Competitions

I've only done the County Fair in Trinity Co. I haven't even done the Fair here in AK. Such a large area (population) to compete in would intimidate me.

Tina

Actually the AK fair is a perfect place to start. Please don't wait until you think the work is good enough. We are our own worst critics. It's best to jump in feet first and test the water. The very least that will happen is that you will learn the process for next year.

I love the AK fair. It was always such a big deal to go when I lived there. You have a very good chance at coming away with a lot of good memories, and maybe some new friends.

Starlia

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comnospam (Carol in SLC) :

]Yes! A friend of mine took one of my necklaces and entered it in the Salt Lake ]County Fair. She put me in the PROFESSIONAL bead artist category, LOL, and I ]won a blue ribbon. The same piece then brought me a blue ribbon from the Utah ]State Fair. I was ecstatic, especially since I was grouped with ]professionals!!!

that's really great! are there classifications for "original design" or is that only in the "professional" category for Fine Arts?

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]Such a large area (population) to compete in would intimidate ]me.

good heavens, Tina, why? your work can certainly stand on it's own merit!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 20:36:56 -0400, vj wrote (in message ):

I know why, I think. I know that when I make a piece, I always feel that I could have done better, and I see every little mistake, even the invisible ones. Everyone else's work looks perfect, and mine is just, well mine.

Is that it, Tina?

Kathy N-V

or is that only in the "professional" category for Fine Arts?<

Ours has different categories for fabricating the entire piece as opposed to putting components together. I don't believe they have a separate category for "original" design.

Carol in SLC New jewelry (8/28):

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comnospam (Carol in SLC) :

]I don't believe they have a separate category for ]"original" design.

our "craft" section doesn't either. which is one reason i've never entered.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Actually, Kathy, that is something I have to fight against. I always want to make one more change on my "master-piece". But I was thinking of something different....

I wouldn't mind entering a piece here at the Alaska "State Fair" (which are actually regional Fairs). But the Calif State Fair is a huge thing involving a huge population and large crowds. It's just too big. When I was a kid I always used to get lost at the fair (with help from the older kids who wanted to get rid of me, no doubt). I got so that I memorized the way to the lost and found.

But mostly, I think I'd just like a little more control and intimacy. Which you would have at a county fair.

Tina

On Sat, 30 Aug 2003 1:06:30 -0400, Christina Peterson wrote (in message ):

I certainly understand, although I've never been to a state or county fair. I'm not even sure we have them in Massachusetts. County government doesn't really play a big part in our lives. (As in most people around here don't even know which county they live in)

Kathy N-V Norfolk County

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :

]But the Calif State Fair is a huge thing ]involving a huge population and large crowds. It's just too big.

but - you don't have to BE there. if it wins at the County Fair, it automatically goes on to the State Fair. of course, you do have to be a resident.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

My thoughts, exactly.

A freund of mine always enters a quilt in the county fair in MN, though she knows there are more experienced quilters who are likely to win. It gets her work exhibited, and in lots of cases gets her a professional critique from the judges, with feedback that helps her improve her work, so next year's offering is always improved in those criteria the judges commented on.

Maybe it would help if you thought in those terms, instead of competing to *win*. And you might be surprised by how your work holds up in competition, who knows?

Deirdre

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. :

]It gets her work exhibited, and in lots of cases gets her a ]professional critique from the judges, with feedback that helps her ]improve her work, so next year's offering is always improved in those ]criteria the judges commented on.

good thought!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Oh. I misunderstood. Didn't know you were referring to a *huge* state fair...

I get what you meant, now. And sticking to the intimate-sized version makes perfect sense to me, too.

Deirdre

It's not lack of faith in my work, or a need to win, that discourages me from entering fairs. It has more to do with the huge masses of people, most of whom are tired and disinterested by the time they get to yet another exhibit. It has to do with the format and the hoops to jump through in a fair the size of the one in Calif. I probably don't do it for the reasons you guys don't.

Tina

Yeah. I wrote a subsequent message saying I 'got' why you didn't go for the big 'organized riot' type events.

I'd have the same disinclination myself, on that kind of scale.

Deirdre

I saw that, Deirdre, thanks. Our posts crossed. With your feeling about eBay, I figured you'd get my drift.

Tina

The Beadwork division at the San Diego County Fair does have an "original design" catagory-- but only as non-pro. The two "pro" catagories are "handmade beads" and "combination of techniques (indicate techniques used)". Kaytee "Simplexities" on

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comnospam (Kaytee) :

]The Beadwork division at the San Diego County Fair does have an "original ]design" catagory-- but only as non-pro. The two "pro" catagories are "handmade ]beads" and "combination of techniques (indicate techniques used)".

ah - okay. the "wall hanging" was in with the "Fine Art". all of the jewelry was in "Crafts" - - and i've seen the patterns in magazines, so i KNOW they weren't "original designs" unless all the jewelry makers live in California and enter the Fair.

somehow, that's something lacking in the whole process.

because, to my way of thinking, anyway, there is a lot of difference in how well you can follow directions vs how well you can design something yourself.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)