Good morning on a beautiful cool and crisp morning in Mid Canterbury. While it is great to live in a country which has four definite seasons, when you get home in the dark each night it does make you think how good it would be if winter was just confined to a maximum of four weeks every year. I am not sure that living in Alaska or Norway would work for me!

Anyway.....moving right along. It has been a busy couple of weeks with a visit to Central Otago, a busy Queen's Birthday weekend, and getting ready for our annual retreat in Akaroa this weekend, as well as unpacking lots of new goodies that have arrived in.

This includes new fabric from The French General, silk ribbons, beautiful cross stitch samplers, magazines, books, as well the boring, but essential stuff like threads and needles etc.

We now have a new supplier for our magazines which has meant some great savings for the customers particularly for the Quiltmania magazines which I previously had to ship directly from France. The new issue of Simply Vintage is now in stock and is $24.00 instead of $34.00. This is the Spring issue and is packed full of projects including a new BOM from Bonnie Sullivan.

Down Under Quilts, Quilting Arts, and New Zealand Quilter are also currently in stock. If there is are other quilting or crafty magazine that you would like to receive on a regular basis we can source these and place a standing order for you.

The sashiko panels have been very popular and the Indigo ones are now back back in stock as well. This is easy and very effective stitching – If you can do a running stitch, you can do this!

This week's super dooper deal are these handy kitchen towels that I have managed to get a bulk deal on. The size is 15" x 26" and they are 100% cotton, wash up really nicely, and have a space at either end if you want to get fancy and do some embroidery or applique embellishment. Originally $10.00 each they are half price at $5.00 until stock runs out. A great idea for Birthday and Christmas gifts or to pop in with a gift basket for a new mum.

You may have noticed that the last couple of weeks have been 'newsletter-less', but we are back on track now. If you are having trouble getting my ramblings with the new format please let me know, so that we can iron out as many tweaks as we can.

Now, onto the recipe. This is one that I make often (but it is not an exact science, so forgive me for the lack of quantities). They are also very tasty without the chicken as a vegetarian option and freeze really well.

Roasted Pumpkin, Chicken and Feta Calzone

• Pumpkin, peeled and cut into cubes
• Onion, chopped
• Cumin Seeds (a sprinkling)
• Garlic (as many cloves as you like)
• Olive oil (a generous slosh)
• Put these ingredients in a meat dish and roast until tender.
• While this is cooking make a quantity of pizza dough, either by hand or in the bread maker.
• Once the pumpkin is cooked. Add in the following ingredients.
• 150 gm chopped feta cheese
• Grated tasty cheese
• Cooked chicken breast
• Finely shredded silverbeet or spinach
• Freshly ground black pepper and salt and fresh herbs to taste

Divide the pizza dough into about eight pieces, roll out into oblong shapes and put a generous handful of filling on half of each piece of dough. Wet the edges of the dough and fold over to enclose. Brush with an egg wash and bake at 200 C until golden and delicious.

Before I tootle off........the winner of the monthly draw for the $50.00 voucher for June is Hilary Daughtry of Alexandra.

Take care and happy stitching.

Rachel

Annie’s CQS