Introducing the Woodland Spring nest...

Just in time for Spring's much anticipated arrival...
Introducing my beautiful "new" Woodland Spring nest...

After an extended absence from creativity...

I'm so excited to finally bring you a new nest design.

A fresh and updated look to the long standing favorite

Woodland Nest..

the true essence of Spring. 

 to celebrate my return to "nesting"...

the Woodland nest is getting a "redo!"

~

A glittered gold leaf vine

encircles the nest.

Accents of vintage glass woodland flowers,

vintage silk millinery,

and a tiny fairy nest with eggs

are all part of this new 

design. 

Only 15 of these beautiful nests

were created.

~

When I announced that after a long absence, 

I was returning to

my "nesting"...

with a "new version of this old favorite"...

the waiting list was filled within a few hours time.

~

Honestly, I never dreamed that my nests

 would be so loved. 

All of these nests are currently RESERVED,
except for ONE!!!.

there  is ONLY ONE extra nest available
 for sale at this moment.
That nest is listed in my ETSY shop
 as "NOT RESERVED".

~

Those of you on the waiting list

will find your nest listed in my ETSY shop

with your name in the listing.

(click on the link above to be directed to my ETSY shop)

~

For those who may be interested..

NEXT year's waiting list is currently available.

  

Some particulars about the nest..

Each nest measures approximately

 5 1/2 inches in diameter 

and is about 4 1/2 inches tall.

~

These nests are for home decor use only

and are not suitable for outside use.

 Traditionally,

this Woodland nest design

is created every spring.

This is the ONLY nest design

that is ever

 repeated...

(nests in my Designer series are not ever repeated.)

~ 

 Expect another updated new design 

for this nest next Spring. 

~

The waiting list is now open

and you may email me if you are interested

in a placement on the list.

vboster@yahoo.com

vboster1@windstream.net

 Many times I am asked

if someone may share my photos of the nests...

~

I want you to know that you may do so 

with my blessing.

You do not need to email me to 

ask for permission. 

You are more than welcome to share

my nest photos on any social media outlet,

including your own personal blogs.

Presentation is everything...

Your nest will arrive

beautifully wrapped in tissue paper 

designed by my talented friend Sue Kosec. 

(you can access her blog by clicking her name)

~

Tied onto every package

 will be one of Sue's amazing bird designs. 

Sue's tissue, tags, and birds 

are very much a part of what makes each nest

so special when it arrives at your home.

Working with my yarns again

has been exhilarating.

I am so grateful that you have welcomed

me back into this amazing community

of talented artists.

That you continue to love and support

my nest creations 

is so humbling.

Thank you from the bottom

of my heart...

xoxo

Vicki

PS....

Another new nest is coming!! 

A new design in my charitable Designer series will debut in June.

As promised...(way too long ago)...a Patriotic theme nest is now in the works.  The Freebird nest will debut in mid June...(so that you can display the nest during your summer celebrations). 

I'll have more info about that nest in my next blog post...

but for now, that waiting list is now open and available. 

I will make approximately 25 nests, (half of which have already been reserved.) 

Remember that my Designer series nests are never repeated. Once that design sells out, it is gone forever. The proceeds from the sale of that nest will be donated to charity..(more about that later, also.)  I'll be back in a few weeks with more info about that nest.

xoxo

Prelude ---- to a Snowbird Nest

so pure...
    so white,
          the most beautiful creation,
                        SNOW

words cannot describe

the delicacy of one tiny little flake

falling to the ground...

so fragile~ 

one of the few redeeming 

qualities of winter is

the true and absolute beauty 

of snow~

there is nothing

so magical as looking out your window

and watching those first flurries

falling to the ground~

(this beautiful snow owl vase was created by my friend Julie Whitmore)

 

 when the snow builds up 

outside our houses,

we are enveloped inside our own warm

little nests~~

it is the time for

fuzzy slippers, a cozy blanket,

and a cup of

steaming hot cocoa~

 the snowfall is silent, 

so slow--

with a delicate whisper,

it settles upon
 the earth~

white and weightless,

the snow makes no noise~

it falls on the fields gently,

blanketing everything with its

 pure and silent

covering~ 

 "I wonder if snow loves the trees and fields...

it covers them up snug, you know

with a white quilt;

 and perhaps it says,

Go to sleep, darlings,

till the summer comes again"

-Lewis Carroll  

                           

           

sleeping softly through the day,

 never making a sound,

only waking up

when the sun goes down,

that is when little Snowbirds

come out to play~

she opens her eyes

ready to fly,

wings at the ready

on the edge of her nest...

 she flies from the forest 

into the night

her path lit by the light of the moon~

Coming next January

just in time for the winter snows...

an exciting new addition

to my Designer nest series--

 Soon to come--

the beautiful, icy, glittery, white

Snowbird nest.

