2010 SEMINARS AT THE STUDIO
With JUDITH BAKER MONTANO
WELCOME!

This page is designed to provide as much information as possible to anyone who may be interested in attending one of my new Seminars at the Studio here in La Veta, Colorado. I'm pleased to have expanded the offerings for the new season! The added curriculum and schedule can be found in the Seminar Details below, and as always, they are summarized in the Calendar Section as well.

Click on any topic below to jump to that section, or just scroll down the page to browse.
About La Veta

Location and Directions

Accomodations

Seminar Details:
Basic Crazy Quilting
Mountains / Valleys
Landscape / Seascape
Houses To Cottages
Embelishments Galore
Underwater Fantasy

Reservation Details

Cancellation Policy

Little Details


ABOUT LA VETA

The Judith Designs Studio is situated in the small western town of La Veta, Colorado that nestles in the cleavage of the beautiful Spanish Peaks.  Known by the Indians as the Wahatoyas (Breasts of the World) these two beautiful mountains can be seen for miles around. 

La Veta enjoys a fascinating history and was established by Colonel John Francisco who upon seeing the Wahatoya Mountains and valley exclaimed ”This is paradise enough for me”.  He moved to the Cuchara Valley in 1862 and established Francisco Fort. Around 1876 the name was changed to La Veta, meaning “the vein” in Spanish.   Francisco Fort remained the center of town and currently houses the Francisco Fort Museum.

La Veta has 950 year round residents but this swells to 3000 in the summer when people from all over return to their generational summer homes.  The summer season is a busy time with festivals such as Art In The Park, The Children’s Art Program, Local Rodeos, October-fest and Winter-fest.

While students are learning at the Studio there is no need to worry about accompanying family or friends being entertained!!
La Veta is home to numerous award winning artists, writers and musicians.  It has long been the playground for people seeking the beauty and recreation offered by a high mountain sierra region.  The town is well situated for day excursions into the surrounding area. 

Taos, New Mexico is just two hours away and the Great National Sand Dunes, only one hour.  Enjoy the therapeutic hot springs in the area or wonder at the beauty of the Royal Gorge.

The valley offers recreation for all ages.  There is camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, back packing, mountain climbing, horseback riding, and golfing.  Always there is music to be heard, art galleries to visit and wonderful food to enjoy Check out the Chamber of Commerce website……….. 
www.lavetacucharachamber.com


LOCATION & DIRECTIONS

The town of La Veta sprawls across a lush valley floor in the high mountain sierra of southern Colorado.  The altitude is 7013 feet.

La Veta is situated 17 miles south west of Interstate I-25 at Walsenburg and just five miles off of US 160.  

Whether coming from North or South on I-25 all travellers will turn off at the Walsenburg exit and will drive into the town center.  Look for the sign indicating US 160 and turn west. Continue through Walsenburg and drive for 17 miles.  Look for signs advertising Cuchara and La Veta.
Turn left onto Highway 12 and continue on for five miles.  Stop at the top of the valley before entering La Veta…just for the view!!  

The Cuchara Valley Airport at La Veta has a 6,000-foot runway, which can accommodate small jets.  The landing strip is equipped with lights for night- time arrivals.
The nearest International airport is situated in Colorado Springs.  The Colorado Municipal Airport is one and a half hours from La Vita.  Car rental and bus service is available.  The phone number is 719-550-1972.

DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDIO IN LA VETA:
Drive down into the town of La Veta.  Cross over the railroad tracks and continue down Main Street.
Look for Virginia Street on your left.  The marker to use is the large adobe Catholic Church on the southeast corner.
Continue past the church and turn left into the one-way alley.
Drive to the end of the block.you will see a school and play ground on the right; the Studio is directly across on the left.
Park in the Studio parking lot and enter through the trellised pink gate on the right.


