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--

An Early Harvest

The summer solstice is behind us and even though we are enjoying those lazy, hazy days of summer --  inching ever closer, by minutes every day, are the colorful and vibrant hues of autumn days~~

The planning stages for my Designer nests begin well in advance of the actual production.  This nest was well into thought over a year ago.  Knowing that I wanted to make the nest this year and have it ready for you all this fall -- the photo shoot for the yarns actually took place early last fall!!  

Over a year ago -- Mary and I spent one entire afternoon staging these yarns and taking photographs for this Harvest Nest prelude.  From the one little sneak peek photo that I showed you on my blog last year -- came an overwhelming interest in this soon to be released Designer nest.  The newest in my series~~

 No nest has ever generated SO much interest. Your overwhelming desire for this nest led me to make changes in my plans for the production.  Because I did not want to disappoint any of you who sent such wonderful emails - I decided to take one entire year to design and create  this nest.  Hence -  THE list -- anyone who wanted to go on the waiting list was assured of having a nest.

  

 Now here we are -- almost an entire year later and 40 of you are patiently waiting~~

 This nest will have a greater variety of yarns than ever before.  Well over 200 hundred yarns have been selected and collected for the production of this nest. I've been searching for beautiful and exquisite yarns for over 2 years - especially for this very special nest. 

  

(Wouldn't you love to know what I'm thinking about and purchasing yarns for NOW?  Trust me - there is an idea floating around in my head and in my sketch book.  But you won't see it for at least a year -- because -- these things take time!!)  But for now -- it is all about the Harvest Nest!!

The embellishments for this nest are absolutely stunning (think gorgeous beaded strands, beautiful straw flowers, beaded flowers,  beautiful dangles and the perfect touch of fall greenery).

 

Good things come to those who wait~~~ this nest will definitely be worth your patience and waiting!!

Tucked inside the nest will be 3 beautiful beaded acorns
(of varying colors) -- imagine Mary and me scurrying the woods last fall, like little wood nymphs -- collecting perfect acorn caps for this nest. 

We've been putting in a lot of long days and late nights~~

 Although it is only  July -- the autumn days will soon be here-- they are getting ever closer!! 

When the first leaves of autumn begin to fall from the trees -- your nest will be ready for you to enjoy~ 

 And as a special surprise for you all~~

we are making 5 extra nests.  So if you are NOT on the list now -- but want to be ---please email me.  5 more names may be added to  the Harvest Nest list -- for a total of 45 very lucky people. 

(This is the most labor intensive nest that I have ever created -- and doing 45 of them is totally all consuming.  So please understand - that most nests in my Designer series will be limited to a very small production - usually 15-20.  This is a very, very special nest~~) 

Just keeping it real-- 

Mary and I laboring all day over the photo shoot! 

You have to be 2 steps away from crazy

to go to this much trouble just to take pictures of

YARN!!

And-- making this the most wonderful experience ~~

my very first time to be featured in a national publication!!

I can hardly contain my excitement over this wonderful opportunity!!

My sincere thanks to the sweetest lady -- Mary Forsell, editor of the most beautiful Romantic Country magazine.  Thank you Mary for this privilege -- this has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I am both humbled and grateful.  Seriously -  how do you truly thank someone for making one of your dreams come true?         

   You can find me on page 13 of the new fall issue of Romantic Country magazine-- on sale at news stands now!! 

 

Coming soon~~~

the newest in my Designer series -- the Harvest Nest!

xoxo,

Vicki 

ps- I will be participating in Karen's "Where Bloggers Create" event.  Please join me here for an  up close and personal tour of the Sacred Yarn room.  You can find info about this fabulous blogging event by clicking the photo on my sidebar. I can hardly wait to show you all my stuff!!

Autumn Prose (and Maddy picks another winner!)

