I got a second place ribbon for my Dr. G's Memory Vest! - Yippee!! This was my first cabling attempt... I'm very proud!
My snowflake sweater got third place - I entered it into the handknitted sweater category... equally as proud - although the armless drag queen they have it displayed on is cracking me up! (99% of the way things were displayed was impeccable... items grouped by color... theme... whatever - and I was having a difficult time wrapping my head around the work involved in setting the exhibit hall up - but that 1% turned out some funny things... and the "drag queen" installation was one of them) - it's OK though... just having it on display (and placing!) is wonderful!
I also got 3rd place in the Men's Knitting Competition - it was fun to participate and I already have some ideas of what I want to enter for next year!
This was the first time I had entered any of my knitting in any contests... so the fact that I placed in every category makes me happy! I highly suggest that everyone participate in the fairs.... walking around and seeing all the amazing work - from quilting to needlepoint to knitting and crochet.... I was overwhelmed with ideas and inspiration!
(and of course, going to the fair means getting to pet the animals!! :)
I tried quilting once... Mom and I went out and selected fabric. we cut and pieced it by machine. She set me up with the quilt on the hoop and showed me what to do. I did 2 hoops worth of quilting and decided it's not for me. Quilting is "hard!"
While I doubt I'll be a quilter as my mom and other relatives, I am definately an admirer (and collector) of quilts. Some of my quilts have a history - and some of my quilts were just purchased. (they still have a history... I just don't know what it is!)
That's the sad part about our culture, in my opinion. I think it's important to remember who people were... where we came from... so for that reason, I added a new tab to my website this weekend - labeled "Quilts" it shows some of my collection... and with any luck, the information I gain from those who visit and help to input may help me catalog my collection. I will continue to add quilts as I aquire them. Please take a look and let me know if you know anything about any of these or if you have any suggestions as to how I can identify patterns or even date them.
I also decided a week or two ago to write the biography of my Grandmother. I have begun the aquisition of information, including birth/death certificates, timelines, interviews, etc. I will be completing this for a class I'll be taking at Middle Tennessee State University - a "Senior Project" of sorts, it's an online class that I need to take in order to get my degree.... I can think of no subject more fitting than that of my grandmother to devote a semester of study. In its completion, this book may help to preserve her story. I will be adding photos of her, stories of her life, facts about our family and even possibly a collection of images of her posessions. Only time will tell what it'll include...
I am amazed that the 3 day weekend is over... tomorrow; back to work... starting school tomorrow evening... and this coming weekend it's the L.A. County Fair! :)
Last night I delivered my entries for the 2008 LA County Fair and while I was there, they asked me to make a plea to the other guys who knit in the Los Angeles County area - so here goes....
Guys - the LA County Fair is having a "Men Who Knit" competition on September 7th, 2008 - (the entry info is attached below). If you call or sign up soon (get in touch with them for the details) I believe that with your paid entry fee of $5 they'll send you a pass to enter the fair that day! I plan on going and hope to see and meet some of the other L.A. guy knitters there!
While I was there dropping my knitting off, I met a few amazing artists who were turning in some beautifully framed needlework - I think that there's an entire "fair culture" that I don't really know about - people who do this year after year... This will be my first fair as an adult (I entered paintings and sculptures during my High School years) and I look forward to seeing my pieces on display with others from the county!
If you entered in the fair this year (or have in the past) I'd love to hear some comments about your experiences! so far I think it seems like a neat experience - it's really early for drop off - before doing this I had no idea that the entries had to be turned in over a month before the fair starts! I guess that's so that there's enough time to review, display, judge and award ribbons before the whole thing begins! The LA County Fair runs September 5-22 at the LA County Fairgrounds (Fairplex) in Pomona, CA!
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