The first fog of Autumn was so lovely here at Brambleberry Cottage.

Pumpkin Tutorial...well, sort of ;-)

Hello all my bloggy friends!

I've had several of you ask how I made my little yummy velvet pumpkin, so I've put together a weence "tutorial" of sorts. You can right click on the image and copy it to your desk top or you can send me an e-mail and I'll send you a pattern in the form of a PDF and answer any questions you may have along the way.

I hope you have fun with this little project and when you're done with yours I'd love to see what you came up with ;-).

xoxo Cori

PS: My email is in the side bar, but you'll need to copy and paste it into a new email ;-).

You can click on it all day long and nothing will happen ;-O.

Behold, you are in the hollow of My hand. In the moment that you lift your voice and cry unto Me, and when you raise your voice to praise and magnify My Name, THEN shall My glory gather you up. Yes, I will wrap you in the garments of joy, and My presence will be your great reward.

Lift your eyes to Mine. You will know of a surety that I love you. Lift your voice to Me in praise: so shall a fountain be opened within you and you will drink of its refreshing waters.

"Come away, My Beloved"

by: Frances J. Roberts

New Love

While out blog hoping the other day I ran across a blog that had one of those slide show thingys in the side bar filled with her favorite books. As I watched each page turn and another book cover appear, this one came up and I immediately clicked on it. What do you know, it took me directly to the Amazon page where I could purchase the book. So I did, wouldn't you?

I put in my order and two days later the book arrived in my snail mail box.

I could hardly wait to open up the package and take a peek inside.

I don't think I was prepared for what I was about to see...

Faded roses from yesteryear...

outdoor living dripping with cream...

Layers of Vintage lace to hide beneath and dream...

 

Sumptuous appointments fit for a Queen.

These are the interiors of Robin Brown: Founder Extraordinaire of Magnolia Pearl.

Victorian, Bohemian, Gypsy Queen...

My heart is swooning with delight over all the glorious sights!

Peace! What is peace... really? Does anyone know?

When  our beloved Rhonda Roo decided to extend the UN's World Day Of Peace to the blogishpere I was a bit of a fence sitter. Not sure what I would post about PEACE. This is what I said in my email to her:

"Peace Party, I've been thinking about that and I'm not sure what I'd post for peace. Not that I'm not for peace because I most definitively am, but when I think in terms of peace I think things like lions laying down with lambs and birdies pulling on kitty cat noses without being eaten or swiped, and people being nice to each other. Telling my friend that I like her sweater and her giving it to me without reservation...of course I would always let her borrow it whenever she chose."

But what in the world is TRUE PEACE?

 Since the Bible is my favorite book to read I thought I would do a word search and find out how many times it came up. There were 384 references, which doesn't seem like a lot considering how large a book it is, but those references hold such depth and meaning.

Here are a few examples"

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

So we see that we can have peace during trials, peace in our hearts, and peace when we hear the Good News or just good news.

Now the God of peace be with you all.

Amen.

Romans 15:33

I hope you all have a day filled with PEACE!!!!!

xoxo Cori

Pumpkin happiness

 

I don't know if you remember, but a few posts back I started sewing a velvet pumpkin...actually, Milo and I started, but it was time for him to go off on a  new adventure with our beloved Rhonda Roo so I had to finish it on my own...Boo Hoo!

Well, today it was finally completed...it's the one on the left in the picture.

It's a little fluffier then the one I bought and looks MUCH better in person

plus it was a lot of fun to make. So much fun that I think I may create an entire

Miniature Velvet Pumpkin Patch.

made of different shapes, sizes, and colors...

Burnt Orange, Yellow, Magenta, and every other lovely color of Autumn.

New Adventures & New Friends!

Milo saying good-bye to the candy dish filled with Lindt Chocolate…yum!

Today was mine and Milo’s last day of adventures before he climbs back into his SMTU (that’s short for Snail Mail Transporter Unit) and travels across the states to visit Rooty toot Rhonda Roo. She’s his next wonderful hostess on his whirlwind vacation and I know they’ll become the best of friends REAL FAST! Who could not love Rhonda Roo?

But before I wrapped him up as snug as a bug and sent him on his way, he wanted to pick up something sweet for Rhonda Roo. So off to Down Town Disney we went.

As we were walking by we say a chef with an alligator, crawdad, and a fish in his big pot . Milo had never seen any of these creatures before so he wanted to get a closer look.

Hubby was trying desperately to ignore us as Milo posed and I took his picture.

We found what we came for then headed home to our cozy little cottage.

