Lost Draw Vineyards

Today we drove a short distance (in west Texas, it's all relative--little, a lot, who cares!) to Brownfield and High Plains Vineyard--

this is the vineyard that many wineries in Texas receive their grapes--

acres and acres of grapes.  AT one time it was cotton; now, grapes are the 

King!

You can understand why this is great for Vines--climate, location, soil, etc.

We came to visit vineyard owner Andy Timmons and to see his new Texas Wine Company in Meadow, Texas.  This is full Scale custom crushing facility.  The facility has three coolers on site, as well as two presses. And tanks. Bright stainless steel tanks line the room as there are three different sizes of tanks : 6,600 gallons, 3,300 gallons, and 1,650 gallons. The tanks are designed to perfectly do their job. The diameter of the larger tanks is the same as the height. This has proven to be the best dimension for fermenting red wine.

What a great opportunity to see this operation first hand!  Harvest will begin soon--grapes

straight to the crushers to the bottle to make some super duper wine! 

We're A-Trippin'!

Come along on our journey--

we're heading west from Houston-- first stop--Buffalo Gap, Texas!  Just south of Abilene, the place where buffalo roamed .  It's a quaint 'little' town!  Along the path you find one of the best Texas restaurants you ever did visit--it's a drive to get there, be so worth it!  and if you're vegetarian, you will find some of the best sides dishes to warm your taste buds.

We've got reservations for Perini's Steakhouse!  Tom Perini, Fess Parker (Davy Crockett fame) and Richard Becker (Becker Winery) grew up together--now, that's an awesome combination!  We can enjoy one of Tom's delicious steaks while drinking a glass of Fess Parker or Becker Wines--not a bad way to spend part of the day.





We journey to Lubbock to rest our heads on soft comfort--but first, we stop in Buddy Holly Center to see illuminance, a national competitive biennial competitive photography show, featuring work in response to a theme. The exhibition will be on display in the Fine Arts Gallery from June 2 through July 22, 2017.  The theme explores the long-standing relationship between music and photography, and invited photographers to explore the intercourse of tone, color and image, in all its powerful permutations.

Sapphire Stars Mystery

Oh I love a mystery!  and here is another opportunity to sew up a mystery and use my stash-- and it says STARS!  Love STARS!

Kevin The Quilter is hosting his very first mystery!!  Hurray! for Kevin!

and of course, I'm in and of course, I'm late to the party!

I can catch up quickly--one clue a month!  So, I'm not too far behind!

here is the first clue:  then head over to Kevin's website to sign up

to receive the rest of the clues!

Happy stitching!

Clue #1

Cut 48 3.5" x 3.5" squares from your brilliant royal blues (as many different as possible)

Cut 48 2"x2" squares from your light baby blues (as many different as possible)

Cut 48 2"x2" squares from your navy blues (as many different as possible)

Using a small ruler and marking tool (I used a mechanical pencil) on the wrong side of the fabric, mark a line diagonally down each light blue 2" square, AND each navy blue 2" square.

Placing right sides together, put one 2" light blue square on top corner of a 3.5" bright blue square. Sew on drawn line.

Repeat this step with navy 2" square on top of 3.5" bright blue square on opposite corner of the light blue 2" square just sewn.  Sew on drawn line.

Lightly finger press seams toward the corner ensuring the light and navy corners have been sewn correctly.  If light blue, and navy do not match the edge of the brilliant blue.....re-sew seam.

Cut 1/4" away from seam with rotary cutter or scissors.

Press 24 units with seams going toward corners, and press 24 units with seams going toward center.

Make 48 units measuring 3.5" unfinished.

Do You Dishcloth?

I hadn't looked at Ravelry for a few days so missed this BUT there is still time

to jump on the dishcloth knitting campaign.  There will be four different patterns

throughout the month of July--great knitting easy knitting--

I love hand knitted dishcloths!  I use my handspun cotton to make mine--

great feel while I'm wiping down those counter tops or swishing a dish--

Check it out on Yarn Adventurer!

if not a member of Ravelry--join!  It's free and there is something for

every fiber person--be it quilting, knitting, weaving, crocheting, stitching, etc.

July and August Projects

July will be a travel month for me--so I'm making this list of quilts I want to work on after I return to my machine.  A couple of these projects are ready right now--like Scrappy Patchwork QAL and Dino DNA.

A Quilting Life

 cut the blocks 7 1/2″ square from panel, and add 3″ pinwheels and 3″ x 7 1/2″ sashing strips to make it a nice crib size.  This is a cute way to use up panels or fussy cut--

Bunny Hill Designs

Jacque Lynn Steves

Just Quiltin'

Bee In My Bonnet

Eyfells and Eyfells: Jóhann Eyfells

If you travel the 290 Corridor from Johnson City to Fredericksburg, you will see

off to the north the creative works of Johann Eyfells.  We have travelled that

route many times and we haven't stopped in yet to visit with him.

During the recent Hill Country Film Festival, there was a 

film about Eyfells--but we attend another film at the time--wish they

would show these important films again.

I was pleased to see some of his work at the Kerrville Arts Center when

we visited last week.  

Johann has exhibited throughout the world

and we are happy he's close to our summer home.

Johann Eyfells 

 He began his abstract sculptures in the 60's based on his experiments in chemistry and physics, utilizing the various transformational properties of metals, especially aluminum, iron and copper. He calls his work "receptual" based on his concept of receptualism, a theory he developed to explain the essence of his work.

Quilts of Valor Mystery

Today marks the day that Alycia begins her Mystery #6!

You can check out her website to get your bearings and

find out the fabric requirements--I bet you, though, it will

be red, white and blue!

Alycia does such wonderful work with Quilts of Valor--

The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

You will find patterns on their website as well as on Alycia's.

I met Alycia many years ago while I spent my summers in Colorado--

at the time I didn't know about Quilts of Valor, but my life

has become enriched with the opportunity to sew for these brave patriots--

my one small chance to make their life richer though the warmth of

a quilt!