With all the entries I’ll be doing in the fair, I have quite a bit of preparation to do. I pull things out I have made in the past year, go through my blog posts to make sure I have included everything I can, and maybe whip up a project or two for other categories. Then there is making sure all the quilts have labels and sleeves. Everything else sewn needs a label as well. I need to determine which photographs taken over the past year will be selected for entry, print them and mount them according to the rules. Over the month of August, I get all this done and more. With just 6 days left until turn-in day, I am almost ready. This year I won’t be sewing on sleeves the night before, LOL!! Quadrille is laying flat on the bed to keep it from creasing too much, with my 5 photo entries mounted on foamcore. Yugana Tsuru, the art quilt, is laying on top, also to keep it flat.
On the cedar chest, more entries awaited their turn to get labeling. You’ll recognize the wool bowl fillers from last year’s Autumn Jubilee. I showed the pine cone centerpiece and the silk flower arrangement in the past couple of weeks. But the little beaded ornament hanging from the stand is new. I made the potholders just this past week, so they will go in Household Items.
The bowl fillers we made for last year’s Autumn Jubilee will go in the machine quilted item category in Senior Crafts. I pulled out a little black wire basket with leaves on the sides to show them.
I finally found an ornament stand and bought two of them to display small hanging things. This embroidered one will go in the Crafts division, Holiday Item.
The smaller quilts and table runners are hanging in the closet along with the wool applique pillow from last year’s Autumn Jubilee, and Sashiko hand embroidery bag. All of these got labels.
All the labels have to have your name covered so the judge will not know who made what item. I usually forget about this until the last minute, but this year I got it done. Most of the pieces just have a bit of fabric pinned over the label.
If I have a bit of the backing fabric, I’ll often try to match it.
On Quadrille, I left the name of the quilt showing just to show the label was embroidered. I have no idea if that will make any difference.
On Yugana Tsuru, I wanted the embroidery on the label to show, and possibly be considered in the design as it followed the crane theme. So I covered only my name and town with a scrap of Japanese print fabric.
I got my entry sheets out, and determined what item will go in which category. The projects often will qualify in more than one category, so I do this in pencil and move things around until everything has a spot. Then, I look at what remains to be made.
For example, this little Santa quilt could go in Quilt Division, Wall Quilts Pieced or Wall Quilts Mixed Techniques. Or it could go into Senior Crafts, Quilted Item or Machine Embroidered Item. Or it could go in Crafts, Holiday Decoration. See what I mean?
I needed an entry for paper crafts. Since I advocated that category to be added, I feel like I need to enter something. So, I made two Autumn inspired cards.
So, after all that, only one thing was left, a wreath. I almost skipped that one, but I had enough pine cones and other things that I made up an entry with a grapevine wreath I had in the workroom. I’ll save that for a post later. Now, I have to make sure I have all my recipes printed on the official entry forms, and I’ll be ready. I have 25 entries in the exhibitions, and I’m entering 6 cooking competitions. Turn in day is Labor Day, the last day of the Apple Festival.
I love Autumn, but getting through the last dog days of August seems to take forever! So, I put out my apples as a transition to cooler days ahead, and try to be patient. Not my strong suit. I also changed the header on the blog to all apples, featuring my ribbon winning apple recipes from 2022 and 2021, my Best of Show in Photography of apples in the sunshine from 2021, apples on a quilt and apples on a table. Enjoy the apples, and I hope for cooler weather for the fair.
From My Carolina Home 
Very best wishes!!!
You have a lot of entries to keep track of! They are all such pretty creations – I’m sure the judges will be awarding you ribbons. Have you ever done any judging at the fait? I think that would be a challenging job to have!
You are going to set the place alight. You have been very busy and produced some really lovely pieces. I hope your efforts are rewarded!
GOOD LUCK!! :))
Good luck with all your entries!
That’s a lot of entries! You go, girl!!!
