Hi there and welcome to a busy week as we prepare to host Australian tutor Karen Styles this weekend.

Karen specialises in beautiful reproduction style quilts, and it will be a real treat to see her work on Friday evening at the Trunk Show.  This will be a ‘show and tell’ of her work and an opportunity to hear talk about her experiences as a shop owner, international tutor and fabric designer.

The Trunk Show (and the workshop) is being held at the Linton Lounge at the rear of the RSA building on Cox Street at 7.30 pm on Friday evening, with the entrance off the car park.  Everyone is welcome and tickets are $5.00 each and can be purchased at the door.   There will some spot prizes on the night as well as a light supper.  Entry is free for those attending the weekend workshop.

This week we have had a number of new magazines arrive in, including the long awaited Issue 12 of Leanne Beasley’s Vignette, Quilting Arts, the second issue of the very popular Australia/New Zealand magazine  Stitch/Craft Create ($14.00), Quilting Arts ($17.00), and two new publications DIY Holiday (21.00) and Make it Patchwork ($21.00) which are packed full of projects for the price of just one pattern.                                       

The other thing I thought I would show you which is hot off the sewing machine is this nifty ‘Grommet Wallet’ from Indygo Junction which I have finally got round to making a couple of samples of.  It has plenty of space for your cards, notes, quilt shop receipts, and a coin purse, all held together with the elastic threaded through the grommet.  This is a nifty design and very practical.  It is available as a pattern for $23.00 or as a kit containing fabric, grommet, binding, soft and stable and interfacing – in fact everything you need for $56.00.

Also don’t forget that our special on Matilda’s batting continues until the end of the month with 20% off either white or grey 60/40 wool/poly batting, giving you a saving of $7.50 pm.  Now is the time to stock up.

Now for the recipe, as it is ‘preserving season’ and great time to try out different recipes for jams and chutney, I thought you might like to try this one using beetroot and apples which both seem in plentiful supply at the moment.

Beetroot Chutney

• 1 kg peeled and diced beetroot
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 apples, grated
• ½ c orange juice
• 2 tsp finely grated orange zest
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp each of cinnamon and salt
• 2 c red wine vinegar
• 450 g sugar

Place all the ingredients into a large saucepan or preserving pan.

Bring to the boil stirring occasionally.  Simmer for 1 -1 ¼ hours or until the beetroot is tender and the chutney has thickened.

Place in warm sterilised jars and seal while still hot.

Makes about 5 medium size jars.

All you need to do now is roll out the cheese and biscuits!

Well, that is all from me this week, take care and keep stitching.

Rachel

Annie’s CQS