Mom, Becky, Dad and I congregated in the beef barn yesterday afternoon before heading up the hill to see how the quilt competition went. While waiting for Dad to stop talking, the girls came up with our "wager" for the 2010 competition.
The first wager was, whoever didn't do the best out of the three ladies, would receive 1 yard of fabric from the other two competitors. So, in essence, the LOSER would receive 2 yards of fabric.
The second wager was, whoever did the best - and this was calculated by percentage of quilts entered/placings (not very effective) - would have the ultimate TRUMP card on Show Day. Meaning, whatever they said could trump anyone else's complaint/comment/action. (I basically have this power anyways, but if I won, I'd have impunity from any other negative feedback!). Ha ha!
So, we speed-walked up the hill. The first quilt we saw was Mary Burt's Monster Quilt featuring applique technique - a blue ribbon! Whoo-hoo, mom! Then we found Becky's Quilt of Valor. No ribbon (Sorry Becks, we need to get you entered in a different class). Just below Becky's quilt hung my Buffalo wall-hanging project - which I entered in the Professional Category "Original Technique or Design" - 2nd place! Alright!! Then we spotted Mary Burt's Farmyard kids quilt - no ribbon. Bummer. Just a few quilts down was the Star Sampler I had made - 3rd place! It was hung very nicely, which made me feel better about myself.
I wanted to see what quilts placed ahead of me in the quilt competition. I found out that my Star Sampler quilt was third to the Best-In-Show quilt, pieced by a local quilt store owner in Deer River. I didn't feel bad placing third to that quilt! The second place quilt was a very extensively-pieced sampler of some sort - which was beautiful, too.
In the sewing competition - Mary Burt's clothespin dress was 2nd place. It beat out an identical project! My jacket won a Blue Ribbon (first place), as did my Safari Purse. Yahhoo! The second purse I entered was a "non-qualifier" since I didn't know you couldn't enter more than one project in the same class. Oh well.
Here's how the results stood:
Mom: Blue Ribbon - Monster Quilt; Red Ribbon - Clothespin Dress, No Placing - Barnyard Animals Quilt
Becky: No Placing - Quilt of Valor
Me: Red Ribbon - Buffalo Wall Hanging; White Ribbon - Star Sampler; Blue Ribbon - Swing Jacket; Blue Ribbon - Safari Purse; No Entry - Western Purse
So, Becky's getting two yards of fabric out of the deal. But she's also bringing Dairy Queen, McDonalds and Donuts for the next three days to the fair (as is tradition).
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
County fair time!
You might be wondering why I would have a quilting post entitled "County fair time!" Well, let me explain. My family grew up going to the county fair. And 2010 marks my family's 22nd consecutive year exhibiting beef cattle at the fair. Let me give you some background...
It began with my dad when he was a 4-Her exhibiting dairy cattle (and I'm sure, chickens, but let's not go there this morning...). As with all 4-Hers, they hit an age when they no longer qualify to compete in 4-H competition (around age 18-19). As was the case with my dad. He disappeared for a while to find a wife and start a family - oh, and go to college and establish a career and all.
Our family moved to the farm in about 1986. One of the first activities my brother and I got involved with in our new location was 4-H. Between us we entered "static" projects in the county fair such as rockets, baking and photography. It wasn't until 1988 that we brought our first beef animal - Jason's 4-H breeding heifer project, Sissy. I brought my first beef project one year later (1989 - I was 8 years old) - Daisy. The rest is history, as they say....
But our quilting entries at the County fair are relatively new. Maybe four years or so in the making, I'm not so sure. Anyways, it was a decision that my mom, Becky and I made to bring a few of our favorite quilt projects to the fair. Having no idea how our quilts would do in such a competition (there are many quilting enthusiasts in Grand Rapids!), we decided to make an annual wager between us.
The first year it was between just mom and I. It went something to the effect of, "Whoever wins a ribbon with their quilt has ultimate privileges on Show Day." Well, wouldn't you know - my mom's quilt won a ribbon? Oh, how my dad enjoyed playing that trump card during Show Day!
