I've Got the Blues

I brought home a significant pile of ribbons from the 2015 Chilliwack Fall Fair! Of the 13 classes I entered I came home with 14 ribbons. How is that even possible you ask? Well three of my first place entries also took home those gorgeous "big ribbons" that my 6 year old granddaughter loves so much!

I'm very pleased that my handwoven Saori tunic not only received a first in it's class (handwoven garment), it also received a beautiful "Best in Show" ribbon.

 Yay for free style weaving becoming more of an accepted art form. 

In that class, along with the big rosette ribbon, I received a nice gift basket.

It contained a couple of cones of weaving cotton, a book light, a plaque, a package of post it notes, a great little pair of scissors, a small rotary mat, and some yarn needles of a style I have never even seen before. Can't wait to try those out!

I entered a two part purse (a black inner purse and a removable Saori woven outer section) in the "Craft Project: Handbag or Tote" class of the sewing section. It received a first place ribbon and a "Best in Section" rosette.

Apparently there were a few laughs over the tiny little sweater I entered in the "Knitted Sweater, any size" class. I don't think they pictured doll size entries when they wrote "any size", but it still won a first and the "Best in Section", perhaps because it IS actually a full sized adult woman knitting pattern that I miniaturized by knitting it with laceweight yarn and 1.5mm and 2.0mm needles.

I also entered a lace cowl in the hand knitting section. It received a first place ribbon.

Another score for the advancement of Saori weaving: my Saori woven rainbow clutch won a first in the "Bag, any style, shape or size" class of the hand weaving section, ---

-- as did a Saori woven scarf which I entered in the "Scarf woven with handspun" class.

So here they are together the six items that took first place.

I'll be back soon to show you the 2nd and 3rd place items, and I'll even show you my submissions that did NOT win.

Winner's Confession

In light of my recent win of two different blog contests I have a confession. I'm Very Lucky. Sometimes my frequent good luck is actually embarrassing. I do seem to win a lot of door prizes, give-aways and such. I've been known to win twice at the same event, or twice in a row at monthly meetings. This phenomena has been going on for years. I often have people tell me I should be buying lottery tickets, but the funny thing is I have no faith in those. My wins always come in free-to-enter draws.

The biggest thing I have ever won (so far) was a contest sponsored by a Prince George radio station. It was an entire catered backyard barbecue for 20 people. All 20 people got a free t-shirt with the summer barbecue logo and all the booze they could guzzle and food they could eat. The food was prepared in my backyard by chefs from the Keg. They brought in big barbecues just for the occasion. I didn't get to keep those, nor the portable hot tub also brought in for the event, but I did get a lot. I got to keep a cedar picnic table, a set of barbecue tools, and numerous smaller prizes from local sponsors. It's been about 20 years but I still remember there was an Hawaiian themed gift basket with suntan lotions, sunglasses a Frisbee and a lei. The entry fee? Nothing. I just had to phone in at the right time (first win) and then at the end of the week be chosen from the daily winners (second win).

The oddest thing I have ever won was a "green pack" from the same radio station. It was a Saint Patrick's Day give away. Everything in the gift basket was green. I remember there was 7-UP, pea soup and spearmint gum among other, now forgotten items.

Other things I have won? A turkey given away at a butcher shop. Door prizes at spin-ins (more than once). A significant number of door prizes at Christmas parties, both work related and hobby related. A water bottle, CD, t-shirt, mug, tickets and such from radio stations. I'm sure there are other things that are just not coming to mind right now.

I don't feel guilty about all this winning. I'm an honest person. I don't lie and I don't cheat. I also don't believe that my good fortune causes anyone else's lack. I won't get into my beliefs in detail here, but I believe we each create our own reality --- that which we perceive to be "bad" and that which we perceive to be "good". Sometimes we can't see the blessing in our trials, but trust me, the blessings are there.

I feel the key to creating all that you desire in life is JOY. Not the kind of joy the comes purely from circumstances (like winning a lottery?), but the kind of joy that wells up inside despite outward circumstances. When I go to a place inside where trust and allowing dwell, JOY is always there waiting. It is from this peaceful place of Joy that I create my reality.