Taking a little break

I'm taking a little break from the nests~~~
had to~~ my little knitting fingers were
almost ready to fall off!





A little creativity that is not knitting related!! (Actually - I'm really not all that creative - and this little project was so easy!)

I found this adorable cardigan at the Goodwill store for $2.00. (love the peach color!) The embroidered leaves and stems were already there - along with a horrible glued on "rose ".

~~ ripped off the rose and created my own flower using bits and pieces of my yarn and ribbon scraps.

Honestly - it took more time to do the photo shoot than it did to make the flower (you know how I am about my photo shoots!)

THEN- I wore this "designer" sweater out on a date with the Gardener - he took me to dinner and a movie~~

a real date with my guy~~

an escape from the Sacred Yarn Room~~

we went to see the most wonderful movie~~~

The story line~~

After the death of his father King George V and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII, Bertie who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VII of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife Elizabeth, (the future Queen Mother), arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist - Lionel Logue.

After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, the government, and Winston Churchill, the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio address that inspires his people and unites them in battle.

You can find more information about this amazing movie here and also hear the actual speech delivered by King George VII on September 3, 1939.

If you truly enjoy "Period" films (and I do!) you might want to check out this incredible website that was recommended to me by my friend Elaine from the beautiful photography blog - A Scattering. Both Elaine and I share a passion for films of this era and she has made some wonderful suggestions to me regarding movies. The film Bertie and Elizabeth, an earlier film devoted to the same story line as The King's Speech, can be viewed online at this website. I watched this movie as well and found it to be absolutely delightful.

What else have I been doing on my short break from knitting nests? Well- I did a little shopping (!!!) and bought myself these beautiful earrings made my my dear friend Marie Dodd. Marie makes the most unusual and exquisite jewelry. Her beautiful jewelry seems to speak to me - it seems to have a soul ~~.

Can a girl ever really have too many pairs of beautiful earrings? You can find more of Marie's gorgeous creations in her ETSY shop.

I am so sick of winter~ this was the view out my front door only just a few days ago. A blustery day with snow squalls and freezing temperatures. (Today it was 60 degrees here! So crazy!!)

and out the back door~~ I just want to plant flowers and bask in the sunshine~

so - I am leaving~~~

seriously, I can't take this winter any more!!

~~the Gardener is taking me here on a romantic holiday! Those 2 chairs are waiting for us~~

Beautiful beaches, white sands, the sounds of the surf- a romantic time to spend with my Gardener~~ (is he wonderful or what!!)

I can hardly wait ~~ two weeks of sheer clear turquoise water bliss~~

So - I'm taking my suitcase to the beach~~

a little sand between my toes~~

when I am at the beach- I feel so relaxed - so at peace - so welcome - it is truly the place where I feel so at peace~~

I hope to do some serious reading while I am away~~

Ahhhh~~~ VACATION!!

(photos courtesy of my flicker friends)

Some wonderful gifts have arrived at my home over the last few days - like this beautiful travel book about Paris from my friend Esme. I won a contest on her fabulous blog - Chocolate and Croissants. This book is gorgeous and will be the perfect travel guide for a little trip I am planning for next year~~ Thanks so much Esme - I absolutely adore this beautiful book! (and the passion fruit chocolates were to die for!!)

My friend Susan had the sweetest little contest in which she gave away little gift pouches that contained a little crochet Heart (love this!!) and some other little treasures - as well as the most wonderful Chocolate! This sweet gift is truly a gift from the heart of a dear and most treasured friend. Susan has a beautiful blog, Art of Mine, in which she highlights her vast array of creative talents. Visiting Susan's blog is like spending the afternoon with a dear friend. Thank you Susan - you know I love you.

I recently participated in "A Heart Exchange" hosted by Deb at the blog Mosiac Magpie. You can view the heart that I made for the exchange on the sidebar of my blog. The lovely heart pictured here was made by Peggy. Thank you Peggy for this beautiful heart - it is displayed lovingly in my Sacred Yarn room. I enjoyed participating in the craft exchange and meeting the very talented Peggy. I am already looking forward to next year's event!

