County Fairs/State Fairs

Hi,
Are you entering your Arts and Crafts in County and State Fairs. I think Meredith wrote that she did and won blue ribbons.
I entered Tole and Decorative Painting plus decorative signs and cow pins. I was pleased to win three blue and one red ribbon.
Let us hear from the rest of you.
Maggie

Maggie, that's great!! And wish I'd won blue but so far just second place in gems and minerals for my entire display; and several third place ribbons (white) for my recycled boxes. Next year I need to branch out and enter more of the recycled categories.

Congrats to both of you very creative and talented women! I wish we could be there when you received your ribbons. You go girls!

JJ

Congrats ladies. Did you spend any time standing at your pieces so people could meet the artisans?

Maggie, what items did you paint?

Meredith, Tell us about your recycled boxes...

Thanks,Meredith, Jawjaw and Dotsie.
Sorry Meredith but I think just entering the fair is great. Congratulations on your red and white ribbons. I would like to know more about your recycled boxes too. Sounds interesting.
Dotsie I painted a watering can different colors of green background. Then painted stroke roses on it. That was the painting on metal category. I also had a wood sprinkling can that was painted with a patriotic heart, flowers and
the words Oh My Stars. Red ribbon
Then signs painted with words like Garden, Annuals, Perennials. They have a wire handle and beads. The cow pins were cut out cow faces so I painted them and put a pin on the back. Tillamook is noted for its cows.
Thanks again

Recycled boxes? That sounds interesting, Meredith. Did I mention that I make (or used to make) beaded jewelry? I was very into it for a while. I have tons of beads sitting here still. I must have made hundreds of pairs of earrings. I still have a lot of it. I love gemstones, but more the faceted stones. The beads are very interesting though. I love turning them into pieces of jewelry and designing my own creations.

Louisa

The whole Recycled category of the fair is about taking ordinary or throwaway objects, and decorating/ turning them into art or something functional. There are 6(?) divisions under Recycled: boxes and containers; fabric scraps and string; jars; miscellaneous; and two I can't remember. A person is allowed one entry per division.

This year I used a wooden box that had held tea bags. I spray-painted the entire box inside and out pale metallic copper. Then I painted pearlized mint green suns, pearly orchid moons, and pearly aqua abstracts on all sides and top of the box. Then epoxied seed beads and rocailles inside all the designs. Large off-white carved wooden beads for legs. Flourite crystal chunks around the entire sides of the lid.

Meredith that box you painted all copper with the large beads for legs sounds so beautiful, it would make a lovely gift. Our huge hand crafted gift show is coming to town next month. I love to see all the unique creations and usually spend the entire week-end wondering around the displays. I am really looking forward to it this year....

Meredith, I marvel at your creativity. Are you selling those boxes?

Maggie, do you sell your crafts?

Yes, my crafts are in Ruth's in Rockaway. I rent a space and sell Tole and decorative painted items, rubber stamped cards, handmade paper cards
rubber stamps and scrapbooking.
Meredith your boxes sound elegant.
Maggie

The boxes take several hours and I "sell" them for $15-25. I put "sell" in parentheses because no one actually buys them. I also "sell" decorated pottery. People ooh and ahh a lot though.

Meredith, are the boxes on your site? I'm interested...

No, but maybe I can take some pics and send some jpgs. your way. Probably not for another month as DSL service starts tomorrow and I have to set that up next. Plus a truckload of special orders which have to be done before my big craft shows Labor Day weekend and the following weekend in September. Sometimes I'm doing so much stuff I'm surprised I have time to brush my teeth.

This of course coming from the woman who rationalizes watching the Olympics every night because I do paperwork on the commercials.

Ms M...I wanna see um too, k? I've watched the post to see if you were gonna put them on your web page but if you're going to email them, include me too, will ya? PRETTY PLEASEEEEEE...

JJ

OK OK!!! Geez what a noisy fan club! I still haven't been able to update that excuse-for-a-headache-website for over two months. At least I got some orders this week but I'd like to be able to put some new stuff online...

The good news is: 1. I have my new computer, which should speed up life online; 2. and as of two hours ago, I also have DSL. Now I just have to figure out that dang SCSI card scanner thingy and THEN I can start on a completely new non-ivillage website. Um, and figure out the Word program here. Eventually I get most things done but don't hold yer breath.

Meredith, I'm not holding my breath, but i'm patiently waiting!

Maggie, do you have a website?

I'm considering adding the topic, WOMEN ARTISANS to my LINKS page.

That's a great idea. I think their are a lot of Artisans in here too. No, I wish I did have a website but don't yet maybe one of these days.
Thanks,
Maggie