 for the day 10-4 or you can just call in for a few hours if you are short of time.

We have lots and lots of beautiful hand dyed wools from Woolly Lady, (probably the best range in the country) as I bought up everything the wholesaler had left as they are no longer going to stock it here. This means that in future it will have to have to be brought in direct from the US unfortunately adding to the cost.

This week’s recipe is super simple...a great one to make with the kids at the end of the holidays. There are only three ingredients and it is gluten and egg free and I promise you they won’t last long in the pantry!

Peanut Butter Coconut Clusters

½ c peanut butter

1 tin condensed milk

3 cup of long thread coconut

Mix all the ingredients together and place spoonfuls on a greased oven tray and bake at 190C until golden (about 15 mins).

Happy stitching,

Rachel and the team at Annie’s.