Tag Archive | Cross stitch

Anoka County Fair 2018

We entered so many things this year and EVERYONE did very well, so for the most part this is really just a lovely series of pictures of people’s entries and ribbons. But first, Some of the fun is picking them out when Ken and I go to the fair to see what is what. 20180725_211908

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Trinity

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20180730_173015Emanuel – this was his last year in the younger kids’ category.IMG_20180730_180917_458

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Moments in March

March is a special month – within the span of a week my brother AND my father have their birthdays. I will warn  you now… March was photo heavy!! And VERY delayed… but better late than forgetting all about the blog and giving up on it… right?

Our trend of almost every evening at the YMCA has continued. I think we are really taking full advantage of our membership right now.20170304_105422

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IMG_20170309_233608_012Ken and I spent more than a few weekends with an evening at the indoor soccer games.IMG_20170304_220904_230

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IMG_20170318_223622_583Some of those nights Aidan and Alex joined our kids to avoid having to go watch.20170304_230525

20170315_092320We spent some fun time with the Schwartz family.IMG_20170308_123745_874

Of course there was plenty of school going on.

Decorating chalk eggs

Decorating chalk eggs

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Gavin on left

Gavin on left

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Science!

Science!

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KARATE!

KARATE!

20170317_093842We had a tiny bit of snow to enjoy.20170313_120454

We had a bit of a fashion show month.

Thank you Aunty Heather!

Thank you Aunty Heather!

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Don't ask, but that IS a cat on the hat.

Don’t ask, but that IS a cat on the hat.

This is one of my shirts from when I visited my sister at college before Trinity was even born!

This is one of my shirts from when I visited my sister at college before Trinity was even born!

IMG_20170310_212741_776The completions in class just keep on coming.IMG_20170303_105736_964

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IMG_20170306_100028_671And I found time for some baking.20170321_160654

Don’t forget about St. Patrick’s Day!

Zander far left... oldest to youngest in their pinch free green.

Zander far left… oldest to youngest in their pinch free green.

Setting the leprechaun trap

Setting the leprechaun trap

Quite the gold this year!

Quite the gold this year!

Fancy themed table

Fancy themed table

Themed lunch!

Themed lunch!

Or our monthly Pizza Hut.20170321_181551

The sunroom has finally warmed, with the help of the new portable fireplace and a tidy room we have really been enjoying the space.20170328_193612

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IMG_20170328_192042_567We finished up a redecorate on Emanuel’s room!20170304_184808

We also put up improved clothing rods for the girls!20170314_205905

I got in lots of crocheting time.IMG_20170330_151244_082

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Hats for all of us girls

Hats for all of us girls

And found a yarn that reminded me of a famous painting.IMG_20170313_233313_656

Snuck in a cross stitch pattern – a birthday gift for my mom!20170328_151542

And after making them at Cluby, Trinity helped me make some knotted blankets for our sunroom chairs.IMG_20170308_102121

Spent some time at church.IMG_20170326_110250_423

It was great to spend time with friends who are family.20170304_201128

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Shandai and Ravyn's kitty!!! Well, one of!

Shandai and Ravyn’s kitty!!! Well, one of!

Anthony and Chloe

Anthony and Chloe

20170310_230211And just straight out family! 

Cousin Robbie!

Cousin Robbie!

Ken and I snuck out for our own time together too.IMG_20170313_143009_660

IMG_20170308_215536_014All while we played and learned and kept ourselves busy!IMG_20170302_114620_790

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Creativity in the mind of Echo.

Creativity in the mind of Echo.

 

Spot the squirrel

Spot the squirrel

Anoka County Fair 2017

This is my 3rd year entering into our local county fair, and this year everyone but Ken had some sort of entry. It was a bit of a struggle to get everything done in time for entry, but we managed. I think next year we will plan in advance to include some school projects in our entries. Maybe make some pointed attempts to craft according to fair themes?

