Hi there, it is newsletter time again and I am wondering where the week has gone, (well, the year really) as we steam towards the end of November.  I am not ready for the Christmas music yet though!

It is an exciting time for our family as I have two girls in Canada at the moment and our son is getting ready (or he should be) to leave for Japan very soon where he is going to work for six months.  It really does make you appreciate the computer and phone technology that makes it so much easier and cheaper to keep in touch these days.

On the shop front it is a busy time also and it is great to see lots of tourists and visitors calling in and the New Zealand fabric flying out the door.  There are some stunning NZ fabrics available both in printed cottons and batiks, and it is not difficult to whip a small project with a kiwi flavour to post overseas and  remind friends and family where home is!  These fabrics are also available through our website.

We have had lots of fabulous new batik fabrics arrive in this week, as well as these stunning jelly rolls of Kaffe Fasset fabrics.  There are 42 strips in the roll and they are well priced at $74.00.

The new issue of Quiltmania’s Simply Vintage magazine has just arrived in featuring 28 autumn projects, as well as the new issue of Quiltmania.  Standing orders for these magazines have been posted out, however we do have a few spare issues available.

If you are making travel plans for 2015 and that includes a trip to England, keep in mind that the Festival of Quilts is in Birmingham from 6-9 August 2015.  The Knitting and Stitching Show in London in October also looks fabulous.

http://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/

http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/

However, keep in mind that you don’t always have to travel that far to see some of the world’s best quilts, tutors, exhibitions and merchants.  As quilters from all parts of the globe will be gathered in Palmerston North in January 2015 for the National Quilting Symposium.   It is not too late to register or mark it on your calendar to just come and look and soak up the buzz of hundreds of like-minded crazy quilters all gathered together in one spot!

http://www.quiltsymposium.co.nz/

Don’t forget it is a public holiday in Canterbury on Friday, but we will be open every day over the long weekend, and if you are out and about we would love to see you.

The Geraldine Arts and Plants Festival is on this weekend and the Geraldine Patchworkers have a display in the museum.

This week’s recipe for Scottish Oat Cakes is a good one for using what you have in the cupboard and can be gluten free.  (Good with cheese and quince paste or fruit chutney).

Scottish Oat Cakes

• 2 cup rolled oats
• 6 tbsp wholemeal or gluten free flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 50 g butter
• 7-8 tbsp of hot water

Preheat the oven to 190 C.  Mix the first five ingredients in a bowl then rub in the butter until it resembles large bread crumbs.  Add the hot water half a tablespoon at a time until you have a thick dough.  The amount of water needed will vary depending on the oats.

Roll out on a lightly floured board to about ½ cm thick and cut into shapes.  Bake for 15-20 mins or until lightly golden in colour.

Well, that is all from me today…projects to finish, projects to start, kits to kit………

Take care and have a great weekend.

Rachel

Annie’s CQS