finally...

Last Friday I turned in my quilt to the state fair. Judging was this past Tuesday. The first time I entered into the fair, I didn't know they posted winners on line, and it was several days after opening before I could go, and one of my friends told me on Facebook. I was thrilled beyond measure to find out I had placed (that was a 4th place in first time entry/beginner category). I had not expected anything at all. And several years have passed and I've not managed to enter anything since. So I've been stalking the website waiting for an answer. Tonight only the fair opened from 3pm until midnight and tickets were $1.50 in honor of it being the 150th anniversary of the state fair. So we went tonight, hoping it wouldn't rain and wouldn't be overly crowded, as we really didn't want to pay full price nor go on a weekend day with all the crowd. Not all the exhibits were open, nor some of the competitions (great pumpkins and watermelons were still being weighed, and pumpkin carving hadn't started yet, nor were flowers open), but I was glad we went, especially since when we got home I found out winner competitions on the website have not been updated yet. So had we not gone I would not have known anything...at all.

I could tell my quilt had a ribbon while we were standing in line for the cake decorating exhibit (thanks to my crazy binding!!) And here it is hanging... 2nd place in Original Pattern Category. First place was machine appliqued owls which was wonderful.

The man showing the quilts didn't pause long between quilts nor move out of the way much so it was hard to get pics. There were many incredible quilts, but I was only able to capture two others of the many that I liked.

 This one was so bright and cheerful, and I love that they used traditional blocks in solid colors, and yet it looks so modern.  So many of these quilts used the flying geese blocks, and I could just hear Mary Booth saying "OHhhh! TRIANGLES!!! NOT for me!! I simply cannot do them!" Conquering the flying geese block (the triangles pointing in one direction) is on my list for 2018.

I don't know what category this is in (wall hanging section), but I absolutely loved it. I've never seen anything like this. It's a mixture of applique, piecing, art quilt, and I imagine it's an original pattern. Everyone loved it that was watching as the quilts were turned.

So we've been, ate all the foods we could stomach (frog legs, Amish donut, Thanksgiving dinner egg roll, collard bites which I don't recommend, and a deep fried candy bar. I'm tired, but glad we went.

cows

Not too long ago I learned about this thing called miniature cows.  I've teased Bobby that if he wants cows, then that's what we'll get. The reality is, the last thing I need or want is something else to take care of, and I do think he's right that the cost of the animal upkeep probably would cost more than you'd make in sale price. But we got to see some of the miniature Herefords during the competitions at the state fair.

 The above photo is of a Momma cow. The girl was having a very hard time getting it to go where she needed it to be (the cow wanted its calf and OUT of the ring!) and the judge behind her had to give her a hand.  I have a hard enough time maneuvering Buster's 57 pounds. I can't imagine having to herd or corral an animal that weighed 250. (And if you've never been around real cows, this full grown miniature heifer is 1/2 of the size of what a normal cow would be.) I think miniature's grow to be about 36" tall.

 

 This is a calf. Don't you just love their size?

 

 The judge walking among the calves, checking out their legs and body formation.

 

And the pair division, where you had both the Momma and the calf up for judging.

 

It seems like the first time I read about miniature cows they said they give about 1/4 of the meat of a normal cow. But I would think they wouldn't eat as much as a normal cow, either. Of course, you still have to pay for fencing, a barn, medicine, etc. I'm thinking a field trip to a farm in Wake Forrest is a good idea, at least just to see how much work is involved.

and the fair starts today!





This is it! The front of my first ever NC State Fair Quilt!

I was SO excited the week before I started sewing through the sky panels to find Bernina World of Sewing sold material that transitioned from dark to light. (They also have it green and yellow and oranges..sound like a cool way to make a quilt that looks like crayons!)

So if you go to the fair, which starts today, now you know what to look for! :)

 

 

happy, happy, happy!

I told Bobby I felt like the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was time to start dancing.
He reminded me that it was overcast, the only birds we'd seen were crows in the pecan trees, and he'd never felt like breaking out dancing, even before his wheelchair days.
But that's okay, honey. I've got enough excitement for the two of us. :)

This afternoon, I made a delivery to the Education Building at the NC State Fair.

