Happy New Year and “Hello 2017!”  It is ok because I have already decided that this year is going to be full on and fabulous.  By this time next week Robbie and I will be on our way to Japan to attend the International Quilt Festival in Tokyo which is very exciting.

https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/quilt/

There comes a time when you realise that if you are going to tick off some of the things on your bucket list, you had better start soon…so Japan here we come!

I have just joined up with Instagram so make sure that you follow anniescountryquiltstore so you can see some of the amazing things that we discover in Japan.

In the meantime the girls will be doing a fine job looking after the shop and keeping everything running smoothly before we hit the ground running at the start of February with classes, new kits and projects and Block of the Month projects.

Storytellers is our new BOM which is starting now with the sample on display in the shop.   Designed by Nancy Gere this is a large quilt at 102” x 102” following the lives of famous authors such as Mary Shelley and Agatha Christie along the way.  It is $56.00 per month which includes the patterns and all the fabric for the quilt top and binding in 12 instalments.

Another interesting project for 2017 is the Map of Aotearoa Quilt Challenge being sponsored by Nutex fabrics, T&C’s and entry forms are available by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,  and the panels are available in store from Annie’s CQS now.  First prize is a NZ Mystery weekend for 2 including flights and accommodation, with second and third prizes involving a nice little spend up at your local quilt shop!  I understand that the quilts will be displayed at the National Symposium in Christchurch in October, so now is the time to get your thinking caps on!  The panels are $17.50 each and are available now from Annie’s CQS.

Something else to mark on your calendar is our annual Akaroa Retreat (23-25 June).   This is a great weekend getaway in a fabulous location, but please let us know as soon as you can if you are keen to attend as places are pretty sought after.  More details and a registration form are on the website under classes.

Before I forget the December winner of $50.00 voucher from Annie’s is C Dean from Ashburton.  Congratulations, your voucher is waiting for you.

On to the recipe…

Christmas time provides plenty of opportunity to try new recipes with lots of great seasonal produce…...my new favourites include cauliflower balls and spicy fruit and nut bread with Whitestone blue cheese.  But in the meantime why not make the most of those amazing Central Otago cherries with a little chutney, so that you can savour those amazing rich fruity flavours long after the season has finished.

Cherry Chutney

• 500 g cherries, pitted and halved
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/3 c raw sugar
• ¼ Central Otago Pinot Noir wine
• 2 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
• ¼ c finely chopped onion
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Simmer all the ingredients together in a pan for about an hour until they are sticky.  Pour into clean jars.

Happy stitching

Rachel