2 Bags Full - My adventures in travel, knitting, and the blessings of my every day life.

Little baby fast asleep

are you really mine to keep?

I touch your face, your feet, your hair

I hold my breath, I say a prayer~~

(me)

Finally~~ after 3 very busy months, I am so excited to be able to share the Twinkle, Twinkle nests with you all! They are truly exquisite~~

Created with some of the most beautiful yarns that I have ever used -these little nests are very, very special. My dear friend Mary joined me in this project, embellishing each little nest with her intricate and beautiful bead work. This latest designer nest is unlike anything that I have ever shown you before~~

Each little nest is unique~~

They are individually accented with vintage beads, tiny pearls, swarovski crystals, and beautiful vintage Czechoslovakian glass beads.

Mary and I both spent hours and hours (and hours!) working on these little nests to make them so very special for you. Perhaps they will become an heirloom, a special remembrance, a celebration~~

In addition to the beautiful beads, we've added a various assortment of vintage trims, ribbons, flowers, and gorgeous tulle.

I'm so excited to introduce you to the amazing artists who have helped me to realize the fulfillment of this amazing project~ but first I want to take you someplace very special~~

Welcome to my "little world"~~

a place of tiny little hands and feet~~

For 35 years now, I have been blessed to work in a career that allows me to love and provide care for tiny little babies. I have held more babies~ and loved more babies~ and rocked more babies ~~ and lost more babies, than I could ever count. My world is challenging, and rewarding - and at times, heartbreaking. My life has been blessed by the hundreds of little hands and feet that I have touched over the years~~

When a birthday comes early - sometimes almost 3 months early - these little babies face a mountain of challenges in their struggles to survive. Those of us who live and work in this "little" world - know first hand how amazingly strong these fragile babies can be. In my world - miracles happen every day.

In many cases our babies stay in the NICU for 2 or 3 months. In some situations, they may stay longer - for 6 months - or more.

The proceeds from the sale of these nests will be donated to the charitable foundation at the hospital where I work. We are currently in a major fundraising campaign to raise money to build a Children's Hospital. Together- we will all be contributing to a legacy that will provide dedicated health care for our infants and children - for years and years to come.

The nests measure 7 inches in width and just over 4 inches tall.

I've waited such a long time to share with you the creative genius and artistry of some of my friends. (This business of nest making has turned out to be a very detailed venture. I absolutely could not do this without the valuable assistance of some amazingly talented folks~~)

Twinkle, Twinkle little star,

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

The largest of the stars that adorn the Twinkle, Twinkle nests were specially made by my friend Stephanie. Each ceramic star was individually created and contains a beautiful little swarovski crystal. Every child born into this world is a shining star in the lives of those who love them. Stephanie has demonstrated this perfectly in her creation of these magnificent stars.

Stephanie has supported my dream for the creation of these little nests from the very beginning. In addition to her design and creation of these beautiful stars, she also graciously donated them in support of my charitable cause.

Stephanie's little nephew - "Hudson" - was born several weeks prematurely. Not only did he face the struggles common to most premature infants - but Hudson was also born with Down's Syndrome. I truly believe that babies born with Down's Syndrome are a special gift from God. Their gentle spirit, loving disposition, and sweetly smiling faces bring a wonderful joy into the lives of all who know them. One of my greatest pleasures is holding a little child with Down's Syndrome in my arms - they are so snuggly~

Baby Hudson will face many challenges in his young life. Already he has successfully completed heart surgery! He is a brave little fighter who has amazed his Aunt Stephanie with his will to stay strong and survive.

These little blue nests are dedicated to Hudson and all little boy babies who sometimes must face special challenges in their lives. Thank you Stephanie for your heartfelt generosity and for supporting me in this project. This has been a long time in coming - I know. Your beautiful stars are incredible and they bring both light and love to these beautiful nests. (you can visit Stephanie and see more of her amazing creations at her Etsy shop here.)

We're all about the stars with these little nests! The Twinkle, Twinkle factor continues in the creation of the beautiful smaller stars, hanging delicately on the nests with their tiny little ribbons. My friend Jo Heckett painstakingly created each of these little beautiful stars. Jo lives across the "Big Pond" (in the UK) - so these stars traveled a great distance to embellish these special nests!

~~ Thank you Jo for being such a huge supporter of this charitable project. Your incredibly beautiful stars are magnificent in the embellishment of the nests. I appreciate your time and talents more than you will ever know. This dream would not have been fulfilled without your help! (You can visit Jo and see more of her fabulous creations at her Etsy shop here.)

