Fair Time!

I entered in this year's fair, even though I swore I retired after last time. Sometimes you just can't deny the little "fair bug" that bit me when I was a kid entering in 4-H.

This year I won two blue ribbons and a red ribbon!

My Aeolian Shawl won first place in the shawl category:


And my newest finished project, the Laurel hat from Jared Flood's Made in Brooklyn book got a first place in the hat category. I loved making this hat - it was quick and full of cables - what could be better?

My Marlene socks got second place. No photo, but you remember them, right? The socks that got first place were made by a fellow Ancient Pathways knitter, Jenn, so it's all good. There's always next year for that, right?

Clear the Cobwebs!

I'm back!

It is all Carey's fault. Really. She had to go and conjure up a wedding full of opportunities to create things. We have all taken the bait. Tracy masterminded the shower, Cheri is helping with the flowers, Mom has made the flower girl basket, and baked, oh, a billion cookies for wedding favors in between keeping Carey on task (Not an easy task) and supplying Dad with a never ending Honey-do list. We girls got together last weekend to decorate those cookies, and Carey swears she will blog the photos of that.

Carey herself is, of course, doing lots too. She designed and printed the invitations and programs, and along with Mom, is putting together the whole sha-bang. I'm sure I have forgotten to mention about 80% of what they have done.

Anyway, having waited until the last minute (did anyone expect anything less?) to do the ring bearer pillow, I figured I should get busy. I intended to do a silk ribbon embroidery in the corner design, but it has been a very long time since I did any silk ribbon embroidery and my supplies were a little dated looking and not all the right colors for this fall wedding. I looked all over town in the usual places and was very disappointed to find most every place had stopped selling silk ribbon. Crafting fads! By chance I found a beautiful supply at the new quilting store in town, Cottage Quilts. She printed me a pattern of a heart that I immediately knew was perfect for the pillow.

Here is what it looks like so far -

Still have to finish the beads.

I'm really liking it. I had a few fits of indecision on what to do with the pillow edges. A ruffle would be too busy I think, so I am making some tassles. I will also try to put a little ribbon or strap type thing for little Patrick to hold on to.

Will post finshed photos sometime before the wedding. Ha! Like I'm not going to finish seconds before the rehearsal.

We had October Good Things last night. We decorated little monogram letters. I chose H for Halloween. We had a lot of fun, almost everyone was there, and the projects were cute. Tracy made raisin pound cake, yummy!

At the risk of beating a dead horse, I got my stuff back from the fair. My socks had in fact gotten a first place - I thought they hadn't received anything, but apparently it wasn't labeled or something.

And, the biggest shocker was I had an extra jumbo ribbon in the bag. I won the People's Choice award for the Home Arts Building! Way to stuff a ballot box friends and family! You make me proud.

Scenes from the County Fair

My Mystery Stole won best of show! I was very surprised and happy. My chicken also got a first place. My socks (and the other socks I saw) got nothing, which helps keep me humble in spite of the purple ribbon. Such is the luck of the fair.

Ribbons, corn dogs, cinnamon rolls, and Chris Daughtry. Quite a night at the fair.