Well I had a very successful day at Otley show yesterday. Last year I won the Eric Walton Cup for the most points in the handicraft section for the first time (having entered things for over 25 years!) This year I was out to defend it!!
There are 9 classes in the section with a maximum of two entries per person, so I entered two things in 7 classes, I left out the knitted ones, I know my limits!! I entered two soft toys, which will be pin cushions now, two padded coat-hangers, two bags, I ‘dressed’ the knitting bag with sewing pattern in a pocket, fat quarters, sewing magasine in the big pocket, wool inside etc, I think it helped to portray the bag. I also entered two pieces of jewelery, two embroidered pictures, two scarves and two items in the variety class.
We took the entries down at about 7.30am, the showground was pretty deserted! The judging doesn’t often finish until about 1.30pm and we have to stay until 5pm to collect our entries (and any prize money) As the weather was a bit on the damp side I came back home for the morning and cut a skirt out. It always (well, nearly always) rains on Otley Show day, it’s a standing joke round here, very few people round here get married on the 3rd Saturday in May as it always rains on Show Day!
I was just about to set off back down just after lunch when I got a text from a friend to say ‘Congratulations on my winnings’…I must have won something, I thought!
Well, I won two first prizes, three second prizes and three third prizes. More importantly, I got the most points, so I retained the Cup 🙂
My Sampler Aux Bouquets won second prize, I made this in the autumn, I love the colours in it.
The silk scarf I painted a couple of weeks ago won second prize too.
The beaded bangle I started at Denman College two years ago and finished last month won first prize.
My knitting bag won second prize, so I think kitting it out really helped. The satchel won third prize.
At the last minute I stitched an extra padded coat-hanger using ribbon embroidery, that may have been the deciding vote that swung it as I won first prize for the ribbon embroidery one and third prize for my frothy lacy one.
Mary the Hippo won second prize too, she’s going to be a super-sized pin cushion! Everyone loves Mary!
So that’s my winnings! Next year I’ll just enter what I happen to have made, rather than making things especially for the show, I’ve defended the cup this year but someone else can win the cup next year 🙂
thecraftycreek 
Congratulations on successfully defending your title. Beautiful things.
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Thank you 🙂
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Congratulations on all of your wins, and for defending and keeping your Cup for this year. Everything you entered is lovely and the fabric you chose for Mary the Hippo suits her as does the fabric for the bag you kitted out. Bravo to you.
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Thanks Deborah, I have to admit, Mary is pretty cute, if rather large!
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Congrats! Lot of effort well spent.
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Thank you 🙂
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Well done! I hope to enter next year (couldn’t this time around) and relieve you of the burden of your cup!!!! 😉
Many congrats!
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Go for it Elizabeth, I did go for tactics in entering two items in every class I could feasibly do!
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Sounds like a plan! The only one I couldn’t do is scarf. Possibly just one knitted garments too. Well, time to start!!!
You can see my work on http://sew-in-love.blogspot.com/. I have a lot of updates to blog about…
Maybe meet you next year. LOVE that scarf, BTW! Absolutely lovely. 🙂
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Congratulations 🙂 They all look fantastic!
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Thank you for expressing such lovely thinking about defending the title this year, and making way gracefully for others come next year. If only that could be transferred across the pond for a few politicians to learn. 😉
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I think it gets a bit boring if the same person wins every year, anyway I’m getting over run with large pincushions!
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If you enjoy making them, had you thought about selling a few, or donating to good causes to sell?
Just a thought. 😍
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