Saturday, October 2, 2010

The Big County Fair Table #1

Edited to add:


I won first place in my category!
We just won't mention how many were in my category.....I know for sure there was definitely one!  Me!

For about 12 years now, the More Crafty Bee and I have been entering table settings in our local county fair.  (We also enter Christmas trees too, but I'll save that for another post.)

Well today was our set-up day!  
Our fair theme this year was "The Wild, Wild Best."  For the past few years it's had a cowboyish theme and the More Crafty Bee were just a little tired of that so we took it a bit further.  Our fair theme table this year is "The Wild, Wild Best (of Show)."

So here is our interpretation....

It's 1937 and four ladies from a small farming town are gathering to plan what they will enter in this year's county fair.  They have all won Best of Show in previous fairs and they are very proud of their endeavors.  One is an excellent baker and she has brought a fresh batch of her "Best of Show" cookies.  Another is an wonderful gardener and she has brought a bouquet much like the one that earned her "Best of Show" in floral arranging.  Our third lady takes great pride in her canning skills and has brought her "Best of Show" relish to share with the ladies.  And finally, the hostess of this gathering is a marvelous needleworker and she has her "Best of Show" stitching out for the ladies to admire.

Now how did we put it all together?
For the underskirt we used a chambray sheet that we hemmed (okay I must give credit to my mom, the Sewing Bee for doing the sewing).  On top of that we had a vintage lap or baby quilt.  The quilt is on loan from the More Crafty Bee's mom.  The napkins are also sewn by the Sewing Bee from a vintage looking creamy calico.
We had a hard time figuring out what to do with our placecards.  I downloaded some vintage images of  a lady canning, a gardener, a seamstress, and a cook and then added our guests names.  Loved them, but we just couldn't figure out what to do with them.  That More Crafty Bee came up with a great idea.  She had some snippets of vintage kitchen shelf edging and we put them in a circle, cut a couple of slits and slid the placecards in.  
Our dishes are Spode's Chelsea Wicker which I started picking up this spring.  The flatware is my grandma's silverplate, Holmes & Edward's Spring Garden.  The glasses are from another grandmother and I don't know their maker.  
(Sorry, it's a wee bit blurry, but I can't go back and take another.)

The "vintage" embroidery is actually something I made when I was about 8 or 9 years old.  That More Crafty Bee made the canned goods (she is multi-talented) and she assembled the silk flowers in a vintage water pitcher.  I provided the cookies (after spraying them with a quick coat of poly) on a vintage Jane Ray jadeite plate and an old cheese dome.  
I'll share our other table soon along with the other entrants' tables.  I'll share our Christmas trees too.

Thanks for buzzin' by today!  Your visits always bring a smile to my face.


Finally I'm going to link up with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday!

I'll also be joining
the party over at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.


****Giveaway Winner****

Oh dear, I was so excited and focused on the fair I forgot to announce the winner of my first blogthday giveaway!  The little package will be headed to Lora at My Blessed Life.  Hope you can stop by and see her wonderful blog!  It's full of great ideas for home schooling and family time.  She's a sweetie!
Thank you all of you who visit Sweet Bee Cottage from time to time.  I have loved getting to know you this past year!  

26 comments:

  1. First congrats to Lora. I hope to stop by later. Your tablescapes for the fair are wonderful. I really enjoyed all the different ladies ideas and how they all came together. Have a great day.

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  2. Love your tablescape. You and your mother are sooo creative. I am so far behind in my blogging with lots of projects to do this week. But I know when it's all said and done I will feel a sense of accomplishment. Can't wait to catch up on your blog. Hope you have a wonderful week!

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  3. I'm back! Just read your post on your new green china cabinet. I love it! I used to hate green but in the past few years have "embraced" it. You did an awesome job painting it...sometimes painted furniture can look....well, so "painted" if you know what I mean! As to your drawer front question. I love their look but I do see what your husband meant!!!! Maybe you could hang them along with something else...maybe a piece of decorative iron??? I have also see drawer fronts hung with glass or other type of knobs where you could hang jackets, hats, scarves, jewelry, etc. on. I am sure that what your creative self decides to do will be fabulous!

