Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days 2014

Here are the pictures of our Needlework Display.

Ready for my Marathon Sewing at the Fair.

 I will be doing a Demonstration at 1 pm Wed- Sat here.

Binding- Disappearing Pinwheel - Leader/Enders - DWR Curves

The State Fair Inspectors that came through last year liked that I was sitting there showing the different quilt blocks & sharing my Love of Quilting with the passersby. 

This year I have a few others who will be sharing their projects while they Volunteer.

~The Award winning Quilts ~

 Judge's Choice - Champion Ribbon

Mary Crowther's - Parcheezi

 I'm humbled to receive the Purple Ribbon

I sewed these blocks together at Last Year's Fair!

 Judge's Choice - Reserve Champion

Pictures of Elk printed on fabric with Panel Center

 Wes H.

Judge's Choice- Special Award

 Marilyn C

She missed the deadline last year to enter her quilts.  

This year we made sure she got them in!

I hope she is as Happy as I am that she won a BIG Ribbon!

I gave this quilt the Superintendent's Award Ribbon.

Lots of detail and Quilted by Owner

Congrats to Becky S.

Judge's Choice- Division Winners

 We had to get creative with the large amount of smaller items that were entered this year

I borrowed the Crib idea I saw on Facebook to display some of them.  

EDIT: The Blue Heart wall hanging was made by Brandy who blogs HERE

A little Fishing line and plastic Skirt hangers.

There were 77 items entered by 46 Exhibitors!

I wish I had kept a copy of the report from last year. 

My Co-Superintendent, Marilee M. entered 9 items 

Becky S has 6 entered.

The Needlework Display case 

 Come see us at the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days

148 years and going strong

The Fair General Manager, Cory H. drew the Logo!

Design Wall/Tote Monday/Fair Sewing plans- August 25,2014

I am going to have a few - like 40 + hours to sit and sew this coming week at the Fair.

Last year I completed the Blocks for the quilt I entered into the Fair this year.

"Parcheezi"

Here it is- because I am in Charge- 

I can tell you I received a Blue Ribbon, and 1 more Ribbon that I can't tell you about, for it.

I can reveal the Big Ribbon WINNING Quilts on Wednesday

We had a Great Judge and my Daughter; Janessa and Edith M were great Clerks this year for me.

I am a Happy Quilter!!!

Setting up this year I've had a Co-Superintendent and that has been better than last year.

I can't find my pattern booklet to work on my Cut Sew Quilt NewFO (insert frowny face)

So far I have three projects ready to play with at the Fair.

1-My Double Wedding Ring Project for my Sister

I need to make another 75 ring blocks.

2-I made this quilt at the Fair last year and it needs binding.

I can Demonstrate a Binding on it one day.

"Pink Pinwheels"

3- My #14 Grandson is Due in late October/early November.

They live in Wyoming so I think this fabric is perfect for some Disappearing Pinwheel or 4-Patch blocks.

I found some blue Gingham that will work as the background fabric.

What do you think Brant & Tina???

The Disappearing Pinwheel Tutorial is HERE.

I can Demonstrate this at the Fair too!

If I get bored with these projects--- there is always my Guild Block to make for next week.

I have a few Loyal Union Sampler and A-Z BOM blocks to make also.

I'm linking up with Judy L HERE for Design Wall Monday.

Click the link for more inspiration.

Don't forget to leave your kind comments!

We all BLOG for Comments

Fair Winners

 I took this photo of the "Best of Show" winner when she came to see her Quilt hanging at the Fair.  Audrey has been quilting only about 5 years.  This was the most expensive quilt she has ever made, she said.  Her quilt was Professionally quilted by Marlene of kissedquilts.  The Glacier Star is a Judy Niemeyer pattern available only through a certified Instructor. The class was sponsored by our quilt guild. About 25 ladies started this quilt and two were shown at the Fair. How many will there be at Quilt Festival???

