Hi there. Another week and another weather event! I can honestly say that I am glad I am not in the insurance business with gale force winds and flooding effecting large parts of our regions in the past few of days.

It is certainly a good time to be tucked up in the warm looking out at rain and trying to ignore the growing mountain of washing that is waiting for a fine day!

Speaking of warmer days to come, I am excited to be able to tell you about a really great crafty girl’s road trip to the lower North Island that we have coming up in 2023. You are invited to join me on the “Annie’s Country Quilt Store Fibre Art Tour” (23-28 January) for a fun filled adventure to satisfy your passion for all things fabric, fibre, thread (with plenty of shopping of course!)

I will be flying from Christchurch, but you can join us from any part of the country (or the world) with the tour starting in Palmerston North to include workshops with some of our best quilters, designers, artists, boutique shopping, demonstrations, presentations, fun and friendship, chocolate, a winery and so much more – this is an opportunity not to be missed with delicious food and quality accommodation and lots of laughs along the way all part of the deal. So grab a friend and join us for what will be a fabulous trip! (You can also use any Air New Zealand credits for your flights that you may still have hanging around from long forgotten holidays.)

You are welcome to register your interest with us here at Annie’s or directly with Jane Spencer, the tour organiser at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . As a very experienced travel agent Jane has been organising these tours over the past few years when we have not been able to venture off shore so much. I met her when she brought a group of ladies to Annie’s for a visit as part of their trip to Canterbury and it was then that the plans for a trip North began. You can also check out the details on the class page of the Annie’s website or email me and I will forward you the full itinerary. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We have lots of new projects to show you over the next few weeks and we have had lots of new fabrics arrive so we are busy pushing the walls out a little further! This is the Sunday Sampler bag from Hatched and Patched which I have put together as a kit in these colours using linen, ric rac details and a panel of wool applique. It is a very useful size and you can personalise it to make it your own. The kit with all the fabrics and wool pieces is $98.00. The pattern and wool pieces is $39.00 or pattern only is $23.00 (so many options! J)

https://www.anniesquilts.co.nz/cms/latest-products.html

Now, on to the recipe. This is another good one for the slow cooker.

Orange and Ginger Chicken Drumsticks (Serves 5-6)

• 10-12 chicken drumsticks
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• ¼ c chicken stock
• Zest of an orange
• Juice of 2 oranges (about ½ c)
• 1 tbsp each of sweet chilli, dark soy sauce and white vinegar
• ¼ brown sugar
• 3 tbsp cornflour
• 2 tsp oil

Heat the oil in the pan and lightly brown the chicken drumsticks then place these in the slow cooker. Mix the cornflour into the stock and add to the chicken with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours. Serve with rice and vegetables.

By the time you read this we will be in Melbourne catching up with some of the Australian designers and having a couple of days with our son and daughter in law. We will be back in time to set up for the Bernina Road Show and looking forward to showing you all the new Kaffe Fassett designed Bernina sewing machines, the air-threaded overlockers and the long arm quilting machines. Seeing the travelling quilt exhibition at Annie’s will also be a bonus! See you there – Saturday July 30th (9.30am-4.00pm).

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to check out what we are up to on Facebook, and Instagram

Annie’s Country Quilt Store

03 3076 277