Glorious and bittersweet is the month of October ~ the colors, the crispness in the air~ the surprise of warm days that pull you outside to enjoy the scenery and the scents. (mybabyjohn)




~the changing colors, the scent of wood burning in the fireplaces to keep folks warm on chilly nights. It's the time of pumpkins, and spices, hot drinks and reflection. (Flower Lady)

~the light and soft tones of nature, together with the strong reds and yellows from falling leaves, is gorgeous, and makes me feel so good. (Dorthe)

Fall means the temperatures are finally cooling. The sky turns a wonderful shade of blue. We can get out and walk, watching as the neighborhood decorations come out. (Snap)

Autumn!! ~my favorite season because of cooler temperatures, bursts of forest color, hot apple cider, and the smell of cinnamon in the air. (Poetess Wug)

What to say about Autumne~~ the smell of apple cider and cinnamon, fires in the hearth, apple pie, wool sweaters, leaves falling~~always takes my breath away. (Michelle Petite Louise)

The sun is warm, the air is crisp, the trees change color and harmony ~~ the squirrels get squirrelier every day! (Daph)

~~the color of the sky is such a clear blue in the fall ~ a different color than any other time of the year~~ (Mosiac Magpie)

~~ those misty autumn mornings ~ going out collecting acorns, chestnuts, and seed heads from the woods to create autumn displays. (LuluLiz)

What I like about October is the aroma, the falling leaves, the temperature, the falling chestnuts and acorns, ~ the wind, the first time you light your fire, the preparing of your garden to sleep, ~~ (Jacoba)

One of my most favorite things is the peaceful feeling it brings to me. I feel very close to God walking amongst the fallen Autumn leaves, watching an eagle soar that has migrated here for the upcoming winter. (Julie Marie)

~~red maple leaves, pumpkin pie, and time with family around the Thanksgiving table. (Kristen)

the rich colors of fall~~a brisk walk in the woods on a chilly day and the anticipation of a cozy wood fire waiting at home! (Fearless Nester)

Autumn is a cozy time of year~~ we all start snugging down for the winter. Warm cider, cold noses and fingers at football games, pumpkin pie, and falling leaves. (Canngil)

~~crisp mornings and warm gentle afternoons ~ pumpkins in fields of browning vines ~ visiting the cider mill and taking pictures of the changing leaves. (Her Art Nest)

These poetic words of prose are not mine - but yours. Comments from readers and followers of my blog, left in response to this Harvest Nest giveaway ~~ have touched me so, leaving a lasting impression of your hearts and souls. Every comment, every word , every thought - a picturesque description of your love for this season of change. I could not just leave them be - (just leaving them to sit there in the comment section of my blog) - and so I am sharing them with you all!

What do I love best about Autumn? The magic of the leaves changing colors ~ the hunt for the best view of the colors and the aha moment when the sun is behind a tree and lights up all the colors. It's magic! (Fuzzy Slippers)

Fall does have a way of holding our hearts at bay when we say goodbye to summer's sweet melodic songs.

(Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives)

~~I have only just begun to appreciate Autumn's splendor. I now reveal in the peaceful calm the days hold. Once the air was permeated with the sounds of bird song...now, if one listens intently, you can hear the leaves trickling from the branches before quietly making their swaying decent to the ground. There is an ethereal hush to Mother Nature right now, before the cold and dark sets in~~ (Paula)

~the crisp mornings, the first frost, the first snowflake, the first hint of woodsmoke in the air. As a photographer, I find fall light is a gift. (A Scattering)

~~~

And the winner of the Harvest Nest giveaway - (as picked by Miss Maddy girl) - is Elaine Dale. Elaine's beautiful photography blog, A Scattering, is a visual paradise. Her love of the beauty of her Newfoundland homeland and the Canadian countryside where she now calls home is evident in her stunning photography. Please visit Elaine and all the wonderful bloggers that have been referenced in this tribute to Autumn.

~~ (these nests are certainly well traveled! the last nest contest winner was from Russia - and this little nest will travel to Canada! The last shorebird nest will soon be traveling to Australia! This Mama Knitter wants to go along with them!)

~~~

Those Harvest Nests will be next year's Limited Edition nest series and will be available mid-September. Please continue to leave your comments here regarding your love for Autumn and the bounty of the Harvest. When the nests debut next fall - once again - I will use your comments and your poetic prose in the posting, (linking to your own blogs - of course!) Thank you for sharing your thoughts so beautifully.

~~~

For me - Autumn is a time to slow down. A time to watch carefully as the outside world comes alive with color and beauty. A time of thanks - a remembrance of blessings and those we hold dear in our lives. I am grateful for each and every one of you~~

Vicki