Pride of Workmanship Award
Most freelancers who work from home will admit that it’s the best job ever, but it can also feel a little isolated.
The view from my office window
“What do you do?” is a common question from locals, and it’s difficult to know where to begin. A lot of my work is for a national audience with specialist interests (food, wine, interiors, travel, horticulture etc) making it easy to slip under the community radar. SO when a phone call arrives out of the blue congratulating me on being nominated for a Pride of Workmanship Award, I’m left bursting with…pride! The Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West says it’s for “dedication and contribution to promoting the region through your job”, and a celebratory dinner is planned for later this month. I’m looking forward to frocking up (makes a nice change from my normal office get-up!!).
Penola’s Best Kept Secret
A thriving herb garden is tucked beyond a rustic picket fence and two timber slab cottages on Penola’s Petticoat Lane in South Australia’s Limestone Coast.
Entry is free, and visitors are encouraged to wander and enjoy the bounty of some beautiful volunteers.
I’ve shared their story in the latest edition of Australian Country Style, and was delighted to read the following in the editor’s opening letter:
As we put the magazine together, my team often tells me which stories they like the best. One that has inspired more comments than most is Gretel Sneath’s piece on the National Trust Herb Garden.
Yay!
The May issue also features my article on Wagner’s Rose Nursery which features in an earlier blog post. More gorgeous people and their roses are the best I’ve seen – magazine pix are exquisite!
Smell the Roses
My latest magazine assignment delivered me to a field of roses. While the uber talented Sharyn Cairns snapped away, I was busily planning planting schemes for my garden at home. Oh and doing interviews.
The scent was just incredible – these were your true garden bush roses.
A tricky day trying to escape the harsh sunlight and find pockets of shade, and I was able to take several buckets of blooms home, so there are now beautiful vases everywhere.
Here is the article in my portfolio.
Country Style Magazine Guest Blogger
I was a recent guest blogger for Country Style magazine, sharing my love of hunting for time-worn treasures like this $3 quilt, found in the little oppie in my coastal village…
It now looks perfectly at home on my daughter’s bed (another thrifting find!).
I enjoyed playing stylist around some of the favourite spots on our farm, including the rustic gateway to the secluded ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ where we spend many a night sitting under the stars…Click here to view my post.
Best Wedding Proposal Ever – Real Weddings Magazine
I wrote about the most amazing proposal in the Real Weddings Style issue out this week: guy pops the question to his homesick, Chicago-based girlfriend after secretly flying to America and disguising himself as a reindeer handing out lollies at a Christmas market. An unsuspecting Rae had her photo taken with him before he dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. A journalist witnessed the commotion, and ‘Rudolph’s Proposal’ became a media and YouTube sensation. Have a look here – gorgeous music, I bawled.
Of course, she said YES and their winter wedding was held at a favourite WA holiday spot. Here’s some images from photographer Leah Kua.
Hours were spent scouring second hand shops in search of decorations and vintage clothing for the wedding party – with fab results. The full story is in the new issue of Real Weddings. You can also read about it on Leah Kua’s blog.
Australian Country Style – Coonawarra and Penola
I’ve written the Coonawarra + Penola Journeys article appearing in Country Style magazine’s October 2012 edition.
Sharyn Cairns did a terrific job with the photography, persevering until the rain passed, and I’ve had great feedback from some proud locals. Loving the cover, too – I’m such a yellow girl, these days…
I’m Gretel Sneath, accomplished freelance writer & storyteller. When I'm not on the road, you'll find me on South Australia's Limestone Coast.