The next year, I think I won a ribbon, but that wasn't cause for us to celebrate. It was Becky Deutch's first year entering a quilt into the county fair - her first quilt - and she won 1st place (something both mom and I hadn't done the previous year). We were so tickled with Becky's placing we forgot all about the wager.
Then there was the missing ribbon fiasco. All three of us brought quilts to the competition. Mom and Becky won ribbons, but my original design - a wall-hanging showcasing 20 years of exhibiting cattle made of old 4-H ribbons - didn't earn a ribbon at all. I was devastated, since it was such a cool, unique design. Really something I hadn't seen before. I made it as a surprise for my parents, unveiling it at the fair (it now hangs in their living room). When mom and Becky went to collect the quilts at the end of the fair, they discovered that my quilt was missing it's first place ribbon! My head hung in shame all week for nothing! But it taught me a valuable lesson.
Last year the three of us brought identical quilts - a Mystery Quilt project we foolishly bought in to - and only one of the three was awarded a ribbon.
Anyways - who cares about old ribbons!? We certainly don't, except to somewhat document the past. It was a sweet treat to be able to go with my mom and Becky on Tuesday evening, arms brimming with quilted projects (and sewing ones for the first time, too!) to the Home Activities building. We can enter quilts Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Then the build is closed for judging the jams, jellies, baked goods, handwork, quilting and flowers.
The doors (and results) will be released by 11 a.m. today - Thursday - of the fair. This is also the day we bring our cattle to the fair (10 head this year), so it's quite busy. But once all the washing is done and the cows are settled, someone courageously walks up the hill to the Home Activities buildings and giggles with the insider-knowledge of how the quilts did.
Usually my dad beats us all up the hill to see how the competition went. Most times he doesn't even have a clue as to what quilts were entered, let alone their names. If you wait and get the report from him, it goes something like this, "Ah, mom won a ribbon. I don't know which quilt - the blue one." Not helpful, but we can usually piece together the results from his shotty reporting.
So what did we enter this year? Mom entered two big quilts - a Funny Farm large-sized baby quilt and her Monster Quilt (with applique and embroidery technique). She also brought a "Clothespin Dress" to be entered in the sewing competition. Becky brought her Quilt of Valor, which she learned how to put the binding on by hand last week while visiting my house. And I brought two quilts - a large queen size Star Sampler (photos later) and my originally designed Buffalo project. Then I managed to get two purses (Safari and Boots - a new one) entered into the sewing competition, along with my swing jacket.
Now, if only we can decide on our wager for the 2010 County fair...hmm...
It began with my dad when he was a 4-Her exhibiting dairy cattle (and I'm sure, chickens, but let's not go there this morning...). As with all 4-Hers, they hit an age when they no longer qualify to compete in 4-H competition (around age 18-19). As was the case with my dad. He disappeared for a while to find a wife and start a family - oh, and go to college and establish a career and all.
Our family moved to the farm in about 1986. One of the first activities my brother and I got involved with in our new location was 4-H. Between us we entered "static" projects in the county fair such as rockets, baking and photography. It wasn't until 1988 that we brought our first beef animal - Jason's 4-H breeding heifer project, Sissy. I brought my first beef project one year later (1989 - I was 8 years old) - Daisy. The rest is history, as they say....
But our quilting entries at the County fair are relatively new. Maybe four years or so in the making, I'm not so sure. Anyways, it was a decision that my mom, Becky and I made to bring a few of our favorite quilt projects to the fair. Having no idea how our quilts would do in such a competition (there are many quilting enthusiasts in Grand Rapids!), we decided to make an annual wager between us.
The first year it was between just mom and I. It went something to the effect of, "Whoever wins a ribbon with their quilt has ultimate privileges on Show Day." Well, wouldn't you know - my mom's quilt won a ribbon? Oh, how my dad enjoyed playing that trump card during Show Day!
