HI everyone This will be a rant. I've been judging laces for some years now, at fall fairs.I suppose I'm doing ok - they'd have fired me long ago if I'm not LOL. Howver, I'm more in favour of making lace accessible and do-able for the onlooker - have the competitive part, yes, but have the lace demo, and have-a-go pillow as well (which many already do).
At one fair I attend, the judges are anonymous - if known, people aren't supposed to reveal 'who' - personally, I prefer this. I would not like to be in a spotlight, giving my reasons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd - hobby judging is *so* subjective (now if it is priced, and I'm 'judging' from the aspect of being a buyer, I can be as ruthless as I like - but when someone does a piece for pleasure, and offers it in competition, one wants to be as positive and constructive as possible, as a judge. In comparing entries: Who's to say that a piece that was 2nd one year, if judged the next wouldn't have been first; that the advice given (if in public) to the 2nd or 3 prize winners compared to 1st prize would result in any different placing another time (or not). Conversely, in my experience at another fair, the judges are known to the competitors, if they want to know, and often are chosen from names suggested by a hobby group. This does put the 'judge' in a small quandary - I like to be as objective as possible: I examine each piece on its own merit - particularly if there are few in a category before applying its attributes to a scale of excellence, for the purpose of awarding the ribbon. It takes me a long time to judge in order that each piece receive due consideration. When I finally do make the calls, the ribbons are placed and I find out later - from a friendly competitor - 'we only enter so that lacemaking has a presence - the ribbons aren't important to us' - it makes me feel redundant. In this instance, I really think a simple exhibit and enthusiastic lacemaking demo would give 'lace' more of a presence than a few competition entries. <end of rant> Bev in Sooke, BC (west coast of Canada) Cdn. floral bobbins www.woodhavenbobbins.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
