Just keepin' it real~

Visits with grandbabies, hand made teddy bears, the last of the Pink Scarf deliveries, and a beautiful heartfelt gesture from a dear friend -- all the blessings that are so very special to us in our life.  This is my chance to share some of those most special memories with you~

Mason - 5 years old
Avela - 18 months old

We just returned from a wonderful

visit with our grandbabies in Atlanta. 

It seems like you just turn your back

and they grow so much!

Avela poses by the Christmas tree. 
(ALL the photos in this post were taken with our
Iphone 5 cameras)

You probably already know this-
but-- grandbabies are BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!
~
there was lots of jumping on top of
Papaw's belly!

we celebrated Christmas with our babes
so there were new toys to play with~

the dollbaby lost out-
but Avela took off with both the teddy bears
in her new grocery cart!
~
(the teddy bears have their own special story
later in this post)

Mason was SO excited about the five
one dollar bills that his Papaw gave him ---
he wanted to take us all out to dinner!

EARLY morning building!
Grandbabies do not sleep late
when we come to visit!!

Avela's favorite toy was her
gb's iphone!

Avela's first ride on the merry go round
at the mall

Papaw captured this magical moment
with his iphone~

she is laughing out loud here~

we went to this little Italian bistro-
I said, "Mason, turn around here and smile for your gb".
and THIS -- is the picture that I got.

You can pay for expensive photo props ---
or-- you can plop the baby
on the bed at the Pottery Barn Kids!

but the truth of the matter is really this --
most of the time when you are taking photos of
busy, busy, busy grandbabies,
what you end up with mostly is
this!

 Papaw got to fly a vintage aircraft
while we were in Atlanta-
a Waco YMF

Mason was as excited about the airplane
as his Papaw was!

these precious little Teddy bears
were created by my friend Gregory Patrick.
~
Greg's story of how he came to knit
teddy bears is both unique and heartwarming.
Once a homeless person, Greg now knits these bears
as his means of making a living
 and uses them
to touch the lives of people all over the world.

You can find Greg at his blog
Mad Man Knitting.
He will be happy to make a precious little bear for you-
but --as with all things that are specially 
created and made
one at a time~~~
you will need to patiently wait your turn.
~
Just like me when I make my little nests,
Greg only has two busy little hands and
they are constantly
knitting!

Miss Maddy girl
~
I've been promising photos of our Maddy girl
(actually my sister's grand daughter,
but - we count her as our own!)

Here she is posing with her
favorite Uncle on Thanksgiving day.
~ 
Maddy girl will turn 5 years old next month!

A few weeks ago,
I delivered the last of the scarves
from the Pink Scarf Project to my 
friend Donna.

(Kay, me, Donna)

Donna and her friend Kathy 
met me and some friends in Columbus for lunch
and the scarf exchange.
~
For me -- this was the final great moment
of the Pink Scarf Project.
 The true completion of what had been
such an incredible project.
~
Meeting both Kay and Donna was the greatest
experience.  Before this day,
we had only communicated through our blogs
and emails. 
Can I just say ---
they are the
NICEST. PEOPLE. EVER!
(I just can't put into words what this day meant to me.
I could get all gushy here!)
~
You can find more photos of our meeting 
on Donna's blog here
and on Kathy's blog here

Sometimes people do things that
are so heartfelt and special
that it truly is hard to find the words
to express your gratitude.
~
My dear friend Deb
has created these beautiful little smocked gowns
for our most special babies
in my NICU.

Deb told me that the making of the little gowns
had been in her heart for such a long time.
~
This is really Deb's story to tell
and I want you to read it as she
has written and shared it on her blog.
You can find more photos and Deb's special story
here 
and here
and here

And finally~

Merry Christmas to you all
from the Gardener
and me.
~
Treasure every day you spend
 with those you love.

Love,

Vicki

ps -- thank you to everyone who has sent me best wishes for my recent cataract surgery --- all is well -- and round 2 will be coming up soon! More prayers please!

And--

You just have a little over 2 weeks to sign up for the big party!  You can find all the info here-- be sure to bring your friends along too!  It's going to be a wonderful opportunity to make new blogging friends and increase your followers!!

Avila's Garden Party Hat

Are you ever really too young to be a "fashionista"?
             Is there an age limit on lookin' chic?
                    Is there a Vogue magazine for babies?  

Have you ever tried to do a photo shoot

 with a nosy cat around?

(His name is "Yeller Feller")

(I did NOT name him -- the Gardener did!)

Anyway -- back to the story~

I knitted this little Garden Party hat

 for our grand daughter

Avila.

Cute, Huh?

(Just wait till you see her wearing it!)

Pattern details~

Debbie Bliss - Simply Baby Pattern book

Pompon Beret

~~

Yarns

Hobby Lobby Riot eyelash for the pink

 (the green band is something from my stash)

~~

the hat is accented with a cream colored ribbon flower

and tiny pink tulle rosettes

~~

Pattern adjustments -

I used a smaller needle to knit the green band

(the pattern called for a size 7 and I used a size 6 instead to that the band would fit tighter.)

Can you tell that our little Avila loves her new hat?

Just look at that smile!

She was about 5 months old in this photo--

the little hat will fit her for a while.

(When it gets too snug -- the green ribbon can be removed.)

Our little "fashionista"~

(Don't you want to just squeeze those precious cheeks?)

Back to the nosy kitty~

~the minute I started taking photos he jumped up

on the table.

He was totally fascinated by the little flowers.

He wanted to be in the pictures~

~~~~~~~~~

I'm still on a little blogging break -- (although you would not seem to know it since I keep posting - LOL!) I'm actually waiting for our silly daffodils to bloom so that I can take photos for the "Vera Grateful Giveaway" -- it might be a while yet, as it snowed and sleeted today - good grief!  Pray for sunshine!

xoxoxo,

Vicki

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!!