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The Wood County Fair!

7/31/2014

I'm going to blow my horn here as all four of the pieces I entered won blues. Of course, I don't know how many were the only entries in their category... I won't know that until the newspaper prints final fair results in several weeks. But meanwhile, I am quite happy with the outcome as the prize money will mean I broke even with my entry fee!

Framed Sampler in the cross stitch on 32-ct fabric:

Framed picture in needlepoint:

Speciality stitching, counted thread:

and Fair Theme ("Love is in the Air" --- needed to be red or pink, a flower or love-theme), framed picture:

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The County Fair Results Are In...

8/1/2013

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Knowing the issues I had with many of my entries (I knew that some didn't really fit in with the category I entered them in and others had some major technique issues which could result in them placing out of the running) , I held off until today to actually go see for myself how I did with my nine fair entries (although my husband did check them last night and called me with the results so I wasn't surprised).

Anyway, here are the results, and the photographic evidence!

First place in their categories...

Home is Where the Heart is in "Counted Cross Stitch 25 count, framed picture" (technically, it's a sampler, thanks to the words on it, but I took a chance...)

Red Thai Mandala in "Counted Cross Stitch 28 ct, framed picture" (See that loose black thread that's showing through the linen from the back in the upper left corner! AAACK!. And it's not really cross stitch or a picture but it had some cross-stitch in it so...)

Kimono - Revisited in "Needlepoint framed sampler" (was it a sampler? It had many different stitches. But it was also a picture?)

The Charles "name badge" in "cross stitch 28 ct, framed sampler" (yes, I suppose it is a sampler --- it has words but...):

Encrusted Crazy Quilt block in Green in "Any beaded item on fabric" (heck, it was a crazy quilt block and it was potentially competing with all sort so other kinds of beading, and there was no crazy quilt category and... )- and another bad photo because the case it was in was all scratched up!

Second place in their categories...

Sumptuous Embroidery in Blue in the category "Hand embroidered or Stamped framed picture" (wasn't sure how this would fare against stamped pieces...)

Birds of a Feather in "counted cross stitch, 32 ct, famed picture" (the mistake in the upper right side border should have downgraded it. To me, at least, it was blatant and fudging didn't correct for it - but it was husband's favorite, and he was upset about the second place more than I...) - sorry about the glare, I couldn't get a good angle on it in the case...

Third place in its category...

The Taco Sampler in the 2013 Special Contest "In the Kitchen", wall hanging or picture with a kitchen theme (again --- potentially competing against all sorts of other kinds of needlework, it really wasn't a picture, and the white stitching didn't contrast enough with the background to show; the winner was a black-on-natural cross stitched chicken while the second place was a quilt)

Honorable Mention in its category...

"Pink" Crazy Quilt block in the "Pink Quilt Block" special category (it was a crazy quilt block competing with traditional blocks so fourth place was a good result, IMO... although the guild members who were with me didn't agree with my reasoning that crazy quilt blocks don't quite hack it technique-wise in judging when up against perfect points and the like in pieced blocks - which was encouraging! )

Oh, and I made my entry money back! YAY!

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2013 - Reconnect to My Stitchery, Week Twenty-Six

7/1/2013

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I don't know where this week went! I KNOW I stitched but I don't have a lot to show for it. I seem to have gotten sidetracked into reading and sleeping late (because I can't get to sleep until late.) Oh, and the local HOA Girls' Night Out on Thursday didn't free up much stitching time either...

Oh well, I did get in one completion --- the "pink" quilt block for the special "Pink" category for the fair:

It's not as encrusted as I would have liked but I was stumped as to what to put on it. I have some pink (and green) buttons and beads but they looked too heavy for what I was aiming for so I left it rather simple. What I get for using such a bold print, I guess... it sort of set the scene and I couldn't match it with buttons or beads. Hope it qualifies...

I also got back to stitching on "Midnight Garden":

Borders are set and I'm starting on the backstitching and blackwork in the inner borders now, with the parts that are in black... Doesn't loom like much but it's like confetti stitching in those inner borders. I'm hoping to get started on the blue this week.

