One World One Heart ~~ A Magic Carpet Ride

2/15/10 UPDATE - the winner is Ragmuffin girl! I have emailed you dear lady, so please email me with your name and address as soon as you can. (I am leaving town for 3 weeks tomorrow-----!) Congratulations on winning and a special thanks to everyone who participated in this event! This was a wonderful celebration of blogging all over the world. Through this event I made so many new friends and visited so many fabulous blogs! I am already looking forward to next years event----
Vicki



I am so excited to be able to offer a whimsical and unique experience to my new blogging friends. Through the One World One Heart Event - you all have the opportunity to literally travel around the world on a beautiful "blogging" magic carpet.



Hundreds of bloggers, (actually almost 1000 so far!) are participating in this fun and exciting event. This is your chance to make new blogging friends AND to win some great prizes. (Think "hundreds of give aways" all at one time!) To begin your travels, simply click here to be taken to the host blog. Listed there are the hundreds of blogs who are participating - including mine! (I am #751 on the list)

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Here are the "official rules"---

Visit as many blogs as you want between now and February 15, 2010. Leave a comment on the Contest Posting for every blog that you visit. You can only leave one comment per blog. You must have a valid email address where you can be reached on February 15 - should you be chosen as a prize winner by any of the participants. No Anonymous comments can be accepted for this event. Check your email on February 15 to see if you have won a prize or maybe 2 or 3!



This little handmade porcelain heart brooch is my prize entry for the event. Isn't it cute! Who wouldn't want to wear this sweet little brooch on a hat or scarf or coat? Hand formed from beautiful white porcelain clay, it has had vintage lace pressed into the clay before being bisc fired. The crimson red glaze makes this a beautiful accessory piece for your wardrobe. For your chance to win ~~~ just leave a comment on this posting.



Enjoy your blogging travels --- make new friends--- and hopefully pick up a treasure or two along the way!

(This beautiful little heart brooch was created by Karen at HodgepodgeArt. She has a shop full of lovely things---)

Vintage Baby Story Gift Tags

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes--- the baby shower! Between the knitting and the baby shower planning, this little grandma is burning the candle at both ends! These little baby gift tags made from a vintage Beatrix Potter children's book are my newest treasure. Aren't they just adorable?


Wouldn't they be lovely displayed at the baby shower somehow? They would be so cute as a focal point of the decorations.



I would love to hear your ideas about how these little treasures might be used and displayed at the shower. My blogging readers are sooo (!!!)creative and I just know that you can all help me with this little project.


So set your minds in motion and share your ideas with me about how to best display these little gift tags~~~~

And also - could you please share with me your thoughts about how to use these in the baby's room after the shower? I am so excited to hear your ideas!

Don't you just love the little one that says "the end"!

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I want to thank everyone who took the time to share with me your ideas about how to use the little blue cabled blanket. I really appreciate your show of support in the thinking that this would be a loving gift for a little baby girl! Thanks to your creativity, I now have some lovely plans for the blanket. I will be excited to share with you the new little girl cabled blanket soon! In fact, I plan to share the whole baby shower experience with you all. Consider that you are all invited!

Baby Blue ~~~ ( What would you do? )

This little cabled baby blanket has been a challenge for me. I started it last year (it pains me so to admit this----) and it is still not finished. But - it is ALMOST finished! Obviously, it did not get completed for the birth of our first grandchild, our precious Mason.



As you know, we are expecting our second little grandbaby in April. Soooo---- if you were me, and you wanted to give this little blue blanket to this really special little baby girl - what would you do to make it look - well - more girly?




Does anyone besides me think that little girls can also wear blue? Believe me - this little girl is going to have lots of PINK little things to wear! Remember the pink posting a few days ago? I am frantically knitting a pink baby trousseau----


I have invested so much time and love on this baby blanket. This little project has literally, travelled all over the world with me. On the beaches in St. Martin, on the beaches in Florida, on a cruise ship that sailed around South America, on a cruise to Bermuda, and traveling hundreds of miles as we drove back and forth to Atlanta to see Mason and to Florida to our condo - this little blanket has logged some serious miles! I can't bear the thought that I might lose an opportunity to give this to a special grandchild.
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So, I am open to your suggestions and ideas. I really do want to know your thoughts. If you think that this blanket is not meant for a baby girl - you can say that too. Just give it to me straight----

Snowdrop Knitted Wrap

My beautiful Snowdrop wrap is waiting for a home----



This scrumptious wrap is knitted from the most luscious yarns - blended together to create the softest touch ever. On the coldest and most blustery days, this wrap will warm you all over!



