8/29/10

Blue Ribbon Quilts!



Hi All.
Every year Dan and I make our annual trip to the Minnesota State Fair.  And every year, our first stop is the creative arts building.  This is where I get to ooh and aah over all the gorgeous creations.
The best of the best are entered here and the skill, creativity and craftsmanship is just amazing!


I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the quilts that were entered.  Don't you just love this pink creation!  Ooh it would have been good for a Pink Saturday post.







Please excuse the glare. Most of the displays are behind glass cases and it was so crowded and not real easy to maneuver around to get a good pic.

The displays are so beautiful!   After they have completed the judging they group things together by colors, themes, textures and other fun ideas.


This one just took my breath away!  And will you look at that darling dress.  I can't imagine the hours it took to complete this beauty!

Even a pink ribbon is an achievement at the State Fair where the competition is so fierce.

I just loved this quilt!  No ribbon, but it was a winner in my book.




Oh just look at all the charming teapots!






Aren't the colors just wonderful!

















I just loved this Christmas display!  Everything pictured is a an entry.  Just look at those amazing wooden figurines.
And it's Minnesota so of course we have a Viking Santa!

  And I thought this was so clever.  Quilt on a stick!  Isn't that unique.  I guess they figured that since everything at the fair can be found on a stick, why not a quilt.  And the state bird, the mosquito of course.


A crafty fisherman's paradise!


More Christmas.  Look at those stockings, aren't they wonderful!

Lovely craftsmanship





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Here are some fun facts about the Minnesota State Fair.
The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest in the country covering 320 acres.
Last year's attendance was just under two million.
The first Minnesota State fair was held in 1859.
Presidents Coolidge, Eisenhower, Harding, Teddy Roosevelt and Taft all made appearances at the fair.
And Teddy Roosevelt gave one of his most famous speeches, "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" at the Minnesota State Fair in 1901.
 I have a few more fun pics I hope to share later this week.
Have a great Monday.
And speaking of Mondays, I am joining Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.
And Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.
Cindy

36 comments:

  1. Wow! Cindy these are incredible! All are blue ribbon winners in my book. Gorgeous! Lots of talent and lots of work.

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  2. Wonderful quilts! We went to our fair last week and I forgot my camera. Thank you for sharing you fun! Sharon

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  3. Oh Cindy Sweetie...
    Thank you SO much for taking me to the State Fair. I have wanted to go for some time, and have not been able to here in Phoenix. To far to parking and to far to walk, and ofcourse being the slow snail that I am just ain't gonna happen.

    I loved the quilt with the tea pots most of all. Ofcourse they were all exquisite, my gosh I cannot even imagine the hours and time that are put into one of these pieces.

    Thank you so much for sharing with me. Now when is that grandbaby coming? I know you are getting so excited to see her, hold her, kiss her and love that baby breath. I will be watching and waiting.

    Many hugs sweetie and so much love. Again thank you for the wonderful tour. I saw there was a fish in there. I am sure DH was happy with that display.

    Much love, Sherry

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  4. HI Cindy! Oh, what gorgeous quilts! I can't imagine all the time it would take to make one of these beauties!!
    Thanks for popping in to see me.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  5. How wonderful and pretty...I don't get to the fair often but when I was a girl I loved to look at the handicraft, cooking, flowers, animals, etc. It is great that so many women still do such beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Each and every one of those quilts is beautiful.

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  7. Those are some beautiful quilts! Thanks for sharing them with us. I have not been to the local fair here in many years, as it changed so much.
    Have a great weekend.

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  8. All the quilts are adorable, Cindy, each and everyone of them. Thank you for taking pictures and sharing them here, it was just like being there....Christine

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  9. Such beautiful work! This gets me primed for the Houston Quilt Festival in November. :)

    Barb

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  10. All gorgeous but how that redwork quilt didn't get a ribbon is beyond me!!

