Hi there. A belated Happy Easter to you all! I hope that you managed to get your fill of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs for another year...although it seems you can almost get hot cross buns in a multitude of different varieties any time of the year now. (Not quite the same in my book!)

We are off to Melbourne at some unmentionable hour in the morning to catch up with a good number of our suppliers at the Australian Quilt Convention later this week and to spend time with family. Getting ready to go away and placing all the ducks firmly in a row is always the worst part!

In the meantime it will be business as ususal with the girls holding the fort in the shop with our $20.00 a metre specials on a great selection of fabrics continuing. Celebrating our 20 years in business with purchases over $200 will go into the draw to win a brand new Bernina 325 sewing machine. There are lots of other prizes to be won each time you make smaller purchases. These will be drawn at the end of the month so everyone gets a fair chance.

We have managed to get some more supplies of the very popular A5 Triumph Light Pads. These are a great deal at $30.00 (elsewhere up to $45.00), and are particularly good for when you are on the move with your stitching and need a portable means of tracing your designs. Rechargable with your USB connection. Check these out on the website.

anniesquilts.co.nz/cms/shop-online/product/3806-triumph-led-light-pad.html

In the meantime we have had lots of new fabrics arrive in including Kaffe Fassett, Sally Kelly and more beautiful Liberty Tana Lawns in an amazing variety of fat 1/8th’s which would be just perfect for this delightful pattern from Amy Kalissa which includes your instructions as well as pre-printed linen for the small stitcheries.

By the way...have you seen the Annie’s socks? One hundred percent locally designed and made for us here in Ashburton, these merino beauties are perfect for every stitcher and send a message every time you put your feet up! They are even cheaper when you buy two pair. J

https://www.anniesquilts.co.nz/cms/shop-online/product/3807-annies-no-i-m-stitching-socks.html

The weekend of 22-23 April I will be back on deck and rearing to go for our Glamorous Clams Class using Deborah Louie’s fabulous pattern for this cushion/quilt/bag project. This is a great way to make friends with your sewing machine, ask all those questions about tensions, needles, threads etc that you were scared to ask and find uses for all the fancy stitches that you have never tried before, you’re your own stitch recipes, discover the memory functions on your machine...and it’s fun way to learn heaps! Give us a call today and book your space.

Another couple of dates to mark on your calendar – Friday 28th April Cross Stitch from 5-8 pm, and Woolly Stitchers Day Saturday 29th April. (More details on our website).

Also coming up next month I will be in Motueka as one of the merchants for the Quilting Connection Show at the Recreation Centre from 19-21 May. This is always a good exhibition and I always look forward to catching up with these very talented ladies.

Now, onto the recipe...I know everyone has there own favourite fudge cake recipe, but after many years of dedicated research, this is one is my favourite. (However my family would suggest that whatever I cook it is never quite the same twice, as there are always minor adjustments depending on what is in the pantry!)

Fudge Cake

• 2 packets of plain biscuits (or the equivalent of stale biscuits, cake, or even plain crackers can be thrown into the kitchen whizz)
• 1 c chopped raisins
• ½ c chopped walnuts
• 1 can condensed milk
• 2 tbsp cocoa
• 150 g butter
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• Topping -
• ¾ of 250g block Whitakers Dark Chocolate
• 25 g butter

In a medium size saucepan mix the condensed milk, butter and cocoa heating until bubbling stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add in the vanilla.

Whizz together the biscuit and cake crumbs, nuts and raisins and then add into the chocolate mixture. Press into a sponge roll tin and place in the fridge until completely cooled.

Break up the chocolate and place it in a glass bowl with the butter and melt over a pot of hot water on the stove, but don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir together until completely melted and then spread over the fudge cake and return to the fridge to set. Cut into small pieces and enjoy as a treat!

Take care and happy stitching from the team at Annie’s

R