The idea started three years ago when I saw this newly released fabric and made fun of it on Facebook.

A friend (Carroll Burt) dared me to buy some and make a quilt with it. She said I could display it at the fair. I laughingly declined. But then Bernina World of Sewing sponsored a bus trip to a huge quilt fair in Virginia, and I went. THREE different vendors had almost all of the animals in the Backyard Bandits series. Did I mention we rode a bus there, and had at least five hours to browse/shop?

And I started this quilt, and gave up. Too many mistakes, too many quilting things I simply didn't know. It sat halfway finished in a rocking chair.

And then in January, my sewing machine died (during a quilting class of all things). And thanks to Wish Upon A Quilt loaning me a machine to finish the class, I was hooked. Imagine my surprise when a month later they had a sale and my dearest husband said YES!  I finished the above quilt on my Janome machine, and seeing all the crazy animals and thinking about Carol's dare got my creative juices flowing again. After I finished the senior quilts in May, I scheemed and thought and planned, and had my husband help me with my math and double check everything, and we created our own pattern. :) (As opposed to "Seiko's Garden", the pattern above, which I still love.)

So in June of this year, I started "Front Porch View".  It's actually the animals I see out our BACK porch windows, but Front Porch just sounded better.

 

When I dropped off the quilt to be tagged this morning, the women were more excited about the back than they were the front. I think they were having the same reaction to the front fabric as I did the first time I saw it.

But I'm not going to post the front of the quilt until the fair actually starts on the 17th. But I will post it then, just so you'll know what to look for when you go. :)  It's not fancy. It's not the prettiest quilting in the world (it's wild animal tracks!). But it's mine and I've been working on it for four and a half months now and it's FINISHED!

And to think it all started because of an advertisement for 'possum fabric.

 

 



tick, tick, tick

One week from tomorrow.
Five blocks, a border, and the binding.
Eight days.
Five days, if I take into consideration a friend is coming over to teach me how to do binding the right way next Tuesday.
I've watched the youtube videos. I've had a friend show me how before. But my binding corners still come out crooked.
And I'm starting to get very, very nervous.
I know I'm not an expert quilter. I know every spot of my quilt that will cause a quilter's eyebrows to gather or spike. And I'm okay with that. I am still a beginner, after all.
I just want this quilt to be done, satisfactory (is satisfactorily a word? It doesn't sound right.), and safely delivered the day after elections are over.
Then I can breathe. I can rest, knowing that this challenge from a friend and to myself are over.
I will tell this voice in the back of my head to SHUT UP!
I am not even going to think about a quilt for next year's fair, even if I did go and photograph my okra plants last week with a crazy idea for a state fair quilt.
Now I just have to decide whether or not to post a picture of the quilt before it is finished, or wait until it's actually hanging up at the fair. (Provided they deem it show-worthy!)
Even more to the moment, I need to decide whether to quilt a full moon or crescent moon on one of the last five blocks. I think I've already figured out the sun.
I can see the finish line!

a funny wedding cake

We went to the State Fair last month, and this wedding cake just made me laugh. This is one of those things that I love but would make my mother shake her head and say, "Now, Monica..."
I love that God created us all with different viewpoints. :)

I can't find the close-up photo I took of the bride & groom, but they're to the right of the cake. Love the bananas, the monkeys playing patty-cake up front and the traditional see, speak, hear no evil monkeys. It's just a hoot!

Last 2011 State Fair post...(unless I go back!)

Drumroll, please! :)
Even though I didn't finish my quilt in time to enter (but am already planning what I want to do for next year!), here's my personal favorites from the best exhibit of all times: quilting!

Geometric designs are becoming more and more popular, especially as more men enter the quilting field. I love them!

This quilt captures three of my favorites: country living, landscape, and a silhouette. Notice the tobacco leaf in the corners, and the detailing of the tilled soil. Someone spent a LOT of time on this.  Very deserving of its yellow ribbon (not sure what place that makes it).

