Happy Surprises!

We were pleasantly surprised at our expatchers quilters gathering this week! When we arrived we found that our friend Lucy from CA (one of our group from the project in Venezuela) was in town to visit her granddaughter. And a stop to see us was on the agenda! Lucy was working on
her applique project from her CA applique group. She was trying different methods to applique.
Floss applique--doing the handwork with floss, which gives an outline effect to the piece.
This is her original design work and she added flowers and leaves where she thought the arrangement would work the best.
With this method she was using freezer paper as template.
Here she was using Broderie Perse to add another layer to the overall design.
She's rethinking this little hummingbird.
Some areas she used reverse applique, especially for these leaves. Look at her stem work--such tiny detail--cut on the bias, folded in half, stitched and pressed--great look!
Lucy had brought along two quilt tops for long arm quilting by master quilter Judy. This project was all paper pieced. Just lovely work!
Lucy said the larger blocks were much easier to work up but the little star blocks were more difficult since they were less than 3".
Here is detail on another block that is in her Snowmen quilt. This was a fun quilt to do, Lucy said.
Lots of machine satin stitching outlined each area of interest. What a fun quilt! She was also leaving this one for Judy's talented hands to quilt. We were happy to see Lucy and all her handiwork!

Mystery Rediscovered

Early this year there was a mystery that was solved before worked--yes, the mystery that should have been worked along with the group was solved way before these hands begun to do a cast on. Sharon Dreifuss of She-Knits fame writes excellent instructions. Although, each section can be verbose you will know how to knit the pattern as you read along. She even posts videos on You tube with step by step directions. This mystery shawl pattern was intriguing once you got past the beginning steps.
Blocking on the carpet after finished mystery.
Center section of the lace shawl. Lots of yarn overs and beads add to the delicate look.
We are now working along with each step the next mystery lace shawl pattern and it is not solved--yet!
The fiber is luscious mohair from Brooks Farms
Of course, there are disadvantages to working a mystery--was the right fiber or beads used? She walks us through all those thoughts, but then there is the ONE who wants to do it HER way with stash fiber and beads! Oh, well, it will be lovely anyway. And there is always the chance, remote at that, the pattern will be worked again in different fiber and beads.

Do Over

If you have read previous blog posts, you might recall this March post. Remember these?

Washed out and no color variation. Now, take a look at these do overs.

Somewhat better, huh?

Weavers Extraordinare

Weavers are extraordinary people--talented, creative, sharing and giving with their knowledge. But, you can say that about all fiber people! The monthly meeting of this weaver group was filled with energy from various ventures on the loom. Show and tell included Rosemary with her yardage--8H Rosepath.

Some closeup views of the different designs you can achieve from Rosepath threading.
This carrot pattern is featured on the cover of the guild recipe book.
Flowers by the yard.From this yardage she fashions these lovely little sachets filled with wonderful smelling herbs
Sachets with twisted cord. Rosemary makes sure the back is just as attractive as the front.
These are big sellers at the annual guild show and sale. She also showed this fabulous scarf
that had a nice handle. Adding lace in different areas gives the scarf added luxury.

Now, isn't this creature whimsical? A creation from the hands of Antije, who is one of our felters. This hanging was created for her husband from their visit to Hawaii.
He is happy with his surf board on the black sands of Hawaii.
Who could follow Rosemary and Antije after their showing of these wonderful creations? Connie said she would show what she brought to share. From her bag, she pulled out ten yards of woven fabric from the livestock show.
During the three weeks of livestock show, the guild has volunteers who will demonstrate weaving. The loom is threaded with ten yards (this time purple warp) and the threading is Monk's Belt.
Each day a guild volunteer weaver would set their hands to weaving on the loom.
Although, the treadling for Monk's Belt was posted, each weaver could do their 'own' thing with the shuttle. And this yardage bears forth the talent that was used to finish off the ten yards. At the next guild meeting, members will be asked to take some of the yardage and create a fashionable item that can be sold at the sale.
Connie continued to show her pieces woven by her hands--wonderful linen towels And silk shawl that she had dyed.

Kate was the last to present and she pulled out her 'leftover yarns' rug in boundweave.
The other side of the rug.
What an inspiration all these gals are! You leave the meeting with a renewed spirit and encouragement to weave, weave, weave!

Return Road Trip

Pictures are worth a thousand words!

On the Road Revisited

We had a full day in Fredericksburg area. After our walk through the galleries and a visit to St. Mary's Church, we decided to do 290 Hwy vineyard tour. This area has now become known for their wines and we needed, yes needed, to confirm that view of others. Our first stop was Torre di Pietra Vineyards-- Good for Sangiovese, Primitivo, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Then onto Grape Creek Vineyard,"Tuscany in Texas". A nice shady courtyard welcomed you before you entered the tasting room. Before continuing onto another tasting room, we decided to hit And have some lunch here: Willie's Place. Next stop was Becker vineyard, which is the largest in Texas and to prove that fact, there was large number of people in the tasting room.
We found a small spot to 'belly up' to the tasting bar when a patron stepped aside and handed us 7 tasting tickets. "Why, thank you ma'am". She replied, "I've had plenty!" Tasting pours *very small pours* come with a souvenir glass. Becker has a wide variety of wines. Soon the tour bus patrons loaded up and took off for another stop. Hopefully, we've not following them!
Becker is also known for their lavendar and the fields will be in full bloom in May.Last stop for the day was at Woodrose Vineyard, just a little off the road.
The tasting room is not fancy but their tasting is different as they invite you sit and relax while they bring the wines to your table. We ordered a cheese plate, found a nice shady place on the back patio and enjoyed our tastings as we visited with the pourer, a recent transplant from Indiana where he was a winemaker! Well, that really intrigued us--wines are made in Indiana. Okay, it's getting late and we wanted to have make it back into town before closing time of Fredericksburg Pie Company Ahh, pie--nothing like it! We sat off the main room at a small table. Over our heads hanging on the wall was a lovely quilt made by Jodie Barrows
"Around the Pond". Jodie will be in Fredericksburg in May for book signing at this very location. What could be better than a slice of pie and a quilt book signing?
We visited with a couple from north Texas who were on a wildflower hunting trip. He said, "I drove 80 miles out of my way for this slice of pie"! We exchanged locations of where we had seen wildflowers but he was looking for fields of bluebonnets. We passed along the info about the sightings near Luling and he said they wasn't far since they had driven many miles already.
Since it was still light, we drove to Enchanted Rock State Park



And the roadsides on this Farm to Market road brought us delight!