I'm so far behind on other pieces, though. The basic block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013 is made up but now it needs embellishment. I have yet to kit out a June butterfly for Bead Journal Project and it's already July (which means two in one month! AAARGH!). The sashing hasn't been touched on my 2012 color palatte/CQJ/BJP wall hanging. I have two "Roll Your Own" mandalas to select a color scheme for and kit out, to say nothing of the Sharon B weekly TAST (which starts up again this week after a week's hiatus) and background stitch guide. Oh yes, and in one month, there will be the "Messy Beading" Purple Daisy for L. Perin coming! I really need to get my stitching mojo back!

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Getting ready to fill out the Fair entry form

6/26/2013

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and I thought I'd show you what my candidates look like framed...

Sorry about the reflection on the glass (especially on Charles, it really isn't stained yellow in the bottom half!) --- it was either get the sky and a few trees or a glare from the flash.

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WIPocalypse - June 23, 2013 (the Super Moon)

6/23/2013

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This month's themes were: Designer – Teresa Wentzler, Style – Summer, Colors – Black and Green ... and again, I don't have a single piece in progress that fits in with those themes.

Also, I still seem to be in recovery from that eye surgery as my eyes don't seem to have any stitching stamina *and* I seem to have lost my stitching mojo as a result of the four weeks I had to lay off for recovery. Still, I did get SOME stitching in this month.

Completions included:

The Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013: The May block - a monochromatic red and the June block as well (another monochromatic red):

Take a Stitch Tuesday: Slipped Detached Chain, Buttonholed Double Chain, C rested Chain Stitch, and Bullion Buttonhole Stitch
The Bead Journal Project 2013 - my May butterfly
a Casey Buonaugurio design, "The Taco Sampler"

In addition, I took eight pieces into the framer to be framed because fair submittals have to be ready July 1 - 13. I decided to go with "Kimono - Revisited" for Needlepoint framed sampler, "Red Thai Mandala" for Counted Cross Stitch picture 28 ct (even though is it primarily blackwork, there doesn't seem to be a perfect category for it), the Michael Powell "Home is Where the Heart Is" for Counted cross stitch framed picture 16 or 18 ct, the "Charles" name badge for counted cross stitch framed sampler 28 ct, the blue Sumptuous Embroidery study for embroidered framed picture, "Birds of a Feather" for counted cross stitch 32 ct, the Encrusted Embroidery 8" block for Needlework Specialties, beading on fabric, and "The Taco Sampler" for the Special Contest framed picture with a kitchen theme. I picked them all up June 21... a first day of summer present to myself.

Still in progress are: "Midnight Garden", where the borders are now stitched out , a 12" block for entry into the fair with the theme "Pink" (doesn't need framing), and the wall hanging for the 2012 Color Palette/Crazy Quilt Journal/Bead Journal Project blocks (the final side sashings are cut and pinned but still not stitched).

I pre-assembled basic crazy quilt journal blocks for the rest of 2013 but I have yet to design and kit out the June Bead Journal butterfly, the Tracy Horner "Roll Your Own Mandala" SAL (of which there are two now, still not with a color palette chosen) and the Janet Perry background stitch notebook (lesson one printed out but not kitted up, or even read!)

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2013 - Reconnect to My Stitchery, Week Twenty-Four

6/17/2013

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Besides catching up with TAST, finishing the piece for the fair ("The Taco Sampler") and taking nine finished pieces to the framer on Saturday, I did squeeze in some stitching as well this past week.

I managed to get the main part of the outer borders done for "Midnight Garden", as well as some of the black cross-stitched elements in the middle border:

Ready for blackwork!

I also put together a 12.5" block (12" finished) for the "Pink" category for the fair. It needs embellishment but the basic block is done:

And the basic block for the June Crazy Quilt Journal Project is ready to embellish as well:

I still need to kit out the June Bead Journal Project butterfly, the needlepoint background stitch journal for Janet Perry, and at least two "Roll Your Own" mandalas for that Tracy Horner SAL. Of course, kitting out isn't the same as stitching but my eyes seem to be improving daily and if I can do better than my latest stitching times, I should be able to do some catching up this next week!

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2013 - Reconnect to My Stitchery, Week Twenty-Three

6/10/2013

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I finally got in some stitching this week. My eyes sort of lose focus after a couple of hours, though and so I couldn't do long stretches of stitching. But the flashing and aching eye muscles appear to be a thing of the past (knock on wood).

