Nikkel wins two ribbons at fair

Fallbrook resident Susan Nikkel won two ribbons at the San Diego County Fair in Home Arts. She has been entering her decorated gourds since 2002 but won her first blue ribbon this year for a gourd vase in the Gourd and Basketry, Mixed Media division. She burned a floral design into the gourd, colored it with pastels and added beaded accents, to win first place.

Although she has been quilting since 1984, this was the first time Nikkel entered a quilt in the fair. Her art quilt, "Tiger Lily", a Celtic knot basic pattern, was awarded an Honorable Mention ribbon for original creative design, much...