It is always interesting to see what wins a ribbon and what doesn’t. I have personally experienced this sometimes baffling phenomenon. Sometimes a quilt will do really well in one competition, and not even place in another. I hear my friends complain about this from time to time, wondering why an award winner in one show doesn’t even merit an honorable mention in another. The answer is, it depends on what else is entered. Prime examples of this came in the crafts category this year at the fair for some of my entries. I entered these machine quilted jar wraps in two divisions, both in a ‘machine embroidered item’ class. This one, the Sewing Is My Jam jar, got a second place. The top of this one is a pin cushion, which may have added points.
And this one, which was larger with more piecing, didn’t place at all. It has flying geese on the sides of the Happy Thanksgiving embroidered motif. Same item essentially, but up against different competitors, and a little less in finishing than the one above.
I made 8 cards. Two each of four essentially the same designs. Four went into Senior Crafts, and four went into Crafting. This set won a second place. There was a stunningly beautiful embroidered card in its class.
The other got a first. Once again, the competition makes the difference. Without an embroidered card in competition, mine were considered the best of the group.
In the rest of the crafts category, other projects did well. The Turkey Time placemats and table topper from last fall earned a second place.
The silk arrangement won a third place ribbon.
The ‘Grab Your Balls’ hot pads got a first place ribbon. Maybe the judges found this as funny as I do. There were a lot of hot pads this year!
The Wish You A Merry Christmas Table Topper and hot pads were awarded a third place.
The ribbon was hanging so low it took two photos to get it all.
In the Photography division, I was thrilled to earn two third place ribbons. This is the first year that two of my photographs have placed. First was my entry into Agriculture for apples at an apple farm produce stand.
The other was a photo of kids running toward a bored looking ride employee in the category of last year’s Mountain State Fair.
These plus the quilts from Sunday’s post, and my Tomato Contest ribbon bring the total to 14 ribbons. Ten of my entries did not place, lest you think I win on everything I enter. I am delighted with the ribbons I received, and especially with the first place in cooking with my tomato recipe. See Sunday’s post for that recipe. I have five more cooking competitions this week, and I’ll let you know how they go. In the meantime, I need to get rolling on the Quilt of Valor currently on the frame. Then I have to get busy making at least two more. I know I have some star blocks on the way, and I picked up a panel recently that I’ll use as well.
I have almost no ideas for Autumn this year, and I hope the cooler days and maybe some changing leaves will inspire something. So, let me ask you, are you still inspired by pumpkins and autumn leaves in quilting design, cards and tablescapes, or are you looking for something new?
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From My Carolina Home 
Congratulations again, Carole! All those ribbons are exciting! I never grow old of pumpkins or autumn leaves. It’s my favorite time of year. All of my past projects from participating in your Autumn Jubilees over the years are all on display already in our home. I do miss your Autumn Jubilee so much! I have to go back and do something from one of the years just to get my fill of autumn! Good Luck on the rest of your competitions!
Congratulations Carole and well deserved ribbons! Once again, I admire all of your talents and creativity!
All those ribbons were well earned! I especially love your leaf photo. I was just thinking this morning that my SIL adopted my autumn leaves quilt. Now I need to make another. I pulled out my autumn collection of fabrics yesterday – time to start cooking up something.
congratulations on your ribbons ! and have a good day from Brittany
Congratulations on your ribbons, a job well done. Yes pumpkins and all things fall inspires me still:)
Leaves and more leaves always excite me – with a smattering of pumkins and sunflowers 🙂 Congrats on all the ribbons!!
You did very well this year. It is amazing how the competition changes the outcome. I am glad that you and so many of your projects were awarded ribbons – lots of hard work.
About the fall…love pumpkins and leaves, also apples and scarecrows, and harvest time. It all is bright, colorful, warm in the morning and cool at night – perfect.