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  4. I LOVE this tablescape...you are Clever Bee. I also love that you get excited over entries into your fair. We have been fair people since our kids were little 4-H'ers. So fun and so rewarding.

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  5. I am so excited about winning the giveaway!! Thank you so much!!

    I love your tablescape, too!! So creative! We enjoyed looking at the exhibits at our fair this past week, but I didn't see any like this. This is one I could really get into:)

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  6. Oh how wonderful!!!! I think this is very clever and you should get the blue for sure! It looks like a table in an old western farmhouse! Great ideas!!!! Western themes don't have to be about cowboys.....let us know how you do! Sandy

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  7. Oh my...YOU are some clever and creative little Bees over there. I think your whole concept it fabulous plus you totally pulled it off. With such detail, too. So did you two already have the "Best of Show" ribbons from previous entries or did you have them made? Inquiring minds want to know..lol.
    I can hardly wait to see your next post.
    You have been a Busy Bee! Thanks so much for sharing with us all.
    ;-) Just wonderful!

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  8. I was going to skip the fair this year but now I have to go! I can't wait to see your table in person. It looks so cute from here!

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  9. What a fun tabletop! I didn't know they had such competitions at the fairs! Now I want to go more than ever!
    I love the chambray and the quilt used together. Perfect combo. I hope you win!
    Congrats to Lora!

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  10. I love your table! I didn't know they had competitions at fairs. I love the ideas you used. You know I love the quilt!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  11. Congrats to Lora! Love this table and how clever you both are!!

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  12. Thanks for the comment on my bench at Dandy Giveaway! Your blog is adorable -- I love your pirate tablescape (I just posted a pirate party post this morning -- you should check it out!) -- thanks again for reading Dandy :)

    Lanni
    www.dandygiveaway.com

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  13. Your tablescape for the fair is beautiful. Very very nice. Love your blog also. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I appreciate it so much. Have a great time with your table decorations for your fair. I will be back to check on it. Karie @
    Karie's Chic Creations.

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  14. Hi Did you have your Giveaway yet? I never saw it posted and thought I might have missed it, thanks! I still have the badge on my sidebar and thought I should know when people ask, thanks! Marilou

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  15. Oh my......how beeeeeeeeeeeeeautiful.....now that made my evening ( talk about eye candy ;o)
    Hugz, Nancy and the menagerie!

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  16. Great tablescape! Congrats on the blue ribbon!

    Nice job!

    Katherine

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  17. What a great tablescape! I love the vintage quilt and that wonderful jadite plate and those cute placecard holders. Heck, I think I just love it all!!
    Looks like it was a lot of fun, too.
    Hope your having a wonderful week~
    Fondly,
    Ann
    @
    The Tattered Tassel

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  18. Very clever - and beautiful! I can hardly wait to go see it in person!

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  19. I think that you would have won no matter how many entries were in your category. You all coordinated your things so well, and you achieved a delightful tablecloth. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

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  20. Well, congratulations again! That's so cool. The place card holders were genius! I used to love going to the Big county fair. It's a bit much for my family so we haven't been in a long time. I miss it!

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  21. I love this one too...you guys did an excellent job on the table settings.Mica

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  22. Once again, great job! Just too cute.

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  23. congrats on your winning.. a table setting as pretty as yours deserve the winning ribbon! thanks for sharing. have a great weekend!
    xo
    fitty

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  24. Oh congratulations!! The ribbons in my Etsy shop have recently been featured in treasuries and since I have been enamored by these fairs!

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  25. Congrats on your best in show ribbon! I got one too :-) I decorated a tree and got zippo lol... I am so not doing that again!
    ~Cheryl

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