The Melbourne Royal Show has celebrated the finery of one of Euroa's most gifted artisans by judging her work the Best in Show for the 2025 Art, Craft & Cookery Competition from a field of 4000 exhibits.

Wendy Korsten was awarded the Florence Monod Memorial Trophy for her replica of a Victorian era Christening gown, after spending over 350 hours bringing the garment to life.

"You can't rush these things; there are teeny-weeny little stitches to make," Wendy said.

"It requires you to have a love for it and a dedication to it."

From such small needlework has come huge honour, with the intricate gown winning first prize in Textiles Open Category, followed by Best Exhibit from all the textiles and sewing entries before being judged with 19 other winners for what Wendy said was 'the whole pavilion'.

There were over 4000 entries from the worlds of sewing, art, china making, cookery, and craft which included leatherwork and so much more.

Fate had dealt her a good hand when she entered the competition earlier in the year, after realising the closing date for entries had passed.

"I said to my neighbour 'they might give me special consideration'.

"And they did."

That neighbour, Joan Wood, said she was pleased for Wendy, whom she regarded as a 'most gifted woman'.

"She is the most amazing lady, a real character," Joan said.

"Wendy is also a great gardener and a wonderful neighbour as well - very caring."

Also unique to the win is that it was Wendy's first ever entry into the Royal Melbourne Show after six successful years exhibiting her craft at the Euroa Agricultural Show, and was a half-hearted gesture given her real aim for 2025.

"My intention was to branch out this year and go into the Shepparton Show and I thought to myself 'well, why don't I give Melbourne a go first'."

The sewing has been a lifelong journey for Wendy, after showing her first interest as a young child.

"I have been doing this since I was a little kid after watching my mother," she said.

"I'd always be watching her and if I wasn't she'd say 'I know what you're doing, I have eyes in the back of my head'.

"Then as I grew up I decided that I could do this myself."

Wendy is tech savvy as she flicks through pictures of her handiwork on her laptop, with a handful of cherished dachshunds following her everywhere.

Her garden also abounds with a cacophony of spring flowers at their very peak, and there is a story behind every plant.

"The magnolia is only in its first year and has flowered well, and that tulip, well I moved a handful over to there and something went wrong - only one came up."

Most unusual however is the fact that she does not have a sewing room.

"I tend to work at things wherever I am in the house."

Wendy joins Victoria's pantheon of Art, Craft & Cookery excellence in winning the Florence Monod award, named for the chief stewardess of the competition between 1932 and 1947.

Much of Monod's life was spent working charities and for patriotic causes during the war, including as a nursing sister at St Kilda Road Base Hospital.

She helped open up the Women's Industries competition at the show to male participants by changing its name to Home Crafts.

The Florence Monod Memorial Trophy was created in 1948.