Florida State Fair Textiles Competition

My husband took the week off, as he is deploying to the desert on
Saturday - and yesterday we took a road trip to Tampa and the Florida
State Fair. I'm not sure the last time I went, but it was at least
ten years ago.

I was really surprised by several things - that there were so few
exceptional entries, and that many of those on display weren't nearly
as remarkably constructed as I remember from years back.

Do people not enter quilts in state and county fairs anymore?

I can't answer your question about entering quilts in fairs, but I do want
to say thank you to your husband for serving and God bless to both of you.

--
Louise in Iowa
nieland4 at mchsi dot com
http://community.webshots.com/user/louiseiniowa

"auntiedotcom" wrote in message
oups.com...
My husband took the week off, as he is deploying to the desert on
Saturday - and yesterday we took a road trip to Tampa and the Florida
State Fair. I'm not sure the last time I went, but it was at least
ten years ago.

I was really surprised by several things - that there were so few
exceptional entries, and that many of those on display weren't nearly
as remarkably constructed as I remember from years back.

Do people not enter quilts in state and county fairs anymore?

Dot: (I don't know what else to call you!) Here in
Virginia, the quilting portion of the State Fair was
revamped several years ago. IT is now SEPARATE from the
Needlework and Crafts. It is "The Quilt Show at the
Fair." It is now quite a good quilt show! I was very
impressed with the entries last year. There was a good
variety, nice quantity and very good quality. Maybe
Florida needs to try the Virginia model in organizing
quilts at the fair. Now, good luck to you and DH while
he is gone. It is not an easy time ... BTDT ... so I
will remember y'all in prayers.
PAT

auntiedotcom wrote:

My husband took the week off, as he is deploying to the desert on
Saturday - and yesterday we took a road trip to Tampa and the Florida
State Fair. I'm not sure the last time I went, but it was at least
ten years ago.

I was really surprised by several things - that there were so few
exceptional entries, and that many of those on display weren't nearly
as remarkably constructed as I remember from years back.

Do people not enter quilts in state and county fairs anymore?

It would be great if they had a separate quilt show. It might bring more of
us quilters to visit the fair.

Give your hubbie a hug for all us on the east side of the state. I support
our soldiers regardless of their job, It is a tough one. Regardless of one's
feelings about the war, I believe that our boys (men) do their best.

Best wishes and good luck to ya.

--
Boca Jan
Florida - Land of the Hurricanes
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/poo_de_doo/myphotos


"Pat in Virginia" wrote in message
...
Dot: (I don't know what else to call you!) Here in Virginia, the quilting
portion of the State Fair was revamped several years ago. IT is now
SEPARATE from the Needlework and Crafts. It is "The Quilt Show at the
Fair." It is now quite a good quilt show! I was very impressed with the
entries last year. There was a good variety, nice quantity and very good
quality. Maybe Florida needs to try the Virginia model in organizing
quilts at the fair. Now, good luck to you and DH while he is gone. It is
not an easy time ... BTDT ... so I will remember y'all in prayers.
PAT

auntiedotcom wrote:

My husband took the week off, as he is deploying to the desert on
Saturday - and yesterday we took a road trip to Tampa and the Florida
State Fair. I'm not sure the last time I went, but it was at least
ten years ago.

I was really surprised by several things - that there were so few
exceptional entries, and that many of those on display weren't nearly
as remarkably constructed as I remember from years back.

Do people not enter quilts in state and county fairs anymore?

I don't know anything about the fairs or quilts either but, thank you so
much for posting this to let us know that your husband and your family are
going thru this sacrafice for us and our country at this time

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.




"auntiedotcom" wrote in message
oups.com...
My husband took the week off, as he is deploying to the desert on
Saturday - and yesterday we took a road trip to Tampa and the Florida
State Fair. I'm not sure the last time I went, but it was at least
ten years ago.

I was really surprised by several things - that there were so few
exceptional entries, and that many of those on display weren't nearly
as remarkably constructed as I remember from years back.

Do people not enter quilts in state and county fairs anymore?

Me too!
Barbara in Central FL

Haven't been to the Illinois State Fair in twenty years. Our local
county fair can be a money making event for many handworkers. Check
your local county fair and you may find the same situation. Our fair
is a tax supported event. As the area changed from farming to bedroom
communities the taxing body continued with no questions asked. My
friend stumbled upon the situation several years ago and made lots of
money but she couldn't resist bragging about it so now she has
competition.

To enter any handmade article for judging you must pay a $.50 filing
fee. There are three cash prizes given in each of many categories.
Each technique like crochet, knitting, sewn garments, quilts has
several categories within the technique. There are junior (under 12)
and senior (over 65) categories within each sub category but nothing
says that a person under 12 or over 65 can't enter the general
category also. Say a person over 65 knits, crochets and quilts. They
could enter a knit hat and scarf set, a large knit afghan and a knit
baby blanket in both the over 65 and general areas. Their investment
in filing fees is $3.00. Since there is seldom more than five entries
in any sub category the knitter is guaranteed to win 1st ($20), 2nd
($15) or 3rd($10) on several of her six entries. Now if she repeats
entries in crochet and quilts you can see how this adds up. The person
within the handwork area who tallies the most points gets another
"grand champion" ribbon and an added monetary award of $50. It is to
the person's advantage to enter as many items as they have made that
year because if there isn't enough competition they win no matter how
poorly made the item. Any item winning a ribbon can advance to the
state fair and the process starts again.

There are down sides to entries. Items are poorly displayed. The
building is not air conditioned which guarantees that the widows and
doors are open. The place gets dusty. Quilts are just folded on tables
meaning some people pick them up to look at them. There are "guards"
watching that nothing large walks out the door but small items have
been known to disappear. Judges are paid $75 for a morning's work and
are usually friends of the people who run the fair rather than
artisans qualified in the area they are judging. They don't know the
difference between a kit quilt and an original design.

Take a look at your local fair. Maybe it is an opportunity to build
your stash fund.

Susan

On 15 Feb 2007 05:15:49 -0800, "auntiedotcom"
wrote:

My husband took the week off, as he is deploying to the desert on
Saturday - and yesterday we took a road trip to Tampa and the Florida
State Fair. I'm not sure the last time I went, but it was at least
ten years ago.

I was really surprised by several things - that there were so few
exceptional entries, and that many of those on display weren't nearly
as remarkably constructed as I remember from years back.

Do people not enter quilts in state and county fairs anymore?