Introducing the Canadian Chickie Christmas Exchange 2011 ...

BIG Book of Christmas

Either create a handmade book or gussy up an existing one. This book may be used as a handy-dandy Christmas check list go-to book or it may contain favourite recipes, poems, stories, songs etc. If you wish, you could alter a book that would be nice as a coffee table book or perhaps a guest book. The sky is the limit in what you can include in this book. In addition to the book, you are welcome to include some little stocking stuffers ~ anything you wish. Think about what you would like to receive ~ that's always a good place to start! There are no big rules, per se ~ but if you're mailing a book to your person, be mindful of the thickness and weight and postage costs. In the case where you are mailing a book out, the word BIG may not be literal.


Once everyone's signed up, I will make a list of who gives to who. You will not know who you will be receiving a book from ~ part of the fun surprise!


More details will be posted on our Canadian Chickies Yahoo Group Site!
Sign up by: August 1, 2011
Mail out date: By November 11, 2011

Let's hear from you Chickies!

Trusting all you Chickies are enjoying a wonderful Easter weekend with your families!

Please keep your imaginations in high gear

as we are looking for awesomely fantastic suggestions for the next

Canadian Chickies' artsy exchange

Should we celebrate ...

Mother's Day?

Canada Day?

or should we simply celebrate Friendship? 

Suggest a theme ... Volunteer to host...

We eagerly await to hear your suggestions

and

Easter Blessings to you all!

2011 Valentine Picture Parade (installment 3)

And the last two Door Hangers which were created

for the 2011 Valentine Exchange ...

Top: Created by Kathryn
Bottom: Created by Cindy

Thank you Chickies for yet another successful swap. Anyone have ideas for our next swap? Hmm...?

2011 Valentine Picture Parade (installment 2)

How much prettiness can your heart take?

Here are 3 more Door Hangers created for the Canadian Chickies 2011 Retro Valentine Swap

Created by Dawn

Created by Sabina

Created by Martha

Can you say pretty?!

More photos coming up soon ...

Valentine Picture Parade begins ...

Created by Jennifer
Everything is looking wonderfully delicious!
Our picture parade begins with two samples of Valentine Door Hangers
Jennifer and Nicolette created for the Valentine swap.

Created by Nicolette

Tomorrow, we will see more offerings from other Chickies who participated ~ stay tuned!

Up Next ~ Chickies' 2011 Retro Valentine Swap

Several Chickies have asked about doing a Valentine's Day Swap.

So as not to disappoint, we will be doing one.
This swap be a one-for-one swap. You will swap with only one person ~
hopefully keeping the time commitment and postage to a minimum,
so we can avoid some of the difficulties
that some of us faced during the Christmas Exchange.
Here are the details...
Chickies' 2011 Retro Valentine Swap
Sign up for the swap by January 10th please.
A partner will be assigned to you.
Then find a retro Valentine image and use it
in creating a Valentine Door Hanger.
You are welcome to, but not obligated to
add a few goodies to the package you send to your swap partner.
Please send a photo of your wrapped and unwrapped gift to Mother Hen
so she can post photos on our blog!
Remember to keep your parcel skinny and light ~
remember Canada Post charges big bucks for anything with any bulk or weight.
Mail your giftie to your partner by February 1st, 2011.
On February 14th, we'll open our gifties!
I hope everyone will join in the fun.

Let it Snow ~ Day 12

What giftie do we have today? Ever innovative, Cindy has created unique jar snowmen for us all ~ each one with its very own personality!

This is Day 12 ~ can you believe our swap has come to a conclusion? Thank you to all the participants. You have made the wait for Christmas Day so much more cheery. Way to go Chickies ~ we look forward to our next swap.

Have a safe and happy holiday. Merry Christmas to you all!

Let Heaven & Nature Sing ~ Day 11

Festive and fun is how you can describe the nature-infused jewellery pieces Jennifer created for us on Day 11. The pin is made out of a bottle cap and the pendant a Scrabble tile ~ we love green gifts!

She cleverly wrapped them in a paper stocking too, which would look cute all on its own hanging on a tree or mantle.

Retro moments ~ Day 10

Every morning during this swap, I sit down at my computer with my tea and open the day's gift, eagerly anticipating the surprise that awaits me. I haven't been disappointed. Not once!

It would appear that Nicolette was in a retro mood when she so skillfully created the Chickies some delightful Christmas hanging decorations.

