"Winter Nesting"

I know a place, in the ivy tree
Where a bird's nest is and the eggs are three
And the bird is brown, and the eggs are blue
And the twigs are old but the moss is new~~

My Winter Nesting has begun!

Did you know~~~

that many of the birds in your yard re-use their summer nests in winter, as spending the night in a semi-enclosed space keeps them up to 15 degrees warmer, enabling them to survive much easier. Spending 50% less energy heating their body at night allows them to survive easier when food is scarce. Birds sometimes even store food in their nests. Another fact is that birds often shelter together to keep warm - as many as 60 wrens have been found roosting in one nest box to shelter from the cold. (just some winter nest trivia for you)

My plan was to begin my Winter Nesting on January 1 - however with 45 nests to make, I took advantage and actually started the "nesting" in early December - (surprise!) Almost one third of the very patient folks on my list have already received their nests!!

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Thank you to everyone who has so patiently waited between 6 and 9 months for this "nesting " season to begin! Bless your hearts! Remember~~ good things come to those who wait - (patiently!)

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This "nesting" season will find little nests going to 18 states in the US. Nests have now traveled to all of the 50 states (including Alaska and Hawaii) except for New Mexico, Vermont, and Alabama - (where are you guys?)

This season the little nests will also be flying to homes in Canada, Denmark, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey.

If you are on the current "nesting" list - you can expect to hear from me by mid-March. If you think you are on the list - and don't hear from me- PLEASE email me!

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Needless to say - things are pretty busy in the Sacred Yarn Room right now! I am expecting this session to take me until sometime in March. This new year promises to reveal some very special Limited Editions - all of them connected to a charitable cause.

You can look for that Limited Edition "Harvest Nest" to debut sometime around August or September. The proceeds from this charity nest will be donated to a local food bank. (there will be 20 of these little nests)

In the late Spring - a very special surprise nest will debut. I am keeping the details of this Limited Edition nest a secret for now - but I can tell you that the charitable proceeds will go to a place that is very near and dear to my heart. Here is your one and only hint~~ (think soft and pretty pinks and blues~~~)

SO - here is the bad news~~

the next "nesting" session for these little green nests will NOT be until late in the fall. (probably November - gasp!!) So - if you are a patient person and are willing to wait - you can email for information and to be placed on that waiting list. I am going to make 25 nests for that session ~~~

~~ there are other nesting surprises planned for this next year also - but I can't tell - because - they are a SURPRISE!!

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Would you go to this much trouble for a photo shoot? Am I crazy? (don't answer that!!)The day of this photo shoot was COLD !! I had to take several "go back into the house to warm up breaks!"

The Gardener was a wonderful assistant - he helped to take the pictures, and helped me to get everything back to the house. He even made me a cup of hot chocolate!

This is what the woods behind our house looked like BEFORE the photo session. It is a hefty walk from our house to this wooded area! I piled all of my "stuff" into the garden cart and pulled it along in the snow - (garden carts really don't roll too good in the snow - just letting you know!)

While we are on the subject of NESTS~~~

My dear friend Jan (DreamChallenge blog) has just given me the most precious gift to commemorate this nesting season. This beautiful nest pendant with gemstone eggs is truly a special gift and I love it so very much! Thank you my friend!! This is definitely me - don't you think? (Jan is just beginning her blogging experiences - won't you visit her and say Hello? She is a passionate knitter who loves to make baby clothing. If you are in need of a knitted heirloom - please let her know - she will be thrilled to create a lovely knitted treasure for you.)

My first attempt at "tagging!" These little tags were created especially for this "Winter Nesting" season. Starting today - all the nests will be packaged bearing this little special "winter" tag.

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Baby it's COLD outside! So - lets give away something to make us feel warm and snuggly! I am going to give away your choice of any of the vintage sweater cowls in my ETSY shop. Maddy girl will draw a winner on February 14 (a happy little day!) and the winner can choose from any of the sweater cowls in the shop. To enter - just leave a comment - that's all. (You can enter as often as you wish and the contest is open to all of my friends wherever you live!)

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My next post will be my participation in the One World One Heart blogging event. If you are interested in participating - just click on the logo in my sidebar - it will take you to the host blog where you can read all the necessary information. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet bloggers from all over the world, make new blogging friends - and - to maybe win some wonderful prizes. I will be having some special give aways for that international blogging event as well - so be sure to see me here on January 30!

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I gotta go and make some nests~~~

Vicki