Thread: How do you feel about entering quilts in to local fairs?

First of all,congratulations to you and your friend. Secondly it is attitudes just like this that is destroying small towns across America!

I think it would be great to win at a fair (or anywhere else). I do know of a sad story though regarding quilts at a fair. A friend of mine had entered before and won, but last year a mouse might have liked her quilt more than the judges as it ate little holes (maybe to build a nest) in her quilt. She was devastated by all her work being eaten. That said, she is working to repair it and still it looks better than lots of my quilts (with no mouse help). I do not ever aspire to enter a quilt in a juried quilt show, but maybe at a fair sometime (and I will not worry about the mice; I think)... I think quilts are for everyone, not just the judges.

Well POO on her. She is just jealous because you won. Seems there is always someone who is a real snob.....

Originally Posted by Phannie1

A friend of mine and I entered our quilts and quilted wall hanging in to the local Fair. It is a small fair but does have all the trimings of a fair. Livestock, home goods and crafts, 4-H and even a crash derby. Just a small town fair.

My friend and I both won ribbons for our entries. Now we are not talking big judged quilt show or anything like that but we won and are excited about it ......Till! One of the ladies from a guild we know just thinks that is was beneath us to enter anything in to a fair! She really Poo-Pooed on our parade.

So, my question is "How do you all feel about entering quilts in a local fair?"

We have a small county fair here in Skagit county Washington. I have lived here for 6 yrs and this was the first time I got to go. My oldest son took me and the quilts were beautiful to see and there were quite a few of them. There were some simple ones and some very very intricate ones. Quilting seems to be making a big comeback and I think it is great. Then in the summer during the Blast From the Past celebration The quilt guild had an exhibit in an empty store. Some really lovely quilts to see. So just enter your quilts and be proud. I may even enter one next lyear in the fair. My boys keep telling me I should. smile.....

I love entering quilts in our county fair--that's what the fair is all about--people celebrating what they've done all year and providing inspiration for everyone! That's one of the reasons I found out about our Guild and took beginner's lessons 2 years ago. So go for it and thumb your nose at your critics!

Fairs were the original places where ladies showed off their quilts - this is a grand tradition. The idea of a big-deal quilt show (which I also love, don't get me wrong) is relatively new. Congratulations to you not just for winning but for contributing to a lovely and rich tradition.

Seems to me when we think what something else is doing is "below" us - that says a lot more about us than about the other.

You can learn a lot by entering a fair. I've watched judging and the judge gave lots of tricks and tips. A good judge will praise the good stuff and critique the not so good...it's a learning experience. How can you learn if someboday doesn't give you a real honest critque? I would like to get better at what I do. Getting a ribbon is not so bad either.

What a snobby thing to say. I think it's wonderful and a credit to you and your friend. I was just involved in a
local county fair, and there was a quilt barn for quilts. I am still amazed at the quality of the quilts that were displayed at this fair. They were spectacular. So, congratulations and feel proud.

My guess is that the poo poo-er probably entered a quilt in the exact same fair and it didn't win. At least that's the way I'd interpret it. Besides, you are doing a great service to those of us who have to go to county fairs and would really love to look at something besides tractors and pigs.