Closing the chapter

The CA State Fair closed at the end of July and my entry was returned this week. I tore open the box and pulled out an envelope that contained the ribbon and judge's scoresheet.





The judge's comments are,

Wow! This is a wonderful piece of double knitting. I'm amazed at how well you maintained your tension with so much going on! Good job!

I had to read it twice because I thought if anything was going to knock me down a few notches, it was going to be the tension. I guess not. And it was good to hear that she recognized the technique and the level of difficulty. So, that closes the the chapter on this year's entry. As I'm working on next year's entry, I'm thinking, "Why do I put myself through this?" lol

Here are the rest of the photos I took at the fair. Enjoy the amazing work by these talented makers and other sights from the fair!


Lunch on a stick


Kabobs


Meat on the grill


Cow wash


Best of Show
Decorated Cake, Tiered Cake
Wine Country Vines and Flowers
Shay Weisbrich


Best of Class
Decorated Cupcakes, Uniform Cupcakes
Hamburger
Joana Rodriguez


Winners in Leavened Bread, Non-Leavened Bread, and Quick Bread


Best of Division
Decorated Cookies, Themed Cookie Set
Golden State Sweets
Cynthia Torres


First Place
Decorated Cookies, Themed Cookie Set
Sunshine & Summertime
Kimberly Vadenais


Best of Class
Youth Decorated Cake, Age 16-18
Chess Cake
Sara Cheng


King Arthur Flour gluten free baking contest
First Place
Mexican Corn Stick
Jennine Quiring

Second Place
Strawberry Cabernet Cake
Rachael Ryen

Third Place
Brown Butter & Mixed Berries Mini Cakes
Peggy Linberg


Second Place
Models, Buildings and Rooms
Fallingwater
Bill Reese
Sacramento


Third Place
Models, Buildings and Rooms
Caveman Camping
Kevin Knight
Sacramento


Best of Division, Embroidery (Counted Techniques)
Judge's Choice
First Place
Mother of Winter
Lona Bradford
Sacramento








Award of Excellence
3-D Artworks
Patience
Molly Brown
Sacramento


First Place
Handspun Yarn, Wool
Sock Yarn
Melissa Plummer
Amador


Second Place
Handspun Yarn, Wool
Derby Girl
Rachel Coffman
Placer


First Place
Handspun Yarn, Art/Textured Yarn
Christmas!
Betty Henderson-Sparks
Sacramento


Second Place
Handspun Yarn, Art/Textured Yarn
Fairy Queen
Ha Dang
Sacramento


Honorable Mention
Handspun Yarn, Luxury Fibers
Sunset Silk
Tabitha Warren
Marin


Honorable Mention
Other Fiber Art, Weaving
Amethyst in the sunshine
Pamela McSmith
Riverside


Honorable Mention
Other Fiber Art, Weaving
Color: I can't help myself!
Roberta Valdez
Santa Cruz


First Place
Modern Quilts, Two or More People -Medium/Large
Alissa McBain
Sacramento


Honorable Mention
Crochet, Crocheted Afghans
2017 Temperature Blanket
Josephine Salazar
San Joaquin


First Place
Crochet, Any Other Crocheted Item
Bed Doily
Suzanne Sullivan
Sacramento


First Place
Crochet, Crocheted Wearing Apparel
Judge's Choice
Forest Fairy
Suzanne Sullivan
Sacramento


Second Place
Crochet, Crocheted Wearing Apparel
Summer Vest
Suzanne Sullivan
Sacramento


Honorable Mention
Crochet, Crocheted Wearing Apparel
Sacramento Crochet Guild Award
Royal Baby
Noelia Briones
Sacramento


First Place
Dolls and Toys, Amigurumi
Wakanda Forever
Adwoa Cooper
Solano


First Place & Third Place
Crafting a Brighter Future, Newborns in Need: Any Baby Hat or Booties
Melinda Wong
Sacramento

1, 2, 3, 4!

Yesterday was a perfect day to go to the California State Fair. The weather was cooler than normal--high 80's to low 90's--and there was a slight breeze. We arrived early enough to get one of the coveted parking spaces under the solar panels. Hooray!



Our first stop was the CA Crafts Competition. They moved it to a different exhibit hall and my initial impression was that there were a lot fewer pieces on display. But now I'm not sure--it could be that the different space and layout just made it seem that way. Anyway, I'll get right to the results of the Knitting, Scarves & Shawls competition since so many of my friends want to see the winners--


First Place
Brittany Birch Knitting Award
Amille Wedding Shaw
Kate Vanderslice
Sacramento


Second Place
Homage Shawl
Jillian Jackson
Butte


Third Place
Woven Friends Shawl
Denise Boyce
Placer

and of course,


Fourth Place
52 Pickup + 2 Jokers
Janice Kang

I liked all of the pieces that placed higher than mine and my favorite was the 3rd place shawl. The color choice and the woven sections made it stand out. Pretty and smart.

I wished I could have seen the first place wedding shawl in all its glory. Displaying it folded up didn't show off the size or detail of the piece.

Speaking of displays... the way my piece was displayed was more than unfortunate, it completely obliterated one of the coolest features of double knitting--that there is no "wrong" side to the scarf! Typically double knitting is done in 2 colors and one side is the negative of the other. But this scarf not only has no "wrong" side, each side of the scarf is a completely different pattern and all is worked in 3 colors. Unfortunately, the way it was displayed showed only one side of the scarf so the complexity and "how'd she do that?" mystery was hidden. It really bothered me. I could not let it stand.

Now it is fixed.



