Fair Wrap-up

Not a bad fair season, 22 entries at two different fairs netting 20 ribbons. Ten firsts, seven seconds, three thirds, and two that did not take a prize. What kind of items did I enter? Mostly sewing and flowers. I have to admit, I was a bit shocked when my "silk arrangement" of fall flowers and leaves in a ceramic gourd didn't place. However, in looking at the winning entries, mine was simply outclassed--first by an elegant, and artful, urn of lovely silk roses and then with a round container of oversized pink dogwood. At least my "miniature flower arrangement" of a 2" tall basket of real flowers took first. The most surprising win was the $10 premium that came with the first place ribbon for the "Red Hat Garment" category--my stunning royal purple culottes with brilliant red piping and buttons on the pockets. Of course, the fairs are over, but I've already started a list of what I want to sew for next year's entries.
Catherine

August and Fairs

It's August and the first of three community fairs, which I annually exhibit at, has begun--and thus I don't much think about Blogger's Block (which I still have) nor do I care because little writing is going to get done this month.

In looking back over the years, I realized I've been a fair exhibitor in the Home Show buildings of eight different fairs since I was ten years old. I also recall that I exhibited my first sewing project as a 4-Her. In 2010 I'll have shown 25 consecutive years at my local fair. Why do I keep making projects and exhibiting them? Because, obviously, making clothing and home decorations saves money. Okay, mostly because winning is wonderful and I like doing things that get value for the buck. It also means I must seek creative ways to showcase my sewing projects and keep abreast of the new trends in arts and crafts--and home decor. After all, how many different ways can you sew a cobbler's apron so it look fresh and new every year? Or how can you decorate a wreath to make it stand out among the rest without looking gaudy?

Having blue ribbons (and even a grand championship rosette in the baking division) are a nice touch, too, since I'm the 4-H leader of an all baking/cooking 4-H club. I also combine my love of flowers and gardening and have exhibited produce and flower arrangements. Yesterday, my golden Cosmos won a blue ribbon. Dispite so many years of fair-exhibiting, this was the first year I've ever exhibited them. And they were exceptionaly profuse bloomers this year, which enabled me to submit six nearly identical blooms for judging (uniformity is a criteria for judging). Speaking of those Cosmos, I've included a photo I took of ones that are growing outside my kitchen and from which the winning blooms came.

Catherine