When I arrived I was given a large plastic box, referred to as "The box". I opened it up to find scissors, pens, paper clips, clothes pins (???), safety pins, tape, a ruler, a tape measure, some signs, various memos, and 2 black notebooks for recording the entry items. No instructions for either of them. So I picked some brains of Superintendents in other departments, and winged it. Oh yes, there was a badge that says Linda Jo Park Superintendent. Cool!
I am somewhat frustrated by the 'classes'-the categories for entering things, like Hand knit adult hat or cap and Hand knit baby style small afghan. There's nothing wrong with those two, but the list makes no sense at all. For instance, a pair of slip stitch socks and a pair of twisted stitch socks were entered. We had on our list plain, argyle, fairisle, cabled, and lace. (Just exactly what is 'plain' supposed to mean anyway, and shouldn't argyle be intarsia?) Neither pair fit in any of those. Thankfully, as Knitting Superintendent, I get to create whole new classes-which I did, with great glee. In sweaters we have pullover, cardigan, and vest or shell. They aren't divided up by stitch type like the socks are. I don't even want to think about the afghan classes. It makes my head hurt. (At least they removed the Granny Square Afghan class from 2 years ago-I kid you not!) I think a complete revamp of knitting classes is in order.
Unfortunately, entries are way way down this year so far. We've got less than half that was expected. I think it's because for the first time they did not print the entry information books. It's an online only thing now. A lot of people around here don't own a computer. Or if they do, they didn't get news of the change. We've had a lot of complaints about it today. Change is hard for humans.
I took my daughter Ruth with me. She was the designated slave of the day. I thought I was only going to have one Entry Clerk, and I didn't have a whole lot of hope that my Assistant Superintendent would show because she broke her foot and I doubted it would be healed in time. Sure enough, she didn't show. However, a second Entry Clerk did show up (I didn't know I had two). How cool is that! So, with 2 clerks and my daughter I was able to keep up with things.
What was extra fun was all 4 of us have never done this job before, so we were stumbling along trying to figure out what to do all together. It would be much worse if they knew all about it and I knew nothing. At least this way I don't look as stupid as I could have. ;-)
I've entered 3 pairs of socks. That is all I have to enter this year. Usually I'll have at least a dozen entries, if not more. I gave away most of the knitting I've done in the past year, done very little beading and stitching, and did no felt applique at all. It's not that I haven't made a lot of things (remember all those baby booties?). I just gave most all of it away.
Tomorrow I have another day of taking in entries. Then, it will be preparation for judging. I'm so glad I don't have to judge the entries. I can't even imagine how hard that must be.
Have a good day.
Eeeek! I lost track of time! I really needed this reminder- the Bonner Cty. fair is next week. *scurries about*
ReplyDeleteThe classes in the various needlework techniques boggle my mind. Thankfully, they almost always have an 'other' category in needlework, so I can enter my crazyquilt and bead embellished pillows!
I judge needlework at two county fairs. Luckily my predecessor helped make sense of the classes. I was responsible for adding socks to one county.
ReplyDeleteI got a laugh at a crochet entry. The class was crochet speciman - other and the entry was 2 swatches! They were a speciman and not that well done. No ribbon was awarded.
Good luck with your entries. I think they should still print out things even if they post it online & someone needs to come up with better categories. Thankfully you were there to help.
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