Sunday, August 26, 2012

A Bountiful Harvest-- the Harvest nests are here!

Harvest- a celebration of nature's bounty~~ 



After a year of designing and long hours of creating -- I am thrilled to finally see this dream come to reality.  The Harvest Nests are finished!!


This special season is one of my favorites~ it is a feast for the senses as well as a state of mind.  To me, Autumn signals the turning of the year~~ a time to take stock of all that you have accomplished throughout the past months ~ a time to appreciate your bountiful blessings. Autumn is a splendid and colorful gateway to the winter season. 
This nest is truly a celebration of bounty-- in my heart it represents the outpouring of love and support that you have all given to me and my "little nests."  

 The creation of 45 Designer nests has been "all consuming" (translation --- LOTS of long, and late nights)-- but now that they are completed -- I have such a sense of satisfaction, knowing that we (Mary and I) have been able to create these for all of you.  To those of you who have waited so long -- almost a year for these nests to come to life --- my heartfelt thanks for trusting me and allowing me to do this for all of  you.  


"By all these lovely tokens,
September days are here.  
With Summer's best of weather,
and Autumn's best of cheer."
(author unknown)


Those of you who have been on the waiting list will find your nests now listed in my ETSY shop.  Please go to the Reserved Section of the shop that corresponds with the first letter of your LAST name. 
(You can find the link to my etsy shop on the top of my sidebar.)


    If you can not find your name listed in my ETSY shop
 -- please email me.  

 ~~~


In designing this nest -- I wanted to create a collection of yarns that would represent a sunny walk in the woods on a crisp, cool Autumn day~~


An explosion of color -- 
as vibrant as the leaves on the Autumn trees. 

