Fair Finale

I helped close up the fair building on Monday.

Here is the quilt display during the fair.

And on closing day after all the projects have been picked up.

We push all the display cases to the sides. People rent the space to store RVs/campers and other items in here during the winter.

Here are my projects and placements...

A tiny knitted hat that did not place and a tiny knitted scarf on tiny needles (toothpicks with beads on the ends) inside a glass ball. I was surprised to get a blue ribbon on the knitted scarf. It was so easy to make I really didn't think it would place that high.

A third (on left) in Quilt Top Pieced by Owner, Machine Quilted by Owner or Other. 
And no placement for the quilt on the right.
 

A second (on right) and third (on left) in Quilt Top Pieced by Owner, Machine Quilted by Owner.

A second on one birdhouse. The other didn't place. 

Third place for my Collection Under 25 Years. These are Salt and Pepper sets the my brother had given me. My son and niece decided to continue the tradition this past year after he passed.

Did not place with Collection 25 - 75 years old. These are pieces that I have been given or inherited from family members - a pie plate (it has a raised floral design that doesn't show up in the pic), pastry blender, rolling pin, Fiestaware dessert plate, Fiesta cup and saucer and tea strainer.

Twelve inch quilt blocks on the right got first and second. The six inch hummingbird block block got third and the pieced one above it did not place. I was disappointed with not placing with that one because the pieces are pretty small and I made sure it was perfectly pieced. Oh, well.

I am happy to be able to help the day of judging so I can see all quilts in all their glory. You can see from the above photos that not much of them shows by the time they are folded up to fit in our allotted space.  

My son received a first place with his project.

His project has special meaning for him - my brother was a police officer and he has several friends who are on volunteer fire/EMT departments.

So, another fair finished and closed up. Now I need to think about projects for next year!

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts is 

hosting Design Wall Mondays and  

What a Hoot Quilts is challenging quilters to 

finish '18 in 2018'.

Check them out.

Fair Week

Fair actually started yesterday with some 4-H judging.

Open class entries can be delivered this evening and tomorrow morning until 9:00 am. 

12 of my 14 projects are packed and loaded in the car. I will be helping with accepting entries this evening. I will take my other two projects tomorrow morning. I am helping with that too. I will also be helping with judging - my favorite part! I love getting to see all the quilts unfolded and hearing the judges comments. After judging we all grab lunch and then get everything into the display cases. All the quilts except small wall hangings and the Champions get folded up so you only see a small portion of them. I find this so sad. I think of all the work the makers put into their quilts and only a little bit is visible. Exhibitors are encouraged to attach a photo that shows the entire quilt and I do that.

My son and his dog are here for the fair. Pokie was named by the the people at the rescue shelter because they found him to be poking his nose into everything. He alternates between Husband's chair...

...my chair...

 ...and the rocker.

While my son and I are at the fairgrounds this evening and all day tomorrow we need to figure out what to do with Pokie. 

You can see in the top photo the tie-out cable that my son uses with his dog. That isn't an option since Pokie's harness broke and he slips out of his collar when tied-out with this cable so that isn't an option.

His outdoor kennel is set up and he spent some time in it yesterday while my son was painting his fair project. It was much cooler yesterday with a nice breeze. But, when my son came in for a few minutes waiting for the paint to dry Pokie somehow got out of his kennel. Thankfully, he came to the door and didn't run off. I don't think that is a safe option.

It is most likely that he will go into his crate while we are gone. It is a good size for him, but takes up a lot of room in my kitchen. I have to move it in front of the refrigerator to open the dishwasher. I have to move it in front of the dishwasher to open the fridge. There needs to be enough room for Pokie to reach is food and water bowls. 

He is a sweet dog, but he takes up a lot of space in my house! And, when my son isn't within sight he misses him. He whines, cries, howls! I don't know how it is going to go while we are gone. Maybe Husband will let him out of the crate. Or he may opt to stay outside, out of earshot, the whole time.

Ready for the Fair!

I have finished the last two quilts I am taking to the fair. 

Thankful for a tall husband who can hold my quilts for their photo shoots.

My son and his dog are here for the week. He has a project to finish up for the fair. He makes art from recycled horseshoes. He welds them together and can only do that here. There is no safe place for his welding equipment at his dinky little apartment. There is no garage/shed and no 220 electrical hookup so he welds when he is here. It will be nice to have him home for a few days. Sadly, his girlfriend could not join him as she is working. Also, her mother is with them for a while (long story) so this will give them time to be together and hopefully get things done that need to be done.

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts is

hosting Design Wall Mondays and  

What a Hoot Quilts is challenging quilters to 

finish '18 in 2018'.

Check them out.

A Little Setback

I was ready to load the next quilt when I discovered the backing was not wide enough. The top was pieced from a wall hanging kit several years ago. I cannot even find the pattern now, I looked. I had decided I wanted the top larger than a wall hanging and purchased the batik for borders. I really like the batik and since there was more than enough length for the back after cutting the borders I think I bought all they had knowing I would need to get creative for the backing. Again, it was several years ago.

Here I have cut it to see how wide of a piece I need to add in. I decided to piece a section ...

The reason for stash fabrics! 

I had purchased a half yard stack and 

a few fat quarters of some solids a while back. 

So thankful to have them in my stash. 

I cut squares of colors similar to the front of the quilt, pieced them and added black sashing on each side. 

The back is pieced and the quilt is loaded, ready to go.

I did get the binding finished on this one...

I love batiks and bright colors!

And, this one went from this...

 ... to almost finished with the binding. 

I will get it done today!

Again, batiks. This time more calm and soothing.

So, three down, one to go. Fair entries are due for judging at 9:00 on the 19th. With no more setbacks I should be finished in plenty of time.

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts is

hosting Design Wall Mondays and  

What a Hoot Quilts is challenging quilters to 

finish '18 in 2018'.

Check them out.