The Mountain Regional State Fair turn-in day for the competitions is Monday, and I am entering 23 contests this year in a bunch of divisions. I actually started early enough in August this year pulling it all together, getting my online entries done, and completing projects. I have 5 quilt entries, 5 photography entries, several in crafts and clothing, along with a couple of cooking competitions and for the first time two entries for the gardening division. The tall board with four photos on the right is a storyboard, the first time I have entered that category. It is a series of pictures of the cardinal feeding her young at our bird feeder. I have such fun in September every year!!
The quilts have to have the labels covered so the judge cannot see who did what.
Three of the quilts needed sleeves put on for hanging at the show. See my tutorial on Temporary Hanging Sleeves.
I found some matching fabric scraps for this cover and pinned it on. This quilt is my new pattern Chocolate Cherries.
I’ll be entering the Colors of August placemats and table topper into crafts table linens.
I wanted to give a nod to the fair theme of Silver Anniversary year with my Christmas Wreath entry. I’ll have more on this project later in the year.
Then I got out my acrylic paints, and had some fun one afternoon. Yes, I did this one day instead of working on quilting the cranes.
A little stocking wood cutout was painted for the Christmas Ornament category. I painted the black lines as it had suggested for ‘stitching’ lines.
It was sprayed with clear varnish, and a sprinkle of diamond dust was added while the varnish was wet for some sparkle. Then I added three red rhinestone accents for the berries, and tied a gold sparkly wire bow on the top.
I’ll enter the Watering Can Garden Art into the decorative painting on metal category. It is really an amateur job, but I think it is cute, and a different kind of base.
The wool penny rug from last October’s Autumn Jubilee will go into an applique category.
I was going to enter both of the quilts from last year’s Autumn Jubilee, but I was lucky enough to sell one of them in my Etsy store. So, I’ll enter the one that is left, unless it sells too. I’d rather sell them than have them for the fair.
The tablet cover will go into the crafts sewing division.
And my Caliente set will go into clothing.
In the gardening competition, I plan to enter this torenia, provided it is still blooming like this. I cleaned it up, getting rid of the spent flowers, then gave it a bit of fertilizer. I hope it will be just as pretty on the day the entries are taken in. I’m also going to enter some basil, if the critters don’t eat it first. I moved both to the Carolina room (a three season porch in the back) to keep them safe from the leaf eaters.
I’ll show you the competitions and how I did in a few days. I have until Monday morning to finish Orizuru, the paper cranes wall hanging. I’ll be working a shift in the log cabin at the quilting booth on Wednesday afternoon September 12th, and also on Sunday morning September 16th. Stop by if you are at the fair then and say hi! Do you like going to your State Fair? What do you like to see there?
Labor Day Sales!! Select items on sale this weekend in my Etsy Store!! New Fabrics listed, and Stamp sets too. Sale ends Monday!! See what’s new on sale today with the Fat Quarter Shop’s Flash Sale.
From My Carolina Home 
Best wishes for a successful Fair…..I’m exhausted just looking at all you’ve done!!
Looks like fun!!
Just wondering what you do in your spare time??? You did not make it easy for the other people. This has got to be a wonderful Fair to attend. Best wishes to a wonderful Lady!
An impressive amount of projects to be entered!! Each one should be very competitive. I love the photo board with the cardinals. I have started to put hanging sleeves on all my bigger projects (bed quilts) when I do the binding. I don’t find the sleeve in the way when putting the quilt on the bed because it is stitched down. I use the same fabric as the backing and it is not noticeable. I’m wondering how they hold up to the stress of hanging when pinned on with safety pins. Our quilt show won’t allow for pinned on sleeves. They have to be stitched. I know several people who use muslin for the temporary sleeves (I have done that too), but I like your coordinating fabric idea. Good luck !!
I entered some quilt in a local fall fair here. I’ll see on Saturday on they did.
This is my favourite time of year and one of my favourite activities is to go to the fair!
Hope you do well at the fair this year! I have fond memories of attending the county fair in Maryland, but for some reason here in Missouri the state fair is on the far western side of the state. Way too far to try to go, and there are no county fairs. Kind of sad, really (:)). Enjoy and have fun!
Ohhh…I’ll be waiting to see how you did!
I see some blue ribbons in your future!
Good luck on your entrees. What a great collection of hard work and beautiful creativity..!
Blue ribbon winners in all categories. Thanks for your wonderful blog.
Hello Carole; As a loyal and honest blogging friend I just must inform you that this year, I am so disappointed in you and all your hard work….. JUST KIDDING….Your projects are superb and should most certainly all win those great big huge Blue Ribbons! I am even hoping that a couple come home with the Best of Show or whatever the grand champion ribbons are in your fair! You are such an extensively talented creative person in so many areas! That is unusual, at least with the people that I know, but to also be so darned great at each of them also. That is just amazing and thrilling! I am so glad that you share all of your talents with us! My best wishes are with you! Have a stress free weekend!
Hi Carole…..Just wanted to wish you good luck on all your beautiful and varied entries. If variety is the spice of life, then you are certainly one spicy gal. lol Like you, I too enjoy making several different things and fortunately my family enjoys being on the receiving end of my efforts. Just found out that great grandchild #11 will be here the beginning of April, so when they find out the sex of the baby, I will be very busy making all sorts of things for the little one. We are so blessed to be around to enjoy these little gifts from God, and hope to see many more.
Wishing you Good Luck at the fair, Carole! I hope you win in each category! Can’t wait for your report!! I’d vote for each of your things!! So Beautiful!
good luck at the fair, your items are very pretty. hope you get the best of show.
Carole,
Honestly, if I did not know better, I would think you had mastered the art of cloning. What a group of lovely entries in the fair!!!!!! I can’t wait to see the results in ribbon form!!!!
You will need a big wagon to carry all of your entries to the assorted venues
What a fun week-end it will be. I hope it is not too hot, but whatever, it will just be a fun time.
Good luck!!
Have so much fun entering, Carole! You will do well, I’m sure, but I know you just have fun sorting through things and enjoy sharing the year’s finishes!
Wow that is an amazing number of entries-good luck with everything
Your entries are all fantastic! Good luck!
Good Luck! It looks like you’ve had a lot of fun getting ready!! Enjoy the fun!
Such a great assortment of entries for your fair – congratulations! before any ribbons are even awarded. Just this past Saturday, I attended the Minnesota State Fair with part of my family. Whooee….everyone else decided to come that day as well. It was difficult trying to keep track of our 3 young grandsons. We heard later the attendance broke another record and was over 225,000+ that particular day. It sure felt like it. I did manage to get into the creative arts building for a short time. Such lovely items and displayed so nicely. We do not get to our state fair every year with a four hour drive but the Great Minnesota Getogether is always special to me and our kids who were in 4-H. Good Luck on your entries and if your state has Sweet Martha cookies…have some for me!
That really is a very impressive number of entries. best wishes for great results.