Hi there.  While I realise there are still 24 hours in the day, somehow it seems a lot less with the end of daylight saving time and I feel a bit cheated when I get home in the dark.   However, I guess living in the tropics with cyclones, snakes and creepy crawlies would have its moments too!

Still….there is plenty of sewing to be done with some gorgeous books and patterns coming through.  I am really excited about this new book from Jenny Pedigo and Helen Robinson from Sew Kind of Wonderful,  called 'One Wonderful Curve' ($59.00).

I already have several of the quilts in the book added to my ‘to-do’ list.  The designs are fresh and vibrant and the quilting is simply amazing.  They have designed a special ruler to use with this book which we also have available ($49).  You can check out her blog at

http://sewkindofwonderful.blogspot.co.nz/

I have trying to have a ‘finishing’ phase at the moment.  There is a great temptation when presented with so many new and amazing patterns, books and ideas to forget that the satisfaction to be gained from completing the projects is right up there is the excitement of starting something new.  (It is the bit in the middle that is sometimes a problem!)

Anyway…finally completed is my ‘Hexie on the Go’ bag, which I have also put together as a kit in these same (Tilda) fabrics, and this is now on the website.  This is a lovely pattern from Australian designer and includes the iron on transfer and hexagons papers.

We are now accepting registrations for our weekend retreat in Akaroa (26-27-28 June).  This is really great weekend with as much sewing, good food, shopping and merriment as you can handle.  We stay at the Akaroa Village Inn and the accommodation is on a shared basis, but if you want to bring two friends you can have a unit to yourselves.  The cost of the weekend is $250.00 pp and includes accommodation, venue hire, Friday night nibbles, morning and afternoon teas and gourmet lunches.  Places are limited so you will need to be in quick, as many of the ladies book from year to year.

We are really looking forward to the launch of our Bernina dealership on Saturday May 7th, and we will have some really good specials on the machines.   If you can’t make it on the day, these specials will continue until May 15 – more details later.   This will also be a really good opportunity to meet Julie Veck the National Product Educator for Bernina NZ, as well as General Manager Glyn Singleton who will both be in store.

Now…onto the recipe.  This is a light fresh and tasty dish, that you could also ‘take as a plate’ for a pot luck occasion.  Pork mince also works well.

Chicken and Noodle Lettuce Cups

• 175 gm dried rice vermicelli noodles
• 2 tsp oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 sticks of celery
• 1 red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
• 3 tsp fresh grated ginger
• 250 g snow peas, sliced
• 550 g chicken mince
• 1 ½ tbsp lemon or lime juice
• 1 ½ tbsp soya sauce
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 12 iceberg lettuce leaves to serve

Soak the noodles in a boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain well.  Snip them into short lengths.

Stir fry the oil, onion, celery, then add in the chilli and ginger.  Lastly add in the chicken mince stirring well to break it up and cooking until it is nicely browned.  Add the snow peas, juice, sauce and sugar and combine before mixing in the noodles.

Put the lettuce cups onto a plate and half fill with the chicken mixture, and sprinkle with some fresh coriander.

Well…that’s all from me this week,

Happy stitching

Rachel