9th September, 2021
Dear <<First Name>>,
 Fantastic! We are back in business! These lockdowns are a significant problem for small to medium-sized businesses, I've had emails from all kinds of small business owners, like painters, plumbers, cafe owners etc, who are really hurting. Government help with wages is the only thing that saves the day and jobs, but the loss in being closed and not able to welcome customers through the door cannot be replaced.
In a quilt store, we like to help customers match colours to the design they are embarking upon. Because of our huge collection of fabric, this means we can spend, sometimes, up to two hours with a customer, if she has a major project underway and this can also involve several staff.
 The internet will never replace this hands-on personal shopping but it has seen us through two weeks of lockdown and we will again scrape through, managing to pay wages, overheads and suppliers! But, there is nothing like pulling fabrics apart and mixing them up like paints and even throwing them on the floor to see shades and colours as they really are.
Vaccinations
Five staff including me are fully vaccinated now and another is getting there, but please do use your app before entering Grandmother’s Garden. Wear a mask in accordance with Government guidelines. We need to get back to freedom.
 My choir practice is cancelled for our October presentation at the Cathedral and this is so sad as we are a group of over 30, let's say, older singers, who really like to get together to sing our guts out in four-part harmony. We must get back to normal life and this depends on all of us doing our bit so that any outbreak can be traced. So we must sign in when we go out, wear masks and wash hands.
New this Week
Holiday Spice
 This is a panel like no other - well perhaps the horse head we had was just as stunning. It is almost 3-dimensional. We have five coordinates including the border print.
There are no free patterns but there is a commercial pattern. I think you could sew on some of the beautiful coordinates. We were going to make up a kit but I think by the time we do that, all the fabric will be gone. I can order this pattern for you and it would be around $20.00 (to order please call or email us).
To view Fabric range AJ395 - AJ400 on our website click here.
Wide Backings
Three wide backings managed to sneak through during the lockdown!
One is a black Kiwiana depicting Moku.
Click here to view AJ402
The second one is black and white with circles.
Click here to view AJ401
The third is also black but it has bright dots.
Click here to view AJ403
These wide backings are all $35 per metre.
Fat Quarter Smash and Grab Sale
 Every time we cut a fat quarter, one fat quarter is leftover and I was so busy cutting fat quarters over the lockdown. The fat quarter baskets are spilling over, so we will have a fat quarter blowout sale. You can have 10 fat quarters for $45.00 and here are the categories:
Reds
Batik
Textured plains
Brights
Blacks
Creams
Children conversationals
Kiwiana
Traditional
Florals
No fabrics will be cut so please don’t order specific fabrics or they will be full price. The aim is to tame the explosion. When ordering online please make a note in the special instructions section of your web order indicating which category you would like. Click here to Smash & Grab.
Armchair travel
 This week you are going to Thirlestane Castle on the Scottish borders. This is my ancestor’s stomping ground but our castle is nowhere near as grand! However, the job of the border Scots was to warn Edinburgh that the English had crossed the border. This would have been done by fires lit on the top of towers, keeps and castles. The Maitland family, who lived at Thirlestane for centuries came from France with William the Conqueror in 1066.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfMS9Axt-6E
That’s about it for this week. We will be closing our order with our American suppliers next Friday so please get your orders in for books, rulers, notions etc and you will receive them within 2 weeks.
Until next week,
Hazel
P.S
This French Chicken Casserole was really nice...
Chicken thighs, as many as you need
Salt and Pepper
2 Tablespoon butter
8 oz mushrooms sliced (1 cup)
3 cloves garlic minced
3 large shallots chopped
2 stalks celery diced
3 Tablespoons flour
1/2 cup white wine
2 cups chicken stock
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
500gm potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
1/4 cup cream
Preheat oven to 325F/160 Degrees Celsius. Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown in the butter. Set aside and add mushrooms, potatoes, shallots, celery and garlic. Cook stirring on a medium heat for about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour then add the wine, chicken stock and herbs. Add the chicken back in and cook in the oven until chicken and potatoes are cooked. About 45 minutes - 1 hour. Stir in cream and serve. I always like to add a teaspoon of Vegeta dry stock mix to any savoury dish for extra flavour.
P.P.S
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