Hi there.

Another month has ticked over and the supermarket shelves are already full of Easter treats. I am not sure I am quite ready for the end of daylight saving and Easter. After all the rain we have had, some more summer would be nice...or at least some consistency, rather than the huge fluctuations in temperature that make it difficult to know which seasonal wardrobe you should be diving in to!

However it is always a good time to stock up on your quilt projects, fabrics, threads and patterns and next weekend I will be setting up shop at the Art Centre in Christchurch from Friday to Sunday as part of the Quilters Shopping Bonanza along with a number of other shops from throughout the region.

Make the most of this opportunity to come and see us all in at “The Makers Room” at the Art Centre on the corner of Hereford Street (10-4) and be inspired by the “Post Symposium Suitcase Exhibition” and the Christchurch Quilters “Layers Club Challenge 2022”.

The parcels keep arriving through the door at Annie’s with more French General just landing, and we have had a big top up with our New Zealand fabrics. It is great to see so many tourists of all nationalities coming back to visit and we have definitely noticed that the roads are busier!

Finally the boats bringing the Zweigart cross stitch linens to New Zealand have arrived from Germany and we have good stocks in a multitude of different shades, colours and stitch count ready for that counted cross stitch, black work, hardanger, drawn thread work or what every takes your fancy.

The Nashville Needlework Market 2023 was on in the US this past weekend for which I experienced serious FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) – maybe next year? This is a wholesale market where most of the new cross stitch designs are released including this stunning reprint of Black Bird Designs “Birds of a Feather”. I am taking pre-orders for the pattern chart ($48.00) and kits will be available. The model is stitched on 32 ct hand dyed linen (design size 171W x 183H). There is also a long of other stunning new cross stitch patterns that will be included in this next shipment, so keep an eye out on our website.

Something else to keep your fingers busy and your needle crafting brain engaged is the the New Zealand Embroiderers’ Guild 2024 Challenge. This is a fundraising for their conference in Otago next year and is open to everyone. You can check out the details at https://www.embroiderynz.co.nz/mysterystitchery

Our next round of dressmaking classes start this Wednesday night at Annie’s with tutor Paula Preece. This is a 3 week block of classes which is $54.00 and this time we are focusing on “Tops and Tunics”. This is a small friendly group and beginners to more experienced sewers are welcome. Places are limited and you are welcome to give us a call if you would like some more information. If you don’t have a machine, we have some brand new ones which are available for hire as well. Come along, make 2023 the year that you try something new, or regain that confidence to be able to sew for yourself and your family.

Now....on to the recipe. This is a really good economical family meal using store cupboard ingredients that you can serve us warm with a salad and use the left overs next day in wraps, salad bowls and buns. The best thing is that you can put everything in the crock pot and come home to a warm and tasty dinner! A little bit of forward planning is needed to soak the chick peas overnight, but you could also use 2 cans if you are short of time.

Slow Cooked Falafel with Tahini Dressing (Serves 6)

• 1½ cups dried chick peas (Cover with cold water and soak for 12 hours or overnight)
• 3 cups fresh parsley
• 1 onion
• 6 cloves of garlic
• 1 Tbsp each of ground cumin, ground coriander and baking powder
• 2 400 g tins of Morrocan flavoured tomatoes
• For the dressing-
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 c natural unsweetened yoghurt
• 1 Tbsp tahini
• 3 Tbsp chopped fresh coriander

Drain the soaked chickpeas and place in the food processor with the parsley (this seems like a lot, but I promise you won’t taste it, and it is very good for you!) onion, garlic and process until smooth Add in the spices and baking powder. When combined, with wet hands, roll into balls and place in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour over the tomatoes and cook on LOW for 8 hours. Add more water or tomato if needed. Mix together the ingredients for the dressing and serve.

Take care and happy stitching from Rachel and the team at Annie’s