I went to the San Mateo County Fair on Thursday with SIL#4.
Winner 2026: Pandora Charisma
I was shocked and amazed that the Pandora Charisma won at the County Fair. Lee Ann shared the news with me at Sew Day, so it wasn’t a surprise. I was, however, so excited to see the evidence in person. I am in wonder at the size of those ribbons!
Old Town with Ribbon
I was also pleased that one of my quilts, Old Town, won a second prize. While second place can seem like nothing special, this quilt was entered into a category where a lot of quilts are entered (quilted by someone else). After thinking about it, I was very pleased even with a second place in this category.
BAM members in general did really well! I was thrilled to see so many BAM cards on prize winning exhibits.
My entry did not win any prizes, but I enjoyed visiting the Fair anyway. My visit was too short, but fun.
I only entered the pencil roll. Next year, I will enter Old Town. I am pleased with how it came out. I am not sure what it was up against, so cannot determine why it didn’t win. I’ll find out more when I get the judge’s comments back.
Jaye & Julie, San Mateo County Fair 2025
The big event was Friend Julie and I sitting at the BAM table and talking to people. The goal is to add members. I shamelessly talked to almost everyone. I even went up to people and talked to them if they were nearby. We told them about the guild programs, such as community quilts. I showed a few people our challenge quilts. We also handed out cards showing all the info about the guild. For part of the time our DHs joined us. It was a good time and if I weren’t working I would do it again.
2025 San Mateo County Fair mare & foal
Before Friend Julie and her DH arrived, we walked around and looked at the different non-textile exhibits. My favorite was the mare and her foal. It was so relaxing to watch them, though the mare looked completely stressed out. The Chincoteague books** came to mind as I spent time with them.
When we, first, went into the barn, the baby was sleeping. We watched for awhile, then we wandered around the barn to look at the other animals. No chickens this year. Bird flu, I am guessing. When we circled back to the mare and foal, the foal was on his feet having a snack. It was adorable and made me think about the relationship of animals and humans. I haven’t had a pet in awhile and would be hard pressed to find one that would be as great as my childhood cat, Spooky.
BAM challenge quilts 2025
BAM challenge quilts 2025
BAM had an exhibit of challenge quilts. The theme was “Hip Not to be Square”, which was a reaction to last year’s judging. One judge commented each time a quilt was not square. I am curious to see what the judge’s said about this year’s un-square quilts. I didn’t make a challenge quilt this year, but the guild had a GREAT response to the challenge. I loved seeing that not all were hexagons!
Preeva’s Mariner’s Compass
I was particularly interested in Preeva’s solution for hanging her round quilt.
The quilt is truly round. That yellow fabric is a kind of extended sleeve. I thought it was a clever idea.
Improv with Help from Friends
Cyndi put the quilt that she and Tim worked on while we were having a Sew Day at her house. I love the name, Improv with a Help from Friends. She gave me credit, too, which was very kind since I only started giving my opinion when they were well on their way to finishing.
I am so glad this turned into something great. The quilting works well. I am even more pleased that Cyndi got an Honorable Mention!
Lee Ann’s Cozy quilt
Guild members really cleaned up. In addition to Cyndi’s Honorable Mention, Lee Ann won a ribbon for her Cozy quilt. A number of guild members are making or have made one of these quilts. I only know of Lee Ann finishing hers.
Blooming 9 Patch by Julie McAuliffe
One of my favorite (random by non-guild members and friends) quilts in the Fair, though it is sooooo hard to choose, was this Blooming Nine Patch by Julie McAuliffe. I think I really love the colors.
Julie is a friend of my SIL#3 and used to be the organizer of the Home Arts for the Fair. I always say hello to her and remind her of the connection when I see her. I invited her to come and visit the guild as she sat at the Pacifica Quilt club table. Who knew there was a Pacifica Quilt Club? I might go check it out.
Brains, Brawn & Beauty by Elizabeth Savoy
I only had time to quickly look at the Fine Art on my way to sitting at the BAM table. Julie pointed out this dress to me. It is Brains, Brawn & Beauty by Elizabeth Savoy and made from newspaper. The details were really cool looking.
I would have liked to have spent more time with the quilts and looking at the Fine Art, but maybe next year. I really had fun sitting at the BAM table and talking to people, so that was time well spent.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.
I decided that making a pencil roll would fit in with the upcoming Organizer swap and would be good to enter into the fair. I had nothing to enter and needed to make something. Time grew short and my free time became a precious commodity, so here we are.
