Celebrating Easter week--(my Woodland Tabletop nest)

Easter is one of my most special times to display my Woodland Tabletop nest.  Of all the nests that I have created (and I have made a few!) this nest is one of my all time favorites...

we have a large group of naturalized daffodils

in the wooded section 

of our back yard... 

I'm always looking for opportunities

to photograph

in the woods...

 this has been the longest winter...

for so many reasons.

I don't think I have ever longed for 

spring as I have this year.. 

 every year,

 usually in December...

I pack my car with overnight supplies

in case bad weather forces me to

be stranded at work. 

usually,

 it takes me about 40 minutes

to drive to the hospital where I work...

I'm terrified of driving on slick roads in winter,

so if it snows or the roads get icy while I am at work,

I just plan to stay at a hotel close by..

just yesterday...

I unpacked my car and put away

my winter supplies!

 for me--

it is now officially SPRING!

I'm wishing you all

a wonderful and blessed

 Easter with your 

families..

some info about my

Woodland Table top nest...

the nest is 4 1/2 inches tall

the circumference around the nest

is 47 inches

while I do occasionally

have one of these nests listed in my ETSY shop--

you should consider that they are

mostly 
available by

special order only...

my Woodland Table top nest

on display in my home...

(my curio cabinet is filled with

found nests and eggs

that I have collected over the years..)

for those of you who might not know~

I'm hosting a little 

Spring giveaway of these pretty mugs..

you can go here to enter

before March 31.

Wherever you are, I hope that you are enjoying the days and the change of seasons.  Whether you are approaching Spring (like us) or Fall (to my lovely friends who live down under).... everyday is a blessing. 

xoxo

Vicki

Welcome to Spring! (A little Easter giveaway for you..)

In Spring everything is full of promise...

Spring has returned~

the earth is like a child that knows 

poems..

 Spring~

the music of open windows...

the front door 

to Springtime is a photographer's

best friend...

it was one of those 

March days..

when the sun shines hot

and the wind blows cold.

It felt like summer in the sunshine,

and winter in the shade...

(and I nearly froze taking these photos when the wind blew!)

 the arrival of Spring

 has made my spirits soar!

To welcome the warm breezes,

sunny days, and beautiful blooms...

let's have a little giveaway~

 I fell in love with these 

pretty little mugs,

and I'm excited to be sharing two of them

with you... 

to enter~

simply leave a comment

telling me what you love most

about spring...

 this little giveaway
 is open

to all  of my blog readers --

wherever you live...