Besides TAST and finishing my May butterfly (have to get cracking on kitting up the June one), I put in a few stitches on the borders of "Midnight Garden":

and started a piece for the fair's special category, "In the Kitchen". It's a Casey Buonaugurio Designs sampler called "Taco":

It's small, only 3 x 6, so it should be doable. The issue is the time to get it framed.

I got the fair booklet on Thursday and tried to assign what few finishes I had this year to categories --- not easy since there is no crazy quilting category this year, and there are no categories that work for speciality stitching/blackwork, etc. So I'm winging it a little with seven pieces, a;; of which require framing:

- "Kimono - Revisited as a needlepoint sampler. I plan on having it backed with a pale blue cotton that will prevent "Show through" of the mounting board through the congress cloth.
- "Red Thai Mandala" as a framed picture, 28 ct
- Michael Powell's "Home Sweet Home" as a 25 ct framed picture (it's really 27 ct but there is no 27 ct category and I want Red Thai Mandala in the 28 ct space)
- The "Charles" name badge in framed sampler 28 ct
- My Sumptuous Embroidery blue piece in framed stamped or embroidered (No category for hand embroidery anywhere else) - I'm going to get my monochromatic beige piece framed too but I think the blue one is the better of the two.
- "Birds of a Feather" in the framed picture 32 ct category
- the 8" block I did for Encrusted Crazy Quilting in the beading on fabric category.

If I get the Buonaugurio done in time to get is framed, that's eight, and, because they don't require framing, I maybe could knock out a set of ornaments (trouble is, I need to do three to make a set and that will probably limit me to plastic or paper, but I have a set of patterns that could work) and a 12-inch "pink" quilt block for another special category.

I figure of I load up the entries, I might get close to getting back the majority of my entrance fee. Registration starts July 1 and the pieces are to be handed in July 27... AAARGH!

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WIPocalypse 2012 - August 2

8/2/2012

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What did I do this past month?

Well, there were

the Take a Stitch Tuesday stitches: Bonnet Stitch, Up & Down Buttonhole Stitch, Basque Stitch, Oyster Stitch and Algerian Eye Stitch.
The July Stash Buster from Janet Perry
The July Mittens & Mini-Socks form Janet Perry --- both a mitten and a sock
The July Color Through the Ages from Janet Perry
the July parts for "Kimono - Revisited"
The July Color Palette Challenge/Crazy Quilt Journal/Bead Journal Project block
and 3/4 of the border (second color) for "Birds of a Feather", shown here:

I was pretty much caught up --- until today, when two online projects came in --- the 13 sections for "Kimono - Revisited" and the latest Janet Perry Stash Buster! Also waiting in the wings is this month's Color Palette Challenge which is yet to be "kitted up" (I need to pull fabrics, seam treatments and beads) for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project/Bead Journal Project...

I took my entries to the fair office on the 28th of July and they were judged as follows:

Four blue ribbons...
*Cross-stitch set of ornaments

* set of perforated paper ornaments (hard to see as it was so far away!)

* "Sewing with Mama" in the 14-ct framed picture needlework category

* Set of needlework framed pictures, any fabric count ("Purrfect" and "Cat Pack")

One red (plastic canvas Christmas ornaments, set of three) - I saw the blue in that category, I think, and I don't know why they were considered better than mine but, hey, I'll take it!

and one white --- "Ornaments ala Round" in the fair theme "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Sadly, it was up against quilts and so really didn't have a snowball's chance of doing better, I fear. Not bad for something I rushed to get ready, I suppose, but I'm still disappointed considering the effort I did put in, the amount of metallic and beading on it, etc... Bad photo as it was way to far away for me to get close enough to get a good pic.

My fair record is perfect --- three years of entries, every entry has come away with a ribbon of some sort! Michael Phelps, eat your heart out! LOL But maybe I should quit while 'm ahead!

ifestitch wrote on Aug 2 CONGRATS - on your well-deserved wins, and on all the things you accomplished in a month! I wouldn't like a piece of cross stitch to go up against a quilt in any category - apples & oranges, that.

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Reporting in on the fair

8/4/2011

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I entered 12 pieces in all into seven categories and won.........mnsix ribbons! And made back my fair entry fee with $4 to spare!