Each nest is adorned with the most precious hand crafted little felt moon! Specially created by my friend Paulette - these intricate little moon embellishments are each individually embroidered and beaded. (Think hours and hours of work!) They are the most detailed adornment on the nests and they are nothing short of magnificent!

Paulette~~ you have shared my passion for the creation of these nests for the longest time. Your imaginative design is the crowning touch to these little treasures. I cannot even begin to imagine the time and detail that you spent on the creation of these special little moons. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your talents require great patience - I am in awe of your creations~

(You can see more of Paulette's beautiful embroidered and beaded creations in her Etsy shop here.)

Presentation is everything! Your nest will arrive beautifully wrapped in this tissue and adorned with these adorable tags - all specially created for the Twinkle, Twinkle nests by my dear friend Susie. Ever my constant supporter, Susie has helped me with all of my nesting projects to date. She is my "fairy godmother" - she makes all of my dreams come true when it comes to creating beautiful wrappings and tags for the nests~~

~~Thank you Susie for your special talents and for helping to bring my dreams to life. You are amazing!! You can contact Susie at kosec@sbcglobal.net.

No nest would be complete without preious little eggs nestled within~~

Michelle's beautiful eggs graced those incredible shorebird nests - and now, they are here to beautifully complete the Twinkle, Twinkle nests. Each precious little egg is hand rolled, painted - (and speckled ) - they are tiny little works of art! You will find 2 little eggs tucked inside each nest.

Michelle has more than enthusiastically supported me in this incredible journey of nesting. She hand"rolled" these little eggs not once - not twice - but three times! (it's a long story but suffice it to say that I could never get the count quite right!!)
You can visit Michelle's beautiful Etsy shop here.

Michelle - you are a true artist and a great friend. You will never know how I appreciate your loving support and your talents. Your eggs are to my nests - as sweet cream is to butter~~. Merci, my friend.

The bravest little person that I have ever met is my Kensey girl. Born almost 3 months premature and weighing at just over 2 pounds, Kensey and her twin sister Lindsey fought seemingly insurmountable odds to survive. As fate would have it - Kensey's battles were the toughest and she has had to fight twice as hard as her sister~~

My relationship with Kensey has been two fold - I cared for here when she and her sister were in our NICU and then fate bought us together again, almost 3 years later - when, as her court advocate I helped to place her and her siblings into a loving home with foster parents who were devoted to the special needs of the children.

Kensey's struggles continued - and a near death experience found us all at her hospital bedside only a few months ago - standing vigil. We held the adoption ceremony for Kensey and her siblings in the hospital - at her bedside -while she remained so critically ill.

And then - a MIRACLE occured. Kensey recovered to go home with her foster parents (now her adoptive parents) and her four siblings. She is bravely determined to be like "her sissy" and fights hard to learn to do the things that we all take for granted - like walk and eat and smile.

These little pink nests are dedicated to my Kensey girl~~ and to all little girls like her who struggle against great odds to survive and bring joy to the hearts of those who love them. I love you Kensey - you are my hero~~

First of all - I want to say that I never, ever, dreamed that I would be making nests AND that they would find their way into loving homes all over the world~~

~~and then, that I would be making designer nests and using them to contribute to charitable causes that are dear to my heart- is still almost unimaginable.

The making of this Twinkle, Twinkle nest has been in my heart for well over a year. The original idea wasn't mine however - it was Mary's. We've come a long way from "you need to make a baby nest!" (Mary) and me saying back to her, " yeah right! In my spare time!!"

You will find 30 little nests in my ETSY shop - 15 of each color. Each nest is unique - no two are alike. (If you have emailed me and requested to reserve one - it will be there under your name.) As with all my designer nests - this particular nest will not ever be repeated - when they are gone - they're gone!

She's been my best friend for all of my life~~

I can't ever remember when she was not a part of my life. Working on this project together, has been one of the most incredible and meaningful experiences of our life long friendship. At first I thought she was crazy~~ and now~ well, they are finished and are beyond anything that I could have ever imagined. Trust your friends~~

Thank you all for loving my little nests and for allowing me to use them to help charitable causes. If I could have one wish come true - it would be that my parents could be here to see this incredible experience that is taking place in my life~~

Vicki

ps - I am taking a little blogging break until mid-September. Need some "me" time! I will be available by email - vboster1@windstream.net. Enjoy the rest of your summer - it is passing way to fast for me!