• We have 11 elegant projects to inspire you including a quilt from Karen Cunningham, painted placemats from Tracey Sims, and a gorgeous embroidered cushion from Bets Maas.

• Editor, Marianne Roberts, shares her expert advice on string-piecing and we set the challenge to make your own string-pieced project.

• We profile quilter Karen Styles and find out all about her business, Somerset Patchwork and Quilting.
  
  
• Not to forget all our regular features, and a range of the latest products on the market today.
  

All this and more in our special Yearbook issue of Australian Country Craft and Decorating.
VOL 20 NO 3 – ON SALE NOW!

	NEW ENGLAND FALL Karen Cunningham made this glorious quilt after returning from her first tour of America. She enjoyed a beautiful autumn in New England where the colours were subdued as it rained most of the season, and she wanted to reflect this look in a quilt. Karen’s tip when choosing the fabrics for this challenging project is to buy the centre print and the three fabrics for the setting triangles at the same time to give the quilt a cohesive look. The prints for the pieced blocks can be from your stash.
	PINK LADIES Tracey Sims painted these delightful placemats with beautiful roses and Pink Lady apples on a lovely cream and pink patchwork background. You can almost smell the flowers’ perfume and the apples look good enough to eat.
	WILD ROSES AND LACE Lorraine Morison decorated this pretty blue plaque with delicate lace and pink roses for a stunning effect.
	QUAKER ENVELOPE Mailart is a popular form of gift giving among cross stitchers around the world. They stitch small envelopes, fill them with goodies and send them to a friend. Kirsten Edwards was inspired to create this design by the elegant motifs of the 19th-century samplers stitched by girls at Quaker schools. Use the alphabet supplied to address your envelope. You will need to stitch it closed to send it or keep it for yourself.

FROM THE EDITOR

It’s lovely when people remember you, whether it’s for something you’ve created or something you’ve done. I’ve made many items and given them away and I always appreciate it when the recipient is prompted to comment kindly on it.

I was reminded of this by a brief encounter just recently. Last year my car was parked outdoors when a huge hailstorm hit Sydney. I found a smash-repairer close to work who prepared the quote for the insurance company and organised the subsequent paperwork. The damage was fixed in due course with the minimum of fuss – in fact my expectations were exceeded, which is always a pleasant surprise in this day and age.

When I went to pick up my car, I confided to the repairman that when I’d first looked around the workshop on the day I asked for the quote I was impressed by how neat and clean it was. On top of that, there were some tools he’d hand-made for specific purposes. He asked me how I knew, and I told him my father was a panel beater and spray-painter.

Then last week while I was grocery shopping, someone came up to me and said hello. It was one of those moments when I couldn’t quite place the face. I attend all sorts of events and functions and people often recognise me through my role as mother or wife or because of my work, but it’s sometimes tricky to identify them out of their usual environment. But this time it was the smash repairman. He said, “I know you, you’re the panel beater’s daughter.”

Happy sewing,

Marianne