This is My Last Post!

On my new room that is! I'm sure you're all getting tired of seeing it so I've decided it's time to move on to other things even though it seems this project is still on going. All I have left to do is decorate my walls and make my drapes. Next weekend I'll be getting my ginormous work table out so I can lay out the fabric and be done with it! I've got this gorgeous chocolate velvet fabric that I'm going to use and line it with blackout cloth. This little cottage has no insulation and when the temperature soars into the 100's heavy drapes are the only things that keep me from going batty.

My Vanessa Valencia's finally came in the mail and I'm so excited!!! I can't wait to frame them up and hang them in my new room. Don't you just LoVe Vanessa? She's the sweetest little elf in Bloglandia. I say she's an elf because she lives under her huge tree filled with treasures and trinkets. Only elves live in trees you know...well there are also squirrels and birds and other such wonderful things, but she's an elf and I love her so!! I Love you Vanessa!!!! We all love you Vanessa!!!!
OK! enough gooey stuff about the Fanciful One.

Tomorrow morning one of my favorite local shop owners (Gilding the Lily) is having a huge tag sale as well as some of her neighbors and I'm hoping she'll have some beautiful vintage frames, so I can hang my Vanessa Valencia Sirens...ah! they are SO Beautiful!!!

One of the things we did in the closet was rip out the old shelves and replace them with new ones then added rope molding to the edges. I'm not sure where that idea came from, but it finished the shelves off nicely and added a sweet little whimsical touch.

When we removed the doors I seemed to suffer from a brain blip and forgot how much JUNK was stored in here. Have you ever seen the movie, "27 Dresses"? I love that movie!!! One of my favorite scenes is when she's trying to stuff all those dresses in the closet and the door won't close...so cute!!! That's kind of how this closet was. There were days when I needed to get in there, but was terrified I wouldn't be able to close the door while everything toppling out on the floor.

Do you remember my little desk? I kept debating whether to paint it or not, but after three weeks of feeling like I woke up and went to sleep with a paint brush in my hands I decided to leave it the way I found it. Plus I really am a dark wood kinda girl. Horror of horrors!!!! Dark wood!!!! I just love the warmth of it against a light background ;-).

Fabric, Fabric, fabric...what am I going to do with all this fabric? some of it is the most beautiful Sari fabric from India that I think I'll make into skirts. There are so many lovely colors and patterns that it makes my heart flutter so.

Well, I must go find Hagitha for I fear she's not tending to her cottage duties and as long as I'm on the computer I can't keep an eye on her. Tomorrow will be an extra busy day so I won't be around. First the tag sale then Disneyland with my God-daughter.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!!!

xoxo Cori

Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. ¹⁰ For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. ¹¹ For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— ¹³ unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Good morning Ladies,

I have always loved this passage of Corinthians and the concept of a veil needing to be lifted. A veil that only He could lift. When I lived in San Diego one of my favorite things to do on Friday night was attend synagogue. I loved the warmth of God's chosen people, the reading of scripture, and the singing of the Canter. I would weep and pray when the Rabbi read the passage of the Suffering Servant and I would ask Him, "why?" "Why can they not see that it is You this passage is about?" And then I ran across this portion of scripture and understood. But is it not true of every person, whether Jew or Gentile, that if they are without Jesus that veil needs to be lifted?
There are so many people in my life who don't know Jesus as I'm sure there are those in yours. My prayer would be that each and everyone of them would have that veil lifted from their heart and that they would be able to see Him clearly.
Just some thoughts this beautiful morning.
I hope you all have a blessed day!!!!

oxox Cori

For more ABC's of God's Word stop by and visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie and help us stir up God's word in our (your) hearts.

Is There No End?

