This year I spent Saturday August 25 doing a lace making demonstration with the Rocky Mountain Lace Guild at the Colorado State Fair. I worked on needle lace most of the time since we already had several members doing bobbin lace and tatting. Many people had never seen lace being made by hand and were surprised at the detailed and time consuming process.
My needle felted doll “Dancing Flame” took a trip to the Colorado State Fair, winning 1st place for needle felting! She is one of my favorite creations that I have made and it was fun to see her on display at the fair for others to enjoy. She looked peaceful and happy dancing in the display of needle arts.
I also entered two small pieces of handmade lace; my needle felted columbine flower won 1st and my Idrija style oval mat placed 2nd. I am thrilled that both pieces placed because they were class projects!
I find that the State Fair is a great motivator to finish projects that have been set aside for awhile. I finished and entered a square stitch beaded bracelet that I had started and set aside last year, but I started working on it again a few weeks before the fair and actually finished on time. The pattern was from the book “Beading Her Image” It was my first square stitch project and took forever to complete, but happily it placed 1st for beaded off-loom jewelry! (Too bad they displayed the bracelet upside down…)