The yarns for the fringe have been collected from our travels all over the world. These yarns are so special to me and I have saved them to use as fringe in my beautiful wraps. There are over 30 different yarns in this extra long fringe.

Extra long, for extra warmth, this special wrap measures 60 inches long and 22 inches wide.

There are 14 inches of beautiful fringe on each end------

This little wrap looks as beautiful with jeans and a sweater as it does with your best cashmere coat----

One of my most favorite creations is my knitted wraps. When I seek peace and calmness in my life - this is what I choose to create.

You can visit this little creation again here if you think you might want to bring it home to live with you-----

Hungarian Mushroom Soup - (Perfect for a Wintery Day!)

The Gardener and I took a little road trip a few days ago to Black Mountain, North Carolina. While there, we ate this soup at one of the local restaurants and it was fabulous. (I asked for the recipe but, alas, they said NO!) Not to be defeated, I came right home and perfected my own recipe - pretty darn good it is too----. If you love mushrooms, you will LOVE this soup!



1 pound of sliced fresh mushrooms
2 tsp dried dill weed
1 Tablespoon paprika
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups chopped onions
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
ground pepper to taste
2 tsp lemon juice
2 Tablespoons dried parsley (fresh would be great also)
1/2 cup sour cream



Saute the onions in the butter for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute for another 5 minutes. Add the dill, paprika, soy sauce and broth. Simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and flour - pour into the soup, stirring constantly. Allow soup to thicken while continuing to stir. (You may add more flour if necessary to thicken.) Simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, sour cream, and parsley. Cook just until all is blended. Serve with some warm crusty bread.

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You are going to thank me for this----

PINK !!!

The Sacred Yarn room is definitely in the "pink" these days as I am in the midst of knitting for our newest grandbaby who will arrive in late April-----



I have so many things planned to knit for this expected little one - there are just not enough hours in the day! Does anyone besides me just wish that you could lock yourself in with a good cup of coffee, some great music and not have to answer to anyone or any thing - and just KNIT! That is me right now!!




I am going to be so anxious to show you the precious little things I am making when they are finished----.





Don't you just adore this beaded yarn from Tilli Thomas? I have knitted with this Flurries yarn many times before and it makes beautiful little treasures. (The only trouble with using this yarn - is that after the little clothing is made - I am meticulous about pushing every little single bead to the outside of the clothing so that it does not rub against the baby's skin. That can be a little time consuming!) (So many people have asked about the little dolls in this picture ---- they are Anthropologie Christmas ornaments that I bought last year. Aren't they just the cutest little Snow People? )





Stay tuned to see the latest developments from the "Pink" project. I will have a couple of postings coming up that I will be asking your help in - including one that has to do with a little knitted treasure that is BLUE!

Gratitude - (Overwhelming Gratitude!)

To My New Blogging Friends - I am absolutely overwhelmed by the response to my little knitted birds nests. I never, ever, in a million years, thought that anyone would even give them a second look - let alone vie in such numbers to receive one as a gift. I am amazed, I am shocked, I am in awe of your kind words and the precious comments that you have left on my blog. In less than 24 hours, I published over 50 responses - and they are still coming in! From the bottom of my heart - I am so grateful.

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First off let me say that the contest is great - someone will win and ( then a whole bunch of you won't and you will be sad) - so we can't have that! I promise that we will go straight into another contest that will include something wonderful and a birds nest. Heck - lets just give birds nests away all year!

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Now for those of you who actually want to purchase one of my little creations ( and I am still amazed that so many of you have inquired about that---- !) here is what you need to know. I have the little nests listed in my friend Jan's ETSY shop - click here for the link. I just sold the only 2 nests that I have made up BUT I will make more. When I initially placed those nests in Jan's shop I told her they were just there to fill the space - I was sure that no one would be interested in them! (Thanks friends! for proving me wrong!)

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Here is the thing----. Right now, I am knitting feverishly for my new little granddaughter who is due to arrive in late April. The baby shower is March 20 - if you are a knitter, you totally understand the pressure I am under. For me right now- it is all about knitting PINK.

