I think it was only natural -- fate perhaps --
that someday I would make a nest that would benefit the babies and children~~
 |
A specially commissioned Nest
for the
benefit of the
Hoops Family Children's Hospital.
Nest
~
A safe haven
A place to be nurtured~
A place for waiting
(an expectation of good things to happen)
A precious place where new
life springs forth.
A place of HOPE.
~~~
~~~
|
These heirloom quality nests are available within our community
as truly special keepsakes
honoring the generosity
of corporate and individual donations
for a generous donation of
$2500 or more.
~~~
TEN
of these Limited Edition Designer nests
have been created to
commemorate
financial gifts given to further
the medical well-being of infants and children
within our community.
~~~
In designing this nest~
I knew that it would be completely different-- totally unlike anything that I had ever done before.
I wanted this nest to tell a story about the children.
I thought about the design of this nest for several weeks-
Then one morning I was walking through the pediatric floor on my way to the NICU- it was about 6 am, and this little toddler was walking down the hall followed by his Mommy and Daddy. He was carrying a teddy bear that was almost as big as he was and dragging a blanket that looked like it had seen better days-- and I thought - that's it--
That's the story I want to tell with this nest.
~~a story about security and promise and hope~~
All the things that this new Children's Hospital will represent for our children.
A project such as this could not have been done by just my own two hands~~
The saying is true that it "takes a village" -- and my village begins with
my best friend Mary.
Mary's special contribution to this project is her beautiful beaded and sequined gauze-- her special creation that totally brings together the idea that this nest is created to benefit a Children's Hospital. Tea dyed -- and embellished with tiny Swarovski crystal, seed pearls,and sequins (all sewn on by hand)-- it's simply gorgeous. The very idea of using medical gauze in this incredible design still amazes me -- she's totally genius. Mary is my biggest supporter, she is my sounding board, my "call your best friend up in the middle of the night" just to listen to another of my ideas-- FRIEND. She is the person beside me in every nest that I create.
~~
Mary says--"Many years ago my daughter was diagnosed with Crohns Disease. We had the privilege of meeting Dr. Yorum Elitsur and are so very thankful for his care of our daughter. He became a true friend to our family. I want to honor his life's work through my contributions to this fundraiser. I am truly honored to be working with my best friend on the Children's Nest. This Children's Hospital is a blessing to our area."
(me)
A nest such as this takes months to create.
From idea -- to sketch -- to design coordination -- to completion.
These nests consumed nearly 8 months of my life.
~~
If the beauty of art is realized in the details~
this Children's nest
is truly a shining illustration.
More of my "village"~~
Deb Hembree's miniature crazy quilts are the result of hours and hours (and hours!!) of intricate beadwork and embroidery. Her beautiful contribution to this project is not only a work of art -- it is a treasure. Each little quilt is made by hand, embroidered and beaded, then lined with warm snugly felt-- just as a little child would want his "blankie" to be.
~~~
On the back~
each little blanket is embroidered
with a message of LOVE.
When her first daughter was born prematurely, Deb Hembree of Shelbyville, Ky experienced an overwhelming range of emotions as she sought to care for her child. Grateful that her local hospital was equipped to handle her daughter's needs, a burden to provide comfort for parent's in similar circumstances was placed on her heart. Her gorgeous "miniature crazy quilts" are created with thoughts of the healing and nurturing to come with the building of this new Children's Hospital. Having so many hours and dreams stitched in to each one, the quilts were among the few items that Deb gathered on her way to her basement earlier this summer when tornadoes struck her home area.
~~
"I did not want to miss this opportunity to share in something that could benefit so many. The building of a well-equipped, state-of-the-art hospital-- where babies are the No. 1 concern-- is the perfect place for me to make a difference."
~~
Mary Jane Dodd's metalwork leaves are stamped with the word HOPE. A visual reminder of what this collective effort represents: a charitable cause to bring HOPE to our children. The addition of the beautiful leaves was a latecomer to this project -- Totally out of the blue I received an email from MJ stating that she had been thinking about me and wondered if I had a current charity project in progress that she could assist with. Her participation in this effort is a true gift from God. I've said from the very beginning that I was not in charge of this project--clearly God is a nest designer as well.
