Hi there.  With cold nights and plenty of Olympic sporting events to tune in to, I hope you have got plenty of hand stitching projects on the go to keep you busy.  While we perch on the couch it is hard to appreciate the sacrifices these amazing athletes make, and the pain they put their bodies through.

Moving on….I am excited to be able to tell you that just arrived in are the new extra wide (274 cm) backings from Kaffe Fassett, which for all but the most enormous quilts you would just need the width, so at $45.00 pm it still makes it quite an economical option compared to buying meterage off the bolt, and you don’t have to join it!

We also have the first shipment of Kaffe’s new book ‘Quilts in Italy’ ($59.00) which is jam packed with patterns and inspiration in his very recognisable style.

The new 2017 Sue Spargo Calendar has also just arrived, and at $42.00 (I may have made an ‘oops’ with the pricing, as these are even cheaper than last year!) this makes a great gift for yourself as well as your stitching friends.  We do have a number in stock although I am sure these will sell out quite quickly.

Just to give you the heads up…you are also personally invited to an evening with Katrina Hadjimichael or “Trunk Show” on Friday 26 August at 7.30 pm at the Linton Lounge of the RSA in Ashburton.  Katrina is an amazing quilter, designer,  international tutor and award winning textile artist from Australia and we are very lucky to have her visiting us in Ashburton.

The Trunk Show will be a show and tell or Katrina’s quilts and she will talk about her journey through the quilting world.  There will also be an opportunity to purchase some of her patterns and enjoy a light supper and enjoy the company of like-minded stitchers.  Tickets are $5.00 each and are available from Annie’s CQS or can be purchased through the website.

Recipe time….Kumara were really cheap at the supermarket today, so I thought I would share this one with you.

Golden Kumara and Beetroot Salad

• 1 kg washed beetroot
• 1 kg golden kumara
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• ¼ wholegrain mustard
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 2 oranges
• Italian parsley

Cover the beetroot and cook until tender.  Preheat the oven to 180C.

Wash the kumara, slice into chunks and put in a large baking dish with the canola oil.  Season with salt and pepper and bake for about 35 mins, stirring occasionally.

To make the dressing place the mustard, turmeric and olive oil into a bowl with the zest from the oranges.  Cut the skin and the pith from the oranges and segment them.

Peel and slice the beetroot and then arrange on a platter with the kumara and orange before pouring over the dressing and sprinkling with the chopped parsley

Serves 4-6

Take care and happy stitching,

Rachel