 the winners

will be posted here

on March 31...

~~~~~
UPDATE
March 31
~the winners of the Easter mugs giveaway are--
Just This...Alice 
Debby --Cozy Blanket 

This contest is now closed
 
 

From the bottom of my heart ... to all of you~

thank you for your heartfelt comments, your messages, emails, cards, and even phone calls.  I am overwhelmed with the love that you have sent my way.  Every minute of every day is obligated right now and I've hardly had a minute to call my own.  I've not been able to respond to your emails, letters, comments, and such... but I have felt your love and support and it has given me strength.

Every day is full of blessings... 

Love,love,

Vicki 

ps--
Please join me on my "2 Bags Full" Instagram page if you have an account there.  I've been posting some lovely photos there...
xoxo

An Update for my "Grow Your Blog" Party...

Some days you pray more than you breathe...

 My original intent was to host this party in April.  I've known for almost a year that there was a special situation that would need my attentions in the early part of this year and that all of my time would be obligated to that.  My thought was that by April I would be free to host the party for you all. 

As you know, your life can change in an instant and I did not see the coming of a great emotional storm.  A storm that has taken my very breath away and has  taken our family to our knees in prayer.  You think one day that your life is so nice and you are so happy, and then the phone rings and you are forever changed...

I am so very sorry to say that I cannot host the party in April.  I think (dare I hope...) that all will be well by summer and I could possibly be free to host the party at that time.  But -- summer is not really the best time for that.  Everyone is out and about, vacations, and outside activities.  Honestly, I think that it would be best to just wait --- lets have the party in January as we have always done.  

So.... watch for an update from me come October -- and a date for the party in January.  Use this time to make your plans for the party and update your blogs as you might wish to do.  

Please forgive me for letting you down... I am always one to honor my commitments -- but this is totally out of my control.  Thank you for all the love that you send my way, always...

Vicki

ps -- the charitable activity that I am working on will still go forward. Im very excited about it.  I will be telling you about all the details soon, in about a month. 



 

Two Pink Hats...

Busy, busy, busy... I've been working hard to finish some special commission projects.  There have been several items on my project list nearing completion-- I'm finally checking them off and sending them on to happy homes.  These pretty little hats were among my favorites...

 don't be mislead

by what looks like a sunny day here...

 

these photos were taken

on a rare day a few weeks ago when the sun was out 

for about 2 hours in the afternoon...

 

 the embroidery and beadwork

on these hats is especially

pretty... 

 

 one of my cherished possessions

is this old painter's ladder...

the old chippy paint

stains are my

favorite...

 

every little flower

is accented with bead work...

 

 the leaves and vines

are also accented with beading...

this has been such a long and gray winter,

just being outside in the sunshine

 to take these photos

was sheer bliss!

this old ladder belonged

to my husband's

favorite Uncle...

it was great fun to drag it out

for these pictures..

these hats were some

of my most favorite so far...

the yarns are so 

incredibly 

soft..

so there you have it...

the tale of two pink hats...

Notes from me...

I'm on a serious countdown to Spring.  Cannot stand one more reminder of winter here at my house.  I have taken down all the winter decorations on the front porch and replaced them with a spring wreath and some spring flower decorations. 

 I. AM. Done. With. Winter.

 

 of course,

the weather is calling for snow showers

the next several days...

(guess the joke is on me!) 

 

 

The details are being finalized for my next charitable blog project.You will all be invited to participate... I think you will love this one!  I'll be posting more about this project sometime in early April.

I've been on a little reading binge --- loving our subscription to Kindle Unlimited.  My latest great reads are...

 

The Milliner's Secret

The Footman 

The Left Handed Marriage

Thanks so much for your visits, comments, and emails.  I have tried to visit everyone who left a comment on my last post.  I treasure your visits and thoughts,....

I'll be back soon with another one of my finished projects.

Vicki

ps -- if you are on my Nesting list, you will be hearing from me soon.  Those little spring nests are in the works now...

Sophie's knitted "Frozen" dress...

This little dress was created for beautiful Sophie, the daughter of a friend. She wanted a special dress to use in their family holiday photos. I'm way late in sharing these photos,( that's just the way my life is rolling right now.)  But I think you will agree, Sophie is a little doll wearing this dress...

 what little girl

doesn't want her own little

"Frozen"

dress?

 (these photo's of Sophie are used with her Mother's permission)

this little dress

was knitted in a size 4

with modifications for added length

 

 my photos were taken

at the home of Sophie's grandmother

using a vintage

1967 International truck

as backdrop...

(serious vintage rusty truck love!!)

 

 the neckline was embellished

with beads and a little snowflake...

 

 a little "photo-bombing"

by the kitties...

 

loving the rust on this old truck!

 

the dress was accented with beaded

fabric patches...

tiny snowflake accents

were randomly sewn onto the dress...

some of the patches

were made from old flannel shirts...

a little I-cord belt

finishes the dress and gathers up

the fullness...

modifications were made to the pattern

allowing for larger armholes and neckline

so that Sophie could wear a little blouse

underneath the dress...

extra length was added

so that Sophie could wear the dress with 

her leggings and boots...

(I added about 6 inches to the knitted length) 

 

 tiny crystals were sewn on to each

 little snowflake..

 

 yarns used...

the light purple yarn used for the bodice

and accent stripes is

Debbie Bliss cashmerino 

 

 the other yarns

are a variety of washable cottons

from my stash...

 

 the dress was adapted

from a pattern in the book

Minnow Knits too

(with modifications as noted above) 

 

 oh to have a sunny day

to bask in the warmth of the sun....

(I'm growing so tired of winter!!) 

Some updates...

With the recent amazing success of our Josephine's children charitable project, and before that.... the Pink Scarf project-- many of you have written to ask me what's next. I never really have a plan, as you know, I just wait for something of quality and compassion to present itself.  And something has....

In the next few weeks, I will be posting about another wonderful charitable project that will appeal to all of you.  An opportunity to use your talents to show compassion to someone in need of a little bit of love. If you can sew,knit,crochet,quilt,paint,.... or if you can raid your craft stash, then you will want to watch for this posting! And of course.... I will have some lovely gifts to share with you as well. Truly it will be an amazing opportunity for everyone to show some love...

just in case you missed my

lovely yarn giveaway...

you can find it here.

You have until March 1 to enter.

 

xoxo,

Vicki

 

ps ---

I would love for you to follow me on 

Facebook or on Instagram...

links are on my sidebar.

I've been sharing some lovely

photos on my Instagram page...