“Martha” doily © Wanda Salmans
Tatted by Wanda Salmans
I almost didn’t enter anything into the Kansas State Fair this year but at the last minute – the first day you had to pay a late entry fee – I decided to. I didn’t have time to make more than one item but I found two places I could enter tatting. There is only one tatting class and then there is a class for holiday decorations in any fiber medium. For the tatting class I entered the Martha doily I made back in February. I am excited that I got first place but very disappointed in how very few entries there were. A grand total of three.
Judging is done against a standard as well as against other entries, so they do not have to give out ribbons if the items do not meet those standards – finished nicely, clean, even stitches (though the judge might not know tatting they probably know knitting and crochet or other lace-making techniques.) It is subjective to a point. But the judge still liked mine enough to give a blue. That makes me happy.
My pumpkin holiday decoration came in third. Considering there were more entries and they were in different mediums I’m pretty happy with the result.
“Autumn Pumpkin” © Mark Meyers
Wall hanging by Wanda Salmans
Here is a picture of the other holiday entries. I’m not sure where the blue ribbon – 1st place – item is, I didn’t see one with anything. Maybe they got a best of class or show and was put in a different place. (My granddaughter wouldn’t get out of the way for me to take a picture but wouldn’t hold still either.
Holiday Decorations at the Kansas State Fair 2015
My granddaughter did like the second place entry, a crow holding a basket with a watermelon theme. There was another similar crow with a sunflower theme but I couldn’t tell if they were supposed to be together or if someone else had a similar entry. They were both cute.
Overall I was disappointed in how few entries there were throughout the domestic arts categories. The last time I was there I seem to remember quite a few more of about everything – quilts, crochet, knitting, all of that. I have told myself that I must enter more things in the fair next year. I did go to another building that had categories that I think I could find a way to enter with tatting – I’ll have to give it some thought over the year.
“It is nice to have valid competition; it pushes you to do better.”
Gianni Versace
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