The next year, I think I won a ribbon, but that wasn't cause for us to celebrate. It was Becky Deutch's first year entering a quilt into the county fair - her first quilt - and she won 1st place (something both mom and I hadn't done the previous year). We were so tickled with Becky's placing we forgot all about the wager.
Then there was the missing ribbon fiasco. All three of us brought quilts to the competition. Mom and Becky won ribbons, but my original design - a wall-hanging showcasing 20 years of exhibiting cattle made of old 4-H ribbons - didn't earn a ribbon at all. I was devastated, since it was such a cool, unique design. Really something I hadn't seen before. I made it as a surprise for my parents, unveiling it at the fair (it now hangs in their living room). When mom and Becky went to collect the quilts at the end of the fair, they discovered that my quilt was missing it's first place ribbon! My head hung in shame all week for nothing! But it taught me a valuable lesson.
Last year the three of us brought identical quilts - a Mystery Quilt project we foolishly bought in to - and only one of the three was awarded a ribbon.
Anyways - who cares about old ribbons!? We certainly don't, except to somewhat document the past. It was a sweet treat to be able to go with my mom and Becky on Tuesday evening, arms brimming with quilted projects (and sewing ones for the first time, too!) to the Home Activities building. We can enter quilts Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Then the build is closed for judging the jams, jellies, baked goods, handwork, quilting and flowers.
The doors (and results) will be released by 11 a.m. today - Thursday - of the fair. This is also the day we bring our cattle to the fair (10 head this year), so it's quite busy. But once all the washing is done and the cows are settled, someone courageously walks up the hill to the Home Activities buildings and giggles with the insider-knowledge of how the quilts did.
Usually my dad beats us all up the hill to see how the competition went. Most times he doesn't even have a clue as to what quilts were entered, let alone their names. If you wait and get the report from him, it goes something like this, "Ah, mom won a ribbon. I don't know which quilt - the blue one." Not helpful, but we can usually piece together the results from his shotty reporting.
So what did we enter this year? Mom entered two big quilts - a Funny Farm large-sized baby quilt and her Monster Quilt (with applique and embroidery technique). She also brought a "Clothespin Dress" to be entered in the sewing competition. Becky brought her Quilt of Valor, which she learned how to put the binding on by hand last week while visiting my house. And I brought two quilts - a large queen size Star Sampler (photos later) and my originally designed Buffalo project. Then I managed to get two purses (Safari and Boots - a new one) entered into the sewing competition, along with my swing jacket.
Now, if only we can decide on our wager for the 2010 County fair...hmm...
Monday, August 16, 2010
One happy baby...
Yesterday, Aug. 15, I was able to give my very first baby quilt. It's to one of my college roommate who is due Sept. 4. I couldn't wait until September to deliver this uber-cute quilt, so I wrapped it up and gave it during the shower. I'm sure the mom, KP, can sympathize with not being able to wait. She and her hubby are very excited for the little "grape" to arrive! (And yes, they are having a baby girl.)
Here I am proudly displaying my work. The yellow is actually "snuggly" (similar to Minkee Mates, but with less stretch). The back is done entirely in the yellow snuggly!
I stumbled across this super cute, super easy pattern back in May during mother's day weekend. I was with my mom and best friend Becky Deutsch. We visited "Quilts Around the Corner" in Hibbing, MN, and fell in love with a pink-and-brown version of this quilt. Knowing several friends were going to have babies in the coming months, I couldn't resist.
The snuggly is cut in quarter-circles and appliqued on top of square blocks which provides excellent stabilization for the snuggly. The blocks are arranged in a winding road pattern. We chose yellow for this project because Becky said, "It promotes eye development."
Here is the mom-to-be, KP, taking the quilt out of the package. They're "ooohing" over the quilt label on the back, which is a photo of Becky, KP and I take in July after a serious heart-to-heart conversation (and dinner of Kabobs).