Stars aren't my favorite pattern, but I absolutely adore the colors here! The checkerboard/striped border adds to the playfulness, and reminds me of the Eric Carle line of fabrics. (He's the Hungry Caterpillar author and illustrator, for those not familiar with the name.)

A very elegant black and white pattern. I recently had a request for a black and white quilt, so this especially caught my attention.

HARRY POTTER! and DETAILS!!! two of my many favorite things!

Almost all the books had titles machine embroidered on the spine. I can't even begin to fathom the amount of time spent piecing, appliqueing, and planning on this quilt! This quilter earned their Blue Ribbon!

A star pattern I actually like - the diamonds and squares seem to set enhance the design, and I love the colors.

Again, a landscape quilt, and one that clearly earned its ribbon!

Duotone quilts aren't all that common, but they always make a splash. This one clearly deserved its place among the Best of Show!

Another black and white in a pattern I think is marvelous!

 

 

Lord willing, next year, the 2012 NC State Fair will be hanging one of my quilts! :)

NC State Fair, part 3

The following pics are a mixture of exhibits from the Hobby & Crafts contest entries and the 4-H entries:

For Kimberly, who loves fairies:

A close up of a fairy with her mushroom...don't you love the acorn hat and leaf wings?

Steps lead up to the pebble path and mailbox.

And the walnut wheelbarrow with tiny vegetables...

And the fairy in front of the grape vine porch and pebbled pool.

An origami dragon..too cool!  I think this was in the youth division, but I didn't look to see what age range.

The Temple of Heaven from China...one of my favorites! It was positioned too far away to read the tag, but I'm assuming adult level.

Not sure if this is a wood carving or a stone/clay work. Either way, it makes me think of Lord of the Rings!

I hate we didn't make it to the vegetable exhibit. One of my neighbors won the blue ribbon (2nd year in a row!) and set a new state record this year for his giant watermelon. He's already prepping the soil for next year's crop! Way to go, Todd!

NC State Fair, part 2

Cake decorating...one of my many favorite "must see" exhibits at the fair.  Here's some of my personal favorites, though I don't think I saw any that weren't nicely decorated.

From the 4-H youth division...LOVE the creativity here! I've heard of 'possum cakes before, but never a porcupine!

One of my favorites...This cake is one of the two that looking at it makes you feel elegant!

And this is the other elegant cake.  While I know they probably used the machine fondant cutter, it's still a lot of detail and time on the lace and ribbons!

And I had to take this one for my family...you'd never know it was a cake!

Look at the details! Who from my generation doesn't love the Smurfs? Makes me want to sing La-la-la-la-la....

Gorgeous fall basket. The baby with the apples behind it seemed to mix too many themes for my taste.

Absolutely gorgeous...but how would you cut/eat it?

And for the pirate lover....fabulous! Lots of detail here!

So this wraps up the end of one building (which we thankfully walked through while it was raining outside)!

state fair, part one

While I didn't see half the exhibits I normally see while visiting the fair last night, I got to eat twice as much as I normally do! ;)

Lydia, my friend who likes to pose in crazy positions with food, eating her traditional chicken pita wrap.

And my special treat for the night...gator on a stick!  No, it didn't actually look like this, though it did taste a lot like chicken! :)

Would you believe that ALL of these are cupcakes?  I got the hotdog one (center). The bread is actually the cake, and the dog and icing are chocolate icing and yellow-colored buttercream icing. Not only was it cool looking, but it tasted good, too!

To help cut costs (and save our appetites), several of us split items, giving us the opportunity to try more things for less money!  My new fair favorite...mozzarella sticks.  I had tried them once in a restaurant and wasn't too crazy about them.  But the one I had at the fair was absolutely wonderful!  Deep-fried macaroni and cheese...don't think I'll try that one again, though it wasn't bad. But I did try a bit of Lydia's deep-fried snickers bar and was surprised...it was good! I might even consider replacing the Amish fudge with that next year.

And while the following picture isn't food we ate, it's food related so I'll show it here:

Carroll and Lydia with the hot dog statue. :)