craftyhunnypie Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Hi - I'm planning on entering some handicrafts & baking etc in a show in September. But is it actually worth doing? I don't mean the money side of things - just enjoyment & having your stuff praised or criticised. Your views are much appreciated. Thanks Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 I enter our local village flower show which I only do for fun, not to win. I guess the principles may be similar to the one you're considering? I kind of started doing it because a lot of the time the same few people enter a lot of categories, and if other people don't join in it becomes a local show of 3 or 4 peoples' exhibits and from there it's a very quick step to it fizzling out. I keep doing it because I find it quite fun, I like preparing flowers /veg and seeing what looks it's best on the day. I don't put any effort into timing things to be perfect on show day (some folk take great care over when they "disbud" plants and the like); I have been known to put some flowers in a cold place and some in a warm place the night before, to get them to all be at (roughly!) the same stage on the day, but that's it. I don't really sow things according to what I could enter in the show; I have made lemon curd and the like specifically for show entry, which is a bit sad really, so don't tell anyone! I don't think I would ever bother to make a time-consuming thing (e.g. woollen jumper and the like) specifically for the show, though to be frank I don't particularly enjoy needlework/knitting/etc. The judging of ours is done privately, so you don't get to hear comments from judges, etc, only the occasional overheard one from folk looking round the exhibits: but to be honest, the vast majority of people have learned to be tactful in small villages . I reckon it's worth entering to keep these things going, to meet people, and really for the novelty of it all. I find it astounding that I get nervous/stressed the morning of the show, even though honestly, it really is a little village show that I don't make a proper effort to do well in; bizarely, it is really good fun, though i can't explain why I enjoy it! There's never any ill-feeling suyrrounding ours, or rather, none that I have noticed. And... I won a trophy last year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 I've only done eggs and poultry photos but I will be doing honey later this year. The honey will be a fun thing (I haven't a clue really) and for the photos it was definitely a fun thing (but still I have a rosette and I'm very proud) but for my eggs I took it reasonably seriously and as a result I have now learnt a lot about what makes a 'good egg' and I feel a lot more knowledgeable. The downside is I overheard a well-known winning competitor criticise my (winning) eggs and it took some of the shine off. So you've got to be able to take criticism. With the passage of time I now think 'bring it on' but at the time I was a bit miffed. I also know from one neighbour who regularly enters her garden in a local competition (and wins) that small town judging gets a bit idiotic (ie political concerns can take over); and from another neighbour that last years winning 'best vegetables in a trug' entry can be this years disqualified 'BVinaT' entry - despite the trug and the rules being the same, apparently this year the trug is too big (He went home and measured the offending trug - apparently it was 1/4 inch too long....) In other words, don't take it too seriously!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Thanks - yes it's just for fun really. I always love looking round the handicrafts at shows for ideas & I like to look at others tasty treats too. Going to go ahead & enter some of my knits, crochet, baking & jam. Don't know if my Sunflowers will be out by then - possibly. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Hurray! It is worth doing. Good luck and let us know how you get on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Try it and see if you enjoy it, and if you do then good luck and hope it all goes well for you to consider having another go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 9, 2010 Author Share Posted August 9, 2010 My mum won a 2nd for her chocolate cake at weekend in a local show. My sister got a 2nd for her victoria sponge & her hubby's wheat came 1st. They are well proud. I was away, so couldn't enter that one - but the one in September I'm entering some crafts & photographs. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Well done them - and good luck to you for next month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
