This past week we had our drive to Mt Mitchell. The route took us around winding roads, then up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and then to Mt Mitchell. I posted about the pre-drive a couple of weeks ago on my post A Drive to Mt Mitchell. Since I’ve already talked about the drive, I thought I’d just show a couple more views from the restaurant there. Gorgeous mountains, layered in blue.

Lovely red flowers were in bloom behind the restaurant with this view.

Back home, every spare moment this week was devoted to finishing the projects I want to enter in competition at the fair. I had the embroidery done for the hot pads, and only needed to finish them.

I usually enter the natural materials category, so I had to finish the arrangement I had in mind. I used a wood slice from a tree we cut down a few years ago. Placing pine cones on top, I test-fit them, then glued them in place with hot glue.

A complete circle of pine cones surrounds the edge.

I added floral foam to hold the flowers I planned to use.

Silk flowers in an autumn gold are added, then some dried purple statice. I dried the purple from a bouquet My Sweet Babboo brought me a few weeks ago. I was amazed at how vibrant the color remained.

That arrangement joins a silk flower arrangement for fall and some of the embroidery projects from last year’s Autumn Jubilee.

Quilted entries are laid out on the bed to keep them from creasing. I’m entering the Turkey Time placemats and the wall quilt from last year’s Autumn Jubilee, the Winter Amaryllis from National Quilting Day, the Bird Quilt, a set of fabric salsa bowls and a Christmas table topper from our Christmas in July quilt along. I added the Christmas hot pads as they are the same fabrics as the table topper, so this will enter as a set.

I took quite a while to decide on which photos I would enter in the amateur photography competition. But I finally made the decision, and mounted them on the foam board required. I also made the two Christmas ornaments for those competitions.

The Jewelry Tree is finished. I added more broken earrings and several beads to fill in the space. I could go on adding more bits and bobs, but I think I’ll just stop here. It is already pretty heavy with all the metal pieces. The bottom is not completely filled in so there is room for Christmas cards to go in the pocket and peek out the top. I have decided that it needs a sleeve for hanging at the fair, and possibly at a show later, as I think it is too heavy to pin to a sheet. So, I’ll add the sleeve today, then I’ll be set.

I made all of the cards I intend to enter in the paper crafting category. I’m making them fall and Thanksgiving themed, and we’ll look at these a bit later when we get to the autumn season. There are a few more than are shown here. Hey, I have to keep a few things in reserve for the stamping fun post planned for the fall.

On the frame, I loaded a Quilt of Valor. This one is just lovely, and will go to a friend of mine. I am so delighted that the piecer is willing to let my friend have her quilt. I wanted to be the one to quilt his quilt. I am actually planning a private QOV ceremony for several car club guys in early 2025, and could use your help if you’d like to get involved. If you have patriotic scraps, and can make a 12-1/2-inch star block with a white background, I can use all I can get. I want to use stars to surround a panel, or just make tops of all stars. I have decided that I want to quilt all six that we plan to award in early 2025.

Turn in day for the Mountain State Fair is Monday, and I’ll be off and running for the next two weeks. I have signed up for a shift to hang the quilts at the exhibit hall for the fair, then I have several cooking contests, and will work the quilt pick up on Monday after the fair closes. I need to get my recipes ready, and make sure I have everything I need next week. The Tomato contest is first up on Friday, September 6th. The fair is such fun, and I do enjoy the competitions.

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