The Pink and Purple & Lavender (Fairy Frost) Double Wedding Ring was "Reserve Best of Show". It was Hand Quilted. It was my FAVORITE but I gave my Superintendent Ribbon to the Sunbonnet Sue (2nd from the left on the top row.)
There were a LOT of BLUE RIBBON quilts.  I'm glad I chose a Judge who knows her stuff!

Here is the display of Open Class Adult Cross stitch, Rug hooking and Needlepoint that didn't fit in my area at the Fair.

 The Open Class Youth display was in the alcove at the Fair also.  "Best of Show" went to a quilter and "Reserve Best of Show" was a cute Frog latch hook Pillow.  My Superintendent Ribbon went to the bigger quilt on the right.

 My 3 Fair Entries brought a patriotic array of ribbons--- one Blue, one Red and one White.

Pickle relish- Blue

Dishcloth - Red

Crocheted Dress- White



The Judge was big on "finishing".  I didn't 'block' my knitted and crocheted entries and it showed in the comments.

I was asked many times why I didn't have any quilts in the Fair.  It was because of my mis-informed Superintendent.  She e-mailed while I was in Utah to tell me she was wrong and I could enter in my Department.  It was too late for this year, I didn't have the information to do it by e-mail.
I was also asked why more Quilt Guild ladies didn't enter their quilts in the Fair.  I think they save them all for the Festival.  That's just my opinion.
I talked to a lot of people and have more ideas for next year. Ways to Demonstrate "quilting" and interact with the fair goers.  

Wednesday is Free Admission Day!

Since Wednesday is the official start of the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days.

I am writing this ahead and setting this to post at the same time as it is Opening.

It's my first time to be a Volunteer and being in charge of a whole area has been difficult.

I'm still trying to get people to come and Help me Monitor during the fair.

Today a Clerk that I had pre-arranged to help came to help with a few of the last minute things. 

She has been out of town and I wasn't sure when she was coming home.

She helped me put the "quilty" words on a poster board sign. 

She took my picture to see what the fair-goers will see as they come by.

 Today, I wrote up and framed the story of my "Double Wedding Ring Quilt and put it there beside me.

I added at the Bottom--- "Every Quilt has a story- Don't forget to write it down."

 This is the other view if the area- Open class Needlework- Department 54

Quilts in back, Bobbin lace and Pillowcases in the case.

This is my collection of Vintage machines. 

(I still need to add the signs with the ages on there.)

I'll post the Winners after the Fair so I don't spoil anyone's surprises.

Design Wall Monday July 15, 2013

Between Funerals and Hallmark Movies, I've been working on a Banner for the FAIR. 

I knew I wanted to have something Quilty up to show where the Quilt Area was.

The WORD PLAY Book was in my head again.  The book was written by Tonya Ricucci.

[It's on sale right now at Amazon, if you want to click on the Word Play link.]

 Remember this quilt I made back in 2011??

I had some strip scraps from when we made the HOUSES at a Quilt Guild Sew-In. Some of the ladies just gave them to me. they were the right size to start playing. They were BROWN.  

So I started making Letters. 

 How many "A"s in WALLA WALLA????

 I love the wonkiness of the letters.  The  first letter of each word still needs to be made. I will make them bigger than the rest.  These letters are 2.5"- 3.5" tall. 

Adding the background to all the words will help put the letters in a more straight line.

 I found this cute coordinating fabric to go with the County Fair Panel at HancockFabrics.com.

I just couldn't resist.  Thanks M'liss Rae Hawley. 

There's only about a month and a half  left to get ready! Come on lets have some FAIR Fun!

Walla Walla Fair... See You There!

Labor Day Weekend

Linking up to Judy L's Design Wall Monday post HERE.

For those Curious Followers of my Blog...

Before I post the Big Secret that I've been asked about several times, since posting that I had a new things on my agenda and had to keep them a secret...
I have to share this LINK.  If you didn't know about the 100 Blocks Magazine from Quiltmaker back when they started with Volume 1.  THEY'VE RE-PRINTED IT!  Click the link to have a chance to WIN a copy and/or one of the coveted MUGS from Volume 1.

