Island Memories --(Introducing my "Seraphina" knitted wrap)

She ordered a latte
            and a raspberry peach pastry~

I thought she was beautiful~

 ~not just the beauty

that came from her dark hair

and "tanned from the sun"

features--

her true beauty was in the way

she walked into the 

pastry shop--

~

~head held high,

she was elegant.

perfect posture,

a genuine smile--

~

(I loved her sunglasses)~

sigh~

  for just a brief moment in time--

I wanted to be

 her~

sitting in the sun,

at my own little table~

I found myself staring at her.

(I just couldn't help it)

lightly draped around her shoulders,

she was wearing the most

beautiful wrap~

colorful flowers~

they appeared to be dancing

across the fabric

~when she moved,

they seemed to sway~

 finding an excuse to walk

beside her table,

gave me a closer

look~

~that summer memory was almost 

2 years ago--

a moment, a vision, from the beautiful island of

St. Martin

the impression

 still lingers

~

(I came straight home and put it in my sketchbook)

 I never knew her name~

but to this day,

I still remember that moment in time,

that beautiful wrap~

~

a memory from "Seraphina's"

a most wonderful bakery 

on the island of 

St. Martin.

"Seraphina's" bakery

Marigot, St. Martin
 

  this~

is my beautiful

"Seraphina" knitted wrap

~
a most exquisite knitted design,
an intricate stitch
 accented with colorful flowers
~
each handmade flower is
embellished with tiny seed beads, crystal beads,
and glass beads
~there are hundreds and hundreds
of beads used  to embellish
this stunning design.
 

you can find it here

in my ETSY shop

~

I made it just for you
I only made one-
this is THE only one~

xoxo

Introducing the first of my new

knitted wrap designs
for this 
fall and winter

~

this is the first in my

"Seraphina" series.

~

(there are more lovely wraps

in this series to come a bit later~)

A note from me~

I hope you have been having a wonderful summer. The days of sun and lovely warm days are passing much too quickly for me. Fall is just around the corner, and although I love our beautiful autumn weather here, I am just not ready to let summer go yet! 

I have been working ever so hard on some new and unique designs to share with you this fall and winter. On my needles right now is another beautiful design in this "Seraphina" series.  

I've been taking time to read and enjoy some wonderful books.  Most recently I finished City of Women, and also The Keeper of Secrets -- I truly loved them both. While knitting,knitting, knitting~ I've been watching  some great series on Netflix and Amazon Prime as well~ Selfridges, The Paradise, and now I am watching the Cedar Cove Series. In two lifetimes, I won't ever have the time to watch all the great stuff I have on my lists! (or to knit up my yarn stash -- but I'm sure trying!)

~So many of you have written to me over the past months to ask if I would be hosting another charitable event. Last year's Pink Scarf Project was amazing -- it exceeded anything that I could have ever imagined --, I loved every moment spent on that project and I am so proud of you all for the support that  you gave-- 
(but after it was all said and done --I must admit that it wore me out.) 
 All those photos, all the miles traveled to take the photos, honestly  -- my plan was to take this year off as a much needed break.

But~

God had other plans~~

across the miles, across the waters, across the winds that blow from places so very far away~~

a letter came~

My newest charitable project is coming up next. With the slightest  effort on your part, you can touch a life, change a life, make your heart feel good. (and maybe-- win some incredible gifts!)
I hope you will join me in this very special charity project coming up very soon~

Love,love,love

Vicki

Dinner in the Garden

The ambiance of enjoying a wonderful dinner outside, in the garden-- surrounded by all things relating to farm life -- at what is probably the worlds most beautiful and longest table -- is truly hard to describe~

Last fall, the Gardener and I attended our third 

"Outstanding in the Field"

farm dinner~

 

to spend the evening on a beautiful farm,

eat a fabulous dinner at this amazing table -- 

in the middle of the field,

~

the food, the wine, the scenery, the table~

the whole experience is truly

a memorable feast for your

 senses 

~

once you have attended one of these

incredible dinners -- you get it!

You totally understand why the tickets to these events

often sell out in a matter of minutes!!

~

admittedly-

I am an "Outstanding in the Field"

groupie~

 the dinner we attended last fall, was hosted by

Carriage House Farms

in North Bend, Ohio

~

this beautiful farm was once the home

to our 9th President,

William Henry Harrison

 before we take off across the field

to this beautiful table--

let's take a little tour of this lovely

historical farm~

 the farmhouse

I'm loving those ancient concrete columns

by the gate~

(and yes, I love that handsome guy too!)

 the folks here opened up their farm to us 

and we walked all around the beautiful property.

I took so many photos, it was hard to choose

just a few~

 

 there's just something about an old gate

that makes you want to take

 a picture~

(actually a lot of pictures!)

the BUS!!

~

Part of the excitement

 of attending these dinners 

is the opportunity

to be able to see their vintage

 1953 Flxible tour bus. 

(I climbed the hill behind the farm to get this photo) 

 (they even let us take a peek inside!)

How would you like to spend an entire year

living on this bus, traveling all over

the United States  -- 

from one farm dinner to the next~

(the wonderful folks who sponsor these events

call this bus their home!)

fall was is in the air~

a beautiful setting for the table,

right next to the grape vines~

(nope -- we aren't going there yet --

going to walk around a bit more~)

that's my chair :)

If only this tree could talk --

I'm betting it has seen a lot of history~

are you thirsty?

they're serving drinks and refreshments

on the front lawn~

honey anyone?

~

each farm dinner's focus is on

produce and meats that are produced

by local area farms and gardens.

Local chefs prepare the meals

on site.

(we will go visit them in a minute!)

 across the road from the farm house

is the beautiful stable 

and grounds~

I made a new friend outside the stable

loving this old barn house

~ and the stable house

 bring your own plate

and drop it off

 here~ 

such a pretty mix of vintage colors

and designs

forgot to bring a plate??

no worries--

you can borrow one from here! 

Let's go see what's cooking for dinner!

(are you hungry yet?)

the aromas were incredible~

seriously --

 just looking at these 

photos again is making me hungry!

there's the table --

let's go have a closer look~

there is no assigned seating-

all the food is served family style,

so you can sit wherever 

you want~ 

it was the most perfect autumn day

for this outdoor farm dinner~

love, LOVE this beautiful table~

the sun is just starting to set-

so that means

it's almost dinner time! 

(let's go find a seat at the table~)

the menu

the Gardener smiles after a wonderful dinner:)

~

 that's OITF founder Jim Denevan  (in the cowboy hat)

talking to guests

after dinner,

the whole crew pose for photos in front of the bus

~

these have to be some of the nicest, 

most hard working people

ever.

with dinner now a memory~

we all walk around a bit more

trying to take in every last beautiful moment

of this amazing experience.

isn't this what "groupie's" do?

He's a super nice guy~

 as the darkness overtakes us all-

it's time to go home~

~

(I really had intended to post these photos last fall

but somehow time just got away from me.

I'm pretty sure it had something to do

with all those beautiful pink scarves! )

xoxo

 

Seedling Farm

South Haven, Michigan

(photo borrowed from OITF website)

in just a few weeks, 

my friend Marsha and I

 are taking a little "Girl Trip" to here.

~

We will travel almost 500 miles

to beautiful coastal Michigan

just to sit at this 

extraordinary

table.

~

You can look forward to photos from

our incredible trip and the farm dinner

later this fall~

(I think we might win the prize for most distance traveled! LOL!) 

xoxo

Vicki

ps -- I've been working all summer on some incredible new designs -- one of those is coming up next!