Despite the long break, her entry paid off when she came second in the hand embroidery.

“Sewing was my favourite subject at school and I started at the embroidery group 19 years ago ... I’ve started getting back into it this year,” Mrs Fragar said.

“I took a break to bring my family up.

“It was very exciting, I didn’t expect to get anywhere.”

Although she left the embroidery group for several years, Mrs Fragar said she always has several projects going and likes to do different styles including patchwork, knitting, wool and embroidery.

However, the hand embroidered cushion cover was the only item she entered into the show and it took three weeks to make.

“They [the rest of the Orange Needlework Group] had from December to now but I just started going back to the group for a couple of months and we had a wedding in the middle of it,” Mrs Fragar said.

“It was very inspiring, my husband [Rodney] he made a paddle steamer for the show about 10 years ago, he got a second and it was the first time he entered as well.

“Everyone [in the family] is inspired we’re all thinking about what we are going to enter next time, my daughter was thinking about putting in some art next year.”

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au