The Shabby Chic story-- (and a few to share with you!!)

This year's Shabby Chic nest is one of the most beautiful ever. Vintage laces, exquisite yarns, and an amazing vintage bridal headband are all combined to create this year's 
stunning nest~

the process for creating this year's nest

was one of the most time consuming

I've ever done...

 my goal was to have these

nests finished by Spring

and I just barely

made it!!

my Mother had an amazing lace collection...

I had no idea that she collected vintage laces.

finding them in her craft room

made my heart beat faster! 

those laces 

lived in my own

craft room for several years

with me thinking

"what will I do with these?"

sometimes...

I would just open up the tub

and finger them, 

just admiring their beauty

and different textures..

 

 the idea to create a nest

using my Mother's beautiful laces

was actually very frightening to me~

but after I began to work them into

the design...

it began to feel so right,

almost like they had been waiting all this time

be used in these nests~

I'm not sure what my Mother

had in mind for these laces...

but I think she would

love seeing them

used this way~

 she must have collected these

laces over years and years

of visiting flea markets

and antique shops~

 when I found this antique

bridal headpiece

at the flea market last year..

I knew that it was meant for the shabby chic nests!

although

the general design of the nests

remains the same,

year after year,

the embellishments change

based on my mood

and---- my latest

treasure finds~

working with the bridal headband

was not easy..

it was so very fragile..

but now that the nests are finished--

I think they are the most beautiful 

ever~

 As a special surprise

for all of you--

I managed to create 3 extra nests.

You can find them here

in my ETSY shop.

These nests are NOT reserved

and may be purchased by anyone

who wishes to give them
a loving

home...

If you wish to be placed on

next year's Shabby Chic waiting list

please email me

vboster1@windstream.net

~

Some notes~~

Gosh I wish I had all the time in the world to blog --- there is SO much I want to share with you.  I just returned from an amazing 3 days at the Abbey of Gethsemane in Trappist, Ky.  Spending 3 days of quiet time... just me, the beautiful gardens, silence, and of course, the monks--- this was maybe one of the best things that I have ever done for myself.  Beautiful does not begin to describe this amazing place--- and of course I so want to share those photos with you!

The next post will be a continuation in the Traveling Gaspese' series--- (the good thing about taking so many photos is that you have all those wonderful photos to remember your trip!  The bad thing about taking so many photos is that you have to sort through them all!!)  

Did you notice my beautiful new blog header??? My friend and blog miracle worker Karen Valentine created it for me:)

I send her the photos and she works her magic every time making the most awesome blog header!  You can contact her for your own blog magic by clicking on her name above.

What I'm reading and watching---
Right now-- I'm watching the PBS Ken Burns documentary,
"The Roosevelts" on Amazon Prime. I've been waiting forever for it to be available for me to watch.  I'm totally loving it--

Slowly-- (because I don't seem to have a lot of time to read)-- I'm almost finished reading "At the Water's Edge" --- it's totally captivating and I loved it from the very first sentence.  The book is so beautifully written...I thought the premise would be silly (looking for the Loch Ness monster)-- but it's really not --- truly, it's a great read -- and beautiful.

Spring is here - and although it is still more cool than warm, I'm counting the days until I can play in the dirt and plant my flowers... I'm so happy when I get to be a "dirty girl"!!

love,love..

Vicki 

ps -- if you left a comment on my last travel post or are leaving a comment on this post --- I promise I will be by to say Hello to you at your blog -- I am slowly making my rounds! xoxo

The "Shabby Nests" evolve~

"After you've done a thing the same way for two years, look it over carefully. After five years, look at it with suspicion.  And after ten years, throw it away and start all over again."

~ Alfred Edward Perlman, New York Times, July 1958

Every winter these little "Shabby Chic" nests 

are brought to life here in my

Sacred Yarn Room

while the concept remains the same --

the nests never are~

perhaps I dig a little deeper into the trunk

containing my Mother's collection

of vintage laces and trims~

perhaps I'll add some vintage

treasures that were purchased at my trips to the flea market

this past summer~

every artist knows that when you create--

you do it from your soul --

in the moment--

not by a set pattern

or directions

 every year,

my nests seem to change just a little~

when I look at them collectively,

(one from each year--)

I can see how over time that they have

evolved~

to me--

they are the most beautiful this year,

than ever before

and yet~

there are still more beautiful laces and trims 

waiting to be brought to life 

~

my Mother's collection of laces and trims 

is an amazing legacy that

I am sharing with you 

through

these little nests.  

I know already that next year's nests

will be both beautiful and unique

in their own special way -- 

and--

they will be different

somehow, someway~

the "Shabby Chic" nests

are not a part of my Designer nests collection.

(those designs are never repeated)

~~

these Shabby nests are made every winter

for those who are on the current

 waiting list.

~

the "Woodland" nests are also made

every winter.

~

~~In fairness to the beautiful 

"Woodland" nest --

that nest will have it's very own 

special post later this

 spring.~~

 You can read more info about the

"Shabby Chic" nest by

clicking on the "Nesting Updates" icon on my

sidebar.

