It’s that Magical Fanciful Time of YeAr…

 

Can you guess what it is?

 

It’s the 5th Annual MaD TeA PaRty Hosted by the most adorable Fanciful Elfin creature to exist…Vanessa Valencia and her Beloved Beau…ThE MaD HaTTer…
(aka, Mister Lovee)!
It doesn’t get any funner than this in Bloglandia,
(and yes! “Funner” is a real word)
so won’t you join us for another fun filled wacky few days of blog hopping through the list of party goers?
I know I’ll be there and it would be fun to see you too!!

Don’t forget the date!

July 28th 2012 

you can click on the image above for more details 

Coming up for air

 

Well, I managed to make it through another semester and am hoping to have only one more to go…hopefully! Last summer I took an online class in “code writing” which I really enjoyed, but I decided to take this summer off and get some projects done around my beloved Brambleberry Cottage. The effect time and neglect have had on our weence little dwelling is staggering. Where does one even begin? I decided to start with the living room. I have been in the mood for a bright springy color after staring at brown walls for the past 15 years. And yes! I did say “15.” I looked around one day and realized I was living in a time capsule…nothing had changed in 15 years. No furniture rearranging, no fresh new fabrics, no change at all. Quite disturbing for a girl who thrives on change.

So I painted the rooms green.  This past week I finished the living room and entry and now I’m replacing the baseboards with help from my dear hubby. He gets to do all the measuring and cutting while I paint.
You can see to the left of the door the new moldings, which are very exciting in my way of thinking. I just love progress, don’t you? Even if it’s a bit slower than I’d like, but much depends on my hubby who has to work all day then come home to the wife who’s head is bubbling over with ideas, which in turn means more work for him. OH! See that front door? I’d Love for him to cut it in half and transform it into a Dutch door. Seems simple enough, right? Right! I might even paint the inside of it pink. I’m definitely painting the outside of it pink! Pink doors make me extraordinarily happy.

Now here’s something that I’ve wanted to do for many many many years. Paint this old filthy fireplace white. Don’t get me wrong, I find the old brick to be very charming, however it’s also dark and dingy at the same time. While it worked well with the brown walls it seems perfectly out of place with the fresh spring green.

So, armed with a can of paint and a brush…viola! It is now white. Well, at this stage it’s only primed and there’s still more to come.

About 10 years ago I bought these gorgeous tiles from Dard Hunter’s grandson while at a local Craftsman Faire. I had always planned to design a surround for the fireplace, but never got around to it, so, this is the year and I’m very excited about this as well. I wish you could see the colors in real life because the picture just doesn’t do them justice. They’re very vibrant and glossy looking. Beautiful to my eye.
Of course the existing mantle will be removed and replaced with a new one that will be fully integrated into the surround. Plus it will be removable just in case we move one day, which I’m sure will never happen, but just in case “-).

I also bought 15 yards of fabric from Calico Corners to make new drapes. They’re having a 20% off sale so the timing was perfect! I’m still waiting for it to arrive via post. It has a very English feel with its creamy yellow background and pink roses scattered among apple blossoms. The shades are all soft and muted tones. “Lovely,” says I.

 

Then once all that is done I’ll be able to start re-arranging all the lovely little vignettes scattered about Brambleberry cottage. So much fun!

Do you have any fun plans for this summer?

A Song of God’s Majesty and Love…

Every day I will bless You. And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another. And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts. And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all, And HIs tender mercies are over all His works.

Psalm 145: 1-9

Well, maybe the “woe” is too strong a word, but at times it feels that way.

So, let’s see…where do I begin. I think the last time anyone in Bloglandia knew what was going on, here at Brambleberry Cottage, was last year. Maybe it’s time for an update.
Last year hubby was unemployed and much was accomplished around here. We painted and built and worked in the garden. We built raised vegetable beds in the backyard and nibbled on lettuce, radishes, and other yummy veggies.
My new semester started and with it came a new job for hubby. I think it’s a bit peculiar that his job at Boeing ended the first day of my last semester while his new job began the first day of this semester. But anywho, this semester has been both challenging and woeful.

I’m not sure what it is, but every time I’m enrolled in an art/graphics class I feel so inadequate about my abilities to create anything worth looking at…weird, don’t you think? Me too!  Well, this semester I have two drawing classes, a sewing class, and Quick Print on Friday. I love my Quick Print class!!! I love my sewing class!!! I despise my Doodling & Noodling class as well as my Intro to Advertising and Graphic Arts…yuck! Yuck! Yuck. The two classes I despise (another strong and maybe overly dramatic word, I know) are Tuesday’s and Thursdays beginning at 8 am. I’m not sure about the other students, but I think 8 am is way too early to start class. We all shuffle through the door looking slightly catatonic and find our way to our seats.
So, this is where the “woe” comes in. For some reason, unbeknownst to me, my instructor and I seem to be at odds with one another and nothing I do is right.

I’ll bet you didn’t know you were going to have to listen to me whine, did you? Please forgive me as I continue my tale of woe :-).
You may be wondering about my strange little pictures so I’ll tell you what they are. We were given an assignment where we had to create pictures that represented a word out of nothing but characters from 1 font family. These were a few of my finished designs. My instructor was not thrilled that I chose fonts from home instead of the computer lab, but after the fact I remembered that I specifically asked, “can I use fonts from home?” to which she replied, “I don’t think there should be a problem since they’ll be converted to outlines.” I think part of the problem may be that we are both forgetful and neither wants to fess up to it. Oh well, such is life. I keep telling myself to get over it and go on. Easier said then done. Am I making any sense or are you completely confused?

Any way the next assignment really has me stumped and I just can’t seem to get it done. The good thing is I only have 5-6 weeks left then I’ll be done for this semester and hopefully only 1 semester to go…but then there’s more Quick Print classes…so much fun for a girl who loves to print!!!

OK, I gotta run for now, but hopefully I’ll be back sooner than not.
Hope you all have a fun rest of the weekend!!!

xoxo Cori

After the Rains

What is it they say…”April showers bring May flowers.”
We have had plenty of rain this year and it’s been ever so glorious!

This morning, as I wondered through my garden, I noticed all the roses had opened over night.  Almost as if they knew the rains were coming and wanted to bathe their petals in the gentle cleansing drops from heaven. Have you ever noticed how the light is different after a rain?
The sky is bluer, the clouds are fluffier, and the sounds of the earth ring clearer.

Before going out to my garden this morning, I saw the funniest sight through the kitchen window. The back end of a huge possum strolling down the path with a head of lettuce  tucked safely in its mouth. I would have loved to have taken a picture of her (or him), but my camera was in the other room.  Apparently this little bunn missed it too.

There have been two doves coo-cooing in the wisteria for days and I wonder if they’re the same two that fly in every spring. They build a nest in the branches of the vine and the mother patiently sits and waits for the appointed time, for her little clutch of babes to arrive. She is so quiet and still that you’d never know she was there. And no matter what’s going on below she will not abandon her wee ones. It’s amazing how the Lord has created in them a protectiveness for their young. I think we humans could learn a lesson or two from the doves.

I have two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a 3 hour gap in between so this is where I can be found during that time, daydreaming beneath the shade of the wisteria tendrils, while contemplating the heavens and all the riches they store…and ignoring my homework.
I think this has been the hardest semester I’ve had when it should have been the easiest. My Tuesday-Thursday classes are both drawing classes and drawing is not something I do well, at all!! So, I’m trying to spend time each day doodling and noodling, but that’s another story for another day.