Milo wasn’t sure he was ready to leave me and my little cottage, but I assured him that his adventures are only beginning and there are so many new friends to be made. He stayed on my head until we were ready to go to bed, but I think he was really counting all the gray hairs up there. Silly bug! I will miss him terribly!!!!

Rhonda Roo, he'll be in the mail real soon.

xoxo Cori

 

Come What May!

 

Most of us have times when we can say, "Oh, I know that God loves me now"; but the feeling is transient, and soon passes away. Tomorrow we are doubting and fearing as before, and the joy has gone out of our heart. Does God's love then,change? Did He love me yesterday, and does He not love me today? Has the divine heart unclasped its hold upon me? No; the love of God is changeless and eternal. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the kindness of the Lord shall never depart from any of His children. Let us try to grasp this truth. Then, come what may, joy or sorrow, prosperity or adversity, we shall know always that the love of God abides unchanging-that we are held in it's clasp with a hold that never can be torn loose.

J.R. Miller (1840-1912)

The Sewing Bug

I had to go out and buy some sewing supplies this morning and Milo agreed to tag along as long as 

HE GOT TO DRIVE!

Now you may be wondering why Milo’s driving backwards, but he’s not really. Most bugs have eyes that rotate 360 degrees and Milo just happens to be one of those kinda bugs. Lucky him, don’t you think? 
Yah! Me too!

Anyway, like I said, we went out to buy supplies, but stopped to have coffee with Kathy first. 

This was Milo’s first trip to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. When we walked in the door his little nose started twitching with delight! “What is that divinely delectable aroma,” says he (yes, he uses words like that). “Coffee says I.” He could hardly wait until I got my cup to take a sip.

 

Yes indeed! I sip my coffee out of a straw and I know it’s a wee bit weird, but now Milo does it too. Oops! It looks more like he’s inhaling through his little nose. Milo! That’s not how you drink coffee you silly bug!

After coffee we went to one of our favorite Antiques stores in Fullerton, The Brick Basement. They have so many baskets full of lace and I needed to find some for some pillows I'm dreaming of making. Milo admitted that while lace isn’t really his thing he’d still have fun and dove into a basket to see what was at the bottom.

He came up sneezing from all the dust, but found the prettiest piece so we bought it.

Later today we’ll be sewing some velvet pumpkins that Milo’s very excited about, knowing that Darling Deb is wanting to make some to. Deb, we should have the pattern finished by tomorrow and all the glitches worked out then I’ll send you a copy.

Milo is having sew much fun learning new things and trying out new experiences.

He especially enjoys learning about things that go fast!! Even if it is just a sewing machine ;-).

PS Darling Deb:

Just so you know I’m not the one who taught your little bug how to drive. He was mumbling something about PFC Ryan and donuts. Do you know anything about this? Hee Hee!!!

When you Wish upon a Star…

It makes no difference who you are…

unless you are a BUG!!!

A BUG who all his short life has DREAMED

of going to Disneyland!!!

So there we were standing in line for the Monorail.  Both of us with our passports ready to enter the Happiest Place on Earth!

Little Milo was jumping up and down with so much excitement that he almost fell to the platform below, but don’t worry Deb, I’m taking good care of your little bug boy ;-).

The first thing Milo wanted to do was run straight through Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to King Arthur's sword, for he longed to pull it out of the stone where it was mystically held in placed by one of Merlin’s spells. As you know, only the true king can release it from the icy grips of that ancient rock. He’d heard other bugs talking about it and knew in his heart of hearts that he would be the one!!!

I didn’t have the heart to tell him it wasn’t the real sword in the stone.

 But he pulled and tugged…

and tugged some more, but alas, the sword didn’t budge so…

we had popcorn instead. I know that whenever I’m feeling blue a bowl of popcorn cheers me like nothing else and it seemed to work for Milo too. For a little guy he sure can eat a lot!

Milo was very impressed by the many different boats at the Magical Kingdom and kept asking the cutest questions that I couldn’t answer. “Don’t you want to know about the architecture,” I’d ask. “No, boats” was his reply. I could tell him anything about the architectural styles represented in the park, but not much about the boats. I have to admit it was the first awkward moment Milo and I had shared since I lifted him from his SMTU until…

another boat drifted by. A flat bottom river boat that runs on steam, has a giant paddle wheel that propels it through the treacherous shallow waters of the Rivers of America. Plus its covered with Gingerbread! “Gingerbread?” He asks. I could see a little gleam in his eye at the thought of all that sugar. “No Milo, it’s made out of wood.” “Wood?” “Yes wood.”

I could see he was a bit perplexed and who wouldn’t be with a language that uses one word that has multiple meanings. I have to admit, it baffles me at times too.

