The 2011 North Carolina State Fair completed its run yesterday, so when this morning came, it was time to retrieve my 2011 North Carolina State Fair entries from the fairgrounds. With my five claim tickets, I gathered together all of the thing I had entered in the fair:

To my surprise, the gray nubby brimmed hat that I made using Eileen Tepper’s pattern and entered in the category of Adult Hand Crafted Items Hand Crocheted Hats did not win any notice from the judges:

I think that had I taken the time to trick it out with a few added gee-gaws, it might have done better, but then the recipient it is intended for would not have wanted to wear it. Ribbon or no, I think the hat is wonderful.

Happily, the hat I made using Eileen Tepper’s Newsboy hat pattern and Debbie Brandt’s handspun yarn did better and managed to take third in the “Adult Hand Crafted Items Handspun: Hats” category. For anyone who doesn’t recall the hat, here is my youngest son’s stuffed tiger/hat model:

Edson, the hamster of action, an amigurumi I made using Narumi Ogawa‘s pattern in the book, Mr. Funky’s Super Crochet Wonderful, captured third in his category:

My felted Electric Kool-Aid stash bag made using using vintage wool yarn, the Purl Bee’s pattern for a crocheted stash basket, and 15 packs of blue Kool-Aid did well in the “Felted/Fulled Item” category, bringing home the blue:

The afghan I had labored over for two months and entered in the Home Furnishings category of non-Threaded Needlecraft Afghan (2 or more colors) managed to garner a green honorable mention ribbon:

My only regret is that this year I did not make it to the fairgrounds for the fair itself. I missed out on funnel cake, I did not get to see the Village of Yesteryear, and I did not get to see all of the exhibits that I wanted to see.

Opening day of the 2012 North Carolina State Fair is just 353 days away, and I am going to make sure that I fit it into my schedule; no matter what.