I spent some of last weekend sewing the strips together after cutting them out at Sew Day. It didn’t all go as smoothly as I would have liked, but it has been about 6 years since I made one of these so some bumps in the path are to be expected. I am thinking black and white for the other pieces. Dots and stripes.
I hope to finish this sometime this week so I can hand it in at the meeting next weekend to be taken to the Fair.
SueG’s entries were amazing! I didn’t know she entered so many projects into the Fair.
Breakage by SueG
This is Breakage by one of my friends (and student). It is her own design and I am so proud of her. She won a ribbon at the Fair as you can see.
She said that she was able to make this quilt, because of what I taught her in the quilt class. That made me feel SOO good.
I have been wanting to write about her quilt, Breakage, for awhile and seeing it at the Fair meant that I could take a photo and then would be able to write about it.
One of the things I teach is that knowing all the techniques allows you to have the skills to not only design your quilts, but actually put them together. Sue knew how to sew and how to make quilts when she joined my class, but she has much more confidence now and is really making some amazing works. Breakage is just one of them.
I have permission from Laura M to repost this email I received from the Fair. I have edited some parts that no longer apply.
If you didn’t read Monday’s post, I talked a little about my entries and the guild entries. I’ll write some more about other quilts and entries I saw.
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San Mateo County Fair Logo
Message from Home & Floral Arts Department Supervisor Laura McHugh
Laura M, HomeArts Supervisor
Thank you for entering the 2024 Home Arts Fair, sponsoring an award, volunteering and providing a demonstration. We had 225 quilts and 475 entries overall in Home Arts and 53 people participate in the Community Quilt we gave away today to a lucky winner of the raffle.
We are seeing an uptick from the impact of COVID closures on our department and hope to continue that upward trend with even more entries.
Sweepstakes Award for Home Arts Exhibitor of the Year We will be reintroducing the department Sweepstakes Award for Exhibitor of the Year in 2025. This award goes to the entrant with the most total points award for winning entries (1st is 5 points; 2nd is 3 points; 3rd is 1 point). This is your combined department total, not just in any one area such as quilts. So get your pieces started now.
Home & Floral Arts Theme for 2025
The theme for 2025 will be 50 years/1975. This was the unofficial year of the revival of quilting, so get your 1970s game on for this special award.
Suggestions Please do send me any suggestions you have for improving the Fair and our part in it to me. We start planning meetings with Fair Operations in August, so I will be happy to pass along your comments.
Special Award Winners
Here is a list of our 42 Special Award Winners in Home Arts. Congratulations to all the winners. I am humbled by the beauty of all your entries.
2024 Home Arts Special Award Winners
* * * Congratulations * * *
Best 90s Theme in a Home Arts Entry
Andrea Molinari
Best Floral Theme in a Home Arts Entry
Jackie Bell
People’s Choice Quilt
Wendy Kennedy
Best in Show Needlework
Meredith Angle
Best in Show Sewing Entry
Jess Millikan
Best in Show Textiles Entry
Christina Huth
Best in Show Crocheted Entry
Jeanette Funcke
Best Needlework Depiction of Flowers
Meredith Angle
Best in Show Knitting Entry
Lynn Curry
Best in Show Smocked Entry
Margaret Harden
Best in Show Arts & Crafts
Linda Hughes
Best in Show Miniature Fairy House
Linda Hughes
Alice Lam Memorial Award – Best Use of the Color Blue in a Quilt
Grace Hardy
Margaret Ann Niven Memorial Award – Best Use of the Color Green in a Quilt
Jenn Etheridge
Lynn Simms Memorial Award – Best Use of Purple in a Quilt
Dorothea Copeck-Nolan
Jeanne Matysiak Tribute – Best One Block Wonder Quilt
Terry Casleton
Lynette Rodriques Tribute Quilt – Best Hawaiian Themed Quilt
Julie McAuliffe
Best of 2024
Best Quilts
Best Traditional Quilt
Nick Martin
Best Modern Quilt
Gretchen Michaels
Best Applique Quilt
Angi Merlone
Best in Show Quilt
Randa Mulford
Best Division 620 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Maker)
Kathy Carroll
Best Division 621 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Another)
Sara Guyol
Best Division 622 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Maker)
Kit Morse
Best Division 623 Quilt (Original Design Quilted by Another)
Wendy Kennedy
Best Division 624 Quilt (Group Quilt)
Julie McAuliffe
Best Division 625 Quilt (Specialty Quilts)
Randa Mulford
Best Division 626 Quilt (Challenge Quilts)
Angi Merlone
Jeanne Matysiak Tribute Quilt – One Block Wonder
Terry Casleton
Lynn Simms Memorial Award – Best Use of Purple in a Quilt
Best in Show Crocheted Entry
Best Coastal Theme in a Quilt
Jeanette Funcke
Judge’s Choice Awards
Textiles, Knitting, Crochet, Needlework and Arts & Crafts
Mary Dare
Betty Tang Fitzpatrick
Jeanette Funcke
Laura Larkin
Rebecca Stecker
Mona Ten
Quilting
Diane Costello
Grace Hardy
Wendy Kennedy
Angi Merlone
Gretchen Michaels
Penny Streeter
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It is really interesting to see the various special awards, like the ones about using purple and green. I made a One Block Wonder once. Remember The Peacock? I probably won’t make another quilt in that style, but I could make a tablerunner to enter into the theme category next year.
I attended the Fair last weekend with my wonderful SIL#3 and some great friends, including the fabulous Friend Julie. Her terrific husband Marc came along, too.
Colorblocks 3: Second Place San Mateo County Fair 2024
First, my quilt, Colorblocks #3, won second place. I always want first, but Julie won first and she deserved it. Her quilting was much better than mine.
I might need to make this quilt over again. I like it, but am not sure it hits the points I was hoping to hit. I need to look up my original notes on the iteration I wanted to make after I made Colorblocks 2. Good thing I have plenty of silk left.
The Enigma pouches
Sadly, neither my nor Cindy’s Enigma pouches won anything. The big bags always win even though the one that won had NO zippers, NO hardware, nothing complicated.
Fortunately, Laura said she is breaking up that category so small bags are separated from large bags.
I only put in two entries, so I only got one prize this year. They are reintroducing the Sweepstakes winner next year, so I’ll have to start collecting various projects to enter.
BAM Challenge quilts
BAM Challenge quilts
The challenge quilts were well hung (except for mine, which was at knee level) and there were many ribbons on them: 4 total. There is an award for the best quilt in the challenge category, but none of us won that one.
I’ll have some time this year to beef up my entries, so I will work on that. There is something really satisfying about entering the Fair. It’s a feeling I don’t get from entering regular quilt shows.
I ran out of fabric, so I had to find something to do about that. The first thing I did was buy more fabric, but I wasn’t 100% sure I was buying the right fabric. I decided to make some blocks in a different fabric and make it part of the design.
As I rummaged through various options, I found a grey ombre and had a brain wave. I made the last 4 blocks in the ombre using the gradation from dark to light. I thought the idea would look much more interesting than having all the blocks use the same background.
Colorblocks 3 top finished
I pieced the quilt together and think my fabric choices were good. I tried to place the ombre patches, first, then the ombre blocks in such a way that they blended from dark to light with the other background fabric. I am really pleased with the way it turned out.
The silk is a bear to work with. I thought, at first, “I don’t need no stinkin’ interfacing”. I was wrong. I interfaced all the pieces after the first few and the silk was much more in control.
I have tons of silk left. Since the pieces are FQs, mostly, I can’t make a dress or anything. I don’t really want to make another silk quilt (I am not sure the effort was worth the outcome), so I don’t know what to do with the fabric I have left. I’ll have to think about it.
Cyndi W suggested we all do a challenge for the Fair. This year it is a color challenge.
For fun, I looked in EQ8 to see if I had any old designs from the previous quilts. Colorblocks is way too old for there to be an EQ8 file. I made that quilt in 1990.
Silk FQs
I wasn’t going to do it, because I have enough on my plate at the moment. Eventually, I decided I would. I decided that it would be a good opportunity to finally use up that silk fabric I bought a long time ago. Back in the day, I had the intention of making another Colorblocks quilt, then never did. This project has been on my Dream Project list for awhile AND it will qualify for the President’s challenge this year. If I finish it, I will get a lot of bang for my quilt buck.
Colorblocks 3 tester block
I am using the Square in a Square ruler I bought through the guild last year. I made a test block out of scraps to get a feel for how it would work. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. Except for the bias on the edges, I think it looks great.
I have some time and the piece will be small. Fingers crossed!
The quilt that won the blue ribbon in the category where I won second happened to be hung next to my quilt. The quilt that won is called Threads and is by Sara Guyol of San Mateo.
I like Sara’s quilt and the only reason I can think that her quilt is in the same category as mine is that they had to consolidate categories. Mine was entered into the Quilt top made by one person/pro quilted and the class was hand guided quilting – small quilt.
Sara Guyol’s blue ribbon quilt -detail
I really think Sara’s quilt should have been in an embroidery category if there is an embroidered quilt category. Her quilt had a lot of Sue Spargo type embroidery on it. It was a really different style of quilt than my quilt. I think of the Fabric of the Year quilts as complex in design, but they are complex to design not to piece. As you know, there is a lot of moving of pieces around before the quilt gets sewn. Once everything is in place, the piecing is easy.
I don’t think the Fair really looks at design. Design is hard to judge, I know, but if they only look at technique, I will never win a blue ribbon. I am not angry about this. Sara’s quilt is amazing and I am pleased that she won. I’d love to meet her and wish there were a reception for the artists.
DH and I were both sick over the long holiday weekend. The illness lingered through the beginning of the Fair and through the day our extended family had decided to go together. I didn’t think we would be able to make it at all, but we decided to go last Saturday. I was not intending to see every single thing at the Fair and I made my desires clear: quilts and a frozen chocolate covered banana. I didn’t want to overdo it after resting and taking it easy for a few weeks.
I let DH pick what he wanted to see first, so we looked at the Commercial area first. It was sad. So many of the vendors and information booths we had seen before were not exhibiting. The vendors who made the effort were selling items of low quality or of no interest. I wish the Fair management would find a way to get artists to sell their wares.
After that, we went to see the quilts and other Home Arts. I saw Laura, the organizer of Home Arts, pretty soon after we arrived. She will be taking suggestions after she rests for a bit, but I talked with her about some things I thought were confusing. She also said that they had 75% of the entries they had pre-pandemic, which was a lot better than the other areas. I was pleased at the number of quilts even though it was obvious there were fewer.
BAM recycle/upcycle challenge
BAM made a GREAT showing. In addition to my wins, I saw that Sue G., Joelle, Bonnie, and Cyndi all received awards of one kind or another. The upcycle/recycle challenge was shown in a prominent place.
Cyndi’s Orphan block quilt
I saw one of the orphan block Sew Day quilts, Cyndi’s, which is a great effort. It is colorful and interesting to look at.
I was so impressed that she got her act together enough to get this into the Fair. I think it was made in April and since the deadline for entry and deliver are in different parts of May, it was a quick turnaround.
SIL#4 2022 Fair Entry
SIL#4 also won a prize for one of her knitted hats. I saw her hat before I saw either of my winners. It makes sense, though, as small knitted items are right at the front of the hall.
I was really pleased to see that my teaching paid off. Sue G., one student in a recent class (and member of the door prize team), put two quilts in the Fair and won prizes for both! I was thrilled beyond belief. She has been sewing a lot and practicing her skills, so the prizes were well deserved, but I was still thrilled. I’m not saying that I did everything, but I do take credit for instilling good habits and teaching good skills.
Sue G.’s Upcycled Shirt Quilt
Sue G.’s Color Connection Quilt
I was shocked at the prices. Everything had gone up. In some ways I felt like Fair management and the vendors were making me pay for the loss of two years worth of my attendance at the Fair:
Entry fee: $20.00 x 2 – $40.00
Parking: – $15.00
Ice Cream: – $16.50
Drink: – $10.00
______________________
$81.50
minus free ticket: $20.00
______________________
$61.50
We didn’t even have lunch. I wondered how families with children were able to afford the costs just to get in? I told DH he had a year to figure out what to enter into the Fair next year so he could get a free ticket as well. By the time we got home, he had decided on a cell phone photo.
I always look forward to the Fair and make a point of entering.
I wasn’t well enough to go to the Fair last weekend with the family, but they were kind enough to send me photos of my wins as they walked the exhibits. I was SHOCKED to get two wins in the made-by-one-quilted-by-another category. That category is almost impossible to win in since there are so many entries. I am thrilled!
FOTY 2019 Win
Frolic! Fair Win
Fabric of the Year 2019 and Frolic! both won. Isn’t that purple ribbon pretty? I’ll have to see the details if I get to go to the Fair or when I get everything back.
After a two year hiatus, I entered the County Fair. I entered 3 items and hope I get free tickets.
My three items are:
Friesan pouch side 2
Frolic! Finished
Fabric of the Year 2019 Finished
I kind of wanted to enter more things, but wasn’t sure what else to enter or I don’t have the thing anymore. Also, I am busy, I don’t have time to figure out all the divisions, etc, especially now that they are only giving prize money for first place. Phooey on that! I really wanted to enter Flying Around, which has had no outing at all. It was, however, finished in 2019 and that seems like a long time ago in Fair years.
A long time ago one of my quilts won a ribbon at the Marin Needlearts Guild show. That is probably the best prize I have ever gotten. I feel like that prize came from a real quilt show and the quilt did deserve to win.
Still winning at the San Mateo County Fair is pretty great, too. I did win at the Fair. I entered 3 items: two quilts and a pillow. I did not expect the quilts to win, because the ‘made by one/pro quilted’ category is really impacted. I did expect to win with the pillow based on SIL2’s analysis of the best categories to enter to get a prize.
Aqua-Red Sampler with prize
First, the Aqua-Red Sampler Quilt got First place. As you know, I made these blocks in one of my sampler quilt classes. I am pretty pleased that this won. The two color scheme has an impact. Also, Colleen did spectacular quilting and the quilting shows. Definitely click on the image so you can see the detail of the quilting. I am really happy that the judges were able to appreciate this quilt. I think it looks a little modern, but I didn’t dare enter it in that category.
Under the Sea Embellished pillow
Second, despite reports to the contrary Under the Sea did win a prize. It won Third Place, which is fine. I am pleased that it won at all, because it was so much work and took so many years to finish. I could have gone on stitching, but this category gave me a deadline and finishing this piece got one more hand project off my list.
Metroscape with ribbon
Finally, Metroscape won. WOW! This was a huge surprise. I did enter it into the Modern category in hopes of giving it a better chance, but I really didn’t expect anything. There it was hanging with a Second Place ribbon on it.
I enter quilts because I make them and want people to see them. I didn’t, as I said, expect to win. I don’t know what prizes I will get, but I know I will get a prize for each winner.
Last year I let you know what projects I entered into the fair. I saw the post by accident and can’t really believe another year has gone by. I didn’t wait until the last minute this year. Cyndi was kind enough to collect a bunch of entries at the BAM meeting to take to the fair. I gave her mine since it is much easier to have someone else drop them off. I think I’ll have to give her a gift or take her to lunch, because she really does save me a lot of time and energy.
I didn’t enter as much this year as I only wanted the free tickets. I know it is pretty callous, but it is true. There are so many quilts in the pieced-by-one, quilted-by-another category that I have no hope ever of winning for a quilt. I can usually win in the paper category, but didn’t finish the piece that I started with Nancy and Maureen.
SIL2 figured out that the embellishment category was the least populated so we had the best chance of winning, thus I had incentive to finish Under the Sea.
Under the Sea Pillow Finished- front
Under the Sea Pillow Finished- back
Under the Sea was entered.
Metroscape – finished
Since Metroscape is pretty unusual, in that I haven’t seen a lot of finished quilts using the Quick Curve Ruler, I thought I might have a tiny chance, despite it being in that overcrowded category.
Aqua-Red Sampler finished
Aqua-Red Sampler back – finished
I really ended up liking the Aqua-Red Sampler. It is a striking quilt. Though I have no hope of winning anything with it, I wanted someone to see it and entered it anyway.
I talked about my entries a few weeks ago. Once I get to the fair, I like to go and look at my entries right away to see what I won, if anything.
Beth’s Paper Wreath
Planned Improv Quilt at the Fair
I got some prizes, but not many. Of my entries, two got prizes, the paper wreath which I expected and the Planned Improv quilt, which I did not. It is almost a guarantee I will not get a prize for a quilt, so i was thrilled to even get an Honorable Mention in any quilt category.
Flapper Apron
Zip Away Organizer – open
Cal shirt for Paul, Christmas 2017
Superheroine apron
I was sad that none of these projects got prizes. The Flapper apron is probably the most ordinary of all of the projects, but it does have a great shape and interesting construction. The others are all very creative, especially the fabric placement on the Cal Shirt and the way I created a corset look on the Superheroine apron. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. I did well last year, so I can’t complain too much.
I have some quibbles with the categories. They don’t have a bag category and they should. There were a number of bags and the bags have to compete against everything in the sewn accessories-non garment category. My Zip Away organizer would have been better in a bag category.
I also think they need an apron category. There were a lot of aprons and mine would have done better it they weren’t competing against a tailored jacket.
I really worked hard on the shirt, especially finishing the inside seams with French seams, so it was letdown not to get any prizes at all for it. It will be interesting to see what they say.
SIL #2 cleaned up. She got four prizes including a first for her fabulous two-sided shell table runner. I did well last year; it was her turn this year.