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  11. Hi Cindy! What a wonderful post and such beautiful quilts and crafts! Your State Fair must be lots of fun and it sounds huge compared to our Kansas State Fair. Ours starts early next month so hubby and I are looking forward to heading over there to taste some good food and see some wonderful sights. Of course we'll have to check out the chickens and other livestock along with all the crafts. I'll be taking my camera along too...can't wait! Enjoy your Monday....Maura :)

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  12. Cindy, it's been so long since I have been to Fair! Years and years! My problem with Fairs is that I usually see something I would dearly love to own...and is not for sale. NOT in a million years. That Redwork quilt is just amazing! All of them are, but I really love that one being a RED person!
    It looks like it was a fantastic Fair.

    Hugs and love,
    Mona

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  13. I'm sitting here in awe! The "creative arts" building is named appropriately! Amazing quilts, it must have been fun to see them in person!

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  14. Truly beautiful works of art, all!!!!! Cathy

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  15. Lovely, lovely, lovely! I would have hated to have been the judge. How could you ever decide places?

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  16. I love that dress quilt. I have a few that I am working on. Hope to enter them in the county fair next year.
    Happy Blue Monday, the Kind of Blue that I like! My Blue Monday Link for you

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  17. Oh how I wish I was that talented and patient-these quilts are stunning!

    I love State fairs too!

    Best wishes always,
    Natasha.

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  18. Oh my goodness gracious, Cindy!
    These quilts absolutely take my breath away -- I sew but these quilts rise above anything I've ever done -- they are truly works of art. I salute their creators! What an amazing collection of handwork -- the quilts, the dresses, the Christmas items, and I think I spotted a blue ribbon on a sweater, too!

    Oh my, like the good Norwegian that I am, I need to go get a strong cup of coffee now to calm me down!

    (And Santa ISN'T a Viking???)
    Cass

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  19. I can see why you go every year...beautiful pieces..so much time and love go into them...thank you for sharing...

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  20. Oh My! Those are some gorgeous quilts! I like the one with the ladies built into the flowers the best. The colors on that one just seem to jump out at you! I love it! I am also in awe of the whole fishermans display. That's not my look but I really can appreciate it all the same. It's fantastic!

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  21. Exquisite, Cindy!

    Happy Blue Monday. Check out my book giveaway.

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  22. Each one is a priceless work of art.
    Brenda

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  23. Oh girl, the quilts are amazing but like you I'm quite smitten with that little dress. I could so see my two youngest granddaughters in that! Thanks for sharin' your beautiful pics.

    God bless ya and have a marvelous Monday!!!

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  24. Cindy,
    the quilts are amazing. Makes me want to get out the old sewing machine. Thanks for sharing such beautiful pic's.

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  25. Oh my goodness! So beautiful! There are so many incredibly artistic and talented people in this world... I am just not in that league at all.

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  26. WOW...Each is so beautiful..I loved the flower ladies too! I will never have the talent to do this kind of work but i so love it! :D

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  27. I love quilts. I have several old ones and while I don't have them out in this house...I still love having them. Some of the ones you show are so unique and gorgeous.

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  28. Spectacular quilts. So many beautiful designs and colours.

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  29. Stunning quilts, I so love to see what other quilters have done. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy the week.

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  30. An amazing show of handwork. Cindy, thank you for sharing all these photos. ~ Sarah

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  31. Blue ribbons for Blue Monday...perfection! Cherry Kay

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  32. The judges had to have had a hard time with their picks.
    Any of those would look good in my home. tee hee

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  33. Oh Cindy, what wonderful quilts! I love that quilt with the little girls doing various activities (the one you said didn't win a ribbon). I think it was my favorite. but then the Christmas quilt was a close second. I wouldn't have wanted to judge these. It would have been so hard picking the best from all of these beautiful quilts. laurie

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  34. The quilts are beautiful. That bench is georgeous and that train. Beautiful photos.

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  35. I really enjoyed your pictures of the Minnesota State Fair, whoever puts those showcases together is a wonderful window dresser.

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Welcome,
I would love to hear from you. Come back and visit anytime. Warmest Wishes, Cindy