Ernest shines in La Veta

Feverish pitch in Judith's studio

Ernest is the equally important other "half" of the Judith Baker Montano team - and here we are in the middle of sewing and studio time - beavering away at our blocks - while Ernest or Ers but NEVER Ernie kept pot after delicious pot of coffee in the studio. The pots are often accompanied by sliced fresh fruits or naughty delights from the Bakery ... oh that bakery. Ers has a love of tie-dyed shirts - evidenced by never seeing him in a photo without one, unless he's wearing the Dog Bar shirt - I heard Judith remark once that "Ers never left the 70s" and she is absolutely right!  In the studio there's room enough for 6 students at a time - so imagine when we're all gone just how much room Judith has to frolic in - and it's a set up that works really well.  The walls and every other available space is dripping with threads, projects unfinished, more projects that are finished - inspiration is everything and everywhere. I had a severe case of "sensory overload" a few times during our five days "official sewing time" - and can appreciate the times we spent touring - other artists studios, shops, other States ... food and wine bars ... cheese makers ... La Veta's finest ....

Ernest in disguise in the Dog bar shirt

The Dog Bar, in Cuchera - is  ... can't think of the adequate superlative but it's totally good on crack. Great food, music and company - and when we visited, about to get covered in snow for the winter. It was Daniel Boone country in a way (or that should be Kit Carson or something since ole Dan'l was Kentucky way ... apols to DB). Cuchera is another few thousand feet above where we were in La Veta - and  there are signs in the windows of shops that are part of the pub to watch for bears ... seriously! Darker than pitch with the lights out, who wants to meet a set of glistening teeth attached to a  fur ball on the verandah after a few ... margaritas! Not this goddess ... Judith and Ernest made sure that our stay was as much about the La Veta experience as it was about sewing and quilting ... visiting places we would never get to see any other way and  the exposure to so many different types of "artist" was a treat I'll be treasuring long after the digital images fade ...