Virginia's Shabby Treasure Nest...

Treasured keepsakes...
tiny fragments of our past that we keep because they are connected to precious memories...

 so often,

we tuck these keepsakes

into a special place, thinking all the while,

that one day we will

"do something" 

with that tiny treasure...

but---

more often, than not..

we forget...

 

this beautiful treasure nest 

was created for

 Virginia...

using her own personal and treasured

 keepsakes.

She has graciously allowed me to share

with you the story behind the pieces

that she chose for her 

"Shabby Treasure nest"...

~

Virginia's story..

"I have had a love affair with vintage jewelry

since I was about 14 years old.  

I  still have the first piece of vintage jewelry

that my grandfather gave to me.."

 

"Autumn is my favorite season. 

I love to see the leaves change their colors. 

I also love it in the spring when the leaves are just starting to grow.

 So I was really happy that you used the beautiful leaf brooch in the nest."

  

 "I have had a love of birds ever since

I can remember.

I was so happy to see that you were able to use

the vintage bird piece, it goes so well with the nest. 

I have bird nests, bird houses, bird baths, and feeders

throughout my whole yard.

I was so happy that you used the nest charm too..." 

 

 "I love flowers and all that goes with them.

I like to take long walks and look at people's

yards and flower gardens. 

The vintage pink flower brooch is one of my favorites...

"I love fibers and ribbons, laces and trims. 

So many different colors, textures, styles. 

And you can never have enough...

I was so happy that you used strips of my wedding dress.

 I am making a lace book with it and a few lap quilts for my children

 using pieces of my dress..."

  

 "I love anything that sparkles.

Since I was a child, one of my favorite things to do

when it snowed,

was to wait for the moon to come out

and see the snow glitter and shine in the darkness...

I could watch it forever.."  

"I didn't see the little doily you used behind the bird brooch until later.

 I swear, every time I pick up the nest I find something new that I missed.

I love doilies in every style and shape.

I love to make books and flowers out of them..."

 

 "I choose the word BEAUTY...

because I try to surround myself with beauty every day.

And I knew before you finished my nest....

that it would be a beauty..."

"I also love to collect feathers and use them in my crafts.

 I have birds thru out my home and my craft room.

To me they are so beautiful and soothing.." 

~

I am always so humbled when I have the opportunity

to make a treasure nest for someone.

To create a nest using precious keepsakes that

belong to others,

is truly a special privilege. 

~

Thank you Virginia, 

for allowing me to share the story

of the building of your nest..
~~


We are just back from travels...
the person who cruise travels
 back and forth to the Caribbean at least once
a year...
has just packed up her winter clothes 
and long johns and taken a cruise to
Iceland!

 

 We flew to England and toured the Cotswold region
and the Cornish coast before boarding our cruise ship
for Guernsey, Iceland, and Ireland.
It was incredible. 
I'm going to take you all along
on our travels -- 
you won't even have to leave your favorite chair. 
Stay tuned for photos...
lots of photos...
xoxo
Vicki

ps-- the first of the packages and donations have started to arrive for the Kindness Quilt Project.  If you would like to be involved in this amazing charitable venture -- please see my post here

xoxo

Sharing Kindness -- A Charitable Opportunity and a Giveaway

"Kindness has a beautiful way of reaching down into a weary heart and making it shine like the rising sun..."

 (my contribution to the Kindness Quilt project)

 Can you...

 sew, knit, crochet,

paint, quilt, embroidery,
stitch work?

~~

(if not, don't worry--

I have a special plan for those of you

who don't have any 
of the above skills!!)

 A little story...

One of my friends on Instagram started a project

to bring cheer to a friend who was recovering from surgery.

She created a beautiful quilt from bits and pieces 

that were donated from her friends on Instagram.

I became involved in the project 

and donated a quilt block that I knitted and embellished.

My little quilt block traveled all the way to Australia

to become a part of what my friend called 

"The Kindness Quilt Project".  

 with the exception of the first photo

(my own contribution to the project)
~~

all the photos shown here
belong to my amazingly talented friend, Deb...
who graciously allowed me to use
photos of her wonderful project
for this post.
~~
you can find Deb on Instagram..
her page is
"Raspberry Treats"
~~
to see all the photos of Deb's
amazing project
and meet all the generous ladies who contributed...
search #kindnessquilt
on Instagram 
 

Continuing my story...
...after the quilt was finished and delivered

to Deb's sweet friend...

those of us who were involved in this project

formed our own little group within the Instagram

community...

we call ourselves the 

"Kindness Quilt Group"

~~

those of you who have IG accounts

can search #kindnessquilt

to see an assortment of photos
 from our first project

 

With Deb's quilt now completed,
we have decided to begin
a new project for our group.
~~
You are all invited  
to participate

in the latest
Kindness Quilt Project...

Some details for the project..

1. you may donate a quilt block

of any size--

no larger that a 6 inch square

2.  you may knit, crochet, quilt,sew...

your square using any

yarn or fabric of your choice.

3. your square may be embellished 

in any manner that you wish...

embroidery, beaded accents,

quilted embellishments,

embroidery work,

or painted with washable paints.

4. In fact--

you may make your square

and embellish it in any manner you wish.

~

details continued below...

5. your quilt square donations

may also be totally not embellished..

they may be left plain without

anything on them...

6. you may donate as many squares

as you wish to this project...

details continued...

7.  for those of you who do not wish to make 

a quilt square...

you may donate items

of any sort that can be used

to embellish the squares

that are left plain.

