Another Fair gone by

The 2008 Nevada State Fair is over. Mim and Becky have reported on it already. The Spinners and Weavers tent and demonstrations was a great success, thanks to all the many folks who donated their time and effort. Here are a few photos taken around the fairgrounds. (Click on them for bigger images.)

Nevada State Fair (a bit late)

Life has gotten in the way of my blogging lately, but I do want to tell you a little bit about the NV State Fair. It was tons of fun despite being REALLY hot. We demonstrated spinning and weaving and carding and other fiberish stuff to crowds of interested adults and children. We had a name-the-sheep contest for kids - I believe the winning name was "Grendel". Must have been an exceptionally literate kid! For the already-fiberish we had open judging, a spinning contest, and a fleece auction. Keeping to my resolve to work through my existing stash, I did not acquire a fleece. I did, however, win a lovely EarthHues dye kit in the spinning contest. Apparently all that lace spinning is paying off!

Here are a few pictures:

Off to the Fair, Tra la

This week is all about the Nevada State Fair. For several years now I have coordinated our local Spinning Guild's efforts. This makes some sense, since I am an absolute fair junky. I love the animals, kids, corndogs, cheesy contests and all around excitement. The Fair starts officially on Wednesday, but it has actually been going on since yesterday when the equestrian events began. Today the tents started going up, the carnies started rolling in, and mobs of youth exhibitors came in to have their cakes, pictures, crafts, and whatever judged. These are, in fair parlance, the "Static Exhibits". In other words anything that doesn't moo, neigh, baah, oink, squeek, cluck, or spit. For the umpteenth year in a row I served as a photography judge and spent this evening interviewing droves of kids about their pictures. Some of these kids are extremely talented, and with today's cameras even the Peewees (8 and under) can take technically awesome photos.

The Guild will have a large tent back by the livestock barns. As of this afternoon we had a roof but no walls. I have a promise of walls first thing tomorrow and hopefully will be rolling out flooring by mid-morning. Then the tables arrive, we hang the banner and we start setting up for display. Here's the banner drying after a nice hose-off in my back yard. I'll have lots more to say about the Fair as it progresses.



Another topic: Here is an unusual spinning wheel that has come my way. I once saw an identical one on eBay, so it is probably not a home-built. It looks kinda vaguely like a Country Spinner, but the orifice is off to the left from the treadle. I would love to have more information on its origins.











I'll leave you with one more picture from the Fair. They were laying out carpet in the large indoor arena and some poor slob had the job of vacuming about an acre of it with a standard vacume cleaner (and a really long extension cord). Glad I don't have that job!

Such a busy weekend!

So much to tell!
Friday Sharon and I drove up (and down) to Grass Valley, CA for the Nevada County Fair. As members of the Foothill Fibers Guild, we were there to demonstrate handspinning, see the Fair, and most importantly, visit with friends.

The Nevada County Fairgrounds are absolutely beautiful with meandering paths and lots of shady trees. Last year I debuted my painted Kiwi wheel at this fair. This year I had the matching chair and lazy kate. The Foothills folks are amazing artisans, so there were many beautiful items on display. My favorite entry was probably Sue's sweater.




It was especially fun to spend some time with Birdsong, who has become a good friend through blogging.




Some other fair entries of note included the duct tape bathing suit and the alien-looking squash attacking a tractor.









Among the displays of antique engines was a 1957 Airstream "Bubble" Trailer. The owner proudly allowed me to look inside. He has done a great job restoring it and was happy to talk vintage trailer with me.


Saturday was the Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers' August Guild Meeting. This time it was up at Sharon's farm in Red Rock. It was quite the crowd, but lots of fun. There are lots of new members excited about learning to spin. Lots of folks had recent projects to show and tell. I especially love Linda's felted scarf that looks like something alien. Allison has one too, but I didn't get as good a picture of it.

Mim gave a great demonstration of nuno felting.




All this creativity and friendship in 2 days! I'll have to save my latest adventure in car repair for another post.