That's what I keep asking myself...is there no end? Apparently, with this project there isn't! It's like the energizer bunny, who keeps going and going and going. The only problem is I'm running out of steam...OH NO!!! Say it is not so...LOL!!! What I need is one entire week with no interruptions to finish it up, but since that's not about to happen I just keep plodding along, joyfully I might add, even though the stream is running out of my choo choo train.
You're probably wondering what that WEIRD purple thing hanging from the headboard is. You are wondering about it aren't you? OK, so just in case you are, it's my Tribal Headgear I bought at the Belly Dance Festival several weeks ago. I'm really not sure what to do with it so there it hangs.

Monday I decided to indulge in a change of scenery so I headed over to one of my favorite antiques stores in the city of Orange. I've been in search of old table linens for who knows what reason...I don't know, they just seem to be calling to me of late.

I found this beauty wadded up in a ball and tossed over the side of a strange laundry contraption. Maybe it was waiting for someone to take it home to give it a bath, which is exactly what I did. The poor thing smelled like it had been in the attic for over 100 years. In fact it smelled so bad That I hated carrying it around the store, yuk! yuk! yuk! I was finally relieved when one of the workers came by and took it up front for me...huge inhale!


But isn't it a pretty thing all washed up and draped at the foot of my bed. I love this bed! I bought it from a guy 25 years ago in Yuma Az.
It's a simple little piece with plain lines and the most comfortable mattress in life. I've always imagined that it was built by some humble Kansas Farmer for his beautiful bride-to-be and since I've never found a Sears and Roebuck's or Grand Rapids Michigan markings anywhere I like to keep imagining :-).


Here's my closet. We took the doors off, added shelves, and replaced all the moldings. I still haven't been able to get it completely organized because I have to go to work each day. I'm having one of those weeks where I love/hate my job. I love the fact that I get to work in a wonderful environment with extraordinary women who make me laugh and I get to help women, but on the other hand, I have to leave my precious little cottage each and every morning knowing that there's so much that needs my attention here. So that's my love/hate situation.


Have I mentioned that I'm a fabric monger! I know I have in the past, but just in case you missed it, "I'm a FABRIC MONGER!!!" I love fabric!!! I can spend ALL DAY in a fabric store and never become bored. Lately my favorite is velvet...ahh... the soft supple feel of it against your hand...so wonderful. When I was a little girl I had to touch everything every time we went into a store. If my mom didn't keep a close eye on me I'd wander off to the clothes department where I would run the fabric through my fingers. I still do the same thing today ;-O! You can't take me to museum's either...I always end up in trouble with the guards.
Oh, while cleaning out my closet I found a pile of these...crazy quilt patches waiting to be assembled. I don't have a clue as to what to do with them.
Well, life is busy and I'm sneaking in my post while at work so I better be going for now.
until next time I hope you all have fun!

xoxo Cori

P.S. I just finished reading my preview and it looks like I have A LOT of "I don't know's" in my life...hmm...must think about that!

This and that, but nothing much

Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely Independence Day weekend. Ours was pretty quiet and uneventful, but that's not to say it was bad. The fourth of July just happens to be my friend Kathy's birthday so I treated her to a wonderful breakfast at Mimi's Cafe and presented her with the most amazing gift... A Vanessa Valencia print from Vanessa's Esty shop. Do you remember her Mad Tea Party last week? While all the madness was going on she had a two for one sale so I nabbed a couple prints for myself and Kathy.
OK, rabbit trailing, back to the fourth and Kathy's birthday...Of course I made her buy her own frame (what a friend I am) since she and I have different ideas about framing pictures. I like the old heavy frames with all the scroll work while she likes them to be a little more simplistic. We did however have fun searching for frames after breakfast, without any luck I might add so the hunt continues.

