San Mateo County Fair 2013

I love attending county fairs. I make it a point to attend my local county fair every year*. I also work hard to enter something. It’s not like I have a shortage of *ahem* quilts to enter. Also, if you have ever entered a quilt show, entering the county fair is a breeze. It is also really, really cheap, unless you are entering your quilts in the art section.

This year was no exception, though it was a very close call for me. The fair was changed from August to June a few years ago and is usually held the week of one of the major Library conferences I like to attend. As a result, I almost didn’t get to attend AND I almost bailed at the last minute. I was enjoying hanging around the house in my pajamas.

I like the Fair, and most all county fairs, because it shows what is going on in the community. It is a place for regular people to show off what they are making or growing or tending in the privacy of their own home. It shows off what the local organizations are doing. And there are the bizarre vendors (and not so bizarre, too).

I am sad, because my local Fair gets smaller and smaller and more and more expensive to attend. Here is a breakdown of costs:

$10 parking
+$22×3 entrance fee
+$36 for lunch
+55 carnival wristbands
__________________________
$167

That is a lot of fabric! I didn’t pay that much however, because the Young Man and I both entered exhibits we each got two free entrance tickets. We also got two parking passes, but I only used one since I can only drive one car at a time. My nephew paid for all but $5 of his carnival wristband. Our cost for the day was $71. I did take two teenaged boys and had to feed them. Still a lot for a day at the fair and out of the reach of many families with a few kids. It is definitely worth the money to enter exhibits. Even if I don’t win, I get $54 worth of entrance and parking right off the bat.

2013 Fair Ribbons
2013 Fair Ribbons

Last year I won a ribbon and was pretty excited about that, but this year I won 4 ribbons! Yes, 4!!!! I couldn’t believe it. I was thrilled when I saw the first one on the A-B-C Challenge quilt I did with BAMQG. I was ecstatic when I saw another ribbon on the Petrillo bag and practically jumping out of my skin when I saw the big, fancy ribbon on Cheerful Baskets. Then I saw the last ribbon on FOTY 2011. I forgot I entered that quilt and couldn’t believe it got a ribbon. Thrilled doesn’t even begin to explain how I am feeling right now. Thisis not a feeling I could ever imagine dealing with nor did I ever imagine I would win a ribbon. I have won two ribbons in the past, an Honorable Mention and a Judge’s choice, but not in the same year, at the same show.

Silly boys with Cheerful Baskets
Silly boys with Cheerful Baskets

I know some of you are thinking “Sheesh, it isn’t Houston, what is she getting worked up about?” I know this is a little show with a few hundred quilts and not Houston. I am still excited.

FOTY 2011 with 3rd Place Ribbon
FOTY 2011 with 3rd Place Ribbon

After looking at my quilts, I went back and started looking at all the quilts in a very orderly and calm manner. A couple of the local guilds use the county fair as their guild shows. This saves money and enhances the quilt exhibit at the county fair. There are separate designations and categories of winners for those guilds only. I believe the judging is separate as well.

A-B-C Challenge with 1st Place Ribbon
A-B-C Challenge with 1st Place Ribbon

There were a lot of nice quilts at the show. I enjoy seeing all the different quilts of all different levels. I took my own advice and looked for something in each quilt that I liked. It wasn’t hard as the quilts were so good. There really was some interesting about almost every quilt I saw there.

Julie Mcauliffe
Julie Mcauliffe

The above quilt is by a local longarmer. She also has a hand in organizing the Fair’s quilt show. I liked this one for a few reasons. First, it is very similar to the EPP piece on which I am working. Second, it looks like the Spin Wheel project for which I am hunting and gathering.

Julie Mcauliffe detail
Julie Mcauliffe detail

It also has great vintage fabric. The quilt was huge, thus the weird picture.

Sarah Martin Chocolate Challenge
Sarah Martin Chocolate Challenge

 

Sarah Martin Chocolate Challenge
Sarah Martin Chocolate Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

The above quilt is part of a SFQG challenge called “Chocolate”. I like this one a lot. There were a number of different renditions of the imagery of chocolate. I didn’t see any raspberries. I think that there is a lot of opportunity for creativity in a challenge about chocolate.

 

Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin

The above quilt is such a fantastic layout. One of the reasons I like it is the way the nine patches go out into the border. I also like it because the crosses are not cut off; they are complete.

Kevin Martin-detail
Kevin Martin-detail

It is easy to see from this layout how part of the nine patches really are a border. The parts of the nine patch and the blue create the illusion of the nine patches going into the border.

Tin foil dinosaur
Tin foil dinosaur

One of my favorite parts of the fair is the building that houses the kid exhibits. Entering that building is an explosion of colors, movement and exuberance. Everything is a little wonky, but all of the art has such life. If you have no quiltmaking mojo left, the Kids Building is where you need to go. Where else can you see a tin foil dinosaur?

*2012 visit is chronicled as is 2009. I didn’t go back farther, but you can search in the search box, if you want.

Author: Jaye

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

20 thoughts on “San Mateo County Fair 2013”

  1. Thank you for sharing this wonderful day . I too love the county fair and enter quilts every year. Here it cost nothing to enter , you only win like 5 bucks per ribbon but its not about the $ – it’s about the glory after all 🙂

    1. I am so glad you enter as well. I would LOVE it if more people entered and more people attended. I wish there were buzz around all the county fairs.

  2. Congratulations Jaye! I got to the fair on Saturday after the guild meeting. Saw all your quilts (and ribbons) along with Leona’s quilts, Adrianne’s quilts, and our guild challenge quilts – and my own quilt. I’ve never received a ribbon before, so I was quite excited!
    I don’t think we are going to have a challenge this year, are we? Maybe we should get something started so we have another group challenge for the 2014 fair!

  3. Can I have your autograph? Oh wait…I just got it in the mail a few days ago! lol

    Well done and well deserved m’dear! I am so tickled for you! 😀

      1. Two table runners (different categories), the swoon quilt, a bib, a deconstructed four patch, Rick or Gene’s embroidered pillow and a pinwheel doll quilt, if I get everything finished. Maybe a skirt, but that is a long shot. I have to get a lot of ribbons to break even since we don’t get admission with submission of exhibits and premiums are small. I hope my brother will be visiting during the fair and I hope to bring the grandkids as well.

  4. So exciting! All those ribbons are entirely deserved! I hope that your menfolk are building you a lovely ribbon display case *right now*.

  5. Congratulations!! I was very happy to see them on Friday.

    BAM was pretty well represented, and I’m excited about entering a quilt or two next year. Kathleen has a good idea about doing another group project. We’ve got a good start with our small group round robins!

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