Hi there, and what an exciting week it has with Annie’s Country Quilt Store winning two national awards at the Bernina Conference at the weekend!

The title of Rookie Dealer of the Year and the award for Top Bernette Sales for NZ for 2016 have been bestowed upon us, and considering that we only took on the dealership in May last year this is a real credit to our whole team.  This doesn’t happen without the support of our customers and for that I thank you, as we go forward into what is sure to be a very busy, challenging and exciting year.

To celebrate this we are offering a special on the Bernette Chicago 5 machine which is amazing value for money at $745 (RRP $849.00) with a bonus offer of a free walking foot.  This is a great machine and I have no hesitation is recommending it no matter if you are a dressmaker or a patchworker.

http://www.mybernette.com/en-NZ/Chicago/Bernette-Chicago-5.html

Today the weather has co-operated and concrete has been poured for our new machine service workshop and office so it is all happening!

We are starting to gear up for stocktaking so I am sure there will be plenty of specials in the shop over the next few weeks, but the new stock is continuing to roll in, including the new stand of beautiful Sue Spargo wool threads.  There are 60 colours and they are $6.50 per spool.  These can be used for hand or machine work and are great for anchoring your wool applique work down, before backstitching and embellishing around it.

I know that many of you are waiting very patiently for our new Block of the Month “Flying Pigs and Dancing Chickens” from Anni Downs to start.  There has been a bit of a delay with the supply of the hand dyed wool from Hatched and Patched, however it is somewhere over the Tasman as we speak and so it shouldn’t be too much longer.  It is not too late if you will still like to sign up for this quirky, fun hand stitching project.

http://www.anniesquilts.co.nz/cms/shop-online/product/1667-dancing-chickens-and-flying-pigs-bom-each-month.html

Well as it is National Lamb Day (or week) I thought I would share this recipe for this plum sauce which is delicious served hot with lamb or barbequed meats.

Plum and Onion Conserve

• 1 kg fresh plums
• 300 g onions
• ½ tsp fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp fresh mint (2 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp crushed peppercorns
• 2 tbsp butter

Halve and stone the plums and place in a pot with the finely chopped onions, ginger mint and pepper.  Cover and cook for 20 mins.  Remove the lid and continue cooking slowly to reduce the liquid until the mixture is quite thick.  Cut the butter into small wedges and which these into the sauce until melted.

 Happy stitching

Rachel