CALL TO ARTISTS

Call to Artists!

Entries still being accepted for Ironstone Vineyard's 13th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show & Sale Open Division

OPEN DIVISION       Entries due for Open Division February 5th, 2010.
                                             Awards   1st prize $1000.00 / 2nd. prize $500.00 / 3rd. prize $250.00

2-D original art any subject matter, any media.

Prospectus outlines the rules and procedures.
Download prospectus at http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/ or send a self addressed stamped envelope to:
Ironstone Spring Obsession Art
1894 Six Mile Road
Murphys, CA 95247

As Seen on TV!  The release of Daniel D'Agostini & Molly Chappellet's new coffee table book, "Into the Earth: A Wine Cave Renaissance".  This book is a must see.  My first reaction was "Wow!"  This is one big and beautiful book. If you can get past the stunning photography, you realize this book is a history of the develpment of the great aging caves of the wine industry.  This is also a very heartfelt and special project for Daniel D'Agostini.  Daniel is credited with taking most of the spectacular photos in this rather large book.  The Kautz Family of Ironstone Vineyards and the D'Agostini family have a great bond tied to the rich history of California's gold rush.  D'Agostini winery is credited with being one of the first commercial wineries developed during the actual gold rush.  During the days, wine was fermented in large redwood barrels. Along comes Mr. John Kautz building a tribute to the Mining Era with Ironstone Vineyards to procure several of those antique barrels and put them to use as the entry doors to Ironstone Vineyards very own aging caverns as well as the paneling in the spectacular tasting room.

These in themselves are a must see, but, back to the book.  We have the book for sale here in the Heritage Museum at Ironstone. Don't take my word for it, come see for yourself, it is a beautiful history of a significant development in California's wine industry and a must have for all you wine lovers.

The Small Window, by Linda Teigland Clark

The Small Window, The Story Of Hardluck's Beginnings

"Pa taught his family that God will not shut a door without opening a window. He said it was God's Way of leading His Children. And during hard times, Pa added that it was the North wind that made the Vikings. What he didn't tell Laurin, his 17 year-old daughter, was how small and difficult "getting through" that window might be or how long and strong that North wind might blow. It was 1848. Pa followed his dream; he was taking his family to the Promised Land, a land called California . Laurin, like her father, dreamed big until tragedy struck. When cholera claimed the lives of her parents and older brothers in the Humboldt Sink, she had to find that window and set her own sail against that staunch wind. She had to find a way not just to survive the trek over the Sierra and into California, but to survive once arrived. It wasn't just for herself but for her younger brother, age 7, and sister, age 4. They were her responsibility. Their futures, their very lives depended upon her. They couldn't go back; there was no "back" to go to. She loved them so she had to find a way." Autographed books available for $29.95.

Mining for Freedom

Now available in Ironstone's Heritage Museum, Sylvia Alden Roberts' new book, "Mining for Freedom".

"Historian and lecturer Sylvia Alden Roberts helps dispel disparaging myths and offers substantive contradiction to long-standing stereotypes that limit characterization of the pre-Civil War Negro to only two categories: either the "happy" slave or the unfortunate victum. Instead, Roberts celebrates the memory and honors the dignity of the thousands of courageous, enterprising black men and women who were an essential, yet virtually invisible part of the California Gold Rush. Roberts shares photos and the stories of some of the men and women who defied strict fugitive slave laws and rose to meet other daunting challenges, finally revealing a spirit and truth long shrouded behind the shadowy curtains of time. Mired in fierce racial controversy but undaunted by the odds, black Argonauts united to form one of the wealthiest, most culturally advanced, and politically active commuinities in the nation." Available for $14.95

Special Natural Copper Specimens for Bloggers Only

OK, we have this great collection of Rock & Mineral Specimens just in. Been talking about to everyone we run into! Excited doesn't do the collection justice. You have to come in to see it to believe it. And we are not even in the rock business officially other than of course gold specimens... so this is pretty exciting to us.

For fun, one of our followers suggested we keep something special aside for our blog followers only. Great idea. Gives us a chance to see how many of you are actually following us as well as giving our followers a special thank you.

We have pulled aside several specimens that we will keep in the back room just for you. Just let us know you are one of our blog followers and we will pull the special stuff out. This offer is also being spread on our twitter account. All specimens are available on a first come, first serve basis and limited to stock on hand.

Some of these pieces are especially beautiful for possible jewelry making as well as collection pieces. The photos below are of some of the natural copper specimens. They sell for only $2.00 each and are beautifully intricate and lacy looking. One pair have already gone out for a pair of earrings. Lets see what you can do!