Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Year's Wishes

Looking back on the months gone by,
As a New Year starts and an old one ends-
We think about what brought us joy,
And cherish our loved ones and our friends~



~~As we begin to open the book of this bright New Year -- we find that all of the pages are blank.  Going about the things we do from day to day, we will gradually add words to those pages.  The book is called "Life" and the first chapter begins here on New Year's Day. Strive to fill your pages with love, laughter, and charity for others~ 
 Happy New Year to you all -- my dear friends.  

Love,
Vicki
~~~~~~~~~

This beautiful Angel was a gift to me from my precious friend Dorthe.  More beautiful than words, Dorthe creates dolls that steal your heart and make you want to fill your home with her lovely creations.  From my photo of this beautiful angel, I have created this New Year's card for you all.  Thank you dearest Dorthe for this gift that I love so so very much~ xoxo
~~~~~

Our Official Christmas Photo this year~


from our house to yours~
Happy New Year
xoxo
Vicki and Dan


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

My "Grow Your Blog" party -- updates and reminders

It's almost time!!! My "Grow Your Blog" party is just 3 weeks away.  We've been talking about this since late summer and now the date is almost here!!





Over 150 blogs are signed up to participate so far -- the opportunities to increase readers and followers for your blogs is going to be huge! So mark your calendars for January 19 and start giving some thought to your post. 

Some suggestions for your post--

1. You must have a dedicated blog post that relates to the Grow Your Blog party-- Introduce yourself and let the readers know a little bit about you and your blog. You might want to include a photo of yourself -- its not a requirement -- just a thought.  

2. If you wish - you can host a giveaway -- and you may gift anything that you choose.  There is NO requirement to have a giveaway -- it is a personal option.  Just remember that for those that do --- the contest needs to be open to all visitors to your blog and the only requirement to enter is just to leave a comment.
***For continuity -- lets all close our contests on February 1- you can announce the winner of your giveaway (if you are hosting one) on that date. Please go back and announce the winner on your actual Grow Your Blog post -- just add an update.  You will also need to email the winner or go to their blog and leave a comment telling them that they have won your prize.
3.  If you wish -- you might want to consider turning off your comment moderation for a few days during the party -- but that is also totally up to you. 

4. Be sure to link back to my blog -- since as the host blog I will have all the blogs listed who are participating.  Also - please include a photo of the blog logo as seen above. (Just so folks that visit you will know what's going on!)

5. Publish your post on the night of the 18th before you go to bed -- that way it will be ready to read for those folks on the other side of the world when they begin their day!

That's it -- that's all the rules -- we want this to be fun and easy for everyone.  Plan on visiting as many blogs as you can and sign up to follow those that interest you.  There is NO time period as the post will remain active on my blog and the link will remain on my sidebar for the rest of the year ---so you can visit the blogs as your time allows. 
~~~~~~~~
**If you are interested in perhaps giving your blog a little updated look -- maybe a new blog header or just an overall new appearance -- you can visit my friend Karen Valentine.  She can breathe new life into your blog.  You can contact Karen by email here--   karenvalentinedesignstudio@gmail.com
~~~~

If you have any questions or concerns -- just email me.  vboster1@windstream.net

Remember to keep spreading the word - do you think it's possible that we might hit the 200 mark??? That would be huge for your blog growing opportunities!!!  ***Please note that this is NOT the sign up post -- if you are new to this and wish to sign up for the event -- please go HERE to sign up. 

I'm getting very excited!!
 xoxo,
Vicki

****Update 1/3/2013--
January 15 is the last date that I can accept entries for the party-- entries are coming in faster than I can get them loaded in!!  I think we are actually going to come close to 300 participants!  I only have 2 hands and I am working them to the bones here!! LOL. So please - if you wish to participate -- you need to leave a comment on the official sign up page no later than January 15!**** 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Christmas Blessings

May the peace and blessings of Christmas be yours,
and may the coming year be filled with all the happiness your heart can hold~

 
Merry Christmas to you all ~~
Love,
Vicki 

~~~~~
This beautiful Christmas collage was a gift to me from my friend Suzy~ I photographed the collage and turned it into this lovely Christmas card to share with you.   Thank you so very much sweet Suzy for your amazing gift, it is truly a treasure. xoxo   

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Noelle's Snowflake Cardigan

An heirloom knitted coat for our little winter time baby~
             little tatted snowflakes
                          dance across the mohair coat~
                                             while tiny little pearls and crystal beads
        dazzle every snowflake
                        making her sparkle~~~ 



A most perfect coat for a winter time baby~




My own pattern, knitted from natural looped mohair.



tiny, hand tatted snowflakes (each one a work of art)
hand sewn on to the little coat
and then beaded with pearl and crystal accents


like frosty snowflakes that fall from the sky~
each individual little tatted snowflake is uniquely different
no two are exactly alike


made with love~
an heirloom for a precious new grandbaby




even the little "handmade by gb" tag is beaded



Pattern Details
~I used double strand looped mohair for the coat.
~The little sleeves are made to be rolled up.
~The natural, undyed yarn was purchased from one of my trips to the
 Maryland Sheep and Wool festival.
~The little tatted snowflakes were a custom order
made especially for me by Jennifer.



and of course~
a matching Snowflake Hat


Pattern details
~Yarn- Tilli Thomas beaded flurries
~pattern-Tilli Thomas flurries hat
~accented with 3 shades of silver and gray tulle



a little "vintage inspired" ensemble
for our newest granddaughter



"Snowflake Cardigan and Hat"


so precious
just like our baby~
~
Our first "Noelle"


"Kadence Noelle"
Born December 9, 2012
7 pounds


