Tuesday at the NY State Fair

The NY State Fair

I have not been to the fair since I was in my 20's, eh hem, quite a while ago.  Boy, have we been missing something.  The NY State Fair is like a City in itself.  So much to do.  So much to experience.  You can understand why some families make it their whole weeks vacation.

I did not bring my camera because it threatened to rain all day and boy was I sorry.  It did not rain and there was like ten thousand photo ops.  Dang.  Next year.

The following pics were some of what we saw.  The first set is all on the website if you click the link above to the NYS Fair.



This was an amazing sand sculpture.  Would ahve liked to watch it be constructed.

These sheep cracked me up.  As we walked by one of the stalls one of the sheep, in a very deep voice, said MAAAeehh.  You know how they do it.  My daughter jumped and nearly hit the ceiling.  She turned and looked at me, like, what the heck was that Mom.  Loved that!

The poultry area was great.  I initially did not want to go in because it can get pretty stinky.  Yup, I was wrong.  I really enjoyed this area.  So many cool looking chickens roosters and all kinds of other fowl.
 
And just when I thought we were leaving, I was totally exhausted, we see the Indian dancers.  Sucked right in I was.  These kids could move.  Loved watching them.


I did not see this aprticular ceremony but we did go and see the State Troopers.  They put on a safety show/talk and had another show about K9 Police that my children totally loved.

I want to mention to that we did meet and talk with a man named Bob about honey and bees.  He was so informative.  My youngest daughter thought she would like to have a bee colony by the time we were five minutes into the conversation with him.  She was totally taken by it all.  We were too.


The following photos are from individual websites and such.  Sources are linked with them in the caption area.

Source

And this is a must see for next time.  We waited while one cow was near to having a baby.  We had to leave because it was getting late.  We so want to go back and wait for that miracle to unfold before our eyes.  us City folk have never had the chance.

Source

I think this was one of the most moving things I experienced at the fair.  Horses do that to me though.  Large, strong, powerful horses who's beauty totally captivates me.

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Wordless Wednesday

Needlebook

I knew I had to make this.  I have been eyeing needle cases and patterns for them for so long.  When I saw this tut on Nana Company I knew it was the one. Note: she updated how she does it a bit, see here for details.

Don't expect it to come together overnight.  Especially if you are doing it by hand.  But its worth the wait and I totally loved the experience of it.  So much so that I think I will probably make another. This time I will fashion the pocket a bit different.  Note: the pocket is not part of the tutorial.

Here is the inside that I jazzed up a bit with notions.

The back, I hand pieced these little blocks too.

Some pretty flowers I saw while out and about one day.

Let's Go Antiquing

I tried many times to get a picture of this quilt that I liked but I just couldn't.  Either it was raining or it was too hot or we were busy doing stuff.  I had a limited amount of time to.  I made this for my brother and sister in law.  I actually made it for Christmas for them but I had not quilted it yet. The plan was I would send it to them,  But then there was a quilt show in my area and I decided to enter it.  Not because I thought I would win but more about getting a hand written critique of it.

I started this quilt in May of 2012.  Basically finished it one year later.  I had posted some of it here. 

May 2012- the start

Here it is hanging in the show.  And what a show it was.  Over 500 quilts were entered. 

Then my brother and sister in law were planning to come in July, so I had to get a pic.  This one here was taken with my daughters holding up the quilt.  They are not to tall... 

The quilt is called, "Let's Go Antiquing".  My brother and sister in law are into antiques and every time they visit, I can rest assured that these are the words they will say while they are here.  And really its all there fault, that I, who was never into antiques, have a collection of milk bottles!

The star block is called Sun Rays and it is combined with an Irish Chain of sorts. "The Kansas City Star published this block in 1939, and columnist Nancy Page (that is, Florence La Ganke) reintroduced it under the name Darting Minnows in 1943." (Source: Field Guide To Quilts). Most people however, will know it as Sun Rays.  

The pattern I used to make this is called "Summer Dreams", by Darlene Zimmerman.  The pattern appeared in a McCalls quilt magazine in 1999.

And yes, the scalloped border was a pain in the...  It was well worth it though.  I love the look of a scalloped border.

A close up to show you the quilting.  I did freehand because that is what I like to do best.

Mouse

I dont think I ever shared the mice with you.  A couple years ago, a lady that goes to my guild gave me a little stuffed mouse that you could hang on the Christmas tree.  I took it home and fashioned a pattern out of it.  I made many of these at Christmas time. Here is just one of them.

Hand Sewn Postcard

I have seen many a postcard on crafty sewing blogs and just loved the idea.  Here is mine.  I actually sent it to someone in May, maybe even April.  It made a trip all the way down to Myrtle Beach.  My friend, who felt very badly, actually left at the place she was staying down there.  Fortunately for me because I forgot to photograph it before I sent it, the people mailed it back to her here.  Woot woot.  She brought it to our guild meeting and behold, I snapped a picture so you could see it and I could store it in my memory bank - my blog. 

And no I did not have the nerve to send it regular mail.  I packed it in an envelope and sent it.

Frank Lloyd Wright Houses

The Martin Houses in Buffalo NY, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

I recommend a visit to these houses.  Very interesting and beautiful.

Lantana flowers.

Wysteria... reminds me of my apartment in South Carolina many moons ago...

Love the stone and the flowers.  Love all the colors...

I am left with lots of inspiration for quilts.  This winter, I will create something I am sure.