So, that was how I did at the county fair. One of these days I'm going to enter the state fair.
Showing posts with label Fair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fair. Show all posts
County Fair 2011
I've been putting off posting these mostly because I hate getting photos out of the camera. However, I did very well at my county fair this year. For those unfamiliar with the rules, a person can only enter one item in each category. For adults, there is only one first (blue), second (red), and third (white) place awarded in each category, and yes, there are plenty of nice pieces that don't win anything. This year, I placed in every category that I entered. Almost everything here has been featured on my blog before, so I'm not worried about showing them to their best advantage here, I'm just letting you know how they did.
Actually, I did this painting a little over a year ago, but my daughter has been hanging it in her apartment until early this month - she is living in the dorm now and can't have it on her wall. My son wants it for his apartment, but I did want to get it into the fair, so he was willing to wait a couple of weeks for it. There are tons of painting entries at our fair, but 90% of them are dog portraits or landscapes.
Blue ribbons for earrings, jewelry set, and wirework. I knew my wireworked necklace was fab, so I wasn't surprised there, but the other two - the earrings were simple dangles using the fair trade paper beads for Ethiopia. They were not as elaborate or glamourous as the other earring entries, but I might be the same thing as with the painting; the judges were happy to see something different. The jewelry set was not really a set. It was my red rope necklace, and some completely unrelated earrings that I had made with some of the same red beads.
I knew my ATC should win, because it was probably the best ATC I have ever made. I keep forgetting that the winning card is always a fancy fold card. I should be glad I got second place for my basic Tim Holtz style card. Some of you may recognize the the card with the deer and the tree, and know that I didn't design it. I made it at a shoebox swap. However, the card category was "card made from a kit" and I think it qualified. It was a cute card. I feel a little guilty about the Maccabee basket - certain family members were quick to remind me that my sister did the coloring, and my son thought up the basket shape, so really, I guess they were the real winners.
So, that was how I did at the county fair. One of these days I'm going to enter the state fair.
So, that was how I did at the county fair. One of these days I'm going to enter the state fair.
Fairly Successful
As I promised, here are scans of the items that won ribbons at the county fair, along with their categories.
Necklace - Wire/Metal
The necklace above was made by crocheting wire with beads and the charms I received from last years charm swap.
Necklace - Multistrand
As I was pulling the item out of the bag to scan it, I noticed that one of the judges wrote a lovely note on the back, praising my colors and organic design, but pointing out that it would look more finished if I had capped the ends before I attached the clasp. This is why I enter things in the fair - anyone will say nice things about stuf posted on my blog, but the fair judges will not only let me know truthfully how my work compares with others, but make me a better craftsman. I now wish I had all the other crocheted necklaces I've made back so I could refinish them.
Handmade Book:
Elena taught us how to bind books at The Keys 4 Art retreat I attended this past spring. The cover of the book I made myself with paint and gesso and some collage bits on red rosin paper. The pages are red rosin paper, too. The book is blank inside - I still haven't figured out what I want to put in there. I will say that this book beat out quite a few other books, many of them completely filled, but mine was the only traditional binding.
Stationery set:
I made this at a workshop, so I can't really take any credit for designing it. All products are CTMH.
Necklace and ATC:
The beaded necklace is done in a pattern of my own design. It and the ATC have both been featured on my blog before. Competition was pretty stiff in these categories.
I had three other items entered, in Greeting Card, Bracelet, and Jewelry Set, but I readily concede that there were better items that won. I was a little embarrassed about my card - I thought I had a good one in my stash, but apparently, I mailed away all my best cards. I will know better for next year - either hold back a good one for the fair, or make one especially for the fair.
If you are thinking that you make things that are just as nice or better than mine, why not enter them in your local fair?
Necklace - Wire/Metal
The necklace above was made by crocheting wire with beads and the charms I received from last years charm swap.
Necklace - Multistrand
As I was pulling the item out of the bag to scan it, I noticed that one of the judges wrote a lovely note on the back, praising my colors and organic design, but pointing out that it would look more finished if I had capped the ends before I attached the clasp. This is why I enter things in the fair - anyone will say nice things about stuf posted on my blog, but the fair judges will not only let me know truthfully how my work compares with others, but make me a better craftsman. I now wish I had all the other crocheted necklaces I've made back so I could refinish them.
Handmade Book:
Elena taught us how to bind books at The Keys 4 Art retreat I attended this past spring. The cover of the book I made myself with paint and gesso and some collage bits on red rosin paper. The pages are red rosin paper, too. The book is blank inside - I still haven't figured out what I want to put in there. I will say that this book beat out quite a few other books, many of them completely filled, but mine was the only traditional binding.
Stationery set:
I made this at a workshop, so I can't really take any credit for designing it. All products are CTMH.
Necklace and ATC:
The beaded necklace is done in a pattern of my own design. It and the ATC have both been featured on my blog before. Competition was pretty stiff in these categories.
I had three other items entered, in Greeting Card, Bracelet, and Jewelry Set, but I readily concede that there were better items that won. I was a little embarrassed about my card - I thought I had a good one in my stash, but apparently, I mailed away all my best cards. I will know better for next year - either hold back a good one for the fair, or make one especially for the fair.
If you are thinking that you make things that are just as nice or better than mine, why not enter them in your local fair?
