My Fair Ribbons!

So, here they are!

I have posted each of these items before, so I won't be a pest and 

post them all individually this time.

But I entered 14 items in the "professional" division,

and I received 1st place "Blue" ribbons on 10 of them. 

I received a 2nd place "Red" ribbon on the Dumbo dress.

And a 3rd place "White" ribbon for the 

child size Yaya Apron.

And here is the funny little thing.

I was not going to enter this little doll sized Yaya apron, 

but Ahnalin insisted that it needed to be entered.

Well it did not receive a ribbon. 

It did not deserve a ribbon, so I was not expecting it.

It is cute, but hey, it took probably 20 minutes to sew!

Oh, and the little Teacup Minnie outfit also received

the "Best of Division" Purple

ribbon and certificate. 

The funny thing is that I don't think that outfit deserves

to be the "B.O.D.".
I mean, it is cute and well sewn.

But it is NOT as well sewn as the "Dumbo" dress that won a 

2nd place. 

Really.

I mean, India's dresses, either of them,

were made MUCH better. 

They were flawless inside and out AND had all that

boning (yeah, it is always about the boning...)

And then, I realized something else.....

Oh the shame.....

Oh the scandal!!!

I did not enter ANY smocked items. 

But NEITHER DID ANYONE ELSE!!!

There was NOT ONE smocked item in our fair this year!!!!!

I am mortified!

I had better just sit right down and FINISH some

 of the UNFINISHED smocking projects I started this year. 

So, I am pleased with my ribbons this year. 

I am grateful.

But I am disappointed in myself for not entering some 

smocked items and for not really showing 

some fabulous sewing.

I pretty much entered simple dresses and aprons.

I am capable of better, but I was lazy. 

Ok, enough beating myself up here. 

I think I will sit down with some orange and chocolate sherbet 

and watch last nights "Project Runway" that is

saved on my DVR.

Oh....and if you think of it, please pray for India. 

She is in LA tonight preparing to audition for Disneyland tomorrow.

Yeah, really. 

She really, really, really wants to work there as a character. 

Really.

Thank you all for your kind encouragement. 

Ahnalin GLOWED with pride when I read each of your comments about

her ribbons.

Happy Sewing!

Fair Ribbons For The Birthday Girl!

Yesterday my precious baby Ahnalin turned 6!

And what better place to celebrate than at the county fair!

And the best birthday present she could ask for was a

beautiful BLUE  RIBBON

for her very first quilt!!!!!

Yep! My girl won the blue ribbon!!!!

And there were several other quilts in her category!!

So she has a real reason to be proud of herself.

Unfortunately I cut off the top of the head of Ahnalin's doll, 

but this is one of the dolls she made this year to send to 

the orphans in Haiti. This one will get

sent after the fair. But she won a RED ribbon for this one!

And to complete the set, she won a WHITE ribbon for her pillow.

She was thrilled to win one of each.

And here is the thing, every child who entered something received

a "participant" ribbon, even if they did not place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. 

Ahnalin placed in every category she entered!!!! 

YAHOOOOOO!!!

She also got to pan for gold.

We live a few blocks away from the Empire Mine, which was a

very important gold mine during the California gold rush.

It is the oldest, largest and richest mine in California

so gold mining is a huge part of our county history.

Ahnalin LOVED panning!

She went on the Ferris Wheel with her big sister and friend Rini.

She loves to pet the animals.

I wish I had gotten this on video, 

but right before I took this picture, the mama goat 

sneezed all over Ahnalin, and she had goat snot all 

over her dress. She was thoroughly grossed out!

She rode every kiddy ride 

because the big scary rides are so not her deal.

She had so much fun with Dida (what she calls India) and Rini.

She opened her presents at home

and got lots of books, a Chinese Barbie, a doll outfit for her

American Girl doll and, of course, singing cards.

The doll dress is to fit her "Elizabeth" doll that we got her 

at the American Girl Place last month.

I still need to post those pics!

We had so much fun at the fair on her birthday!

I will post my fair ribbons tomorrow. 

Love to you all!!

Happy Sewing.

Lovely, Lovely Ribbons!

Today, in addition to being the Hot Rockin' Hubby's birthday, was the day I got to pick up my Nevada County Fair entries, along with the ribbons and premiums I won.
I am just a bit competitive. I LOVE to win ribbons. I also love to win the cash premiums that come with those lovely ribbons. The premiums, or cash awards, are just tokens. But....I want to win as many as I can because I do not need justify spending that award money on fabric. Ok, it is not that Don ever complains about me buying fabric, because I am really frugal. But I hate to use our much needed family income on fabric.

So, each year, I find that I enter more and more categories. Last year, I learned about the "Sweepstakes" award. This award is given to the entrant with the most entries in a division. And that award carries a cash award of $50.00! Last year, with my 13 entries, I was nowhere near the winner of this award, who had 34 entries. However, this year, fewer people submitted items, which was really sad to me. But I submitted 19 items and WON the Sweepstakes!!! So, I am not complaining!

Unlike last year, I did not win any "Best Of Division" awards. I was sad about it, but really agreed that those who won, deserved those awards. There were some truly beautiful and amazing items in the fair this year. I just wish more people would enter their handwork in the fair. I feel so strongly that the home arts should not be lost, and those who enter their items for exhibition and judging are a real encouragement to others. We need to be proud of our work and the art form it represents.

But, since I am proud, and many have asked, here are my ribbons! Sorry for the rotten photographs. I took them on my kitchen counter with not-so-great lighting.

Blue Ribbon = First place in a class (category) = $3.00
Red Ribbon = Second place in a class = $2.00
White Ribbon = Third place in a class = $1.00

Most of the items I entered, I had already shown on the blog, but a few are from before I started blogging.











So, how did I do?
I received 11 Blue ribbons, 5 Red ribbons, and 2 White ribbons. The smocked nightgown was discontinued because it looked "worn". Well, the girls did wear their nightgowns for Christmas morning, so it was "worn". That is ok. The judge wrote me a note that the work was very good even though she disqualified it. I still feel good about it.

The large ribbon at the top of the blog entry is the Sweepstakes award. With the Sweepstakes cash award plus the ribbon premiums, my total cash award this year was $95.00!!! I am thrilled!


Sorry, these pictures are so bad. I think I need to learn how to really take pictures!

Oh, and PLEASE, check out your local county or state fair, and find out how to enter your work. Even if you think you work would not win, or the judging is unfair, or you are just self conscious and nervous, step out and enter. You will end up pushing yourself to improve, and produce more. You will learn new art forms and meet fun people. You will encourage others to pursue these lovely skills.

And, you just may come away with some lovely ribbons and a nice check of your own!

Please tell me your "Fair" and "Competition" stories. I love to read of your tries and successes! And I pray you all have a wonderful week!