~

(you may also email me for additional information)

vboster1@windstream.net

~~~~~~

In my next post -- I'll share with you a little variation of the Shabby Chic nest --

the beautiful "Shabby Treasure " nest~~ 

Just keepin' it real~

I can't stand this winter anymore.  If it snows one more time I think I may just go crazy here in this house!  If I could be here at home all day and watch the beautiful snow falling without having to worry about getting back and forth to work -- that would be wonderful.  I could totally get into a snow covered winter -- but the reality of things is that I have to leave for work at 5:30 am -- and the roads can be miserable at that hour.

 I need Spring. 

NOW!! 

xoxo

Vicki

The Shabby Chic nests ~ (their story)

My Mother's Bible is old and tattered.
   The pages yellowed and loose from their bindings~

Her precious collection of vintage laces sat here in my
 Sacred Yarn room for years ---

waiting--

       waiting--

                   waiting~~

silently calling to me~

until finally~

I had the courage to listen.

Filled with laces from my Mother's collection-

the Shabby Chic nests

  are now more beautiful

 than ever before.

Photographing

them sitting on my Mother's Bible,

 just seemed fitting.

To make them even more special~

I'm adding your very own personal treasures.

~~

your grandmother's pearls,

tiny lockets,

pieces of a wedding dress,

ribbons from christening gowns,

your Father's handkerchief,

pieces of a treasured prayer cloth,

laces from your own collections,...

For weeks now,

tiny packages have been arriving here to me~

filled with precious memories

 from Your past and present--

This note made my heart stop~

a stark realization that life is fragile,
there are no promises.
We should tell the people we love --
that we LOVE them.

~

(I am sharing this photo with the permission

 of a very special lady).
xoxo

~~

Bringing these nests to life

with your own precious treasures

has brought me the greatest

pleasure.

My own collection of vintage embellishments

made a lovely photo~

pearl necklaces, beaded garland, millinery branches,

and feathers.

(I'm adding these embellishments and

lots of beautiful wispy,

 white feathers~)

I've been steadily working on nests since December.

First -- I made all of the Woodland nests.

And then -- we traveled to warm places (sigh~)

(photos coming soon - I promise!)

~~

Since I have been home

I have dedicated long hours to creating these

Shabby Chic nests for those of you

on the waiting list.

~

If you would like info about NEXT year's waiting list --

you are welcome to email me~
vboster1@windstream.net

Of course, Yeller Feller is helping me in the usual way~
~~
My goal is to have the Shabby Chic nests finished by
early June.
Those of you still on the list
will be hearing from me
soon!
~~~~

Some updates~

Your generosity and participation in the

Pink Scarf Project

continues to amaze me!

~~

When we returned from our cruise to warm places,

these packages

(containing 24 scarves!!)

were waiting on me!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To date~ the Pink Scarf Project
has collected over
 100 scarves!!!
~~ 

~~ If you would like info

about the project --

the photo link is on the top of my sidebar
or the link noted above.
~
(I am already working on the beautiful spring photo shoot for the scarves!)
It is going to be amazingly beautiful!
I'm getting SO excited to share the scarves with you all! 
~~
All scarves received from this notice on --
 will be photographed in the
 Summer
photo shoot.
(I'm thinking they might take a trip to the seashore!!) 

A bit of news~

Here I go again-- off on another little blogging break.  For real this time!!
~~

I will return on May 7 --(set your clocks for 2 pm EST) --

Visit me here for a beautiful post featuring my collection of Vintage Millinery -- and a little preview of something new!!~

~~
You are always welcome to email me at any time.  And, can I just say this to you all~~ I love you.

xoxoxo,

Vicki

PS -- Did you enter my Vera Grateful Giveaway??? The link is on the top of my sidebar --

 xoxoxo~

Because you ask~~ my new Shabby Chic nest

So many of you have asked for a shabby chic nest - in shades of white, with lace, and lace, and more lace~~

 and soft white feathers~~

and vintage ribbons~~

elegant~

 dreamy~

 just a touch of beige~~

I've been collecting ribbons and lace now for several months.  Searching through every shabby box at the flea markets and antique stores~~

  

As with all my nests -- these little creations contain over 200 beautiful white and beige yarns.

 Gorgeous yarns.
(you should see my white yarn stash !)

  (With just a tiny bit of a green petticoat peeking out from underneath.) 

I'm sharing some precious lace and linen fragments from my Mother's collections in these exquisite nests.

  In my heart, I believe that they are worthy of belonging here, nestled between the yarns. 

 I know my Mother would approve~

   And sweetly tucked deep inside - 2 little beige stoneware eggs,

 sculpted with love

 as only my friend Michelle 

can do. 

(Michelle --can I just say right here in front of everyone that I love you?) 

Thank you for sculpting these precious little eggs.

These nests are NOT part of my designer series -- 

 I will make these nests once a year, in the fall when I make the Woodland nests.

  If you would like to have one of these little creations,

 you are welcome to email me for the info

 and be placed on the waiting list.

 Production will start in late November

 and continue

 through the winter months.  

 

Thank you for sharing your thoughts

 regarding the "building" of this nest. 

 I read every email that you send, I take notes, I think,

 -- a lot -- 

(sometimes too much!)   My sketch book is working overtime right now!  

I have tried so very hard to embrace your desires and to create a nest that you will love~~

 Introducing my "next BIG thing"~~

The Shabby Chic nest.

xoxo,

Vicki

A little update!  I am totally overwhelmed with the response to this nest - thank you for loving it so much!  My email box is going crazy with all of your private emails -- please be patient - I will answer every one of them today or tomorrow.  

Someone just ask me if they could send a bit of treasured lace from their Mother's wedding dress for me to weave into this nest.  Another just emailed to ask if they could send a remnant from a treasured handkerchief --- are you kidding me --- YES!  I will be honored to weave a treasured bit of ribbon, lace,or fabric into these little nests. Even bits of a treasured necklace or jewelry. It would be my greatest pleasure to make this a nest that could also serve as a home from a treasured heirloom.  (Why didn't I think of that!!!)  

I was also ask if there would be an extra charge for adding the little treasures -- are you kidding me --- NO!  It would be the most wonderful gift that I could give to you~~