A third place for my Marilyn Robertson Art deco black cat set (four of the pieces)

a second place for my Michael Powell "Greek Window"

and first places for "Witches Wheel"

"Harvest Sampler"

"Garden Stars"

and "Fountain Mandala"

The last three pieces --- a trio of Christmas ornaments --- well I couldn't find them anywhere so I assumed they didn't win anything (although I didn't see a blue for any cross-stitched ornaments so I really don't know. The blue I did see was for three cute little snowmen but they weren't embroidered, so should have been in a different category...

We went back later in the afternoon afternoon and found my ornaments. They hung them on a tree about ten feet away but they were there!

And another blue!

All but two were in glass cases, and so there is some glare... Apologies!

rifestitch wrote on Aug 4, '11 WooHoo!!! Congrats on the fabulous wins!!! I knew you'd bring home a pile of ribbons!!! I would have been shocked if Garden Stars didn't get a 1st, and Witch's Wheel should, just because it is AWESOME (I have gotten mixed results on Halloween themed things down here in the Bible Belt :( )!!! Great job!!!

rifestitch wrote on Aug 4, '11 Cool on finding another blue ribbon!!!

thatyankstitches wrote on Aug 5, '11 rifestitch said Cool on finding another blue ribbon!!! Yeah --- pretty sad that I HAD to find that seventh entry, wasn' t it? My husband says I am with my needlework like he is with his hostas --- enter them in the show and hope that you will sweep the ribbons and even with 6 ribbons, I was fretting over that one missing piece with no ribbon! LOL

Now I can fret about why did my cats only get third and my Greek Window only a second. OK, I really didn't expect Greek Window (totally a different style from the other "picture" submittals I saw on display so probably not to the judges' tastes) to be a big winner, but the cats...

rifestitch wrote on Aug 5, '11 Yeah, well, if you read back through mine to the '09 and the '08 fairs I entered, I am STILL scratching my head over a couple of "odd" decisions by ""judges" at mine... And people are asking me why I'm bothering again this year - clearly, I'm a glutton for punishment :)

ksteyskal wrote on Aug 19, '11 Congratulations on your ribbons!

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WIP Myself into Shape - Week Twenty-Four

6/17/2011

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One more frog completed...

And my progress on my Christmas ornaments for the fair - I think they need a little something extra, like an edging or cording around each ornie...:

I checked into the Ohio State Fair entry requirements... The entry deadline for the State Fair is June 20, 2011 (this weekend! AAACK! but one can register online) and the delivery date/time is July 16 – 17, 2011 (the State Fair runs July 27 through August 7) from while the entry deadline for the county fair is July 5-16 while the delivery date is July 31 (County fair is August 2-8). Since exhibits need to be delivered two weeks before the County fair entry, this will NOT work unless I use last year's pieces. So I guess I can, in good faith, decline to go to this year's State Fair!

The categories at the State Fair are much more limited: Any item (6-14 fabric count), Any item (16-22 fabric count) and Any item (23-60 fabric count). Last year's entries would qualify since the State Fair says they can be made within the last two years but they also list judging criteria. So while I could submit in the 6-14 and the 23-60 categories, I suspect a few issues with "nice flat full stitches, no twisted threads, no visible carry over from reverse side or hoop marks, backstitching straight and even"! I know that some of my stitches are a little thin in places, some do have twisted threads (I do not use a laying tool because I stitch in hand) and my backstitching can get a little wonky sometimes! Besides, I just know that on one of these, at least, there are some cross that go the wrong way... BOUND to be! Another no-no which the county fair apparently didn't catch or doesn't care about! I'm too scared of rejection to submit something I KNOW will be marked down...

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<<Previous

The Wood County Fair!

The County Fair Results Are In...

2013 - Reconnect to My Stitchery, Week Twenty-Six

Getting ready to fill out the Fair entry form

WIPocalypse - June 23, 2013 (the Super Moon)

2013 - Reconnect to My Stitchery, Week Twenty-Four

2013 - Reconnect to My Stitchery, Week Twenty-Three

WIPocalypse 2012 - August 2

Reporting in on the fair

WIP Myself into Shape - Week Twenty-Four

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