~~

each little nest will come with it's own

beautiful glass

"Snowbird"

~~ 

you may reserve yours now if you wish

(there will be 30 to share)

Just keeping it real~~ 

 

I would have to pick one of the coldest days of the year

for this photo shoot!  

Took me all day to take these photos

as I could only stay outside about 10 minutes at a time!!
I think I wore 3 layers of clothes!

Are you ready for spring yet? I am so ready! --- between the cold, the icy roads, the threat of icy roads, the gray days, ---- I am desperate for sunny and warm. Sigh~

 I've been busy working on the little Woodland nests all winter, -- those of you on the list, should have heard from me by now.  Soon, I will be starting the Shabby Chic nests -- so if you are on that list -- you will hear from me soon. 

Thank you to everyone who turned out for my third "Grow Your Blog" party.  We are off and running and it has been a wonderful experience already for so many new bloggers.  There are over 300 blogs participating.  If you would like to make some new blogging friends, you are invited to visit the party list and travel the world of blogging! (the link to the party is on my sidebar).
Thank you especially to all my volunteers who helped me this year -- almost 40 people were needed to help me monitor this year's party!  So many of you have emailed me to say that your readership has grown already and some of you have actually doubled your followers!  I am so happy for the success of your blogs and that you are beginning to enjoy the rewards of blogging.
  

For the next few weeks, I am taking a little blog break --   This has been a very, very, busy winter -- with nesting, long hours spent on the blog party, and... I've had some awful something that has hung on forever ---

I'm going to take some time to feel better, to begin to work on the photos for our virtual travels to the Gaspese, and to find the sunshine...
 If you need me -- I am always here-- vboster1@windstream.net.

Love,love,

Vicki 

Nature's Artistry-- My Spring Giveaway! (My Biggest Giveaway ever!)

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
       and paints his own nature into his pictures~
                                     Henry Ward Beecher





 this beautiful little booklet of quotes and sketches

was a gift from my dear friend Patricia Eaton
~

I thought this lovely verse was the perfect

choice to begin this post~

 Spring is here!
a time for rejuvenating our spirits
 and renewing our
energies~ 

Spring is the season of

new beginnings~



fresh buds bloom,

and animals awaken~

the earth seems to come to life again.



farmers and gardeners plant their seeds~

temperatures slowly rise

as the sun's warmth

brings us all

outside once again~

simply stated --

 this has been a long and miserable winter.
~

I am so happy to once again

feel the warmth of the sun on my face~



some things I love most about spring~

~~

bird songs

the smell of fresh cut grass

tender blooms on shrubs and flowers

longer days~

and the chance to play in the dirt!

~

growing up,

I used to love to make mud pies with my sisters.

we would decorate them with flowers

and set them in the sun to dry.

~

even now --

I am always happiest,

when at the end of the day

I have had the chance to play in the dirt.

spring cleaning~

throwing open the doors and windows
~

the chance to refresh our home

after this long, long winter

flip flops~

and brightly painted toes! 

watching our kitties basking in the rays

 from the sun~

driving down the road in my

brand new car (!!)

the wind blowing on my face

(the radio turned up loud!)

~

(after 10 years, I finally gave in and bought myself a brand new Subaru Outback.

  It was about time -- my Subaru Forester had almost 250,000 miles on it!) 

all the different shades of green

in the fields, and the forests,

and the farms~

green is my favorite spring color!

and my most favorite thing about spring~
~~

this opportunity to thank you all for

the love and support

that you send my

way~

xoxo

my "thank-you" giveaway is all about

spring,

and nests

and beautiful things~

A very special celebration
 just for
YOU!

Listed below are all the wonderful things

that are to be gifted in this giveaway~

~

to enter --

simply leave a comment

on this post,

and perhaps share

something that you love most about

 Spring.
~
if you would like to share this giveaway
with you friends
(on your own blog or on your facebook page)
~
you can leave another comment here
telling me that you have
shared the love!
~
this contest is open to all of my
readers and followers
regardless of where you live!
~
the winners will be announced 
at the bottom of this post
on June 21,
the summer solstice.

one lucky winner will receive one of my

Woodland nests~

these nests are made every winter

for those on the waiting list~

~

this year I made an extra one

to share with you!