CONGRATULATIONS! I am always excited to see how well received your entries are at the fair. I think you hit the nail on the head with “depends on the competition. Well done with the photos! Autumn – I love all things quilty and autumn. I assembled a tote with “Autumn Jubilee” as the label, and it contains fat quarters, a little yardage, and parts and pieces; stems, half square triangles 2.5″ and 3″ squares, and some nice neutrals. Since about 2015 I took that tote to quilt bees, and worked on various patterns you have developed. Last count, I have 3 table runners, 19 placemats built from that container, using your patterns. I never tire of pumpkins and leaves. (I think I have gifted at least 2 table runners with AJ theme too). Something new? Maybe apples (your photo inspired that thought); Sunflowers, (Pat S. idea), falling leaves and bare trees. I enjoy combining machine embroidery into things. I love making smaller projects that I can then use as gifts. 🙂
……..afterthoughts……Acorns, bushy tail squirrels, wild turkeys, birds, pine cones, fall flowers
Well no surprise here..I knew you would do well in the ribbon game..
Yes, pumpkins and leaves are the best! But I understand not feeling inspired sometimes. Maybe it’s time for something different but still fall! Maybe a farm scene, or a scarecrow, or colorful woods. A misty morning with ducks migrating. Woodland creatures among branches.
I hope you get your mojo back! We’ve had beautiful fall weather here for a week now. It’s the first real fall we’ve had in years, I hope it stays this beautiful.
Personally, I say BIG congratulations. I’d be thrilled with one ribbon — much less as many as you’ve already received. And you’re right about what else is entered. I would expect your experience in judging helps clarify the specifics for whatever category is being judged and that’s always good to know (even if you don’t know it when you enter.) Somehow, I think this comment is word salad — but I’m impressed!
Congratulations on your ribbons. It’s fun to compete at the fair. I won 2 blue and 2 red this year at the Iowa State Fair.
Congratulations on your outstanding showing at the fair. That is a huge win when you consider the number of entries. I am in an autumn state of mind and have just finished my third Halloween/Fall table runner. Liking small projects right now and have actually been looking at a fall leaves runner.
I’m happy you did so well with the things you entered.
Congratulations again, Carole, especially for your first entries in the photography category. I really like those ribbon winners, and the jam jar craft!
My goodness–you had so many entries!
And you won so many ribbons! Awesome.
Congratulations on your ribbons! Bet your heart thumped a little faster when you realized you’ve won!
Yes the competition matters!
Quick story. I had a quilt judged over the weekend. On the judge’s feedback sheet, the judge took off points because the quilt did not hang straight. My quilt and the others in its category were hung on a swooping clothesline. It is a real trick to have a quilt hang level and true when hung this way. I’m laughing about it. 10 years ago I’d be livid.
I’ve got so many fall quilts. At this point, I’ve got more autumn quilts than places to display them. I am focusing on completing UFOs.
Rock on Carole!
Jo Anne
I never understood judging until I was asked to judge a local contest and armed only with a pencil and no directions, I was baffled. Can’t I give all of them Purple? Love the “Fair” Picture – the clouds are amazing! And you got so many colors in there! And I could go on – but Congratulations! Well deserved!
Congratulations on all of your ribbons!
Congrats on all your ribbons! Yes, I am still inspired by pumpkins and leaves. Anything Autumn is always something to which I look forward.
Congratulations on all your ribbons! What a varied collection of entries. I’m curious about where you keep all those winning ribbons? Do you have a large display area/wall to hang them? I’d like to see what you do with them all.
Fall is full of Aspen leaves, gold and reds of my maple trees, corn stalks, scarecrows, bird migrations (so many!) and lots of pumpkins. I really enjoy the crispness of the air during Fall.
Hi Patti,
I showed my ribbon racks in a post from the fair last year, see it HERE.
The cooler air is one of the things I like most about fall too, the humidity goes down and everything does seem more crisp. Getting out my sweaters is part of the fall feeling too.
Thanks Carole, that’s quite the collection and a great way to display them! Here’s hoping you keep adding to them!
It has been interesting to read your thoughts about the show this year. Congrats on the ribbons from this post and the previous one. Well done all round.
That fair must have been a lot of fun. The fairs in our area did not have entries for the many things you entered. I am sure it was a lot of fun creating your crafts. The ones you posted were really beautiful.
Marilyn
Hearty congratulations Carole! Your creativity and attention to detail shows! As for fall, I have no new ideas to add, but acorns and scare crows caught my attention. I enjoy mixed media projects, that might be an idea.
Thank you! We will see what I can come up with.