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!!

Welcome to world Avila Jewel -- our new grand daughter

Mason is now a BIG BROTHER---

his beautiful baby sister Avila Jewel arrived on June 25

at 10:27 am.

 

 We are so excited to welcome our newest precious grand daughter into our family. 

Avila and her big brother live in Atlanta.  (Eight hours away from us).  We will be visiting in a few weeks - after they all get settled into the "busyness" of bringing home a new baby.  

I have been knitting for months!  I will be showing you the special things that I have made for baby Avila in a little bit.  Hopefully she might model some of them for us!  

xoxo,

Vicki

Want More Followers for your blog? My "Grow Your Blog" party!

****Update -- 11/15/12
If you wish to sign up to participate in the "Grow your Blog" party--
please go HERE to the official sign up post to leave your comment and blog address.  Its going to be a great party -- already over 100 blogs are participating!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blogging is only fun if you have someone to talk to~~

So many of you have written to me asking for advice on how you can increase the readership of your blogs.  Honestly - there is no easy answer -- it takes time, and a lot of work to grow your blog into one that has a large following.

It hasn't been that long ago that I started my blog -- just a couple of years.  And -- I still remember what it was like to have 3 followers (my 2 sisters and my best friend Mary!!)  

 I would NOT be where I am today had it not been for some wonderful bloggers who were kind enough to help me when I was first getting started.  Without their help, I do not think I would have all of you out there to support me in this blogging adventure.  

So - once again - I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Dawn,  Karen, Sabine, and Lynn (formerly of the Sea Angels blog -- Lynn is on a little respite right now.)  (Big hugs to you all!)

In an effort to continue the tradition of giving back to the blogging community -- I want to tell you about my crazy  
(super-brilliant!!) idea to coordinate a blogging party for the purpose of meeting and greeting other bloggers and--- hopefully growing your followers.

I would like to propose a blogging party to take place on a specified date - sometime this winter -- (I was thinking sometime  in January.)

I will serve as the host blog and all of  you who wish to participate will send me a link to your blog and on the specified date - I will post them all.  

You can create a post - telling everyone a little something about yourself and why you want to blog.  To add to the fun, I would propose that each person who participates would host a little giveaway on their blog -- 

The idea would be to visit each others blogs and to hopefully follow them - in turn - folks who visit will want to follow you.  This is all about meeting, greeting, and FOLLOWING.  The purpose of this event is specifically to increase your blog followers and readers.  

I specifically want to target blogs who have less than 200 followers.  If you are a new blogger, if you are someone who has 20 or 30 or 50 followers, OR if you just want to increase the number of people who will love you and support you and will be the reason for you to want to continue to do this blogging thing ~~

 then this blogging party is for YOU!  

On the host page (my blog) I would list all of your blogs in 2 columns.  Those of you who have less than 200 followers will be in the first column -- and those of you who have over 200 followers will be in the second column. 

While you are welcome and encouraged to visit ANY and ALL of the blogs -- my hope is that those of  you with less than 200 followers will start your blog visits by going to other blogs in the same category as yourself --- meeting those folks and hopefully following their blogs. (With all of those blogs listed in one column - it will be easier for those of  you who have less followers to visit like minded blogs and form your own support groups by signing up to follow each other.  Does that make sense?)  

 Lets be honest -- we all want to have someone to read our blogs, leave comments, and to be regular visitors. It's no fun if there is "no one out there" to support us and make our blogging experiences worthwhile.  I love my followers -- love them more than I can ever say.  Knowing that they are here for me gives me reason to want to write about my life - my travels - my adventures.  In some situations - I have truly bared my soul to my readers and followers.  The support and encouragement that I get from them is priceless.  I want that for all of you~~     

Some of you already have a large following -- so this might just be an opportunity for you to meet new bloggers, participate and have some fun.  

But for those of you who do NOT have a large blogging support group - THIS could be the one event that might change your blogging life.  

So - here is what I am asking you all to do-- 

1. Talk about this on YOUR blogs.  
2. Link to this post on my blog.  We have to spread the word.
3.  If you think that this is an activity that you would like to participate in--- then please leave me a comment here on this post telling me so.  
4. Ask your friends who read and visit your blogs to come here and leave me a comment if they wish to participate. 
5.  In your comments - please tell me how many followers you currently have. This will let me know if there are very many of you out there in the "less than 200 followers group" who are wanting to participate in this activity.  

 In order to make this happen and for it to specifically be successful for those blogs who do not have a large readership right now -- I would like to have about 100 blogs with less than 200 followers to participate.  So please spread the word - and leave in your comments - your current follower numbers. 

Those of you who have large followings and successful blogs - would be doing your readers a huge favor if you would post about this.  Many of your readers will fall into the category of those who have less than 200 followers.  This could be huge for them.  This could be YOUR way to give back to your readers and followers.  

I truly believe that this can be a great blogging event.

I believe that those of you who have a limited readership can GROW your blog following through participation in this event.

I believe that there are lots of bloggers out there who would love an opportunity that is dedicated to helping them to grow.

I believe that this is a wonderful opportunity for ME to give back to the blogging community - something that I have wanted to do for a long time.

I believe that this post is already getting to be way to long  :)

       

   So - to sum it up - spread the word.  Leave comments here and ask your friends and readers to leave comments as well.  Those of you who have less than 200 followers - have the most to gain in this event.  So it is very important for you to spread the word.  If it looks like there is enough interest -- then it will be a go.  My friend Karen Valentine has graciously consented to help me with this endeavor and will design a badge for us to represent the "Grow Your Blog" event.   I will post more details as we go along.  So as they say- stay tuned~~~  and spread the word!!!

xoxo,
Vicki 

ps -- My friend Karen Valentine is getting ready to host her annual "Where Bloggers Create Party".  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other bloggers and also to allow other bloggers to meet you!  You can visit Karen's beautiful blog to find out all of the details! 

AND--- 
coming up next the photo shoot for the Harvest nest yarns--
these photos are so beautiful that one of them was recently featured in a national magazine -- (I'll tell you about that too!)

  

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~~