Vintage Photo Sunday - Carroll County Iowa Fair 1918

This is the earliest dated photo that was in a photo album I bought that has pictures from the Carroll, Iowa area.  Too bad there aren't any names or other information about the photo.  I think it is fun to look back into time through the old photographs.

Vintage Photo Sunday - Office Force - Carroll, Iowa - January 1921

This old photo of a Carroll, Iowa Store & Office setting was taken in January 1921.  By zooming into the photo, I was able to see several 'clues'.  The storefront sold not only lighting, but also Hoover products, and the address on the door is 119.  There is an Iowa Heat & Power cashiers window, and the calendars on the walls, from the American Saving Bank, tell the date.  The office machines include typewriters and adding machines.  Not all of the young ladies look happy do they?

Happy Valentine's Day - Mixed Media and Fabric Collage Postcard

I made this ltttle fabric Valentine postcard for my sister.  The sheet music heart and bird are cut from paper/fabric I made, and the rest of the postcard is made from fabric and lace - including the back.  I forgot to scan the back before I wrote the personal message and address.  It is off in the mail, hopefully to arrive in one piece.  I've had pretty good luck mailing fabric postcards, but this is the first one where I've included paper/fabric.

Urban Landscape ATC Swap - Fabric Collage

I am participating in an ATC swap with my Cloth Paper Studio online group.  My take on the theme, Landscape, is Urban Landscape.  I made two just the same.  The background fabric is rusted to give them a 'gritty city' look.  I used various scraps of vintage fabrics for the buildings.

Vintage Photo Sunday - Hiking Trio

I haven't posted to Vintage Photo Sunday in a long time.  This is another photo from one of the early 1920s albums that I have from the Carroll Iowa area.  I think it is fun to see how they used to dress.

Ontario Quilt Show - Road 2 California

My sister Jodi treated me to a day at the Road 2 California quilt show in Ontario.  We had a great day, saw wonderful quilts and shopped at nearly every one of the 165 vendors.  Whew, that was a lot of shopping.  I took a few pictures of the quilts that I thought you might like to see.

Best of Show

The Hoffman Challenge - 2009

Weekend in LA

I spent last weekend with my sister in Los Angeles.  It was such a beautiful weekend, more like Spring than Winter, and I took a few pictures along the way.

Pam had a piece of artwork on exhibit at Barnsdall in Hollywood.  She is a member of the Los Angeles Printmaking Society, and they were having their 20th National Exhibition at Barnsdall Art Park in the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.  We were out of California when she had the opening ,so I wasn't able to attend that.  In fact, the day we went last weekend was the last day of the exhibit.  I enjoyed it very much.

After lunch we went to Glendale to visit the Brand Library and Art Gallery.  Pam had artwork in a show at this gallery earlier in the year.  It turned out they were closed because of the New Year holiday, so we didn't get to go inside.  However, the buildings and grounds were lovely and I was able to take a few pictures.

Pam's artwork is to her right at elbow height.

This is the view of the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory from the Barnsdall grounds.

Palm tree lined drive to the Brand Library.

Front of the Brand Library

Pam at the top of the steps at the front door of the Brand Library.

View looking back through the gate we drove through that I took from the top of the steps.

Beautiful Arches.

That's me in front of the library.

Beautiful Bird of Paradise were prolific on the grounds.

This house, that had belonged to three different doctors, was moved to Brand Park in order to save it.

Ho Ho Ho - Merry Christmas

John recently changed into Santa for a visit to a retirement community.

I snapped this picture of him just as he arrived home down the chimney.

Happy 90th Birthday

John's dad recently celebrated his 90th birthday, and we were able to be with him.

                                Happy Birthday James

Daddy 1922 - 2009

I haven't ventured into my blog at all since John and I left Kentucky.  In fact, I'm just now deciding to share this with you.

My dad went into the hospital the day we returned to California from Kentucky.  Our family was by his side for the nearly two weeks he was there.  He passed away on November 19th.

This picture of him was taken in 1992 when he and my mother visited John and me in Florida.  I love this picture of him because it captures his personality.  He was a happy loving father to all of us kids throughout the years.

I love you Daddy.