~~~

Each nest contains pieces of beautiful vintage jewelry


Nestled inside each nest are 3 exquisite beaded acorns. 



~~~


~~~

Can you see the little tin heart?
Each nest contains a little heart -- a little "love"
from me-- to all of you.  


~~~

 Each of your nests will come wrapped in
beautiful tissue and wearing a gorgeous tag
made by my friend Sue.
(kosec@sbcglobal.net)

 These nests have truly been a labor of love.  My way of giving back to you -- making 45 nests so that each of you who wanted to have a special nest -- would be able to do so.  They are a once in a lifetime creation---

But-- they have been incredibly labor intensive!  So-- from now on -- the Designer nests will go back
to being  small, limited quantities.  


 
 As with all of my Designer Nest Series -- the charitable profits are donated to a worthwhile charity~~

My friend Jan heads up a little knitting group at her church.  She and members of her group lovingly knit scarves throughout the year. In December - the month of true giving-- the scarves are donated to several local charities who provide services to the needy and homeless within our communities.  Most of the yarns used by the ladies in her group are donated by people of the church.  

Because this is such a special nest -- a nest that represents a celebration of bounty and of blessings abundant -- I am donating the charitable profits from these nests to Jan's knitting group. They can use the funds to purchase beautiful yarns for the ladies to use in their knitting. Those of you who have waited SO long to purchase these nests -- can take pride in the fact that your purchase is going to help keep someone warm this winter~~
  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.


 Take a good look!! Because this is something that you aren't likely to ever see again ---45 nests!!  (It took us forever to carry all of these outside -- sit up for the photo -- and then carry them (ever so gently!!) back inside again!!  That's Mary sitting up front -- looking beautiful in her turquoise.  I'm the one looking like the "great pumpkin" sitting in the back.  

 So--- what's up next?  Those of you who have an interest in joining the waiting list for the Woodland or Shabby Chic nests (as pictured on my sidebar) still have time.  There are a few more places open -- but I am going to have to close those lists very soon.  I will be making those nests this winter and they will be making their way to folks in the spring. 

There won't be any more Designer nests this year --- but I am already looking ahead to next year -- and an incredible design that is ALREADY in the works.  Be sure to be HERE for a very special post on October 1.  I'll be sharing some BIG news with you regarding the next design, and I will be kicking off a YEAR long celebration PROJECT in anticipation of the release of  next year's nest.  I'm so excited already~~

I'm going to take a little blogging break -- I'm just so tired, I know you understand.  I will be back on October 1 with news -- incredible news!  Until then -- enjoy the rest of your summer -- it is passing ever so quickly now~~

Love,
Vicki   

ps -- just because I'm on a blog break does not mean that I'm not here--- I check my emails every day-- I love to hear from you--

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Itty Bitty Knitting

Our newest beautiful grand baby arrived in June.  In anticipation of baby Avila's birthday, I've been knitting since late spring on her little treasures!  We've just returned from our visit to see baby Avila and her BIG brother Mason -- so finally I get to share her precious knitted trousseau with all of you!

 this little beaded coat is so special-
just like our baby Avila


every little bead is sewn on - one at a time!!
the beads are centered on both the front and the back
(only a Grandmother would take over 10 hours to sew all of these beads in place!!)





can you see the tiny little beads on the 
"made by gb" tag?
(you can click on the photo for a closer view) 


the little matching pants have a single
beaded flower on one leg
(each little bead securely sewn on one at a time)



 


the details--
Pattern book - #292 DK Baby (Berroco)
Entiat Cardigan and Finlay pants
Yarn -- Berroco Pure Pima
(I loved knitting with this yarn! 

I choose complimenting colors for the coat and pants.
the pattern does NOT call for beads --
those were added by me!


 a little knitted shrug 





a special little tag is attached to each item
(aren't they cute?)
(the inspiration for the tags was found on Pinterest!)




the details-
shrug pattern -- Debbie Bliss- Simply Baby pattern book
yarn - Naturally Caron Spa - yellow
Baby Bee peach fuzz - multicolored carrier thread
(the Baby Bee line of yarns has been discontinued -- this was part of my stash)


a little beaded hat

 



the details- 
pattern -- Tilli Thomas #177
yarn- Tilli Thomas Flurries-Beaded Australian Merino
(note-- the beads on this yarn are rather large
 -- so after the hat was made - I pushed every single bead to the outside of the hat) 


 a storybook blanket fit for a little Princess



















 the details-
yarn - Lorna's Laces shepherd worsted
pattern - my own design


a "baby size" version of my own Autumn Gold hat 




the details-
pattern - my own
yarn - Hobby Lobby "I Love this Yarn"


Some photos of baby Avela ~~~

 Avila  


modeling her new beaded hat--
(snuggled in her Mommy's arms)

Mason and Avila
he loves her!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My friend Mary has been on a knitting binge as well.  She is expecting a new little grand baby just any day now!  Here are some items from the BEAUTIFUL  trousseau that Mary made for baby Nora Jane-- 

 a little beaded sweater 

 


 
  the details -
pattern -- Susan B. Anderson, "Itty Bitty Nursery"
yarn - Debbie Bliss cashmerino
(the pattern does not call for beads, those were added by Mary!!)
 

a little fairy blanket  






the details-
 pattern -- basket weave stitch
yarn -- from Mary's stash
(the blanket and embellishments are Mary's own design)


precious little hats for baby Nora






the details -
the hat patterns are Mary's own design
yarn -- part of her unending stash! 



And --- made for a friend as a shower gift ---

 a storybook blanket for a precious little boy







the details-
yarn -- Sensations Shimmer Boucle
carrier thread -- Hobby Lobby "Peach Fuzz"
(the Peach Fuzz is part of Mary's stash -- as it is a discontinued yarn)

pattern -- Mary's own design
(she knitted the embellishments as well)

~~~~~~~~~ 
An update on the Harvest nests --- they are almost finished!!! The photo shoot is scheduled for later this week!  Yippee, yea! whoopee, Hallelujah!!!  (can you see me doing the happy dance?!!)

Now all I have to do is figure out how I am going to list 45 RESERVED nests in my etsy shop!!  If you are on the list -- keep watching here for THE Harvest Nest post --- coming SOON!!



Love,
Vicki

ps --- sorry for such a long post!!