Winter Wonderland ~ The Swaps

I have definitely neglected this blog! Busy doing other creative things. So, catch-up time and hopefully will do a lot of that this week. I see the last post was about Winter Wonderland held in Manhattan Beach, CA. At the event ~ well, pre-event ~ we were given the option to sign-up for swaps. Not everyone does, but I'd say most do! And there are several, so you have to pace yourself. I signed-up for the Christmas Stocking swap, glove and socks swap, snow globe swap, Christmas angel swap, Christmas ornament swap, and Christmas wreath swap. The interesting thing was creating these things and then really having to part with them. It was fabulous thinking outside of the box and creating one-of-a-kind goodness to share away. My bigging dilemma was how to transport that Snow Globe. Everyone started with the same type of globe - a glad dome that was about 8-10" high and a circumference of about 4", on a wood base. The sky was the limit - create a little piece of winter wonderland in your dome. First off, the shipping from the US to Canada to get my globe was outrageous. I worried every time I held it that I might drop it. I.was.not.going.to.order.another! Let's just say that the globe got handled very little, and with kid gloves, it seemed. It made it ~ carry-on style ~ and a goodly wrap of bubble wrap. Here are some photos of some of the swaps.

Winter Wonderland

The thing about leaving a cold Winnipeg winter day behind is not such a bad thing at all! At the end of November, I went down to Manhattan Beach (LA) California for a few days. Met some fabulously talented gals and had myself a mini-vacation in the process. Okay, yes, got drunk of all of the vintage love that was swimming before me every day. And shared in some fantastic swaps. I went a bit earlier than the event and stayed a little bit after -- in which time, I managed to dip my toes in the ocean and watch some surfers cresting over the waves (OMG); and I spent several hours browsing through the Fashion District (double OMG). So, I'll let the photos do the talking ...

Stay tuned ... more Winter Wonderland posts to follow.

I've Been Busy - Creating!

Some of you may or may not know that I'm off to California next week for a mini-vacation and to take in a scrapbooking event called Winter Wonderland Affairs, November 29 to December 2. Leading up to the event, participants had the opportunity to sign-up to participate in swaps at the event. No, I didn't sign up for all of them, but I did sign up for these: {1} Wreath Swap {2} Socks & Gloves Swap {3} Christmas Ornament Swap {4} Snow Globe Swap {5} Christmas Stocking Swap and {6} Christmas Bella Angel Swap. I finished, this evening, making all of my swaps. What fun to think outside of the box and just let my creativity go. I can't post pics yet, cause they are a secret until the swaps are done. Let me know what you think.

Altered Journal

On Friday, I went to the monthly scrappin crop at the hall of Munroe and Gray, to find my girlfriends there to share the evening with. And beside me was none other than Marlene. She gave to me an intriguing package all wrapped up in toille and I fell in love at first site. She had altered a journal for me and gave it to me so that I could capture bits and pieces about my trip when I go to California at the end of the month. I love this journal, because it's a little piece of Marlene. Because it's a little piece of her endearing creativity.

Shekinah, Saskatchewan

That's where I was from last Thursday to Sunday ... at a wonderfully, cosy, log-structure retreat centre. Natural lighting abounding, along with fabulous company. I managed to get some of my swaps done for a trip I am doing at the end of November, and some layouts (below). Didn't get too many pictures of Shekinah, but sharing a couple nonetheless.