Hi there,

It has been an amazing autumn, but with the first real frost yesterday and the start of snow making on Mount Hutt, the Indian Summer may have come to an end and I think we can now finally put away the summer clothes.

I am busy packing to head north this weekend for the Motueka Quilting Connection's Annual Exhibition (Friday-Sunday (20-22 May) which is always a great show with plenty of  talent and inspiration on display.

We have had lots of new stock in this week with a big selection of extra wide quilt backings in an assortment of colours, more fabrics including some Pooh Bear panels,  reproduction fabrics as well as new Kaffe Fassett designs.  We are also continuing to build up our haberdashery supplies with overlocking threads more stabilisers and battings being added to the inventory.  With the extra demand we are still finding our way on this a little, so feel free to ask if you can't find what you need.

Friskars is a brand that has been around for many years and they produce very good scissors, rotary cutters and self healing mats, including these very flash ones that have just arrived in, and I am pleased to be able to pass these on to you at a really good price.

The 8" designer scissors are $29.90, the 45 mm cutter is $32.00 and the 8" x 8" rotating cutting mat pack that also includes an 18mm cutter and two acrylic rulers is great value at $64.00.  This would be great when you are working on hexagons or small projects.

I also thought I would tell you about a new quilt binding tool.  A customer recently put me onto this and I think it is brilliant.  It helps when you are having that delima about joining your quilt binding on the bias cut.  It is much more difficult to explain than it is to watch the demo, so here is the link.   They are $24.00 each, and  there are also a number of other videos on Youtube showing you how you can use the tool as a template to make some quite impressive quilts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c0RFHCmtKI

We never stop learning...and Julie Veck,  National Product Educator for Bernina NZ is going to be back to run some FREE workshops at Annie's at the beginning of June.  These half day Bernina My Guide Training sessions, and the Accessory Day are for Bernina sewing machine owners who would like to learn more about how to make the most of their machines, with plenty of tips and tricks from someone who knows the Bernina brand inside out!  The sessions will be

• 9.30 - 11.30 am Thursday 2 June - for owners of 3 series machines
• 1.00-3.00  pm Thursday 2 June  - for owners of 5 series machines
• 9.30 - 11.30 am Friday  3 June  - for owners of  7 series machines
• 1.00-3.00 pm Friday 3 June - for those with machine embroidery units
• 10.00 am - 3.00 pm Saturday 4 June - Bernina accessories day (for all models)

These sessions are FREE and an amazing opportunity with booking on a first in first served basis.

Now...onto the recipe.

This is a quick dish to whip up when time is short, or you about to dash out the door to quilt class.

Super fast chicken curry

• 600 g hokkien noodles
• 1  onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 apple
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1/4 sultanas
• 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock
• 1 tbsp tomato past
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken

Cook the noodles according to the directions on the packet.  Cook the chopped onion, pepper, apple and curry powder in a large non stick fry pan for about 3 mins.  Add in the stock, tomato paste and sugar and simmer until the vegetables are cooked through.  Add the cooked chicken to warm through and lastly the noodles which have been cooked and drained.

 Rachel

Annie's Country Quilt Store

(03) 3076 277

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Rachel Maw Annie's Country Quilt Store 167 Archibald Street Ashburton 7700 New Zealand (03) 307 6277