Today is Opening Day at the 2009 Iowa State Fair. I’m not going to the fair today, I’ll be working a nine hour day. However, last night was a Special Preview of the Fabric and Threads Exhibits for anyone who entered a project and their guests. I went with the seven women who make up my new small group, Seams Sew Easy.
There was some beauty to behold. First the BLUE RIBBON ROOM (Hint: my bag and quilt were NOT displayed in here.)
This lovely pink applique quilt was made by a woman from our guild…lovely. And this fabulous Oriental & Indigo Quilt also was created by one of our guild members…
Upstairs, the rest of the quilts, knitting, tatting, embroidery, cross-stitch, garments, etc. are all displayed in one large room. Sadly, with most of the quilts, you only get to see a 2.5 foot by approx. 5 foot slice. It’s a form of torture for a quilt lover to not let them see the entire work of art.
If you look in the upper right hand corner of this photo (below) you will see my Purely Perennial quilt (at least a part of it!). It didn’t show well, at all, in this room, but what can you do? Hope for a better showing next year, I guess…
I also entered my Miranda Bag, shown at the bottom right, here…no ribbons, but I wasn’t expecting any…
My friend Veronica won a BLUE RIBBON on her retro apron (sorry, no photo!), and Beth received an Honorable Mention Pink Ribbon on her first quilt:
Here is Lisa’s cute little quilty…her son was asked to draw a Family Tree in school…this is what he drew, a Christmas tree with his Mom, Dad, brother, sister and himself flanking it. His clever mama turned it into a quilt:
Loved this strip pieced quilt in mostly Kaffe Fassett florals…it received a Second Place Red Ribbon:
Here ‘s a shot of (or, a portion of) our group’s charity Spools quilt…I didn’t have a hand in this one, they completed it earlier this year just before Veronica and I joined the group. Unfortunately, their lovely applique doesn’t show:
Anyone who knows “quilter” Doris, knows that I loathe Sunbonnet Sue quilts. (Seriously, it has it’s own website?!?) Sorry if you happen to be a fan, but I just don’t get the appeal. And, the Straw Hat Sam blocks? Even worse. Don’t get me started… But, even I have to agree that these little Geisha Girls are pretty darn cute:
Before we headed off for dinner, we had an official shot of our small group taken (I think it’s the first time all eight of us have actually been together!)
Dawn, Teresa, Lisa, Me, Beth
Emma, Veronica, Tricia
I was so inspired by the quilts…I went home and whipped this up for Alissa, my August block for the Sew Connected 2 Bee:
Alissa likes wonky, and asked for no triangles. Other than that we had free reign. So I went for an assymetrical block with curved piecing to accent it. Hope you like it, Alissa!
Gotta love those tadpoles…
made by a brunnette 
Doris,
Your blog looks great and so does your handbag. I'd give it a ribbon!
It is fun to see your photos and comments from last night. I had a great time, too.
Keep quilting!
Lisa
What a great recap of the fair preview! Thank you for sharing!!
Emma
Doris, you quilt was a beauty! Why did they put it next to silly flip flops!!! darn it! Looks like fun though! I've never done anything like that… Good for you! I give you a blue ribbon!
You're so brave to enter your work! It looks great hanging on those walls with all those other masterpieces.
Thanks for sharing your pics of the fair quilts. I'm enjoying seeing how you're viewing the same things I see. (I don't like Sunbonnet Sue either!) I was at the preview too! Though I don't know you, I feel like I do through your blog. Nice writing; nice quiltmaking. (Hi to Lisa in your small group who I DO know!)
Ooops…and I know Theresa too!
now this is the ONE and ONLY reason I like the fair. Otherwise, I hate it. š
I will be seeing these on Saturday (and the only reason for that is I have to work at Drake Day at the Fair). They look lovely! thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the photos from the fair. I won't get down there this year, so I'll rely on shared photos from generous gals like you.
How nice that there are so many entries, but how sad that such a small portion of each Q is all that the public can see.
wow great pictures from the fair, wish i would have been there, all those quilts on the wall!
Thanks for sharing the pictures..Kathie