Hello everyone! I've been getting such a warm welcome from you all....it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Please stick around, I'll make it worth your while. That's right...I'm thinking giveaway. I don't know exactly what yet. I was waiting until I had a decent number of readers so I didn't feel too pathetic if I did a giveaway and only like 5 people commented. But at the moment I have no excuses....so stay tuned for more details...
For now, here's some more rural America fun for you...
We spent the day at the Barnstable County Fair. This thing has been going on for over 150 years. So I tend to try to plan a summer visit to the cape to go with the kids, since I've yet to find anything to compare here in Jersey. Don't get me wrong...I'm sure there is something...I just haven't been yet.
(gratuitous rust picture for Melissa's pleasure)
There were 2 things I didn't quite remember about the fair:
1. It's freakin expensive. I mean one ride for $5?!?! But luckily it was arm band day and I made sure we got our money's worth.
2. There are just too many ridiculously-bad-for-me-but-oh-so-yummy food options. Really everywhere I looked, I thought, "no, THAT's what I'm craving" I didn't eat it all, but believe me, I ate enough.
And, no, no pictures of the food. I was too busy gobbling it. And just writing about it is making me hungry...I'm glad I don't have to look at it.
Of course I did take photos of the quilts, but honestly they don't do them justice. I wish they had more room to display them, because most of them were folded up.
But I couldn't get over this one.
Look how cute! This tree is only like 5" tall and is only one small section of a whole appliqued quilt. But I just found it so charming with it's little birds...
tweet, tweet.
JT
I do so love a good summer fair. The crafts and the animals and the giant tomatoes... Your photos are great - I especially like the tilt-a-whirl one - I almost got dizzy!
Posted by: Amy | July 31, 2008 at 02:03 PM
I love country fairs. Especially the animals.....oh, and the fried dough. I'm a sucker for fried dough.
Welcome to blogland, btw.
Posted by: Sequana | July 31, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I just found your blog yesterday, and am so happy I did! It's funny you said that about a giveaway - I feel the same way with my blog!
Anyway, I look forward to many more posts!
Posted by: Ashley | July 31, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Wahoo, Tilt-a-Whirl! My personal favorite!
The quilts are soooooo beautiful. Such a fun summer time place to go!
Posted by: Lisa G | July 31, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Love your pictures! I saw your Black Forest Purse earlier and have been stalking the pattern over at Henrietta's all day. . . Thanks for the inspiration :)
Posted by: Amy @ parkcitygirl | July 31, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Stopping over from Yummy Goods...the mini bee quilt is awesome...maybe you might post a pattern some day? I bet you created it on your own..amazing! I tried to come up with a realistic but simple pieced grizzly bear pattern and finally gave up. I just started quilting about 6 months ago and it is my new obsession. There are so many wonderful new fabric designers and fabric/craft blogs that it got my juices going to start playing with fabric in a new way. Your blog looks like it is off to a good start...I can't imagine how all of you talented crafters find the time to take care of family stuff, craft/design, take pictures of EVERYTHING you do and see and get a blog up on a regular basis. Keep it up and I'll keep stopping by. Oh, by the way, I think the fabric circle tutorial is great. Vetran sewers could probably figure out how to make the fabric fit snuggly around the circle...but using cake circles is brilliant! Cardboard is so hard to cut smoothly! I have seen fabric stretched over canvas in squares and rectangles, but the circles give it a mod sort-of twist. I am going to try this in my classroom and craft room for little punches of fabric art.
Posted by: tpanderson | August 01, 2008 at 12:30 AM
Your photos from the fair are so colorful! I love that little tree on the quilt, too. I really enjoy the fairs late at night when the lights shine in the darkness and the merry-go-round music is playing. It seems like it is certainly summer right then!
Posted by: jessica | August 01, 2008 at 02:00 PM
I love county fairs! The rides freak me out a bit, and I do always end up eating too much junk, but I love them anyway.
Posted by: Alexis | August 01, 2008 at 04:40 PM
oh, look at you with all these comments! and thanks for the rust picture. it did make my heart pitter patter. xo
Posted by: melissa@yummygoods | August 02, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Hey, so happy to see my blog on your list!! Thanks.
Okay I'm flipping over these incredible fair photos. Seriously. I want to paint them!
Great blog!
Posted by: Paula | August 02, 2008 at 01:15 PM
welcome to blogland! love the splashes of color. good luck :)
Posted by: steph | August 02, 2008 at 05:48 PM
I love your pictures! Going to the fair is one of my favorite things to do. Here in Minnesota the State Fair will be starting up in about 3 weeks and I can't wait to eat some bad-for-me food!
Posted by: Paige | August 02, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Hey Jess, I ditto the quality of your pix. They are GREAT! also love the quilty little tree..applique always sends me, as I don't do it myself much. and you will never guess who I thought of when I saw the rust picture! (I will ALWAYS think of Melissa now WHENEVER I see rust!)
And get working on that giveaway. I like trying to win stuff! After my Tootsie pop challenge is finished in September, I will be having a giveaway as well...
May the blog force be with you!
PS. I am adding you to my fabric artists link, so keep up the good work, kiddo!
Posted by: Scott at Blue Nickel Studios | August 03, 2008 at 09:02 AM