The Sacred Yarn Room - My Creative Space

Imagination is the beginning of creation~~~
you imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine,
and at last, you create what you will. George Bernard Shaw





Welcome to my Sacred Yarn Room. It's been a little busy in here lately as I have been in the midst of a knitting "nesting" frenzy!


In the last two months, I have knitted and delivered over 40 bird nests to their happy little homes all over the world. (To learn more about my nests, click here and here.)

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This room is my solace ~ my haven of creativeness. A place where my ideas begin and often, (if I am lucky!) become a reality. Here in this special place are all the things that I love to use in my designs~~~

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A collector, a gatherer, a lover of vintage this and that. My creations are born from the treasures that I find~~~. My favorite places - vintage flea markets, garage and estate sales, the Dollar Store (!!!), and right here in this room. Sometimes, well, I forget what I have - and then, when I find it again - it's like it is a brand new treasure all over again!

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Incorporating the use of the unusual helps to feed my spirit of creativity. I am admitting an obsession here~~ I am fascinated by those little twisted string clothing tags. I especially love the green ones that are attached to the Vera Bradley handbags. These little tags are used in my knitted bird nests, along with shredded paper, plastic shreds, twigs, and whatever else I am in the mood to add.

Another obsession - vintage buttons. Can you ever have enough?

Bits of vintage lace, beaded string, candy blue bird eggs, vintage seam bindings, little stoneware eggs, and those fabulous string tags!

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Vintage buttons kept in Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey bottles~~

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My son did a brief stint as a bartender shortly after he graduated from college. The whole idea of it almost made me have a heart attack - but then I realized that he could get me these beautiful bottles!

Favorite buttons from my Mother's vintage collection.

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Within this room I have surrounded myself with some very special family mementos. A legacy of sorts - that helps to keep me connected to those I have loved and are now gone. Seemingly insignificant and yet, priceless to me~~

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My Mother's Longaberger basket collection houses my yarns and ribbons and threads. I love that I am able to use her baskets in my everyday life - this brings me great pleasure.

This vintage wooden crutch once belonged to my grandfather. I was only a small child, but I still remember my grandfather hobbling around on this crutch when he broke his foot. Now this little memento hangs on my wall and is used to display some of my yarns. We found this crutch under a huge pile of trash in an old outbuilding that once belonged to my grandparents. There was only this one~~~

Vintage Samsonite luggage that belonged to my parents, purchased for the occasion of their honeymoon.

My Father's suitcase is used to display my little nests~~~

My Mother's suitcase houses my collection of scrap yarns. I love to run my hands through these tangled scraps searching, searching~~~

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My Mother's vintage buttons - a collection that she added to for years and years. Collecting these buttons was a great passion of her's. The vintage walnut sideboard belonged to my husband's grandparents. I love the mirror and the reflection of the buttons there~~~

This bisque bowl once had a matching pitcher. A family heirloom, this bowl belonged to my great grandmother. More of my scrap yarns are collected in this favorite piece of my family history. The cherry sideboard was a precious antique that belonged to my Father's mother.

Worsted yarns that belonged to my Mother. Admittedly, I am a yarn snob and these yarns do not meet my high standards - but I am constantly finding creative ways to use these. Lately, I have incorporated these into use in my little bird nests. I marvel at the great variety of yarns that are available to knitters now days - and that my Mother was so very proud of her yarn collection then.

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When I found these yarns in my parents attic (as we were preparing to sell their home) little did I know that a treasure was hidden within. It was several years later that I found hidden amongst these yarns a precious gift from my Mother. To read about this emotional find - click here.

My favorites from Mother's collections~~~

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My most beloved possession - this antique chair that my Mother purchased and refinished early in her marriage. My Mother loved this chair - it was one of her most favorite possessions. When her three little daughter's came along and money was tight --- my Mother "sold" this chair to my grandmother in exchange for enough money to buy fabric to make Easter coats for the three of us.

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This chair sat in my Grandmother's living room for all of my life, that I can remember. After my Grandparents passed away, this chair was the only thing that my Mother requested from the estate. Before my Mother died - she gave this chair to me. She told me that when I was a child, I had marked on the underneath side of this chair with an orange crayon - (that crayon mark is still there). She said that since I had marked the chair - that it should belong to me. Today, it is my most beloved possession in my Sacred Yarn Room.

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These treasures are an integral part of my creations. They provide functions here within my creative space. They inspire me~~~

Two of those little Easter coats now hang on my wall in this special room. This little lavender coat and bonnet was mine.

This little green coat belonged to my sister Belinda. We do not know what ever became of the other little coat. Denises's little Easter coat was blue~~~

Also hanging on my wall are two cabled sweaters that my Mother made from those worsted yarns. Her handwork was amazing and her cables are perfect~~~

Knitting is my passion. My Mother taught me to knit when I was about 12 years old. Back then - it was not "cool" to be a knitter, so I abandoned my needles for things that I considered to be more important. Like boys.

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When my Mother was terminally ill, she taught me to knit again. This time I remembered - for so many reasons. My ability to knit has helped me throughout almost every aspect of my life. For me, its calming effect is all powerful. I knit through my upsets and my worries. I knit when I need to think. I knit when I pray~~~

More than just the process of knitting - I am fascinated by the colors and textures of the yarns. The most wonderful thing about having a Sared Yarn Room? The ability to go shopping for yarn at 2 am in the morning!


These beautiful tan and beige colored yarns are ready and waiting for my next little project. I will give you a little hint that is in the form of a question. "Where do little shorebirds lay their eggs?" You will have to wait just a little bit to find out!

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I love the leftovers that are born from my many knitted projects. I save every tangled, frazzled, knotted, and twisted scrap of yarn. (Is there a 12 step program for this?)

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A partial collection of my vintage knitting needles~~~

Glass knitting needles - an absolute luxury!

My vintage collection of crochet hooks - unfortunately, I can't crochet worth a hoot! Honestly - I can barely hold the needle correctly! I do struggle so!

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Does anybody want to borrow a knitting pattern book? I have a few! The whole top row is baby patterns!

My fascination with collecting yarn scraps and tangles, led me to create a way in which to use them - hence the origin of my knitted bird nests. This little creation has evolved over time~~ a process ~~ a merging of passion, design, and my love for textures and fibers.

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Sometimes it is just too pretty to stay inside and create - so I move outdoors for my projects. How wonderful to hear the birds sing and feel the summer breeze as you set about creating~~~

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The back deck is always so nice and shady! This is a wonderful place to sit and knit among the flowers! Have to watch out for those little hummingbirds though!

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To be creative is to unleash the ideas within,

at first it simmers slowly, biding it's time

until it can contain itself no more.

As women, we all have the ability to inspire others. In honor of this event - a tribute to the creativity of women - I would like to offer all of my guests the opportunity to win these one of a kind earrings.

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Designed especially for this event by my dear friend Mary Jane - these earrings symbolize the ability of women everywhere to create and dream.

For a chance to win these beautiful and unique earrings - just leave a comment on this post. This contest is open to women everywhere who inspire to create - where ever you may live. Maddy Girl will pick the winner on July 3. She is also choosing the winner of my bird nest give away on that day also. It will be a day for winning!
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A heartfelt thanks to Karen for hosting this exciting event for women everywhere!Thank you to my friends, both new and old, for spending a little time here in my Sacred Yarn Room. I hope you are leaving here with a little inspiration, a little momentum to create and dream~~~

Vicki