Can you believe there are only TWO more days after today?

Love takes wing ~ Day 9

You just know that the gift Kim hand crafted for us on Day 9 is made with love. Not only did she include some of her famous Rock my World Rocks, but just look at this super soft, hand dyed heart! It reads Love = Courage: perfect to sit in the tree during Christmas time and any other place throughout the year as a reminder.

By the book ~ Day 8

Heather provided a little hint of what to expect inside, when she placed the beautifully collaged bookmark (Kim's pictured here) on the outside of her gift for us on Day 8.

Inside was a gorgeous vintage-y composition book. (compare the before and after photos!).

I'm sure we'll all have no problem at all putting our books to good use!

Vintage Christmas ~ Day 7

Day 7 is Dawn's day to create for the Canadian Chickies

She created little Vintage Hang Ups along with Crystal Key Necklaces for each Chickie using the "likes" of everyone and incorporating them into her designs.

Joy to you ~ Day 6

We're half way there, Chickies. It's Day 6 and Sabina has prepared a special surprise tucked into these lovely silky sacks for all of us!

Just look how Sabina so ingeniously is using all those baby food jars these days! It is a precious cherub/fairy in a bottle! Don't you love the cotton batting snow and the dangling snowflakes. So pretty. So precious.

A Banner Day ~ Day 5

You could say Day 5 of the Canadian Chickies Exchange is a banner day,
thanks to Martha.

She handmade us a very sweet Joy banner that is sure to add a special touch
wherever we all decide to hang it.

Joy to the World!

Matchless Wonder ~ Day 4

Kathryn went all out to create something that matches up to our "likes" on the 4th day of Christmas (forgive the pun), when she created a beautiful little Matchbook necklace for us. I think I may put mine on my Christmas tree since it's so pretty and glittery!

She invites us to tuck in a special quote, thought or dream in the matchbox.
What a great idea, Kathryn!

Seasonal Whimsy ~ Day 3

We receive two gifties for Day 3, made by the ever generous Mar.

She created sweet little Christmas Tree magnets, and wonderful miniature paintings complete with easels.

Such special paintings; can you match up the paintings to each of us Chickies?

Here is a photo of my Day 3 goodies. How did Mar know that if she came over to my house right about now that I would serve her a piping hot drink in a Christmas-y mug!

Peace ~ Day 2

Love and Peace are Eternal

~ John Lennon

Oh look what Brittni created for us to open on Day 2! It's a sweet little booklet which includes a turtle dove for us to hang on our trees on one page, and on the next, the above quote.

Handmade Perfection: Day 1

Day 1 is finally here and it's time to open Arlene's gift.
What delicate wrapping she's used, what's inside?

Look! It's a leather bracelet.

Wow ~ is this homemade? It's so perfect!
Amazing job, Arlene!
(I see Chickie Kim has posted about Day 1 on her blog already this morning too. Check it out here!

Day 12 ~ Under wraps

And finally, what goodies does Cindy have in store for us on Day 12? We will have to wait until Christmas Eve to find out.

And tomorrow! December 13th, we will get to open our Day 1 offering. Please check this blog then for the unveiling of Arlene's gift. Can you stand the suspense?

Day 11 ~ Stuffed with Goodness

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care ...

Just look at the beautiful stockings that Jennifer created to wrap her gifts in.

If the outside is this pretty, just imagine what's inside ~ December 23rd we'll finally get to peek!

Day 10 ~ Waiting, waiting, waiting

Something pretty is hiding in Nicolette's trimmed white bag, but what? Isn't this fun ~ and torturous, waiting, waiting, waiting?

Day 9 ~ It's in the bag!

Looks like Kim went all out creating pretty little paper bags

and complimentary Joy tags for Day 9. We can only imagine

what sweet treasure she's created for us to open on the 21st of December!

Day 8 ~ Vintage Delight!

A collaged vintage bookmark/tag adorns Heather's offering, and it is also the largest of all the gifties we have to look forward to opening (on Day 8 of the swap).

What goodness is in this package?

Day 7 ~ Nostalgic Christmas

Served up on a silver platter, these gifts wrapped in old pattern tissue from Dawn are all different sizes and promise to make everyone feel nostalgic on Day 7.

Day 6 ~ Pretty Pretty

Sabina wrapped her gifties in beautiful silky bags ~

making it two gifts in one for us on the 6th day.