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So - if you want a Birds nest AND are willing to wait until April to receive it- you can email me and place your Now. I will keep track of the orders and fill them in the order that they are received. Once the nest is knitted - I will email you and then you can make the purchase in Jan's ETSY shop. You won't have to pay until the nest is actually knitted. Fair enough?

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Thanks so much, I have never felt the love of so many friends who have left such nice comments. Bloggers are just the nicest people ever----

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My direct email address is vboster1@windstream.net

A New Year's Contest! (somebody's going to win!!!)

BRRRR! It is so cold outside and the world is covered in a blanket of snow - so I am staying warm and planning for a year of fun and contests for my blogging friends.

The first contest is going to start off with a fabulous prize! My knitting friends might want to choose these Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles. Knitters everywhere know that these needles are wonderful and practical. My knitting life changed when I found these needles - you will LOVE them.


I am just realizing as I look at this picture that 2 of the pink cables are missing as they are in use in my projects. Not to worry - the winners set will be complete and brand new as I will ship it from the manufacturer straight to your door!.

For my friends who do not knit (How can that be?) - then the prize will be one of my lovely knitted birds nests. Just looking at this little nest will bring thoughts of spring to your soul! The little nest will be complete with 2 little bird eggs. These little nests are made from my knitting stash - so no two are alike. You will love the one I am making for you now!

Don't you just think SPRING when you see these little nests?

So - how do you win? Easy-----

Just follow the blog from now until February 12. Leave a comment on any or all of the postings between today and February 12 - you can enter as often as you want. I will randomly choose a posting and a winner at noon on that date and will post your name on the blog. You will have 3 days to contact me and give me your address. The winner can choose between the Knitting needles or the knitted birds nest. If the nest is chosen - then I will have another contest specifically geared towards Knitters to give away the Needles.

For my blogging friends who do not live in the United States - not to worry. I will deliver these prizes any where in the world.

This is going to be a year of fun with lots of contests and great prizes. So follow along in this blogging adventure---

Tell all your friends about the contest and send them to this blog!

Christmas at the Biltmore Estate

The Gardener and I took a short little trip to Asheville to celebrate his birthday. We visited the Biltmore Estate - one of our favorite places for a getaway. The Mansion was still decorated in Christmas tradition and was simply beautiful. Here is just a little glimpse into this magnificent home and the holiday decorations that were so resplendent there. (Cameras are not really allowed inside the Mansion - so my disclaimer is that I do not know how these pictures appeared on my cell phone---)

After touring the Mansion, we enjoyed the most wonderful buffet dinner at the DeerPark restaurant on the estate. The restaurant and courtyard were decorated with hundreds of lights - it was a magical sight.

We spent the night in Asheville and headed to the montaintop town of Montreat, just outside of Ashville. Our purpose was to visit the Montreat College Campus and to see the fresco inside the Chapel of the Prodigal. Unfortunately, the Chapel was closed because the college was on holiday break. So we will visit there another time to see the fresco - but we so enjoyed our visit to the College Campus. The little snow covered campus was truly beautiful---

Behind the bookstore was this little dam, a perfect place for respite don't you think? The campus housed a beautiful bookstore, a general store, and one of my favorite stores Ten Thousand Villages.

The campus is home to a very friendly family of Mallard ducks and swans that live on the lake there. Their colors were so vivid and beautiful. We threw out a few crackers and made "instant" friends with them all!

After leaving Montreat - we drove to the town of Black Mountain. This little town is filled with a variety of craft shops, antique shops, and eclectic shops of all kinds. Nestled among the montains, this town was just the perfect place to spend an afternoon. We had so much fun shopping and walking arond the town. We had a wonderful lunch at the Veranda Restaurant (my Hungarian Mushroom soup was to die for!) They would not share their recipe (bummer) but I am going to make my own, so watch for that soon to come to the blog!

The Gardener found a wonderful display of model airplanes - he was a happy boy!

Everything was on sale after Christmas - yea! - and I bought this beautiful winter wreath.

The Gardener made best friends with one of the local shop kitties!

The train depot has now been restored into a local arts and crafts gallery. There is some serious shopping to be done in this little town. We will definitely be returning----