8. you may donate buttons,

floral embellishments,

crochet flowers, granny squares, hearts,

lace, .....

you may donate any item that can be added

to the squares to 

further embellish the quilt.

9.  these donated items

may be purchased or handmade--

this is totally your choice..

details continued...

10. Your generously donated squares

will be sewn onto a backing fabric by me 

and I'll use your donated items

to embellish the squares as needed...

11.  this project will run for

a full year--

until April 1, 2017.

~

you will have ample time

to make generous donations 

to this amazing project.

12.  this project is open 

to anyone and everyone..

wherever you live,
~~

If your heart is generous...

you are invited to share your talents

or to share a bit of embellishment...

~~

 You may mail your donations

as often as you wish...

the donations may be mailed to..

~

The Kindness Quilt Project 

150 Pine Ridge Drive,

Grayson, Ky

41143

Updates will be shared regularly

here on my blog..

I will share your donated squares,

and any embellishments that are also donated.

If your name is included

with your donation,

I will list the names of everyone who

donates to this project...

~~

Photos of the quilt in progress

will also be shared from time to time...

~~

Those of you who have Instagram accounts

may follow me there for updates as well. 

All photos of donated items

will be shared regularly on my IG page

"2BagsFull"

You may search the photos

using the hashtag

#KindnessQuilt

Once the quilt is completed...

the ladies in my 

"Kindness Quilt" group will prayerfully

choose someone who is needful

of a little love and kindness...

~

someone who needs to be surrounded

by the loving arms

of those who so generously donated

to this project...
~
the quilt will be gifted
to someone
in need...

And of course...

I have gifts to share with you!

~

...because I already know

that you are going to be amazing

and will pour your hearts into

this wonderful project...

three beautiful, sparkly,

Vera Bradley totebags will be given away

next April 1, 2017.  

~~

everyone who sends in a donation

will be entered to win 

one of these tote bags.

(the flowers aren't included...)

~~

every quilt square that is donated,

is an entry...

(If you send in 3 quilt squares,

you will be entered 3 times.)  

~~

A small assortment of embellishments

will also count as an entry.

If you send in a large assortment,

you will be entered 

in several times.

~~

(you will just have to trust me to make it fair)

I promise that I will!

I'm thinking that the quilts will be lap size..

about 50x50 inches...

~~

should there be enough donations

to make more than one quilt...

I will reach out to you all

and ask for your suggestions

as to the recipient of the second quilt...

~~

I hope that you will set about this prayerfully,

knowing that your efforts

will bring comfort and joy to

someone who is desperately

in need...

If you have any questions about

this project,

you may email me at any time...

Vboster1@windstream.net 

~~

So many of you have written

to me asking about a future

charitable project...

~

my prayers are that this opportunity will

touch your hearts

and that each of you will want

to give a little bit of yourself so that

someone... a stranger in need...

 can be touched by 

kindness....

Love,love,love,

Vicki 

ps--

I'm going to take a little blog break -- I will be back in early to mid June.  I wanted to use this time to leave this post up so that it will have a chance to be seen by more of you.  While I am always available by email, there may be some lag time the first 3 weeks in May regarding my availability to return your emails.  So please be patient if I have not responded in my usual manner-- it may take a few days or so...xoxo

A Welcome to April...

April...
 that blustery month that brings beautiful days, whispery warm breezes, sunshine and SNOW, gale force winds that blow the tops out of trees, beautiful blooms, and busy bees...

 Already in the few short

days that April has been upon us,

we have had every kind of

weather imaginable...

one day

 I am out in the sunshine

picking flowers from our yard,

and the next day 

I am watching the tree tops

blow across the field in front of our house...

our yard and gardens

are filled with the most beautiful

daffodils,

some bloom early, while others bloom late...

with over a dozen varieties,

they are always in a state

of blooming... 

 

 I've been posting 

some of my photos on my

2 BagsFull

Instagram page...

this is one of my

 favorites,

taken a few days ago at the

historic Lexington Arboretum and Cemetery

 the Lexington Cemetery

is a spectacular showcase of

blooms in early Spring...

this is one of my favorite places

to visit in the Spring,

I could spend hours driving and walking

around taking photos of the trees

there...

the blooms from the 

Weeping Cherry trees

fall all the way to the water's edge

at the ponds there...

the beautiful colors

only last a few days though,

so I rush to get there right after the trees

begin to bloom..

this photo,

(also posted on my Instagram page,)

was taken last week at the 

Museum of Appalachia

in Clinton, TN

we love this beautiful place...

while traveling south 

a few days ago,

we stopped here for lunch

and I snapped a few photos...

Isn't this just the most perfect

little "fixer upper" ever!!

my newest friend

at the Museum of Appalachia...

(also edited and posted on my Instagram account)

(If you have an IG account-- I would love

for you to join me there...)

 

 

 and of course...

the most sure sign of Spring--

 

 there is already lots of nest building

going on outside in our yard... 

(and inside my craft room too!)

 

Notes from me...

I was so in hopes that Spring was finally here!  Have organized my shoes making my cutesy little sandals front and center, put away my winter coats,and then.... this morning I drove to work in an ALL out snowstorm!! My 30 minute commute took over an hour. Then-- about 3 hours later, the sun came out and melted off all of the snow. Geez!! I'm telling myself that this was the last little bit of winter blowing it's way out!

 

I'm taking a few weeks to create my next blog post -- I will be back then with a wonderful charitable opportunity for you all and... of course a giveaway to coincide with this amazing new way for you to share your love...

xoxo,

Vicki 

 

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