Country Style - June 2010

There’s some Thing very soo Thing and sa Tisfying abou T making some Thing.

Although my mother would laugh if she read that as I’ve been known to take on some ambitious craft projects, such as the time I started knitting my son a Harry Potter scarf the night before his school’s book day.

A friend found the book at the bottom of this page in a second-hand shop a few years ago and gave it to me complete with a little hand-sewn brooch she had made. This lovely gift inspired me to think more about making things.

Full of good advice and tips throughout, the News Chronicle Needlework and Crafts was published in the 1930s and covers just about everything you need to know about sewing. The foreword states that “stitchery has of late come back to a place of honour among crafts”, which still seems very apt today with our craft resurgence. So with the arrival of winter this month, I thought there couldn’t be a better time to stay indoors and start making something like the bluebird cross-stitch on our cover — turn to page 127 for the pattern.

Any of you who have renovated a house will have to be impressed by the efforts of Don Wilson and Sian Davidson who are still restoring a magnificent Hobart mansion. When Don started work on Addlestone, he thought it would take him only five years but 15 years later he is still adding the final touches — and you can understand why when you read our story on page 40 and learn he had 30 rooms to work on!

One of the stories this issue that has stayed in my mind is that of Kenton and Amy Peart who live on a 24,000-hectare property near Charleville in south-west Queensland. They are fourth-generation beef producers who are clearly very passionate about life on the land as you can see on page 113. As Kenton explains, “We have a very good life here — and it doesn’t feel like work if you’re doing what you love.” I couldn’t agree more.

Until next month,

Victoria Carey

Write in and win To win the bluebird cross-stitch on our cover, please tell me in 25 words or less about your most ambitious craft project. Entries must be received by 5pm on June 22, 2010. Send your entry to Country Style Bluebird Competition, Locked Bag 5030, Alexandria NSW 2015.