I have more photos from our visit to the fair and I'll post them in the next few days.

Thank you for your support

Thanks to everyone who voted for "Cyclone & Tiger" in the Craftsy #‎BlueRibbon Contest! After a frenzied last minute push of voting and a couple of technical glitches, my design came in a strong 2nd place to the amazing cake with sugar and gum paste flowers. I can't complain. To be chosen as a finalist from 75 entries isn't too shabby. Thanks again for your support!


2nd place

If you're not already a member of Craftsy, consider signing up. They have video classes on just about every topic a maker would be interested in--fiber arts, cooking, woodworking, sewing, jewelry making, drawing, painting, photography, etc., etc..

I need your vote today!

Hello friends, I have the honor of being a finalist in the Craftsy #‎BlueRibbon Contest and now I need your help. Please vote for the "Cyclone & Tiger Jewelry", #5 on this page.

Here’s a photo of the entry:


Cyclone & Tiger

You don't need to sign up for anything, just scroll to the bottom of the page and register your vote. Voting ends midnight (MT) on Thursday so there isn't much time. Feel free to share this blog post--from the early tally, my entry could use the help. Thank you very much!!

If you're not already a member of Craftsy, consider signing up. They have video classes on just about every topic a maker would be interested in--fiber arts, cooking, woodworking, sewing, jewelry making, drawing, painting, photography, etc., etc..

I'm not sure what happened

Kathy E tweeted something about the WEBS Anniversary Sale, I replied, and the next thing I knew I won a contest.


Winnings from WEBS

She picked out beautiful yarn for me, 10 balls of Rowan 4 Ply Soft. Is this an opportunity for me to design my first sweater?

Thank you Kathy and thank you WEBS!!

Contest winners

That's right, there's more than one winner of the Sheep Skin Pelt contest.

Thanks to everyone who participated! There were plenty of funny suggestions for what to do with the pelt and after careful deliberation by the judges, the winner of the STR Fire on the Mountain sock yarn is... Kathy!

I think you should keep it as a conversation piece, especially for non-knitters. When asked why you have it, you can tell them that once the sheep got wind of the size of your stash, it said, “Here. Just take it. I give up.” Of course, this would be followed by explaining what a “stash” is and showing it to said non-knitters. Let the conversation begin!

Other knitters would understand immediately and envy the “personal touch” it adds to your stash while any non-knitters who already knew about your stash would just nod in agreement with the sheep and continue on with their “I don’t get it” thoughts.

Elaine submitted an entry that was so creative I was compelled to go into the stash and find another STR prize.

As he walked out the door
"Put the pelt on the floor"
My husband said to me.
"Use it as a rug"
He said with a shrug,
"Another use I don't see".

"Oh no" said I,
With a wink of an eye,
"I'd dye it before I did that.
I'd pick a bright tone".
"Not purple" came his moan
"Better brown like our old tabby cat".

"You can shear it" he said
With a nod of his head
"And wash it and spin it too.
Then knit up a sweater,
Or would a shawl be better?
After dying it a nice shade of blue".

"But the pelt isn't mine"
As I sat down to dine,
I said to my husband dear.
"A suggestion I need
That the owner will heed,
Must be funny and also be clear".

"Then make it a cape,
It has a nice drape",
He said with a noticeable grin.
And so I pass on to you,
My suggestion or two,
And now I hope I will win!

Elaine-who-really-wants-to-win-although-greed-is-not-becoming!

Congratulations!

Not just any Fair... (and a contest)

The California State Fair baby!!!

The letter arrived in the mail today.

Third Place in Division 160 - Knitted, Class 3 - Any Other Knitted Item, and winner of the California Wool Growers Auxiliary Award:

The California Wool Growers Auxiliary will award a sheep skin pelt to the best entry fashioned in wool selected from the combination of the following Shows: Fiber Art Show and Wearing Apparel Show. (These shows compete for one award)

A Step Above socks .

Judge's comments:

What a fun pair of socks! Not sure how the entrelac will feel underfoot, but well done! Good job.

For the record, the entrelac doesn't feel bad on the sole of the foot. They're not as comfortable as st st sole socks, but I have no problem wearing them all day at work. And to think that I entered a wool item at Spinnity's suggestion just so I'd be in the running for the sheep skin pelt. lol (Thanks Spinnity!!)

Not to be outdone by a pair of socks, Juliet stepped up. (She's such a show off.)

First Place in Division 160 - Knitted, Class 2 - Knitted Wearing Apparel (Adult and Youth), and winner of the Camellia City Stockinettes Sacramento Knitting Guild Award:

The Camellia City Stockinettes Sacramento Knitting Guild will award $100 cash to the judges choice from any knitted entry.

Juliet Pullover .

Judge's comments:

Very nicely done. The attention to detail is wonderful. A simple design, well-executed. Congratulations!

I'm floating.

The Contest
To share my good fortune, I'm holding a contest and the winner will receive one hank of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight in Fire on the Mountain.

Socks That Rock .

What should I do with the sheep skin pelt? Shear it? Use it as a rug? Post a comment on this post or send your suggestion to knitflix at gmail dot com by midnight (PT) August 4th. The funniest entry will win. One entry per person per email address please.

I will pick the entries that I think are the funniest and will enlist the help of other individuals to select the winner. I have some people in mind, but won't know who the judges will be until the entry deadline has passed because a person can't be a judge if they submitted an entry. And because the winner will be chosen based on how funny the suggestion is, the judging will be completely subjective. International entries are welcome.

So, what do you say? Road trip to Sacto? The California State Fair runs from August 17 to September 3.