By the time I got home I was pretty tired so laid down for a nap and that was how the rest of my day went. In and out of tiredness and barely able to keep my head up. I must have had a bug or something.
Later that afternoon my SIL came over and we went out for a bite to eat which was a total disaster and resulted in a free meal for us... "Happy Fourth of July!" We went back home where I fell asleep on the couch only to awake at 10:00 pm to find the house empty and hubby no where in sight. He gets funny on the holidays, (Donna, did you know this about your brother? It's the most peculiar behavior, cute, but peculiar...hee hee) lets take Halloween for example. Every Halloween we have to trim the roses back behind the fence and secure the gates so the kids won't swing on them, hang on them, or otherwise destroy them. Come to think of it the front gate is still pinned from last Halloween.
On the fourth of July it's the fireworks and our old dried out shingle roof. Hubby was down the street trying to locate the culprit who was shooting fireworks right over our little cottage with the kindling roof. Disneyland style fireworks, which are totally ILLEGAL in our little hamlet of Anasliem, and yet the neighboring cities sell them right down the street. This is something I will never understand.

So that was my Fourth, now let's go on to fun things...

I'm still working on the room very slowly, but it's finally starting to come together. All the furniture is back in and the shelves are up in the closet so now I'm just waiting for the paint to dry before I put everything away. I have a few little projects to complete and then it will be done.

I haven't cleaned my cottage in 6 weeks...disgusting huh? It is, I admit! There are bunny foozles everywhere and dust on every surface and chair, but I've come to the conclusion that there's a certain comfort and peacefulness about living in a messy home...LOL!!! I come home from work and I can relax instead of think about all the chores that need to be done, but don't worry, I have the day off so I thought I'd spend a few hours cleaning, dusting, and mopping, OH JOY! Then I'm off to the antiques store.

Do you see the funny little lamp in the picture above? That was one of my projects. I was going to paint it white and buy a new lamp shade, but then I remembered a tattered piece of Irish linen tucked away in one of my treasure boxes. My grandma gave me the lamp about two years before she died so it has sentimental value, which makes it hard for me to change anything about it. I can still see it standing in the corner of her living room next to the old rocker.
Back to the lamp... I found my old Irish linen, wrapped it around the top of the shade, and secured it with a piece of grosgrain ribbon. The faded paper rose was on one of mine and hubby's wedding presents and I just couldn't get rid of it...

and Viola! Grandma's lamp has a new petticoat without any alterations having to be made. I was quite surprised when I asked hubby what he thought about the lamp in a petticoat and he liked it. Good thing because it was going to stay that way whether he liked it or not...hahaha!!!

Well, it's 8:30 am and I have a busy day ahead of me so I better be on my way, but I hope you all have a marvelous Monday!

xoxo Cori

The Bella Sinclair Award

My darling friend Deb of Midlife Poet has honored me, yet again, by passing on another amazing award that speaks of the strong bonds of friendship.
It was created by an incredible artist "Ces" who's blog I've only discovered today and will definitely be back to visit...OFTEN!
I also stopped by Bella Sinclair's blog and was touched by the sweet friendship that these two women have nurtured and grown through the internet. I don't know if they know each other in person, but it's obvious that their lives have been interwoven and blessed by each others caring hearts, which makes the award that much more special.

These are Ces's words:
"I designed this award to celebrate art in the blogs and to honor the value of friendship, sisterhood, sharing and caring. It is to be awarded to the gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best. That I named it after Bella Sinclair is because she epitomizes all of these things. She is an inspiration to many of us”.

“I hope that when Bella returns, this award would have already circulated in the blogs. It is my honor to give this award to the first recipients who I hope will find the same pleasure as I have in spreading its crown, giving shade and the comfort of friendship and caring and of sisterhood by sharing this award with their blog-friends and sisters!”

Darling Deb, I thank you from the depths of my heart for choosing to be my friend, for always being a bright spot in my day, and for being wonderful sassy, silly you!!! Happy was the day when I skipped down the rabbit trail that led to the shade of your tree. Thank you Darling Deb!

Now to pass it on...I have a few blogging buddies who've been there for me from the beginning and I'd like to honor them with this award: Ellen B. over at The Happy Wonderer and Becky at One Shabby Old House. Both of these ladies have always been a source of encouragement and inspiration to me and I'm grateful for your friendships.

Please stop by and visit all these precious ladies blogs and you will be blessed just as I have.

Your Life is a Weaving!

My child, your life is a weaving.
Beauty will not come to you by joy alone.
Life may be tortuous at times, and the pathway rough.
From fabrics of lovely silk
and from cords of rougher materials,
I fashion what pleases Me.
You may never know why certain experiences come.
It is enough that My hand brings them all.
My grace is limited in no way by sorrow and difficulty.
Indeed it shines like a strand of gold
mixed in with the black of grief.
My hand moves with infinite love,
and I am creating a pattern of intricate beauty.
Be never dismayed.
The end shall bring rejoicing for both you and Me.
For you are My workmanship,
created in Christ,
even in His mind before the worlds existed.

Frances J. Roberts
Come Away My Beloved

This Ol'Thing

Do you remember this ol' thing? It laid around the backyard of Brambleberry Cottage for about a year soaking in the warmth of the sun, drinking in the rain, and becoming a co-op building for the scariest looking spiders in the world...YIKES!!! There were so many of them and they weren't too happy about been sprayed to death and booted out of their home, but Oh well! Such is life...the spiders had to go.

Hubby cleaned it up, gave it a good sanding, then painted the ugly ol' thing to bring in my room. I think he thought I was NUTS!!! He kept muttering something like, "are you sure you want to put that in the room? It's really ugly you know!" But I love the gentle sweep of its curved legs that end with those sweet semi-circular wheel caps and ya know what? It's even got a huge brake underneath so it doesn't roll away. How CUTE is that!!! I think its darling!!!

So I proudly placed it next to my bed and covered it with a delicate little table topper. I haven't finished decorating it yet and this weekend I'll be out looking for a giant silver platter for the bottom shelf. If you have any ideas I'm open for suggestions...

Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24: 3 & 4

For more ABC's of the Word stop by and visit Pam @ Grey Like Snuffie and help us stir up God's Word in our (your) hearts.

A Sigh of Relief

Mademoiselle is finally back in her room,
but that doesn't mean we're nearing completion.

I can't tell you how many days I've stood in this very spot
wondering:
HOW LONG...
IS THIS PROCESS GOING TO TAKE!!
I've been told many times
that it's the journey...
not the destination that's important,
but I think it's BOTH!!

Even Elmo has wondered
and spent many hours staring from behind the puppy gate
forbidden to be near the one he loves most...
me!

The room still looks bare,

but soon it won't.

But I DO have a confession to make...

I've committed the design faux pas of the century...
and placed my bed in front of the window seat...
What is a girl to do when one entire wall
is covered with a single ribbon window.
Commit faux pas!
(Architects know nothing ;-O)!

My darling linen table cloth, I mean bedspread.
I found it while in Prescott for a song
and had to bring it home.

Deanna's 2 Day Birthday Bash

Today is Deanna, of Timeless Things, 46th Birthday and in honor of her - we her fabulous bloggy friends are posting baby pictures of ourselves.

It's such a sad thing when you can't find baby pictures of yourself, but then if you saw mine you might be frightened to ever visit my blog again...LOL! Let's just say that I looked like a miniature squashed version of the Michelin Man. Do you remember him? Yah! Scary huh!!!
This was the best I could find...actually it was the only one I could find ;-O!


Every year, when I was growing up, my family camped for a week at Lake Casitas. We would spend our days fishing and playing in the lake while the evenings were spent singing songs and roasting marshmallows over the camp fire.
Anyway it was great fun...except for the time when I was attacked by the duck!!!

So, Deanna, in honor of your Birthday I've decided to rent a Summer Cottage for you and Mr. Timeless in the Cotswold's of England. I've sent my personal chef, maid, and driver ahead to prepare the cottage for you. I'll be flying you out in my pesonal jet and I'll even pay all your bills while you're gone...hey! How's that for a Birthday present!!!!

HAPPY 46th BIRTHDAY DEANNA!!!!

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY AND WISH DEANNA A HAPPY
BIRTHDAY!!!!!!