SHARING SPRING - GIVE AWAY SIGN UP...

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden."

-Ruth Stout-

I have just spent the most glorious week communing with spring, enjoying being out of doors observing nature. To celebrate returning to the enchanted land of blog and to share a touch of spring I am hosting a give away! Read on for details...

I sat on my deck steps and watched as a little bird dipped its beak into my offering bowl of shredded paper scraps and bits of cotton twine. I watched it twirl and intertwine them with carefully chosen twigs, grasses, and dried leaves. I marveled at its weaving skills and was inspired to make a nest of my own.
Gathering a few strands of much needed to be trimmed wild honeysuckle vine from the bramble out back, I returned to the steps taking lessons from my little bird friend, weaving a nest fit to hold small springtime treasures. After my nest was complete I spray painted it a soft cream and added a re-purposed ceramic bird to the rim, lastly, lining the nest with pink velvet and organza rose petals.This spring time nest is filled with three brightly colored tags wrapped in lace which has been secured with yellow paper roses and glittery butterfly tags. A larger tag hold also holds lace, a pretty posy, and a little embellished envelope filled with sweet paper punches. A bright blue pink posy embellished box contains tiny trinkets of spring: colored buttons, beads, jewels, brads, and charms.This Sweet Spring Nest is my first offering of sharing spring with one of you as a give away prize!While sitting with eyes closed, face tipped up to the sun, slowly swaying back and forth on the yard swing, I listened to the distinct trill of the Eastern Bluebird. I let my heart soar with each lift of its note. This little bird and a happy heart inspired my next offering in the give away - a Songbird Scrap Pack!

This package contains happy spring hued patterned paper scraps in pinks, yellows, greens, and blues. It also contains hand cut sturdy card stock tag bases in a variety of shapes, spring time colors, and sizes. A matching K&Co. tag sticker pack accompanies these supplies. The package is topped off with an over sized hand made tag that depicts the musical trill of the bluebird and a happy heart all bound up in the soft sweet sounds of spring.While slowly driving down a lazy winding back country road on my way home one afternoon last week, I passed a greening field peppered with wild flowers and fluffy white sheep. Running among them was a little slip of a girl. Their bleating and her laughter danced on the breeze through my open window. Both sight and sound embedded themselves in my memory. A little flash bulb of a moment in time that sang to me of nursery rhymes; "Mary had a little lamb...whose fleece was white as snow..." I wondered if her name was Mary, the little laughing sprite skipping with the lambs.

This was the inspiration for the third and final offering of sharing spring with one of you. Eloise Wilkin has long been one of my favorite childrens book illustrators. I used one of her illustrations from a tattered old nursery rhyme book of Mary feeding a lamb for this small collage.It is framed with an vintage paper photo frame and shimmers like a happy memory with dusting of fine glitter. A vintage flower basket applique has been applied and further embellished. The message of "spring" is spelled out across the bottom of the collage, resting just above paper ruffled edging and a bright lace bow. The collage is hung from frothy pink and green tulle with vintage button accents.To sign up for the give away, just leave your name in the comments section. There are no restrictions for signing up, anyone is welcome. You do not need to have a blog and international friends are welcome. Three winners will be chosen and posted on Saturday, April 10, 2009.

I was not the only one enjoying springs new abundance, so were the deer. Much to my dismay there will be no Easter Lilies here at the Quill this year. Every lily in the small lily garden my daughter planted and tended when she was younger has been cropped off by some hungry deer! My first response was anger but a floating thought drew itself forth as I stood looking over the damaged garden...

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"This is fitting, this sacrifice of something so carefully chosen, placed, and tended. These lilies have been sacrificed for the good of the survival of a species, nourishing sustenance, not what I would have chosen but what was needful. The lilies will resurrect again and they will bloom profusely."

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Such a wonderful thought on the eve of Easter-tide, the celebration of something, no, someone, The Lord Jesus Christ, who was carefully chosen and sacrificed for the sake of mankind, who resurrected, and left behind a legacy of peace and hope that still blooms profusely and is celebrated each Easter season.

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I wish each and every one of you a glorious spring and a very blessed Easter!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy