Nebraska State Fair–Many Colored Ribbons

Reaching back into September 2014....This year I had 5 quilts to enter in the Nebraska State Fair.  Yes, I said FIVE!  It has been a long time since I entered that many, although none of them were large I still am excited to have that many ready for the fair.  This year I also got ribbons of many different colors and was thrilled to get a ribbon on all 5 entries.The whole cloth silk miniature, Springtime Melody 8” square, was finished just in time for the fair won a first place ribbon for machine quilted miniatures.  It also got a special award certificate for $20 from a quilt shop – that is always fun.  I used the quilt shop award money to put towards a new foot for my Bernina machine.  I will be posting soon on the making of this quilt.This next quilt (One + One Challenge 27 1/2” square) also won a first place ribbon for group quilts.  This was the guild challenge from a year ago and I have searched and searched my blog and don’t think I ever posted about it.  I made the basket block with no flowers and then it was passed to 4 other guild members and they added borders.  When I got it back it had the large rick rack  seamed into the white border so added more rick rack to the other borders plus the flowers with rick rack on them.  Will take a few more photos later and post close ups for you to see more details.  (If you find where I posted about this quilt please let me know as I am going crazy thinking I did a blog post about it already and just can’t find it.)
I was really surprised at this award as I didn’t think it would place but found out later that there were not too many entries in this category.  I love it but didn’t think the judge would like some of the workmanship on the machine quilting, not my best.  Still thrilled and love the $25 award from another sewing/quilt shop. This next quilt, Friendship Wishes, Hopes and Prayers 24 1/2” square, was a two person quilt and won a second place award.  These small 3” stars were sent to me by my friend after each treatment I had for bladder cancer.  (Treatment worked and have had no new bladder tumors in 2 years) I love this quilt and it’s bright colors, a departure from my usual dull and drab colors.  To read about the making of this quilt you can click this link and for several blog posts after this one.This quilt I named You Are My Sunshine (14 1/2”x 21 1/2”) and it received a 3rd place ribbon.  It also got a $20 award from a sewing machine store.  This time I used the money to buy more bobbins, something I am always needing.  I had a lot of fun using the different decorative stitches on my machine and my circle making foot on my machine to make this quilt.  Read about it here and for several more posts.I entered this faux leather quilt Putting Down Roots (18” x 19”) in the original design category and it received a 5th place.  Do think I might have entered it in the wrong category but am happy it got a ribbon.  I so enjoyed the challenge of quilting on this faux leather and plan to do more.  You can read about the making of this quilt starting here.


I had better get busy if I want to have entries for next year.  Am working on finishing one miniature and have some ideas starting to form but it may be a while before I get started.  Most of the time I am a very slow designer, piecer and quilter.  I guess I like to savor the process and don’t like to rush.  Sometimes it takes a while before I have an idea I want to pursue.  I figure that any way you attack your quilting muse is how you should do it – everyone has their own style and speed.

Lynn