~~~
Our baby was due on Christmas Day -- but she wanted her birthday to be earlier!  We are so blessed and thankful to have a beautiful healthy new grandbaby --- Keri Beth is now a BIG sister!
This precious baby is our Christmas blessing~~


xoxo
Vicki

Thursday, December 6, 2012

A Nest for the Children

I think it was only natural -- fate perhaps --
that someday I would make a nest that would benefit the babies and children~~

A specially commissioned Nest
for the
 benefit of the
Hoops Family Children's Hospital. 


Nest
~
A safe haven
A place to be nurtured~
A place for waiting
(an expectation of good things to happen) 
A precious place where new
life springs forth.
A place of HOPE.


~~~


~~~


These heirloom quality nests are available within our community
as truly special keepsakes
honoring the generosity
of corporate and individual donations
for a generous donation of
$2500 or more.  




~~~ 


TEN
of these Limited Edition Designer nests
have been created to
 commemorate
financial gifts given to further
the medical well-being of infants and children
within our community.



~~~ 

In designing this nest~
I knew that it would be completely different-- totally unlike anything that I had ever done before.
I wanted this nest to tell a story about the children.



  I thought about the design of this nest for several weeks-
Then one morning I was walking through the pediatric floor on my way to the NICU- it was about 6 am, and this little toddler was walking down the hall followed by his Mommy and Daddy.  He was carrying a teddy bear that was almost as big as he was and dragging a blanket that looked like it had seen better days-- and I thought - that's it--
That's the story I want to tell with this nest. 
  


~~a story about security and promise and hope~~
All the things that this new Children's Hospital will represent for our children. 




A project such as this could not have been done by just my own two hands~~



The saying is true that it "takes a village" -- and my village begins with 
my best friend Mary. 



Mary's special contribution to this project is her beautiful beaded and sequined gauze-- her special creation that totally brings together the idea that this nest is created to benefit a Children's Hospital.  Tea dyed -- and embellished with tiny Swarovski crystal, seed pearls,and sequins (all sewn on by hand)-- it's simply gorgeous.  The very idea of using medical gauze in this incredible design still amazes me -- she's totally genius.  Mary is my biggest supporter, she is my sounding board, my "call your best friend up in the middle of the night" just to listen to another of my ideas-- FRIEND.  She is the person beside me in every nest that I create.  
~~
Mary says--"Many years ago my daughter was diagnosed with Crohns Disease.  We had the privilege of meeting Dr. Yorum Elitsur and are so very thankful for his care of our daughter.  He became a true friend to our family.  I want to honor his life's work through my contributions to this fundraiser.  I am truly honored to be working with my best friend on the Children's Nest.  This Children's Hospital is a blessing to our area." 



(me)
A nest such as this takes months to create.
From idea -- to sketch -- to design coordination -- to completion.
These nests consumed nearly 8 months of my life.

~~
If the beauty of art is realized in the details~
this Children's nest
is truly a shining illustration. 




More of my "village"~~ 
Deb Hembree's miniature crazy quilts are the result of hours and hours (and hours!!) of intricate beadwork and embroidery.  Her beautiful contribution to this project is not only a work of art -- it is a treasure.  Each little quilt is made by hand, embroidered and beaded, then lined with warm snugly felt-- just as a little child would want his "blankie" to be.  


