Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Blocks of the Month and Week
The FWS Pony Club Quilt-Along wk 41 Floral Bouquet & Seminole Square Photo Page >

The FWS Pony Club Quilt-Along wk 41 Floral Bouquet & Seminole Square Photo Page

The FWS Pony Club Quilt-Along wk 41 Floral Bouquet & Seminole Square Photo Page

Old 10-19-2012, 02:40 PM
  #61  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,680
Default

MiraB ... pinks and burgundies could be oh so nice! I'm like you ... 12" blocks seem impossible now! Even the 8" PCs seemed awkward after I did the FWS. Oh no matter what, I'll have a good Christmas. Christmas day I will likely be with my "adopted" family. Though they haven't officially said it will be on the 25th yet. With more additions to the family and in-laws to consider, the date may change. And if not, I'll be quite content home alone ... and will look forward to the GTG with all, whenever!

OKSGlad ... it's been hard and yes, I have been going BONKERS! I know it would settle me so much better, if only! I think I have gotten so over tired (can we say next thing to exhaustion?), that to some extent just haven't had the energy to push myself towards the machine ... and it always seems there's something else that needs doing. Now it's a matter of getting The Royal over, and get Christmas organized (gifts/sewing) and then I am making it ALL about me!! I promise!!!
QuiltE is offline  
Old 10-19-2012, 03:39 PM
  #62  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Default

Mirabelle, I'm not too sure about those petal shaped borders either, but the variety of blocks intrigues me. LOL. After sewing the little blocks, I have trouble sewing the big blocks!!
QE sounds like you have set a reward for yourself at the end of your gallivanting!
oksewglad is offline  
Old 10-19-2012, 04:47 PM
  #63  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,680
Default

I think we all have mini-itis!

OKSGlad ... yes the carrot is dangling for me and I am so looking forward to it!

In the other thread, I said ... Fair season is over, and yet, funny enough the really big Fair is just coming up and thus where I'll be the first two weeks in November. All livestock shows plus some crops ... there haven't been any "domestic" classes for years.

BTW ... you could still come, OKSGlad!!!!
QuiltE is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 04:59 AM
  #64  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Hartford, Mo
Posts: 5,781
Default

Me thinks those neighbors to the North know how to celebrate that Fair season for long fair time!! Its getting colder, time to go South, pass the other border...if I were a goose, I would be long gone...even the Texas State Fair is in September, I believe....right, Dublb??
QuiltingNinaSue is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 05:11 AM
  #65  
Super Member
 
gardnergal970's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Covington, Indiana
Posts: 1,659
Default

QuiltE...what is it that you do that keeps you at the Royal for two weeks? And the other fairs....did you run an exhibit or something? If this is all paycheck for you, I hope they are paying you well. You sure put your all into it! BTW....your prizes are well deserved since you do such careful piecing. And I know s couple of them you whipped out in short order! Well done!
I too find the larger blocks awkward after the 6 inch ones. The 6 inch ones have made me a much better piecer for sure.
gardnergal970 is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 05:19 AM
  #66  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,680
Default

QNSue ... In Ontario, we have somewhere between 80-100 Fairs!
They start in May though most are in late August thru to Thanksgiving, with a only couple the week after.

There used to be many more, as every community had their own Fair. For example, within 20 kms or less, I have five Fairs! And not many more kms away, several others. With the need for volunteers and fewer people interested, the high costs of making the Fairs happen, urban development encroaching, some Fairs are struggling and do not survive. For some, the development has been a blessing, as they were able to sell old fairgrounds at development values, and start fresh with new facilities.

Size wise, some are small and only a one day fair ... most weekend from Thurs or Fri thru to Sat or Sunday ... and some run for two weekends and the week in between.

The CNE I was at in August/September is 18 days and is along the waterfront right in the ♥ of Toronto, our largest city in Canada. As you can guess, it' not your typical country Fair! There is just a small portion which showcases agriculture (where I was!) as it is seen as an outreach to help the consumer understand more about where their food comes from. This same concept is at many of the Fairs, as even with them being in the countryside, there's still a huge lack of knowledge with many. After all, farmers are only 2% of the population ... so even living in the country there is often a huge education gap when it comes to farming and how our food is produced.

Now the GrandDaddy of them all is The Royal ... world class and certainly we have a huge influx of visitors from around the world. It is held on the same grounds as the CNE, though all within buildings, linked from one to the other. Many Americans come north with their stock for the show, particularly horses and dairy cattle. It's a busy time when the Country Comes to the City!

I know you have County Fairs and State Fairs ... not so much here, just that some are bigger and better, and draw a larger crowd ... or because of their size, offer more classes and events.
QuiltE is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 05:35 AM
  #67  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,680
Default

Originally Posted by gardnergal970 View Post
QuiltE...what is it that you do that keeps you at the Royal for two weeks? And the other fairs....did you run an exhibit or something? If this is all paycheck for you, I hope they are paying you well. You sure put your all into it! BTW....your prizes are well deserved since you do such careful piecing. And I know s couple of them you whipped out in short order! Well done!
I too find the larger blocks awkward after the 6 inch ones. The 6 inch ones have made me a much better piecer for sure.
Believe it or not, at The Royal, I will not be working for Dairy ... most of the time I will be working for Veal and a couple days for Beef! Though often times we find that the boundaries are fuzzy! Yes, it's in a display booth where I will be. Mon-Fri there will be hoards of school kids coming thru .... it's crazy crazy crazy ... and we spend a few minutes with them in a "teaching" mode. In Beef, we have a cow's stomach, and explain about the four parts. It helps them understand why a cow can eat feed that we humans cannot! I'm not sure what the Veal display will be and what interactive elements there will be. They do have a very good video about veal housing and conditions, to help the consumer understand the truths ... and dispel the myths.