We met cute girls on the way who happily posed with Milo. Thank you cute girl ;-). I forgot to ask your name, but Milo enjoyed meeting you and loved your blue scarf and your sweet smile! And we wouldn't want to forget the cute scrolly stuff on the hem of your dress!

Milo won FIRST PLACE in the sheep shearing contest. Have you ever seen a bug sheer a sheep? Neither had I until this moment and I don’t think I’ll ever see anything quite like it again. It’s one of those memories that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life!!

Deb, I know you would have been so proud of your boy…wish you could have been here!!

We headed to Pooh’s Corner and had to pass the big scary white house in order to get there. Milo was so frightened by the noises coming from inside so we crept beneath the bushes and crawled by unnoticed by any human eye. Although I know there were lots of bugs that saw us and many whispers were exchanged wondering what we were doing and where did Milo get his great hat. I heard one tiny high pitched voice whisper, “It has no Mouse ears. He couldn’t have bought it here.”

We passed a huge tall mountain where you could hear magical singing so we stopped to sing a silly song. Milo loves to sing and has a beautiful voice for a bug.

After a long journey down a steep hill we made it to Pooh’s Corner, but there was no Pooh. Milo didn’t notice at all. He was too busy playing with the Bumblephants and eating honey. Milo loves honey!

Milo! That’s not a water slide, its a tipped over jar of honey. What a sticky mess you’ll be!

The sun was setting and it was time to go home so we said good bye to the 

Magic Kingdom and scurried on our way.

Tomorrow Milo’s going to do girl Saturday things and shop for a pretty light fixture. I’m not sure how he feels about that, but he is after all at the whim of his hostess.

Oops…he just heard me and mumbled something about Rooty toot Rhonda Roo ( she’s his next stop on his Grand Adventure). He’s hoping YOU’RE not going to make him do things like shop for girl things…

he is a boy after all!!!

Milo and I will see you all sometime tomorrow and hope you have a wonderful day. Deb, Milo is blowing you kisses from sunny California all the way to sunny Arizona ;-)

He misses you and Alice, but is having

GREAT FUN!!!!!

 

Milo is sleeping today!

He's exhausted from all the time he spent

at DISNEYLAND.

But he wanted me to tell you that he'll be back

later today or tomorrow morning

to share his exciting adventure.

Ssshhhhh! We don't want to wake him from his

sweet sleep ;-)

Milo and Me!

I came home from work today to find the most wonderful SURPRISE!

It was Milo! All snug as a bug in his little SMTU

(that’s short for: Snail Mail Transporter Unit).

And look! He’s traveling with his own copy of Artful Blogging which featured our beloved Vanessa ;-).

 

OH DEAR!

The first person he met when he climbed out of his SMTU was ELMO! Elmo was so excited to meet him until I read Milo’s hand written note,
“KEEP ME AWAY FROM DOGS!”

Sorry Elmo, Milo came to visit me, not you!

I thought after such a long journey Milo would like to see his room and make some new acquaintances…
other then Elmo.

He met the bee and they became fast friends since they both love to hum and sing…

He visited with the White Lady…

and learned a Belly Dance move or two from Mamselle.

But before he went to bed he wanted to blow some kisses and hugs to Darling Deb and thank her for letting him go on a most excellent adventure.

Nighty night Milo! Sweet dreams!
We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow
…DISNEYLAND AWAITS!!!!

 

I had a lovely time at Roger's Gardens the other day and when I came home I found a stow-away. This is Miss Emily Pumpkinhead and how she ended up in my basket I do not know, but since she did I decided to adopt her. These things happen to me all the time. I'll come home from being out and about only to find a bag of goodies laying on the table when I get home. Hubby always asks, "what's in the bag?" and I reply, "I have no idea!" I always say, "It's a dangerous thing stepping out my front door!" Actually I think it was Bilbo Baggins who originally said that, but I do enjoy quoting him from time to time.

 

The garden's were beautiful and filled with so many autumn colors. Everywhere you looked there were giant waves of pumpkins ranging for the weencest in size to the largest. 

Every available planter was toppling over with pumpkins.

I took a lot of pictures, but none of them turned out very well so I thought I would leave the images to your imagination ;-).

 

There were also these huge urns outside the basement that were overflowing with ghost pumpkins. I almost felt sorry for the little Putti who was trying to keep them from toppling to the ground, although, he is only a statue so how bad can one really feel?

Anyhow, today is Labor Day and we don't have any exciting plans for the day other then to labor out in the gardens and possibly get some sewing project completed before my work week begins.

I hope you all have a wonderful restful Labor Day!