*”When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.” John F. Kennedy Do you feel as though you are just lurching from one crisis to the next? The most important thing you can do when your life is like a pressure cooker is to […]

A pretty cross-stitch pin cushion makes the perfect birthday gift and is a great project to get beginners stitching. MATERIALS Small amount linen or Aida cloth (approx 14cm x 14cm) DMC stranded cotton in colours indicated on key Method Work the design in cross-stitch using 2 strands of cotton, except where indicated otherwise. Click here […]

Everything that’s needed for gardening can be found on this garden trolley. Mounted on castors, this clever trolley hides spare pots, sprays, potting mix and also has a place to hang your tools. Materials Cut the following sizes from waterproof 12mm ply: back (A) 1300mm x 200mm side (B) 1300mm x 350mm side (C) 1300mm […]

Blue skies, gorgeous balmy nights, fire dancing, gossip, lots of ideas and wine- they all flowed beautifully at the 2002 Byron Bay Writers Festival. Around 17,500 people attended, so the crowd was much bigger this year. As usual, the mood was languid and all very laid-back as people wove their way around the marquees erected […]

Q & A with Ian Bone, author of The Song Of An Innocent Bystander, the September Book Of The Month in The Australian Women’s Weekly (Penguin Books, $18.95). The plot takes off like a runaway train, when nine-year-old Freda Opperman is separated from her parents at a fast food outlet and is caught up in […]

Personalise a pair of denim overalls with our simple cross-stitch designs that can be worked in an afternoon. Bunny Pattern Cat Pattern Dog Pattern Materials Small amount (8cm x 6cm) rectangle of 12-count waste canvas, for each design Babies or toddler’s denim overalls DMC stranded cotton in colours indicated on key Click here for key […]

Talented Tasmanian writer, Rachael Treasure, has set her debut novel, Jillaroo (Penguin, $19.95 ) in rural Australia. It is a funny, sexy, romantic and ultimately moving drama about a young woman named Rebecca, who makes her own way in the world after a terrible argument with her father. A family tragedy leads to redemption. Q […]

Cute handmade cards are a great way to welcome a newborn into the world. The nappy pin card is made by placing a piece of sheer paper over a bright coloured base card. Fold the card in half and make holes at the top with a hole punch. Insert ribbon and tie in a bow […]

Harrison by the Editors of Rolling Stone (Simon & Schuster $59.95) This is the only book about the former Beatle, George Harrison, that has the full consent of the Harrison family and it’s a beauty. For fans of this legendary figure in pop culture, this is a detailed, intimate, beautifully put together celebration of his […]

Here are some simple ways to make sure the vitamins in your food don’t go to waste. Don’t boil vegetables for too long. The water leeches out vitamins B and C. Instead, lightly boil or steam them. An exception is carrots, which should be boiled very lightly in order to break down the cell walls, […]