Fair results

I am very lucky. I live in a beautiful place. I have great music opportunities on the organ here. I have a great group of tatters that meet weekly. I live a charmed life! I’ve been able to connect with tatters and organists around the world through the Internet and through Guilds. I am very lucky!

A friend, who doesn’t play organ or tat, asked me the other day how I liked participating in the County Fair. It’s a positive experience for me. Lots of people see lots of creative items. The friendly competition spurs my creativity. There are things that are not to my taste: the crowds, how it manages to be the hottest weather all summer, people reacting to my tatting in a negative way. But overall, it’s positive because it encourages people to try tatting. (Get the picture here? It’s all about tatting for me. J)

This year, for Monterey County Fair 2019, I filled out entry forms for 4 items….just 4. Not a lot, I know. When it came time to turn the items in for judging, I couldn’t find 2 of the tatted snowflakes. They are here in the house somewhere. I hope to find them for decorating in December. Since they are missing, I did not have anything judged in the Tatting Division. There were quite a few pieces entered in that Division. They were magnificent! 

The 2 items that I did turn in were entered in Household decorations. These Cuffs for Candelsticks and my version of Martha Ess Two Hearts as One. They won ribbons: 2^nd place for both. I regret I wasn’t able to see the displays as I was wrapped up in Tat Days. I hope to find out exactly how many tatted pieces were judged and how many won ribbons. I call it another successful year for tatting at the Fair. 

What will be created for next year???

Fair possibilities

By this time of year, I’m usually lining up what I wish to enter in the Fair for judging. Slight problem this year. 

I’ve nothing to enter. 

I’ve tatted things to be sure, but everything that is complete and ready for judging is in someone else’s hands or going with me to Tat Days in Georgia. Mmmmmmm Someone else will just have to win the ribbons this year. 

I’m grinning whenever I think that as tatting has become popular enough here in Monterey County to have several pieces in a number of categories. <grin!>

Card Band Bookmark

One of the fun things about entering the Fair is getting the word out about workshops and encouraging each other to learn. The Tablet/cardweaving workshop was fun and sparked quite a bit of happy weaving time for me.

 I entered a sample from the warp finished as a bookmark. Not perfect obviously. The judge wrote some good comments. 

I’ve already tweaked the current tablet project in response. I like it better!

Next week some dreaming up new projects!

Cluny Loom Bookmark

Here’s a picture of my bookmark using the pattern included in the Ulitmate Cluny Loom package.

Unfortunately, there was a mix up in the registration (my fault), that lead to a mix up in what division the piece was judged. I used needle tatting techniques for my version, not cro-tatting. First place is good, though. I thought some other tatters in the area would enter needle tatted pieces. I guess they didn’t think their pieces would win over mine. I think they’re mistaken!

Oh, I used DMC Pearl Cotton for my lavender place-holder.

Comments from the Judge

My items from the Fair, both exhibits and display, are back home. Boyhuey was it hot out there today. Fortunately, the wind is off the Bay so the house is staying cooler. I don’t envy those packing up the carnival rides.

As I stowed all the little tatted pieces, I took some time to look over the comments from the judge on the Needlecraft and Fiberwork pieces. I didn’t have a comment sheet for the Bux2Bach piece I entered in the Fine Arts 3-D show. I’m happy with 2^nd place. The piece that won 1^st place is very nice. Good execution, design and craftsmanship. I have already decided I need to enter the juried division next year. And perhaps a jewelry piece.

Anyway, back to the comments. Most of the observations were spot on. For instance, the piece that won best of show (insert jpegs) earned all 100 points possible.

 

“Beautiful stitches. Wonderful use of color and beads. Excellent.” I’m very happy with that. Now to add the other 7 rows. What color to use next? And beads or no beads????

I plan to help with the Entry divisions and classes list for next year. I really hope more people enter some tatting. And maybe even some crotatting!