It's kind of hard to see the quilting from this angle, but it's done in hot pink thread and a "flutterbys" pattern. Cute butterfly patterns. The quilting isn't easy to see, but it gives great texture to the entire project. Becky and I rent time on long-arm machines at Quilt Yourself in Savage, MN. We're saving up to buy our own machine.
All I can say is, this baby is going to really happy having tummy-time on a quilt like this. If she can wrestle it away from her parents who are still "oohing" over the snuggly.
I stumbled across this super cute, super easy pattern back in May during mother's day weekend. I was with my mom and best friend Becky Deutsch. We visited "Quilts Around the Corner" in Hibbing, MN, and fell in love with a pink-and-brown version of this quilt. Knowing several friends were going to have babies in the coming months, I couldn't resist.
The snuggly is cut in quarter-circles and appliqued on top of square blocks which provides excellent stabilization for the snuggly. The blocks are arranged in a winding road pattern. We chose yellow for this project because Becky said, "It promotes eye development."
It's kind of hard to see the quilting from this angle, but it's done in hot pink thread and a "flutterbys" pattern. Cute butterfly patterns. The quilting isn't easy to see, but it gives great texture to the entire project. Becky and I rent time on long-arm machines at Quilt Yourself in Savage, MN. We're saving up to buy our own machine.
Quilting hiatus
I swear I haven't been on quilting hiatus. It's just that most of my quilting projects lately are gifts - and no one wants to spoil the punch by showing off a gift before it's given. So alas, August has arrived, when I can start giving these wonderful quilt gifts! I've got four surprises all neatly packaged for the lucky recipients to be... and will begin featuring the projects right here on Mama Bear Quilts.
In other news... I've found full-time employment as editor of Tri-State Livestock News. It's a weekly livestock publication based in Spearfish, SD. If you're familiar with South Dakota geography, you will note that this office is approximately 14 miles shy of the SD-WY border. Meanwhile, I reside about 20 miles shy of the SD-MN border. There's about 400-some odd miles in between the two. So I'm set-up with a home office.
Finding the balance between work and play (and family time) can be a challenge, but one I think I'm successfully navigating.
Over the weekend, my best friend Becky Deutsch and I stumbled onto a wonderful quilt-wine venue called "Quilts & Vines." It's not new, but was new to us. The Strawbale Vineyard near Renner, SD, (just north of Sioux Falls) has an entire day devoted to draping quilts over grapevines, barns, anywhere and invites the public to come on out and sample wines while browsing quilts. We, along with the help of winery staff, have re-named the event to a more "male-friendly" term (since there was a high percentage of 50+ year old ladies in attendance) to "Blankets & Booze" - which we felt was sure to draw in males from a tri-state area. It was a toss-up for our favorite vino: Grandpa Pete's Strawberry-Rhubarb or the Wineritas!
In other news... I've found full-time employment as editor of Tri-State Livestock News. It's a weekly livestock publication based in Spearfish, SD. If you're familiar with South Dakota geography, you will note that this office is approximately 14 miles shy of the SD-WY border. Meanwhile, I reside about 20 miles shy of the SD-MN border. There's about 400-some odd miles in between the two. So I'm set-up with a home office.
Finding the balance between work and play (and family time) can be a challenge, but one I think I'm successfully navigating.
Over the weekend, my best friend Becky Deutsch and I stumbled onto a wonderful quilt-wine venue called "Quilts & Vines." It's not new, but was new to us. The Strawbale Vineyard near Renner, SD, (just north of Sioux Falls) has an entire day devoted to draping quilts over grapevines, barns, anywhere and invites the public to come on out and sample wines while browsing quilts. We, along with the help of winery staff, have re-named the event to a more "male-friendly" term (since there was a high percentage of 50+ year old ladies in attendance) to "Blankets & Booze" - which we felt was sure to draw in males from a tri-state area. It was a toss-up for our favorite vino: Grandpa Pete's Strawberry-Rhubarb or the Wineritas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