Well, from youngest to oldest… Echo! She was adamant she wanted a RAINBOW ribbon. This happens to be the participation ribbon for the children under 13. So there was a bit of a worry that she WOULD place with both of her pieces and thus get what she sees as the less pretty and therefore less wanted ribbon. Well, not a problem. While she did an amazing job, both of her pieces did not place. And she was still happy! Score! Crayon drawing was done using Art for Kids instructions (we love this site and pay for the subscription). 20170801_141417_HDRHer Legos  were a free form piece.20170801_140908

Trinity was a bit more prolific. She got a camera for her birthday (thanks again Gammie!) and wanted to send in 4 of her photos. 4 categories… animals, people, nature and flowers… all in colour. She didn’t do half bad!

Neko-Chan

Neko-Chan

Flowers

Flowers

Brothers

Brothers

Flowering tree

Flowering tree

And for her Lego piece – one with instructions.

In the cabinet since when we took it home we had to take it off the board and such.

In the cabinet since when we took it home we had to take it off the board and such.

Emanuel had 3 pieces this year. He remade his minion he had made and not entered last year with all Lego blocks, drew a picture and wrote a 4th Haiku to go with a seasonal series he had to write for an assignment. He copied out, arranged and glued down the whole written piece. Something to definitely be proud of!20170801_140932

20170801_14133820170801_141126Gavin put in 3 pieces. We tie dyed as a family, he chose to enter his shirt. Then it was a repeat of his Chinese New Year t-shirt theme – drawn on dragon! His third was, again, a dragon – this time in pencil. Not bad, not bad!20170801_141522

20170801_141611_HDR20170801_141437_HDRZander was a bit of a push. He was not motivated to make much of anything. I was really hoping he would work harder on the rug kit he got for Christmas, but we have hope for NEXT year with that one. This year it was his tie dye shirt and that was that.20170801_141641

I went all out this year trying to do a variety of pieces that will later be given out as gifts. According to the judges my top entry was my set of flower fairy dolls. They were entered under crochet dolls pair and ended up a Sweepstakes winner (I am still a little dodgy on what that means entirely, but the ribbon is pretty).20170807_143603

My personal favourite was the Haku dragon I entered under crochet storybook character. You can read all about our adventure to create this one and get the link to the pattern I used HERE. I have plans to make another in the near future.20170801_141739

I had a whole series of baby pieces this year. Many of which are slated to head over to a friend’s for her little one. Hat, booties, sweater, blanket. Not a bad little selection. I am still hunting for the perfect sweater pattern. This one was cute, but I agree with the judge, using the buttons it called for (toggles) was not quite right. So now that I have photographed it, time to remove the toggles and replace with some black buttons.20170805_142418

20170805_14234820170807_14373620170728_194446My second blanket entry this year was also a baby blanket. Just over sized to a toddler size really. Based on a blanket seen on the tv show Call The Midwife, I lucked out with a super deal on factory remnant yarn and ran with it.IMG_20170805_150002_388

I went all out with the critters as usual, Haku, the dolls… I also did a mini flower fairy as my solitary entry under doll. She is a small version of a larger one I entered last year. I also used a leaf pattern I had from another project to create a little leaf basket on her arm. 20170801_142351

For animals, my poor bunny lost out to FOUR Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (although I have to say, aren’t they more storybook than…).20170805_142327

For the first time I also entered a doll I dressed with my own creations. My 18 inch doll was done up in a fall theme. Not bad for a first go!20170805_144032_HDR

I had 2 doilies… one in yarn and one in thread. The thread was with beads and everything – a wedding ring piece that I will now have to make as a belated wedding gift. (maybe)20170805_142232

20170801_142242I did up 2 Christmas ornaments – one in cross stitch (cardboard and beading) and one in crochet.20170801_142014

20170801_141954That leaves clothing… Adult hat (which made Karyn laugh when I made it), scarf (sloth), purse (it was a challenge!), and slippers (cuz I was hoping for suggestions to improve… nope).20170801_142310

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My other category was a fun one – a mermaid sack!20170801_142117

2 of my pieces did not place – my pot holders and my child hat. Not a huge surprise. Next year I will have to go with a funkier hat!

Sailor's Knot

Sailor’s Knot

Lacy Leaf Bonnet

Lacy Leaf Bonnet

So… Ken and I went on the Friday to see the pieces first hand. We had our poutine and cheese curds, got the kids cotton candy, and enjoyed ourselves! Another year’s fair experienced, we definitely have plans for the next! Wish us luck! And if you have the chance, enter a fair near you!20170728_191706

This entry was posted on 15/08/2017, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments