The Orange County Fair

I entered my striped crossbody bag in the fair this year, which kinda makes me giggle every time I say it.  My dad entered some of his paintings, so I got all inspired and entered my bag. Plus, the entry fee was only $5 and it came with a free ($11) ticket to the fair, so to me it was too good of a deal to pass up. I wasn't really invested in actually winning anything.  It was a pleasant surprise when I got my entry packet at the registration drop-off to have already received an awesome screaming bright orange Participant ribbon.

We went to the fair today to go see my bag.  I almost didn't see it, it was kinda tucked in a corner.  I'm glad I didn't plan on winning, since the bag that won in our division was a vintage beaded knit design with the flippin' tiniest thread ever.  It totally deserved the win...  I am going to have to up my game for next year!  LOL!!!

This year there was a yarn bombing event at the fair.  It was super cool.  They solicited everyone that entered in the yarn-y categories to knit or crochet 10"x16" pennants to add to the event.  Of course I had to participate!  Here's the pennant I made:

The stars are on both sides, since I didn't want my sewing stitches to show through.  

I got a lovely surprise when I dropped the pennant off at the front gate.  I had apparently gotten registered in time to get a free ticket for participating!  So, Jake and I used my two (2!!) free tickets, and since Mims is 5 she got in free anyway.  Yay for Yarn!!!  I was also super excited to get my awesome sticker!

It was fun to see the yarn bombing groups working in the main square of the fair.  They were working like crazy to get all the pennants stitched together.  They had created really colorful and fun covers for the benches in the square, and they had covered  two cow and pig sculptures nearby. We had to wait around for a couple of hours for my pennant to make it on to a garland and get hung in the trees.  So we went to check out the Fine Art Pavillion where we saw that my dad had received an honorable mention for one of his pen and ink pieces!  Then we shared a funnel cake.  Finally, we checked back with the yarn bombing group and my pennant was with the group that was going up into the trees.  I was so excited when I watched it being hung up.

So, if you're going to the Orange County Fair anyway, go by and check it out.  You can also go see my Striped Crossbody Bag (the pattern is available on Craftsy for $1) in the Home Arts Pavillion.  Oh, and a little heads up to anyone that might go:  Wear sunscreen!  There's not much shade, and virtually no shade in most of the eating areas.  I am bright tomato red tonight, and we weren't there that long...  Of course, I AM half vampire... Jake is joking that I'm "The Girl on Fire" tonight.  Ah, Hunger Games humor...

xoxo

btw, I got another picture for the Dynamo Gallery!!! I love seeing what you guys have done!  If you'd like to add your own picture to the gallery, please send photos to CrochetDynamite(at)gmail(dot)com.  I'd love to show off what you've done!!  (And, if you've got a blog or site, I'd be happy to link your picture to it! Just send me the link in your email.)
xo Jaime

Birthday Award Button

Yesterday was my sister's birthday.  We all went out to dinner and then came back here and I made brownies for dessert. It was fun.  

I had put together a The Night Circus themed gift (remember this?) for her, but I wanted to make her something that she could wear to dinner, to let everyone know it was her birthday.  I also wanted to make her something that she would be happy to wear during her birthday festivities...

I've been playing around with the idea of doing a county-fair-style award ribbon, which seemed like a good place to start for my birthday button.  Of course, she would get the blue ribbon, but I wasn't exactly sure what to put in the center.  A miniature birthday cake?  Spell out Happy Birthday?  Her age?!  That got me to thinking about a story from a couple of weeks ago, one that has been cracking me up every time I think of it:

My sister is a teacher, and at her school they have a big birthday party at the beginning of each month for all of the teachers at the school that have birthdays that month.  So, 2 weeks ago, my sister walked in my back door with her arms full of birthday presents, and flowers, and balloons.  My dad asked her what all the stuff was for. She replied,  "It's my birthday presents!"

He looked at her quizzically.  "Is today your birthday?" he asked.

She put her presents down and narrowed her eyes.  "No," she replied.  "Dad? Do you know when my birthday is?"

He paused for a few moments.  "Your sister's is March, so you're May.  It's not the 15th, it's the 18th. May 18th." he said.

She gave him a smile. "You got it right.  But, do you know how old I am?" she teased.

This time he didn't hesitate at all. "You're twenty-seven!" he declared.

My sister, who is now well into her thirties, delightedly replied, "Yep, Dad, you got it right again."

So, when I handed her the present at the restaurant, she delightedly put her birthday award button on.  

"You knew just the right age for it!" she told me.

"Well, of course!  I asked Dad." I replied.

xoxo