Hi there. 

Well it is hard to believe we are into November already.  I guess we say it every year, but this year seems to have gone so quickly.  I suppose our concept of time seems to shift a little as we get older as well, but  remember when we were little and it seemed like forever until your next birthday, and you couldn’t understand why Santa couldn’t come twice a year?

I have been working on a little Christmas project this week, a new one  from Australian designer Marg Low called  "Santa's on His Way" .  I have put this together as a kit with the fabric, threads, stabilizer and hand painted buttons for $42.50. The wooden hoops are available separately for $13.50 each.

This week we have had lots more parcels arrive including lots of Christmas and novelty buttons, reproduction fabrics, a couple more Amy Butler prints, books and patterns as well as these nifty little Spool Huggers called Peels.

Sometimes despite my best efforts to be tidy (?), there are times when my threads end up in an ugly birds nest which I have to cut my way out of…which is annoying and a waste of money.  Never fear, the thread huggers are here!  These are just $2.00 each, come in a variety of funky colours and they will never get sick of wrapping themselves around your threads spools.  Certainly a great present for the person who has everything!

Last week we were really busy with the Bernina My-Guide Classes which were a great success.  Keep an eye out for these again next year when Julie Veck (National Product Educator for Bernina) will visit again.  Julie is an absolute wealth of knowledge, the classes are free.  If you have a Bernina machine you are crazy not to take advantage of this really.

Coming up we have Christchurch Show weekend which is a public holiday in this part of the world, however never fear, Annie’s will be open all weekend.  If you are heading this way you could incorporate a visit to the Geraldine Arts and Plants Festival 11-13 November.  The Geraldine Patchwork Group always have a great exhibition and display as part of this event which is well worth checking out too.

I am heading off to Takaka this weekend to catch up with family and to teach a class for the Golden Bay Patchworkers who will be trying their hand at foundation piecing. I am also hoping for  a brilliant sunny day and a visit to the beach!

The winner of last month’s $50.00 voucher from Annie’s is Alana Adcock from Ashburton.  (I hear that she also did very well with her quilts at the Ashburton A&P show.)  Well done Alana, your voucher is waiting for you!

 On to the recipe, this is a delicious slice which has become a bit of a favourite..sort of a take on Louise cake which would easily be made gluten free and is delicious with any berries.  It also freezes well.

Raspberry Coconut Shortcake Slice

• 150 g butter
• ¼ c caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 ¾ c flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ c milk
• ½ c raspberry jam
• 2 c frozen raspberries
• For the topping:
• 100 g butter
• ¾ c caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 c long thread coconut
• ½ c flour

Preheat the oven to 180 C, and prepare a 23 x 30 cm baking pan.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.  Fold in the flour and baking powder, then mix in the milk.  (The mixture will be soft.)

Dust your fingers with flour and then press the mixture into the baking pan.  Spread with jam and sprinkle the raspberries over evenly.

To make the topping, cream the butter and sugar add the eggs and then fold through the coconut and flour.  Spread this gently over the raspberries and bake for about 35 mins.

 Take care and happy stitching,