ACCOMODATIONS
 
Guesthouse At The Studio
Accomodates one student or a couple.
The guesthouse area consists of a kitchen, living room, bathroom and a bedroom (queen size bed).  Private Entrance. Enjoy the private porch and gardens. Generous breakfast supplies are provided. Check out at www.judithbakermontano.com
The price is $105.00 single - $125.00 for double per day.  
Phone 719-742-3388, email reservations at judithbakermontano@me.com

Inn at the Spanish Peaks
Has three suites (two of which have separate sleeping areas and could be shared).
Marvelous hospitality and gourmet breakfasts.
Also, they offer a 10% discount to my students!
The price is normally $95.00 to $140.00 per day 
Phone 719-742-5313, web address http://www.innatthespanishpeaks.com
 
The Olive Tree Bed and Breakfast
902 S. Oak St., p.o box 1145
La Veta, Co. 81055
Deb and Larry Klinke
719 742 5778  theolivetree@centurytel.net
private entrance upstairs with a den and patio…
$75.00 …shared bath with one other room.
$95.00… with private bath
$125.00…downstairs with private entrance, bath and patio
Wonderful hospitality and breakfasts.

1899 Bed and Breakfast Inn
314 S.Main Street, P.O. Box 372
La Veta, Colorado, 81055
719 742 3576, the1899inn@live.com
Marilyn Hall, Jill Schwarz
5 rooms upstairs, 2 with private bath and 3 with shared bath.
All rooms have their own sinks and mirrors/
A cottage out back is self-contained and has a kitchen-living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
Prices range from $70.00 to $100.00 per night…. Historic stone building right down town. Wonderful breakfasts.
open.....Memorial Day thru October.

Harding’s Corner Bed and Breakfast
140 West Grand Street, P.O.Box 1215
La Veta, Co. 81055
719 742 5423, rasharding@hotmail.com
Sara Harding
Five large bedrooms with private baths.  Open year round.  Close to downtown and the studio.
Lovely breakfasts.

Warehouse Suite…..no breakfast
200 S. Main Street
P.O. Box 1189
La Veta, Co. 81055
719 742 5278, donmitzikeairns@gmail.com
Don and Mitzi Keairns
A wonderful 2nd floor, 4 bedroom suite in the historic, Main street Kincaide building. Situated right down town.  It will accommodate 8 people comfortably.  Two full baths a huge family room, Kitchen, washer /dryer, wifi..
Call for rates.

Harding’s Corner Bed and Breakfast
140 West Grand Street, P.O.Box 1215
La Veta, Co. 81055
719 742 5423, rasharding@hotmail.com
Sara Harding
Five large bedrooms with private baths.  Open year round.  Close to downtown and the studio.
Lovely breakfasts.

The Ranch House Inn…..no breakfast
1012 S. Cherry Street
P.O. Box 914
La Veta, Co. 81055
719 742 5234
Cindy Morgan
Year round accommodations, large theme rooms and private baths…right across from the golf course…
Winter rates…..$75.00
Memorial Day to Labor Day…..$95.00


SEMINAR DETAILS

Judith’s seminars are five full days from Saturday through Wednesday.  This allows the students to fly in on a Friday afternoon and study for five days with the option of staying longer to enjoy the area.
Judith carries a variety of books, videos, sewing supplies, variegated silk threads and ribbons plus solids for sale in the Studio

EACH SEMINAR IS LIMITED TO SIX STUDENTS
This allows for exclusive time and attention!!

Classes are six hours a day. Morning hours - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with an hour and a
half lunch break.  Afternoon classes - 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Midmorning and midafternoon coffee/snack breaks are provided.

Students are welcome to work longer hours and return to the studio in the evenings.
Judith will check in each evening for a visit only!

Students are free to eat their meals in town except for Tuesday evening when they will be Judith’s guests for a backyard barbeque.  Menus for all eateries will be on display in the Studio. Lunches can be ordered in.
Sunday is an evening (optional) with dinner and dancing at the Dog Bar in Cuchara.
There will be planned lecture- visits (optional) to local artist studios.


Friday.............evening introduction....drop off supplies at Studio.  
Saturday........class
Sunday...........class & dancing and dinner at the Dog Bar.
Monday..........class
Tuesday.........class evening barbeque guest of Judith and Ernest
Wednesday....class

THE PRICE PER SEMINAR IS $550.00


SEMINARS AT THE STUDIO 2010:

BASIC CRAZY QUILTING:
April 24 – 28, 2010; May 22 – 26, 2010; September 4 – 8, 2010

Open to All Levels.


Join Judith for five days of exclusive instruction and attention in the making of a crazy quilt.
 
Each student will create four crazy quilt squares with the choice of making them into a wall hanging or continuing on to make a larger crazy quilt. Judith will guide you through the basics of crazy quilting using the “Montano Center Piece Method” along with colour theories and fabric choices.
Upon the completion of the blocks the emphasis will be on Victorian embroidery stitches silk ribbon embroidery, using ribbons, lace and beading as embellishments. 
A second seminar will be offered for the basic crazy quilting students to go on to more advanced techniques. 
Day 1.
a. history lecture with slides  (may be on another day)
b. fabric choices
c. colour theory
d. basic machine crazy quilting.
Day 2.
a. creating flow between the blocks
b. trouble shooting
c. painting and dying laces
Day 3.
a. Laying down laces and ribbons
b. Victorian embroidery stitches
Day 4.
a.Silk ribbon embroidery
b. Punch needle embroidery demo
c. Sewing blocks together
Day 5.
a. Buttons, beads and doodads
b. finishing techniques
c. critique


MOUNTAINS / VALLEYS: August 7 – 11, 2010
Open to All Levels. (Student should know Crazy Quilting.)

Learn to think like a painter but work like a fiber artist.

Come for the full La Veta experience and create a fiberart memory in the form of a landscape. Learn how to think like a painter but work with the needlework skills you have learned over the years, Judith will guide you through painting with threads, ribbons and fabrics using embroidery and embellishment techniques.
You will work from a choice of over thirty photographs taken by Judith in the beautiful La Veta area. (You may bring your own photograph if you wish). Time will be provided for a photoshoot on the first day. Patterns will be provided for the feint of heart!!
It is highly recommended that you know the basics of Crazy Quilting.
Day 1.
a. presentation of slides
b. from photo to layout sketch
c. choosing fabrics.
d. laying down fabrics
Day 2.
a. Using colour and painting rules
b. crazy quilting in background, mid-ground or foreground
c. burning, pleating, and wrinkling fabrics. 
Day 3.
a. finishing up base work
b. using dyes, watercolour pencils
c. embroidery stitches to create texture
d. Silk ribbon stitches
Day 4.
a. Embellishment techniques
b. working in the background, mid-ground and foreground.
c. adding buttons, doodads, crystals and beads.
d. creating shrubs, trees, lichens and rocks.
Day 5.
a. Finishing and framing techniques
b. trouble shooting
c. critique


LANDSCAPE / SEASCAPE: June 14 – 18, 2010
Open to All Levels. (Student should know Crazy Quilting.)

Create either a landscape or a seascape under Judith's guidance.

Come for the full La Veta experience and create a fiberart memory in the form of a landscape. Learn how to think like a painter but work with the needlework skills you have learned over the years, Judith will guide you through painting with threads, ribbons and fabrics using embroidery and embellishment techniques.
Bring the photo or picture you wish to work from and Judith will guide you through sizing, computer enhancement and pattern making in the process of creating a one of a kind art piece. Time will be provided for a photoshoot on the first day. Patterns will be provided for the feint of heart!!
It is highly recommended that you know the basics of Crazy Quilting.
Day 1.
a. presentation of slides
b. from photo to layout sketch
c. choosing fabrics.
d. laying down fabrics
Day 2.
a. Using colour and painting rules
b. crazy quilting in background, mid-ground or foreground
c. burning, pleating, and wrinkling fabrics. 
Day 3.
a. finishing up base work
b. using dyes, watercolour pencils
c. embroidery stitches to create texture
d. Silk ribbon stitches
Day 4.
a. Embellishment techniques
b. working in the background, mid-ground and foreground.
c. adding buttons, doodads, crystals and beads.
d. creating shrubs, trees, lichens and rocks.
Day 5.
a. Finishing and framing techniques
b. trouble shooting
c. critique


HOUSES TO COTTAGES: May 15 – 19, 2010
This is an Advanced Class

Bring your favorite landscape, seascape, childhood home or a favorite house photo and Judith will show you how to scan, manipulate in Photoshop, print and paint onto watercolor paper.

After painting, the watercolor is scanned back into the computer and printed out onto silk fabric. Now your painting is ready to be used in a one of a kind art project. Judith guides you through Crazy Quilting, fabric manipulations and numerous freeform needlework techniques. The finished piece can be framed and hung with pride.
Day 1.
a. presentation of photos
b. scanning photos in Photoshop
c. watercolor painting
d. printing on silk
Day 2.
a. using colour and painting rules
b. crazy quilting or piecing surround.
c. burning, pleating, and wrinkling fabrics. 
Day 3.
a. finishing up base work
b. using dyes, watercolour pencils to extend watercolor painting.
c. embroidery stitches to create texture
d. silk ribbon stitches
Day 4.
a. embellishment techinques
b. working in the background, mid-ground and foreground.
c. adding buttons, doodads, crystals and beads.
d. creating shrubs, trees, lichens and rocks.
Day 5.
a. finishing and framing techniques
b. trouble shooting
c. critique


EMBELLISHMENTS GALORE: June 26 – 30, 2010
Intermediate (This is an extension of the Crazy Quilt Seminars.)

Just think…Five whole days of nothing but embellishment techniques.

This class is for the serious crazy quilter who wants to improve techniques and learn new ones. Judith will guide you through Victorian stitch variations, folded Ribbon techniques, dyeing lace and ribbons, silk ribbon embroidery, punchneedle embroidery, velvet pansies, spiderwebs, embroidered trees, painting on fabric, twisted cord and wire ribbon techniques. Bring a crazy quilt square to work on.
Day 1.
a. Six basic stitches
b. Victorian combinations
c. Vine shapes
d. fan designs
Day 2.
a. Spiderweb designs
b. Hollyhocks and Iris
c. Velvet pansies
d. Dyeing lace and ribbons
Day 3.
a. Silk ribbon embroidery
b. Special flower stitches
c. Silk ribbon twisting techniques
d. Wire ribbon fuschias
Day 4.
a. Punchneedle embroidery
b. Painting on fabric with watercolours
c. Button and bead flowers
Day 5.
a. Twisted cords
b. Frogs and closures
c. Embroidered trees



UNDERWATER FANTASY: August 14 – 18, 2010
Beginners to Advanced.


The most beautiful gardens are under the sea! Learn to think like a painter but work like a fiber artist.

Instead of brushes, paint and canvas, Judith will teach you to paint using fabrics, threads, yarns, crazy quilting and embellishment techniques. You will learn how to work with many layers of netting, organza, and dyed silks to create depth and detail. This is a wonderful freeform embroidery class. The finished project can be framed and hung with pride.
Day 1.
a. presentation of slides
b. from idea to layout sketch
c. choosing fabrics.
d. to crazy quilt or not. Laying down background layer.
Day 2.
a. using colour and painting rules
b. working in background and mid-ground.
c. burning, pleating, and wrinkling fabrics.
Day 3.
a. working in foreground.
b. using dyes, watercolour pencils
c. embroidery stitches to create texture
d. silk ribbon stitches
Day 4.
a. embellishment techinques
b. special embroidery stitches
c. adding buttons, doodads, crystals and beads.
d. creating anemones, jelly fish and staghorn coral.
Day 5.
a. trouble shooting
b. Framing techniques
c. critique


REGISTRATION DETAILS

1. First, reserve a space by phoning 719-742-3388
OR request a reservation online by clicking here.
2. After a space has been reserved:
Please print-out a registration form (click here to get the printable form).
You will then have SEVEN days to complete and mail the registration form
with the full fee of $550.00 via check or by 'electronic payment' through Pay Pal.
(Instructions to pay electronically via PayPal are on the registration form.)
3. Upon receipt of payment Judith will notify you via email and snail mail.
She will include the class supply list with this.
4. After the registration of six students, Judith will start a waiting list.


CANCELLATION POLICY

1. The registered student must give a minimum one-month notice.
This allows for making flight and travel plans for someone else.
2. Judith will contact people on the waiting list to offer the opening.  
The full refund will be returned upon the sale of the opening.
3. If the opening cannot be sold, there will be a $75.00 administration fee
and the remainder will be refunded.


LITTLE DETAILS

1. Sewing machines will be supplied for International students only.
2. Judith lives with a menagerie dogs and cats but the Studio/Guesthouse is
totally Pet Free!!!
3. Medical facilities are readily available in La Veta and Walsenburg.
4. Cell phones are iffy in the Valley but sometimes work at higher ground!
5. Grocery and Gift shops will be open for your convenience.
6. Lunch can be ordered in from the local restaurants.
7. The Bakery is the hub of the community.  It is a must and is open for
breakfast and lunch.( Sat., Tues., and Thurs. only!)
8. Dress code is casual.  Layering is a good idea. Summer days are warm
with cool evenings.  Indian summer lingers on into September and October
but it can be windy.
9. Bring dancing shoes!!