 

~~~



   
On the back~
each little blanket is embroidered
with a message of LOVE.


When her first daughter was born prematurely, Deb Hembree of Shelbyville, Ky experienced an overwhelming range of emotions as she sought to care for her child.  Grateful that her local hospital was equipped to handle her daughter's needs, a burden to provide comfort for parent's in similar circumstances was placed on her heart. Her gorgeous "miniature crazy quilts" are created with thoughts of the healing and nurturing to come with the building of this new Children's Hospital.  Having so many hours and dreams stitched in to each one, the quilts were among the few items that Deb gathered on her way to her basement earlier this summer when tornadoes struck  her home area. 
~~
"I did not want to miss this opportunity to share in something that could benefit so many.  The building of a well-equipped, state-of-the-art hospital-- where babies are the No. 1 concern-- is the perfect place for me to make a difference." 
~~  
You can find Deb at her blog Mosiacmagpie.blogspot.com. 

Mary Jane Dodd's metalwork leaves are stamped with the word HOPE.  A visual reminder of what this collective effort represents:  a charitable cause to bring HOPE to our children.  The addition of the beautiful leaves was a latecomer to this project -- Totally out of the blue I received an email from MJ stating that she had been thinking about me and wondered if I had a current charity project in progress that she could assist with.  Her participation in this effort is a true gift from God.  I've said from the very beginning that I was not in charge of this project--clearly God is a nest designer as well.  

Mary Jane Dodd of Neptune, NJ is a mixed media metalsmith, mother of three children, and intimately familiar with children's hospitals.  In 1998, her third child was born at 23 weeks gestation and weighed just over a pound. After spending 4 months in the Intensive Care Nursery -- he required a tracheotomy and 24 hour respiratory support. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia became their temporary home where he received incredible care from multiple specialists.  Mary Jane's belief in the importance of  excellent pediatric care was further strengthened when her daughter was diagnosed in 2009 with Crohns disease at the age of 17.
~~
"You cannot put a price on the piece of mind that comes with having an excellent children's specialty hospital.  It was a great honor to be able to help with this project.  I wish all of the families that come to this hospital peace and good health and extend to the staff my deepest appreciation." 
~~
You can find Mary Jane at her blog, mairedodd.blogspot.com/




My friend Sue Kosec has been a dedicated supported of my nest creations;  she can read my mind when it comes to designing the little tags, and cards that accompany my nests. Her creations are stunning.  For this nest she created miniature rosettes made from vintage fabrics-- a special touch that brings to these nest that "shabby chic" appeal that I wanted to create.  




 Sue also created the little tags that will accompany each nest.  She truly took my jumbled thoughts and turned them into these adorable tags that will embellish the wrapping of these nests.  Presentation is everything -- and I can always count on Sue to create something so very beautiful. 
~~
Drawn to anything that involves paper, Sue Kosec of Euless, Tx.  fell in love with papercrafting about eight years ago and today it is truly her passion.  Her work has been featured in Stamping, Stationery, and Scrapbooking Magazine. 
~~
"I am honored and thrilled to make a difference, support a dream, and be a part of this amazing endeavor for the building of the Children's Hospital.  It is a joy for me to help raise money for a much needed and worthwhile project."
~~
You can find Sue at her Facebook page --Sue Daggett Kosec




Mary and I dedicated almost 2 weeks to the final phase of "building" these nests. Each nest was intricately embellished with the artisan creations and then we added the final adornments~ the handmade felted teddy bears, each clutching that gorgeous quilt under it's movable arms.  Completing this special design is a monogrammed sterling silver charm commemorating the special occasion for which this nest was built. 

From start to finish -- each nest has collectively consumed over 20 hours of intricate creating and embellishing.  "My hope is that individuals will be moved by the story of the nests and will want to contribute to this most worthy cause --the building of a dedicated Children's Hospital for our children.  In exchange for a most generous donation -- they can take home one of these heirloom nests -- a memento of a contribution that will change the lives of our children forever."   



"I think maybe one of the better things about getting older, is that it has given me time to do something really worthwhile. For over 30 years I have been blessed to have a career that allows me to witness miracles every day.  Working alongside amazing physicians and nurses... I see their dedication to the mission of saving the lives of premature infants. One of my dearest friends, Dr. Gilbert Ratcliff, recently retired after a lifelong service of taking care of tiny babies. His legacy has inspired me to want to leave something special of my own...

Another dear friend and collegue, Dr. Joe Werthammer... has been caring for tiny infants as many years as I have been a nurse in the NICU-- I often think about the fragile lives, the hundreds of babies that he has helped to save ... he, along with the rest of the nurses and physicians in my work place -- we are all building a legacy of caring for the babies.  In the creating of these Children's Nests -- I believe that perhaps I am creating a legacy of my own ...using my talents to help continue the care of our community's children -- for today and tomorrow ... and for years to come."  

~~~
  To inquire about making a donation to the Hoops Family Children's Hospital 
 please contact:

 Velma Workman
Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation Development Coordinator
304-526-6314
~~~
For more information about the building of our Children's Hospital
click HERE


~~~
A special note to my readers and followers~
Although time consuming -- this project has been a true labor of love.  This is my very first commission nest and I am thrilled to finally be able to share the photos and the story with you -- this has been a year long endeavor and I have waited so very long to make you all a part of this amazing project.  I appreciate your support, your comments -- and the love that you have always, always shown to me. 

I'm very busy here in the Sacred Yarn Room -- the winter nesting has begun!  If your are on the list -- then shortly after the first of the year some of you will start to hear from me.  As you go about your holiday activities and  all the business of "making merry"-- remember to make a little time, a little special effort, a little something special for those who are not as lucky as you or me. 

xoxo,
Vicki