Hi there.  Well, this week my advice to anyone who will listen is "Look after your teeth!"  As a result of having  just one cracked tooth,  I have made a sizeable deposit towards my dentist's new car.  Up until now I hadn't realised that  "Saving for your retirement" was a euphemism for "Saving up for when you go deaf, blind and your teeth fall out!!!  Actually I had envisaged something more like holidays, and nice dinners and balmy summer evenings...well it was a nice dream!

Anyway, moving right along, obviously stitching is the perfect distraction from all that and this week I would like to show you my latest new quilt called City Blocks using a pattern from Australian designer Lynne Wilson.  This is a large quilt and a great way to showcase  the beautiful Japanese textured fabrics.  We have these on the bolt, or as FQ's or 18th's or as charm square packs.  This is a great blokes quilt with stunning earthy tones and the textures have been brought out in the quilting as well, however I feel  that the pattern would also look great done in bright fabrics or even novelty prints to give it a more "eye spy' sort of look.

Also new in are these great little sewing tins which are perfect with a window in the front so that you can see exactly what you have stashed away.  These are $12.00 each and there are three different designs.

Don't  forget to book your tickets for the Sue Spargo Trunk Shows in both Nelson and Ashburton.  This will take the form of a lecture and slide show and a display of some of Sue's latest quilts, books, patterns and threads.  Everyone is welcome to attend and it should be a great opportunity to see and talk with this world class designer, teacher and all round lovely lady!  Tickets are just $5.00 each and can be purchased through the shop or on the website where there are more details of dates and times.

http://www.anniesquilts.co.nz/cms/classes.html

There are  still a few places left in Sue's Coneflower workshop in Nelson on Tuesday 1 September, so be in quick!

This week's recipe is a super easy dessert and you can tweek with different fruits and flavours to suit what you have in the cupboard or the fruit basket.   I made this again the other night and used  peaches and mangos - delicious!  This makes a large cake and should serve at least 8 depending on the size of the helpings.

Peach Kuchen

• 350 g self raising flour
• 225 g caster sugar
• 175 g softened butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c milk (approx)
• 6 large fresh peaches or  you can substitute a large tin
• 1/2 c soft brown sugar
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• cream or custard to serve

Preheat the oven to 190C.  In a cake mixer place the flour, sugar, butter, eggs and milk and beat until you have a smooth batter - add more milk if necessary.  Spoon into a large prepared tin and arrange the peaches, plums, cherries or other fruit over the cake mixture.  Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon and back for about 40 mins.  Test with a skewer

This month's winner of the $50.00 voucher from Annie's  is Suzy Brown.   Congratulations Suzy!

 Take care and happy stitching

Rachel

Annie's Country Quilt Store

(03) 3076 277

www.anniesquilts.co.nz