My friend Sidney Hanner

makes gorgeous jewelry~

Sidney's unique nest necklace designs

are simply stunning.

In addition to her beautifully crafted nest,

she adds vintage buttons and beads to the chain

making this a necklace like no other! 

this beautiful necklace

was created by Sidney just for this giveaway!

~

you can find my friend at her beautiful blog
Howmyartbeats

 your necklace will arrive in this
beautiful crafted special
 gift bag
~~
if you would like to contact Sidney
about your own custom made
necklace~
you can email her here-
howmyartbeats@yahoo.com

(for the period of this contest- until June 21-
Sidney will be offering a 10 % discount
on her custom made nest necklaces)
(just mention in your email that you saw her creations on my blog)

you will love this
"Anthropologie" inspired handbag
that I found just for you~
~~
This beautiful vintage handbag was made by Margaret Smith, Gardiner Maine. These handbags are highly collectible, known for their quality and lively designs of nature and florals.

Margaret Smith first began making beach bags and totes that were sold in specialty stores in the 1940's. By the 1950's and '60's she added handbags and was selling out of Bonwit Teller of NYC, where her line was highly sought after.

this lovely little "mini-book"
of garden verses and quotes
was specifically designed for this giveaway
by my friend
Sue Kosec

each page
has it's own special design
and garden verse
~
you can email Sue here-
kosec@sbcglobal.net

my dear friend Marsha,
hand painted her special nest design
on this
 beautiful teapot
and cups
~
one of you will win this
beautiful set!

 
Marsha's talent is amazing!
I love her beautiful nest design!!
~~
you can find some of Marsha's other lovely
hand painted designs
for sale in her new ETSY shop. 

~~

To help you celebrate the arrival of Spring -

she is offering FREE SHIPPING

in the US on her hand painted

creations!

My friend Jill makes the most

exquisite needle books

~

beautifully embroidered and felted-

with amazing details

such as her gorgeous beaded flowers

and stunning designs

One of you will win a gift certificate

allowing Jill to custom design

your own beautiful 

needle book.

~~

You can find my friend Jill

at her blog

Fiberluscious

~

and at her ETSY shop

here

Are you starting to feel the love?

~

my sincere and heartfelt gratitude

for all the kindness and love

you send my way!

~

more special surprises

for you--

keep scrolling!

This gorgeous little pitcher

was created specially for this giveaway

by my friend

Cynthia Crane.

One of you will win

this beautiful and unique piece of pottery~

Cynthia's own design,

embellished by her special

whimsical painted flowers, birds, and butterflies. 

Isn't it gorgeous?

~

you can find Cynthia at her blog

"The Crane's nest"

~

you can find her pottery ETSY shop here 

and her ETSY shop for

paintings here

 Also from Cynthia's creative artistry-

a collection of bluebird items

~

these beautiful note cards

and~

a little bluebird book marker

 bluebird button

petite flower buttons

~

someone will win this entire collection of

bluebird items created by

Cynthia Crane.

(the little bluebird figurine is not included in the giveaway)

and lastly~

my friend Marsha created these precious little

hand painted nest tags

~these precious tea stained gift tags

are accented with a variety of beautiful

ribbons and trims

 someone will win a set of 10

little hand painted

nest gift tags

~

you can find more of Marsha's

nest tags in her etsy shop

here

~

(free shipping too!)

NOW do you feel loved?

xoxo

to summarize-

the following items will be

given away to lucky winners on

June 21

~

(the names of the winners will be noted below by their prize on June 21)

please make sure in your comments that your email address

is available

~

6/21/14--Update -- winners announced 

This contest is now closed.

Woodland nest

 #1 Deb -- Just Cats

Nest Necklace

#216 Julie -- My Threadbare Life

Vintage Margaret Smith purse

#36 Kim -- Picking Poppies

Mini-book of garden verses

#200 Pam - Nana Pam's Rambles

Hand painted tea pot and mugs

 #48  Bonnie Larson

Coupon for custom designed Needle book

 #110  Audrey ?

Bluebird and flowers hand painted pitcher

#159 Terri Gordan- Designs by Terri Gordan

Bluebird collection-

(notecards, book marker, buttons)

#55 Emma Elliott- Bubsiekins

Hand painted nest gift tags

#23 Meredith -- Mereknits

~~~~~

I'll be back in a few weeks with some lovely spring photos of the Biltmore Estate -- we visited there a few days ago while the tulips were brilliantly in bloom~

Love,

Vicki