You are the best advocate for putting entries into the State Fairs that I have ever seen! Thank you for keeping that tradition alive.
Good luck with all your entries! I am positive you will come home with many ribbons with your arts and crafts, not to mention your cooking items. I will sit back and enjoy the blog entries while waiting along with you.
I”m so excited to see all of your entries at the fair. I was too chicken to enter anything this year but I plan to do something in 2024. You apple galette recipe is one of our favorites and look forward to enjoying it the fall. Good luck with your exhibits.
Look at all the goodies, & so well prepared. Loved that “no sewing hanging sleeves at the last minute” sentiment. I hung quilts at a show & several slevese were safety pinned in when their maker ran out of time.
do you enter so many things in hopes of winning prize money or just for fun to see if you get some ribbons? Our county fair which I haven’t even bothered to go to in years or entered anything in my opinion wasn’t worth my effort. I entered quilts two years running over 20 years ago and got best of show and first place -but only got $8 for prize money for Best of Show and $4 for first place – the barn they were displayed in was dirty with a big fan blowing dirt around on one end of the building. The barn was not locked after hours and someone had a quilt stolen one year – after I heard that I never entered again.
Good luck at the fair. If they give a prize for the most entries, you would probably win! I’m sure some ribbons will come your way. I’ve put a few things in our local Allentown (PA) fair this year. It’s always fun to see everyone’s creativity, win or lose.
WOW, Carole, so many entries! You’re bound to win some blue ribbons! Good luck in every category. I can’t wait for the fair report.
Would love to see your entries in place at the Fair, but this post is very close. Good Luck!
Loving your post today. So exciting to share your fair entries. Each project displays your marvelous artistic ability. Everyone that views them will enjoy them I’m certain. Good luck with the judges.
Looks like you have done most of the preparation work for this year. I hope you get what remains to be completed without having a bit last minute rush!
I love seeing your fair entries – each one is beautiful! And you have such a great idea for label covers (to use a fabric from the quilt)! I also look forward to seeing what you are cooking for this years entries! I can feel the excitement myself – I am judging my first fall fair of this year on Thursday – so fun!
I helped at the county fair this year. The entries come in then we come in the next day, sort, and judge then the following day the ribbons are on and the STARS are shining. AFTER the judging the items are displayed properly for best viewing. I had no idea how much work went into set up. My first year here. They had a light masking tape that covered any identifying names on fabrics and photos or the bottoms of ceramics. Funny note: There was only ONE item in “Sewing” – a skirt – and it still only got a Red Ribbon. Of course I had to spend some quality time with the quilts before they got hung up, OH MY how do judges make decisions? Thanks for sharing this!
I am overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do for the fair– after you’ve done all the creative work! That had to take foever and I say “well done!” That’s huge — so many categories. But I see a lot of blue ribbons just waiting for at the fair! The projects are beautiful, all of them, and so creative and inventive. I like how you did your labels, too. Three cheers, Carole!
Holy smokes, Carole! I’m blown away by the amount of planning and work involved in preparing your goods for entry. Your excitement must be building! And I’m excited FOR you!
Whew! You’ve been busy, getting everything prepped and ready. Best of luck, I’ll be waiting to see what the judges think.
You have made many beautiful items. Surely you should receive several awards.
I am in awe of the number of your entries.
Whew! You are a whirlwind! Good luck with the Fair. With all those entries, you are sure to bag a ribbon or maybe ten. LOL
You have been busy! Good luck!
Wow! You have been very busy. Good luck at the fair!
So many gorgeous projects! That is a lot of preparation – wishing you good luck with all your entries. You are one talented woman!
The Best of Ribbons to you.
Blue ones in my book.
You are terrific to enter these contests. Lots of work and lots of satisfaction to see your art displayed.
Good luck on all of your entries!
I just discovered that North Carolina has three fairs, The N. C. Mountain State, Fair, the Carolina Classic Fair, and North Carolina State Fair. Do you enter in all of them or just the Mountain State Fair?