(Those of you who know Deb from the Mosiac Magpie- know that her husband is critically ill. We must all continue to pray for his healing and for Deb - she is surely exhausted with the worry of her husbands illness. Prayer is a powerful force in the miracle of healing~~)

In anticipation of the arrival of spring - (and because I cannot bear the thoughts of winter even one day longer!!) - I finally took down my "Snowflake Village" display in my Sacred Yarn Room. On these cold and snowy days - this little display has seemed almost magical~~

Watching over my little village has been this precious angel - a most beautiful card that was crafted by my friend Dorthe and given to me as a treasured gift. Dorthe lives in Denmark - a place that is a long, long way from my home here in Kentucky. My relationship with Dorthe is one of love and admiration - although we have never "met" - I feel as though we are so very connected.

~~

I truly love you dear Dorthe - this little card has helped to re-awaken the spirit of the season for me. I cherish it more than you will ever know. Our friendship is precious beyond words and crosses miles and miles. Thank you so very much.

~~

Dorthe's blog Den Lille Lade is a beautiful place to visit. She lives on the coast of Denmark and her crafts often reflect her love of the sea and the treasures that she finds along the beach beside her home. She sells her creative treasures in her ETSY shop as well. You must visit there to see her driftwood angels and the beautiful art dolls that she creates.

Well - it was a short little break - (only about 3 days long) - and now I am back at the nesting full time! At last count I had about 12 more nests to go. I have been at this solidly since the first of December. If you are on the list and do not hear from me THIS week - please email me. I have now contacted everyone remaining on my list. The rest of the nests will be delivered after my return from vacation. Most definately in time for the arrival of spring!!

~~

I want to share my heart felt thanks with each of you who have taken the time to write, send emails, and even phone me expressing your love and appreciation for the nests after they arrived at your homes. I have never ever recieved such a wonderful outpouring of thanks and support - your kind words have meant the world to me.

~~

I have truly poured my heart into the creation of these little nests and I find it hard to let them go after I make them. Knowing that they are greeted with such anticipation and welcomed into your homes makes my efforts so worthwhile. Thank you, thank you.

~~

Do you want to hear something funny? (well - it's funny now - it was NOT funny then~~)

This past summer I did recieve my FIRST ever negative comment. A lady emailed me to say that she was not pleased with the nest I had made for her - that it looked too "green and natural" and that she had expected something a little more "whimsical" (!!) She told me in the email that she planned to sell the nest in a yard sale later that week. I begged her to let me pay to send the nest back to me. I offered to refund her money. I emailed her and said " in the name of all that is good and right in this world - please do not sell my little nest in a YARD sale!" I never heard from her again~~ (I nearly took to my bed over that one!)

So the moral of the story is this - if you do not like your nest - please do not sell it in a yard sale!!! I will happily take it back!!

~~~

And now on to more enjoyable thoughts~~You do remember that little tradition that always seems to happen when I finish my nesting season - right? (be watching for that!)

While I am back at the task of "nesting" - I have been enjoying the most wonderful series - Downton Abby. This Masterpiece Theater series is absolutly captivating! If you did not have the opportunity to watch it on Masterpiece Theater - you can watch it as I am on Netflix, or you can watch it online at the PBS website.

It is worth watching this series just to see the beautifu costumes and HATS!! I am totally mesmerized with this production~~

And now to the business of winning~~

The winner of the sweater cowl drawing is Sue Kosec - no surprise there - sweet Sue must have wanted this sweater cowl really badly because she entered the contest every single day without fail. Perserverance pays off! Congrats Sue - send me an email with your choice from the shop!
~~

And because there has been such a great response to the contest - I am also going to give away a second sweater cowl - the lucky winner for the second choice is Lili from the blog Fearless Nesting. Congrats dear Lili! I would imagine that this will be a welcome accessory for your cold winter in Maine! Think of this as a warm hug from me!

~~

Such a long post - thanks for hanging in all the way to here!

Coming up next is a post that is all about "winter time bling." Some serious beautiful bling~~ (the somebody's going to win some kind of bling!) It's gorgeous is all I can say~~


Vicki