Mary Jane Dodd of Neptune, NJ is a mixed media metalsmith, mother of three children, and intimately familiar with children's hospitals. In 1998, her third child was born at 23 weeks gestation and weighed just over a pound. After spending 4 months in the Intensive Care Nursery -- he required a tracheotomy and 24 hour respiratory support. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia became their temporary home where he received incredible care from multiple specialists. Mary Jane's belief in the importance of excellent pediatric care was further strengthened when her daughter was diagnosed in 2009 with Crohns disease at the age of 17.
~~
"You cannot put a price on the piece of mind that comes with having an excellent children's specialty hospital. It was a great honor to be able to help with this project. I wish all of the families that come to this hospital peace and good health and extend to the staff my deepest appreciation."
~~
My friend Sue Kosec has been a dedicated supported of my nest creations; she can read my mind when it comes to designing the little tags, and cards that accompany my nests. Her creations are stunning. For this nest she created miniature rosettes made from vintage fabrics-- a special touch that brings to these nest that "shabby chic" appeal that I wanted to create.
Sue also created the little tags that will accompany each nest. She truly took my jumbled thoughts and turned them into these adorable tags that will embellish the wrapping of these nests. Presentation is everything -- and I can always count on Sue to create something so very beautiful.
~~
Drawn to anything that involves paper, Sue Kosec of Euless, Tx. fell in love with papercrafting about eight years ago and today it is truly her passion. Her work has been featured in Stamping, Stationery, and Scrapbooking Magazine.
~~
"I am honored and thrilled to make a difference, support a dream, and be a part of this amazing endeavor for the building of the Children's Hospital. It is a joy for me to help raise money for a much needed and worthwhile project."
~~
You can find Sue at her Facebook page --Sue Daggett Kosec
Mary and I dedicated almost 2 weeks to the final phase of "building" these nests. Each nest was intricately embellished with the artisan creations and then we added the final adornments~ the handmade felted teddy bears, each clutching that gorgeous quilt under it's movable arms. Completing this special design is a monogrammed sterling silver charm commemorating the special occasion for which this nest was built.
From start to finish -- each nest has collectively consumed over 20 hours of intricate creating and embellishing. "My hope is that individuals will be moved by the story of the nests and will want to contribute to this most worthy cause --the building of a dedicated Children's Hospital for our children. In exchange for a most generous donation -- they can take home one of these heirloom nests -- a memento of a contribution that will change the lives of our children forever."
"I think maybe one of the better things about getting older, is that it has given me time to do something really worthwhile. For over 30 years I have been blessed to have a career that allows me to witness miracles every day. Working alongside amazing physicians and nurses... I see their dedication to the mission of saving the lives of premature infants. One of my dearest friends, Dr. Gilbert Ratcliff, recently retired after a lifelong service of taking care of tiny babies. His legacy has inspired me to want to leave something special of my own...
Another dear friend and collegue, Dr. Joe Werthammer... has been caring for tiny infants as many years as I have been a nurse in the NICU-- I often think about the fragile lives, the hundreds of babies that he has helped to save ... he, along with the rest of the nurses and physicians in my work place -- we are all building a legacy of caring for the babies. In the creating of these Children's Nests -- I believe that perhaps I am creating a legacy of my own ...using my talents to help continue the care of our community's children -- for today and tomorrow ... and for years to come."
~~~
To inquire about making a donation to the Hoops Family Children's Hospital
please contact:
Velma Workman
Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation Development Coordinator
304-526-6314
~~~
For more information about the building of our Children's Hospital
click HERE
~~~
A special note to my readers and followers~
Although time consuming -- this project has been a true labor of love. This is my very first commission nest and I am thrilled to finally be able to share the photos and the story with you -- this has been a year long endeavor and I have waited so very long to make you all a part of this amazing project. I appreciate your support, your comments -- and the love that you have always, always shown to me.
I'm very busy here in the Sacred Yarn Room -- the winter nesting has begun! If your are on the list -- then shortly after the first of the year some of you will start to hear from me. As you go about your holiday activities and all the business of "making merry"-- remember to make a little time, a little special effort, a little something special for those who are not as lucky as you or me.
xoxo,
Vicki
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