Good morning. Believe it or not we are mid-way through another busy week, and one that for me that has involved quite a bit of travel. I have just returned home from a trip north to the Tasman region and a chance to combine work, spend some time with family and enjoy the outdoors.

Isn't it wonderful that we still live in a country where you can walk along the beach and not see another soul, and see tui and bell birds so close you could almost reach out and touch them? It is also a reminder of the responsibility we have to protect these special places for our children and grandchildren.

The Motueka quilters put on a fantastic exhibition once again and it was great to be a part of that as a merchant for the show. These events don't just happen, and I take my hat off to everyone involved in the show from the ladies selling raffle tickets and making cups of tea to the men who help with the setting up and taking down on the displays. Well done!

This weekend I am off to Poolburn to enjoy some Southern hospitality in Central Otago. I will be teaching and sharing some ideas as well as taking 'the shop'. You are welcome to come and see us at the Poolburn Hall and stock up on some supplies or be tempted to hunt out a new winter project from 10-4 on both Saturday and Sunday.

This week I thought I would show you a new pattern from Australian designer Sue Daley from Busy Fingers. This hussif pattern looks stunning in the Japanese taupe fabrics, includes the apple core paper templates and is $32.00. It is similar to the sample I made a little while ago using another pattern from Sue's collection with clam shell shape pieces and French General fabrics.
English paper piecing has become very popular and is a great way to use up fabric scraps and create beautiful hand stitched projects that are very portable. It is amazing how much you can get done when you stitch a few hexagons here or there. However you don't have to be limited to hexagons (in every size) as there are a myriad of other shapes that can you can try including apple cores, triangles, lozenges, clam shells and many others.

Well, that is all from me this week as I am off to start packing. The newsletter will take a break next week and my web designers take a well-earned break and I will take the opportunity to create some more work for them when they return with more goodies to be added to the site.

If you have a few minutes to spare you could also check out this website, which has loads of information and free stuff for us quilty types. It is hosted by the same company which produces the Quilting Arts magazine (the latest issue is now available at Annie's).
http://www.quiltingdaily.com/

This week's recipe is for Ginger Muffins. These keep well and are delicious fresh out of the oven with a lick of butter, or if you want to tart them up a bit some cream cheese icing topped off with a sliver of crystallised ginger would be perfect.

Ginger Muffins

• 1 c milk
• 50 g butter
• tbsp golden syrup
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 c oat bran
• ½ c sugar
• 2 tbsp chopped crystallized ginger
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 c flour
• ½ c rolled oats
• ½ tsp salt

Heat the milk, butter and golden syrup until the butter melts. Add the baking soda and egg. In a bowl mix the bran, sugar, gingers, flour, rolled oats and salt. Add the milk mixture and mix only to combine. Fill the greased muffin pans to ¾ and bake at 200C for 10-15 mins.

Take care and happy stitching.
Rachel
Annie’s CQS