Hi there.  Another quick newsletter this week, as I should be packing my bag about now as we leave for Melbourne in the morning at some ghastly hour that the birds don’t even know about!

 As I have probably told you already Melbourne is my favourite Australian city and I am looking forward to revisiting some of my favourite shops and discovering new restaurants, markets and treasures along the way.  Not forgetting the main purpose of the visit of course which is to track down all the good stuff from my Australian suppliers at the wholesale trade show.

My husband is traveling with me this time, and I have already pre-warned him that his luggage allowance is in my sights, and I am more than happy to ditch his dirty undies and socks in favour of bringing home more fabric!

This week I thought I would show you the ‘Scrappy Snake’ I have just finished from Australian Designer Funky         Friends.  This would make a great Christmas present to make for the grandchildren, or better still a holiday project that you could make with them.  When it is not be ‘loved’ to death or being used a weapon, it could also double as a draft stopper!  The pattern is $22.50 and I will have some kits available, but I have just run out of time today.  (Funny how that happens!)

Also new in this week the new issue of Inspiration magazine, more fabric, new batiks, patterns, (did I mention more fabric?) and more supplies of the very popular Poppy Brooch by Lyn Manning.  I am also very excited to have just finished my new BOM, which is now with the quilter…and for the tease, well it is a little bit different, uses a variety of textures of fabric, and there is no applique.  Stay tuned!

The other quilt I have just finished is this bright scrappy number (and as you can see it is so new that it still needs binding).  We are going to offer this quilt as a weekend class at the end of February (28 Feb-1March) – an ideal opportunity purge your stash and make a beautiful quilt which is easy and fun.  The pattern is available in the Fons and Porter book ‘Quilty’ which we have available on-line or in the shop for $43.00, and each person attending the class must have a copy of the book.    The cost of the two day class will be $65.00 including the book, which will make this one of the cheapest classes ever at $11.00 per day!  (Just think of it as more money to spend on fabric!!!)  Why not book a motel and make it a girls weekend out of it?

Now, on to the recipe – a quick, easy and tasty dinner for four adapted from a recipe from Brett McGregor.

Pork, Kumara and Spinach Pasta

• 300g golden kumara, peeled, diced and parboiled
• 300g spaghetti
• 400g pork sausages, casings removed and rolled into balls
• 1 onion
• Fresh or dried sage to taste
• Fresh spinach (handful)
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2/3 c cream
• 1 tbsp butter
• 25 g parmesan to serve

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente.  Drain, reserving about ¼ c of the liquid.

Heat a large fry pan and brown the sausage and kumara (about 8 mins) before adding the onion, spinach and sage.  Add the vinegar and cook until this has evaporated before adding the cream and butter.

Add the pasta to the pan and season with salt and pepper, adding some of the reserved liquid if required.  Garnish with parmesan.

That’s all from me this week.  Have a great weekend.

Take care and happy stitching

Rachel

Annie’s CQS