Oh, and one more shameless plug- There is a Haiku contest over on the Quiltmaker.com site and I wrote a few for it.  The VOTING started today at 2pm MST and goes til January 13, 2013 at 11:59pm MST.  Go read them and think about placing a VOTE for me please.

So... without any further ado!
My news is that I'm now the SUPERINTENDENT for the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days Department 54- Open Needlecraft.  To say I'm a bit excited is an understatement. After all the issues I had with last years fair and the HURT I had when my chance to be the Super was taken away back in 2010.  Out of the blue I got the call a few weeks ago asking me to consider taking on the job.  I've been to a few meetings already and am excited to get the chance to Volunteer in the Community, at the Fair.  It will be a lot of work and it is just starting.  I get to find the people I want to Help me to receive the quilts and hang them.  I'll need a few to be there to make sure the area is well taken care of and to answer questions, if needed.  I would like to have a quilter doing a demo, or sitting there stitching.  My head is racing, and I can't stop thinking of how to change the display of the Needlecraft items.  This is going to be a very interesting time for me.  I hope I can make it FUN.  We have even been able to change some of the Classes and Divisions in the Fair Registration booklet.  The Tatting, Bobbin Lace and Lace making is now in Dept 54.  This is exciting since I joined the LACE GUILD a few months ago. The Walla Walla Lacy Lacers. I haven't even got started on my first Bobbin lace lesson.  I've just been re-learning to KNIT.  Making the Lace patterns that Ann has shared into Dishcloths for Christmas gifts was so fun.  I'm re-making them so I can enter some in the Fair.

ALSO I'm the NEW 'Block of the Month/ Block Lotto' person at Quilt guild!  Yet another Volunteer job that I've been wanting to do.  I've had fun finding BLOCKS from the Quilter's Cache.  Marcia Hohn has put the patterns on this site and they are FREE to use for our own Quilts.  I can link to the pages the Blocks are on.  There are some original patterns on there too,  most of the Public domain patterns are so easy to find in the Alphabetized lists in a LOT of different sizes.  There are "pins" to tell you if the block is for Beginners or Advanced quilters.  Go check it out if you need a block to add to your next project.  For this month I chose the Amish Diamond Block.

I made two in the same color way one in the reverse to show how different the block can look. These are 12" Blocks. They asked me to do a short 2-3 minute demo on each Block to show a tip or trick to help the Newbies that might need a little help.  How fun is that? I get to TEACH! My Dream Job and the part I miss almost more than the feeling of "Christmas" when I opened all the boxes of fabric at Hancock Fabrics until it closed. :(

I get to TEACH for the Guild Program at the last minute, I was asked on Monday afternoon-- could I do a DEMO on something.  The SWOON BLOCK jumped into my mind first. The 8th is Elvis Presley's Anniversary of his Birth in 1935. He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and died when he was only 42.  I will start out with his picture and ask them 'What did the girl's all do when he sang?'  Ooooohhhh SWOON... I spent most of the Day and Evening and even into the wee hours searching the internet for the Original Tutorial.  I know I saw it on the SEWBITTERSWEETDESIGNS Blog a LOT last year. I think it all started with Designer, Camille Roskelly. Her Website link to the 24" Block Quilt pattern is HERE. I wanted to give the ladies a few links to find the patterns for the Swoon Block.  I'm using the version shown on THIS BLOG.  It is a 16" Block that she adapted to use 5" charm squares and eliminated a few seams.

It took me a bit of extra time getting my presentation board ready. I cut out all the pieces and sewed just enough to DEMO at Guild. And give them tip and tricks...

I'm home from Guild and thinking of the next Block to make for the Block Lotto. and I get to show you the Door Prize that I WON.  It is fun to Win something just for going to our Guild Meetings.

I'll post the Guild 'Block Lotto' Block link each month on the Blog, so all of you Blog Followers can play too. Do any of you Wanna Play along? Just leave me a comment and we'll see how many are interested.