What I really enjoy is the spontaneity of the questions ... we have no clue what we will be asked, and you need to be ready to answer properly! A response that makes sense to a farmer, can easily be misconstrued by a non-farmer, so it's critical to talk to their level and not have their minds going down a different thought path (eg. re animal acitivists). Research has been done that proves people "believe" farmers ... unfortunately, we are not always out there telling our story, so the untruths get planted ... and then we have a hard time getting them righted.

There is nothing more rewarding than to have a conversation with someone at these venues ... and as you talk you see the "lights" go on, as they have an aha moment! In all honesty, sometimes I feel I learn as much or more than the people I meet and talk with, as I think things thru for the best appropriate response for them. There's always something new that we get asked!!

And yes, there are times we get asked what we think are the obvious ... eg. do male cows have babies ... you soon learn to take it seriously for their sake!! And at times like that, it helps reinforce "why we do this"!

As for pay ... yes, this time I am employed by the commodity groups. Am I "well paid"? Probably not, but I look at it that all expenses are covered, I do get an hourly rate ... and it's really not that hard. I stand around ... and talk! PLUS the bonus ... I see people from across Canada, USA and all round the world that I only get to see at The Royal!! (*hint* GGal and OKSGlad you could come!! ... anyone else too!) And another bonus, nightly there are horse shows, which being there working, one can usually make connections and find a "way" to get in for free!! I won't go all the time, but will catch most of the heavy horse shows, I expect!

The Royal just has its own sense ... and I love the Royal ... so when I get a chance to work it, I'm all over it!
QuiltE is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 06:34 AM
  #68  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Hartford, Mo
Posts: 5,781
Default

"the light comes on, the there's aha moment" is what all teachers live for!! To see that sudden sparkle, a light that comes into their eyes, that says, "I get the idea!" Kids are funny that way...sometimes an adult will still show that spark as well. It is a good day when we can learn something new, and when you teach, that moment happens like magic!! It can happen with grandparents and the grand child, too.

Yes, we have county fairs, state fairs, and other celebrations, like my hometown Pancake Day. This time of year, its Pumpkin Patches, corn mazes, and haunted houses. Britt, Iowa has a Hobo Day.

It is nice we have this opportunity to learn more about the wonderful folks North of our border and their lives. A 'one on one' thing that is so wonderful...in our virtual RV on QB in this Pony Trail. It is a good thing that you can enjoy the moment and laugh about others later.
QuiltingNinaSue is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 06:46 AM
  #69  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,680
Default

You're ever so right QNSue ... so nice to learn about others and their traditions, customs and celebrations.
On one of the other threads, I learned about a "Cake Walk" the other day ... never heard of that one before!

And yes, the lights going on with anyone, no matter the age or stage, reason or purpose, is a huge reward!


Oh ... I could give you stories and stories of some of the things people believe!
Of course, there's the chocolate milk coming from brown cows ... but in their defense it does make a little sense, being that brown chickens give us those brown eggs!

This year, we kept hearing that "white cows" were the bulls ... no clue where that came from, but it came out several times, both at The EX and again at the smaller Fair we did. And each time, the individual was totally convinced they were right and we were wrong!! At The EX we had five Holsteins, one of which was very white ... and despite all the same physical endowments, they were convinced she was a Bull!!
QuiltE is offline  
Old 10-20-2012, 06:55 AM
  #70  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,680
Default

Originally Posted by gardnergal970 View Post
BTW....your prizes are well deserved since you do such careful piecing. And I know s couple of them you whipped out in short order! Well done!
I too find the larger blocks awkward after the 6 inch ones. The 6 inch ones have made me a much better piecer for sure.
Mercy me! Where are my manners?
Thank you for the kind words GGal ... I enjoy the piecing and don't find it much of a challenge, if I keep everything cut accurately, and then keep it all square and even as I go. ITA the 6" FWS blocks made me a better piecer ... I did many of them traditionally, before I got hooked by the PPing. Now, when I look at the quilt, some of the blocks I have a hard time determining which way I did them. HSTs and QSTs I always oversize and then trim to precision. Yes, it takes extra time, but the finished results are so worthwhile. And oh, secret tactic ... new blades regularly in the rotary cutter!
QuiltE is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Honchey
Blocks of the Month and Week
243
04-25-2023 02:19 PM
Honchey
Blocks of the Month and Week
121
11-25-2014 06:56 AM
Honchey
Blocks of the Month and Week
290
04-29-2014 05:29 AM
Honchey
Blocks of the Month and Week
204
04-08-2014 08:50 AM
Honchey
Blocks of the Month and Week
103
10-24-2012 06:06 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter