Urban Decay ....

This morning my husband and I had to head east into the "Inland Empire" specifically San Bernardino. At one time in the mid 1800's this city was a vibrant jewel in the Southern California desert. Nestled at the foot of the picturesque Cleveland National Forest San Bernardino quickly grew into the largest city in California. This city WAS the Empire of the desert, long before Los Angeles gained fame San Bernardino was rapidly growing. Rich in citrus crops, the Santa Fe Railroad would develop the largest railroad hub on the entire west coast.

In this early 1900's photo you can see how this city sprawled far and wide into the Inland Empire.

The stately Santa Fe Railroad station ... I can only imagine all the beautiful people who traveled through these doors on their way to fame and fortune or perhaps heartbreak and despair. 

 Before Railroads, houses and citrus crops the Mormons came into this fertile valley from Utah seeking shelter. On the actual site of the current San Bernardino Court House is posted a landmark marker of the Mormon Stockade built in 1831 to protect themselves from the local Indian Tribes.

 Along with the progress of trains came the automobile and Route 66. This historic highway was at one time the only route that actually connected the entire United States from coast to coast and it ran directly through the heart on San Bernardino. And what did every traveler need? Yep, food. The very first McDonald's restaurant would open it's doors on historic route 66.

  

15 cent burgers could be bought right here! Now a local museum ...

Another jewel the Grand California theater welcomed movie goers into her elaborate lobby.

Sadly, the founding fathers are all long gone and this one time jewel of the valley has fallen into what we now call "urban blight." 

I had heard people talk about it, the news reported that the city was bankrupt but it wasn't until today when Joe and I went deep into the city did I realize how sad the city had actually become. 

The museum has fallen into decay and has closed ....

Beautiful historic buildings are abandoned, windows broken and stand alone and neglected.

Street after street of decayed buildings have been torn down and empty lots reveal more crumbling buildings with boarded up windows.

 

Even newer buildings are vacant, landscaping left unattended ...

 And the once beautiful palm tree lined route 66 bares witness to a bygone era ...

 The homeless wander the streets, pushing their shopping carts filled with their belongings and finding shelter clustered in trees.

As my husband drove out of the city I blinked back the tears welling in my eyes and began to think about the State of the Union address delivered on Tuesday night by President Obama. He proudly reported "We are on the road to recovery, unemployment is down, health care is now available for everyone and our communities are thriving ....

Mr. Obama, come and see our jewel of the Inland Empire and explain to me how she is thriving ....

"The Road to California"

If you live in Southern California and you love to quilt I can almost guarantee you will spend at least one day this weekend at the Ontario Convention Center attending the Road to California quilt show! This is our chance to see first hand several quilt shops from all over the country. 1800's reproduction fabrics are my favorite and we don't have a lot available to us in So. Cal. so on this day I was like a kid in a candy store!

 

Believe it or not I forgot to bring my camera and it wasn't until I was in the final building that it occurred to me to use my I phone! They are not the best but you'll get the idea of what I was buying and ogling!!

 

What the heck is this??? For heaven's sake I'm at a QUILT show! Well .... this is a tiny reminder for me to make this next Christmas! OMG did I say Christmas?? This is a garland made from wool scraps and grungy rusty bells. Trust me when I say it is ADORABLE and will look awesome on my mantle!

This is just one of the many booths we shopped in. They went all out with this darling garden trellis, picket fences, and even live planted flower boxes. Penny is tucked in on the left wearing a white shirt. She is very busy shopping for something fabulous!

I am not a "cutesy" quilter but I love the garland dangling on the antlers. This garland has fabric scraps, big buttons and more rusty jungle bells!

Some of my treasures ... the two on the left are from a shop called Pinwheels. They are Diwabo fabrics from Japan. I love the rich textures and unusual colors. Also ... very expensive. Top is a tiny thimble quilt pattern and cuts from Primitive Gatherings. Lisa's booth is just chalk full of so many of my favorite things ....

This is another one of those "Little" quilts that I just love! It is black, red and tan .... my favorites!

OOPS! This is upside down! The kit on the left is the one above and purchased from the Farmers Homestead. She had DARLING things! The bottom is a cute two piece mini quilt set from the Red Door, an online only quilt shop with wonderful yummy things. Do you have bins FULL of fabric scraps? This little tool is just the perfect thing to make scrappy, raggedy rugs!! I can't wait to get busy on this project.

Now this is another one of those pictures that just doesn't make any sense until I explain it! The tall green thing is actually a chenille Christmas tree. Wrapped around it is  a very cleaver garland. (I must have a thing for garlands!) What she has done is this ... take a strand of primitive tree lights tie fabric scraps onto the strand between the light and voila a rag garland with lights! So cute.

It just doesn't look like much when it's all laid out but I sure put a dent in my pocket book!!

 

"Will you ... Won't you ... Would ya ... Could ya be my Sweetheart." This is a silly little tune my mom used to sing to me when I was small on Valentine's Day. Back in those days parents didn't give gifts on Valentine's Day, maybe a silly card but that was about it. However, my mom sang me silly songs which I still hear in my head 50 years later ... I so miss her.

 Since my own children are grown and gone I don't do much decorating for Valentine's Day. Just a small vignette set up in my foyer will have to do ....

The heart butter molds were a gift last year from my dear friend Paula ...

The Angle for all Season's is holding my quilted pillow heart ....

And my newly created apothecary jars are fulled with Valentine treats! 

That's it for Valentine's Day 2014!

With Valentine's Day less then four weeks away I realized I needed to get busy! Last week my dear friend Tanya and I headed off the the craft stores to see what I could create. After a few stops I came up with the idea to make Apothecary Candy Jars. I have attached a few pictures to give you an idea on how to make your own jars to create a Valentine vignette!!

 

First you will need to purchase two or three candy type jars ... any size or shape you desire. Be sure they are different and interesting to the eye. Next you will want to buy candle stick bases, these should vary in size and shapes. Thrift stores and yard sales are good resources for both of these items! 

After selecting your glass ware decide which color you would like your finished products to be i.e., silver, black, gold etc.

 

Wash your jars and take the lids apart before spraying ... spray the inside and the outside of your lid and the candle sticks used for your base.

Once the spray paint has dried you will use a permanent silicone glue to adhere the candle stick bases to the bottoms of the jars.

Almost done! Place the seals back on your lids ....

Fill the jars with your favorite Valentine Candies and voila your very own Apothecary Jars ready for any holiday season!!

 

Helloooooo 70's .....

Remember the Avocado greens, Burnt oranges and Harvest golds that were so popular in the 1970's?? Well guess what .... they're baaaccckk!

 

 I am not kidding when I say this ... my next door neighbor still has this stove!!!

I was the very proud owner of this gold blender. It still worked when I gave it to Goodwill!

Yep, I took my daughter in law shopping last Saturday to select some fabric so I can make her family a quilt for Christmas ... yes I am VERY late with this! I was so surprised at the fabrics she selected. It's obvious to me that she doesn't remember the horrible avocado green carpets so many of us sported in our homes and the harvest gold appliances that NEVER wore out! General Electric (GE) put something very special in those 70's appliances that made our washers, dryers etc. last forever. I honestly believe my old refrigerator in a lovely harvest gold is still humming away somewhere in someones garage keeping the "beer" cold. 

Now that the holidays are packed away and my final house guest flew home today (he was housed in my sewing room!) I can get back to finishing up some long over due quilts and begin the 70's Flower Power Quilt!

Here they are! The 70's re-visited! I think the Tiffany Blue softens the oranges and golds! I will be sure to share this with you once it has been completely done ....

This pattern has been made over and over for fund raisers and friends. I had to giggle when I read the name of the pattern ... Flower Power. I'm finally making something that lives up to it's name!!

And now for a brief message from our advertisers! With Valentine's Day only a few weeks away Origami Owl Living Locket Co. has issues an adorable heart shaped locket in silver circled with crystal bling ...

If you are interested in purchasing your own locket please contact me at baskets4betsy@aol.com!

Ta Da!! Miss Betsy Ross the blog dog is sporting this lovely locket! Isn't she just too cute?

 

Gettin Back to Normal???

I say "getting back to normal" with tongue in cheek. What is normal anyway? Christmas comes with extreme shopping, wrapping, decorating, extra cooking, visiting and on and on .... That is not normal in my world!! As much as I LOVE decorating for Christmas all the twinkly lights, garlands and trees I am equally excited to get it all down and putting my home back to my kind of "normal." It always seems that when I put things back they somehow are different then when they came down! Does that happen to you?? For example when I took down my Christmas Trees quilt this is what went up in it's place ...

I replaced the trees with my Coverlet Flag Quilt. This was one of the first large quits I made and it is still a favorite of mine! My little horse is wearing his red, white and blue show ribbons as well!

With the new Plantation Shutters at the windows I needed to relocate my pewter Tavern Measures. I love how they look in their new home ....

 

They are now right where I can see them all the time ... my fireplace mantle! I love it!

 And my final change is corralling my flock of tiny Putz sheep. When I was putting my Christmas decor away I stumbled onto some small fences in a box. This little one just worked perfect for my collection ...

All fenced in ...

As I mentioned earlier my husbands great grand children were here Saturday night. I overheard 6 year old Madison telling her mommy "I love coming here." I leaned over and asked her why. Thinking her answer would be seeing all her family etc. She told me "because it's so cozy." I thought that was so sweet coming from someone so small ....

The "Great" Generation ....

I made a decision this year that I was not going to make New Years Resolutions that revolved around "me" but I have resolved to focus this year on my husband Joe.

 In October he celebrated his 80th birthday and I have come to accept that he will not always be with me. I need to spend more time focusing on his needs and doing things that will give him joy. 

Joey, my husbands oldest son arrived in town on January 2 to spend a week with his dad and Joe's youngest son arrived on the 3rd to install our Plantation Shutters ... a gift we gave each other for Christmas. 

Darn, the flash didn't go off! This is our living room.

And the family room window next to my hubby's corner of the sofa ...

Since we had two of his four children here I contacted his daughter to see if she would like to come for a visit as well. Before you know it we have a house full. What I feel was the highlight of the evening were the three great grand children. His newest great grandson "Hunter" born November 23rd was able to join us as well!

Hunter and Papa Joe. Hunter was such a good baby. He let everyone hold him all evening long and hardly a peep out of the little guy.

 We also had Brock (2) and his sister Madison (6) and they were just so sweet. They too loved being here with there Papa Joe....

Little Brock wearing his new Superman boots! He loved those boots and wouldn't take them off.

Madison with the new doll we gave her, she named her Bella and she told us all several times it meant "pretty."

A bit fuzzy but this is as close up as Brock would let me get! I LOVED his new tie T-Shirt!

 

Brock made a new best friend ... Shawn played with him for hours and Brock just loved him. He made them scarves with the tissue from his gift bag. Shawn is so good with kids!!

For some crazy reason several of my pictures of the evening didn't come out. Must be the photographer! Today Joe enjoyed hours and hours of football viewing on the TV while I did dishes and put the house back together! Amazing what  MESS 15 adults can create!!

 

Happy 2014!! Toot tooot

As I sat here this morning rolling thoughts over and over in my mind I read what my blogging buddies had to say about the New Year. I stumbled onto Misi's 1890 blog post and this said exactly what I was searching for. So instead of attempting to put it into my own words I am choosing to borrow her borrowed post to share with all of you guys and gals!

"I hope that you will have a wonderful year, that you will dream dangerously and outrageously, that you will make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved, and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because i think there should be more kindness and wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise and that you will always be kind"

~ Neil Gaiman

 

Didn't Neil say just what needed to be said as we launch into a new year? 

 

I will keep this short as I am cuddled on my couch watching the 125 Pasadena Rose Parade. It's a beautiful, sun shiny day in So Cal today but inside my house is COLD!! To all of my friends living in the snow and cold ... God Bless you, someone needs to live there!

 

Happy 2014 to all!