Hi there.  As I sit here at the laptop I am watching a collection of monarch butterfly caterpillars munching their way through a rapidly diminishing swan plant.  Funnily enough they don’t really seem to care that it is nearly Christmas, as long as there is a ready supply of food.  (Actually this sounds mighty like your typical kiwi male at this time of year!!!)

Anyway moving right along….I am not sure if you have noticed, but Bernina have decided to add an extra sweetener to the Christmas sale with daily deals up until Christmas which you can see on the Annie’s Country Quilt Store Facebook page.  Today’s deal is a 25% off Bernina accessories (not including bobbins and needles).   These deals expire at the end of the each business day, but you can also phone or email us to place an order, and then check in again tomorrow to see what is on offer.  You can also check out the Bernina NZ Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/welovetosew/photos/?ref=page_internal

We have had some new books arrive in (and more fabric) and some gorgeous cross stitch sampler patterns, and I thought I would show this bright fun and summery new quilt that I have just finished using mostly  5” squares of Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  The quilt measures 69” x 75 ½” and we have put this together as a kit  ($295.00) or it is available as a pattern ($23.00) called Village designed by Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.

I have also put together kits for this little decoration.  It is $8.50 or FREE when you purchase a giftvoucher from Annie’s to the value of $50.00 or more.

If you are wondering about our hours over the holiday time, Annie’s will be open every day 9.30-4.30 with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s day and January 2.

If 2017 is your year to travel and a trip to France is on your agenda, see if you can work a trip to Nantes in April for the International Show of Arts and Thread.  It is definitely on my to do list, but maybe not this coming year.

http://www.pourlamourdufil.com/en/default.aspx

On to the recipe…a special breakfast on Christmas morning has become a bit of a tradition in our family which usually consist of freshly made waffles and berries, but these poached cherries also make a really good accompaniment or they could be served with icecream and pavlova later in the day or as the filling for a tart.

Poached Cherries

• ½ c red wine
• 3-4 tbsp sugar (to taste)
• 2 cups of cherries
• 1 tsp cornflour

Place the red wine and sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil.  Stir to dissolve the sugar.  Add the cherries and poach until softened and warmed through.  Mix the cornflour in a little water to make a paste and add to the cherries stirring through, heating gently until the mixture has thickened.

Happy Stitching

Rachel