Invitation to join a Southern Hemisphere season exchange

One of my followers, Katie, who doesn't have a blog of her own has asked me to share with you an invitation to join in a summer time crafting swap. I'm in are you?

In her words...
"I am currently looking after my two children who are 3.5 and almost 2. The last couple of years have been VERY bust to say the least and to be honest sometimes a bit of a blur. However, I am starting to emerge out the sleep deprived stage and wanting to do a little bit of crafting that both benefits my children and satisfies my to use my hands creatively. Prior to children I was an architect and have worked on residential and public infrastructure projects, then back to university to work on a research project just before having children.I also started Fine Arts but after falling pregnant with my first born this has been put on hold...indefinitely. All that seems like a lifetime ago : ) Every now and then I have picked up a bit of casual tutoring work which I enjoy but still a bit hard balancing it with young children. I love making things.


Southern Hemisphere Seasonal Exchange is inspired by the small nature table I have tried to start for my young children to mark the changing of the seasons. However, I have found most material and craft project sourced for inspiration is often based on seasons in the northern hemisphere which is not always relevant to us, as seasonal changes where I live can be subtle and quite different from what is happening in the northern hemisphere.

Like my children, I am also learning about the unique seasonal differences in Australia, I am new to crafting and new to keeping a nature table. I would love some inspiration and I am sure other people would as well.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have Seasonal Craft exchange reflective of the seasons of the Southern Hemisphere. I am sure there are many of you like me, who are ready for a crafting challenge, a chance to create your own symbolic item reflective of the current season and a chance to inspire a stranger through your chosen craft"

So here goes, to get the ball rolling and to keep it simple I thought we would start with a ‘Summertime‘ themed craft swap. As it is a busy time of year, to participate you need to include a minimum of one handmade item that you can swap with your allocated partner.

GUIDELINES
The crafted item should be related to the seasonal theme summer.
The swap is open to everyone ~You don’t have to live in the southern hemisphere to participate!
As a participant, you must be willing to mail overseas and honour your swap commitment.

The details:
Participants will be allocated one (only) swap partner. You will send directly to your partner and they will send directly to you. Swap partners will be randomly allocated.
No prior crafting/ art skills required.
Participation should be done in the spirit of openness, appreciation and sharing. The only requirement is the item you send should be handmade by you with love and care. Make something special that you would love to receive yourself.
No returns!
The exchange is open to all ages
All packages must be mailed by the 1st December and should be suitable to send in the mail.

So…. if you would like a small handmade summer inspired keepsake to add to display over summer sign up now!

REQUIREMENTS

At least one, no more than five items.
One of these items must be handmade. It can be an object, an artwork, an ornament, small handmade book, something to display. The key requirement is it is something made by you.
If you would like to include additional items things that could be included might be items from nature (unless you are shipping internationally), a card, additional artworks, a candle, purchased items made from natural materials (no plastic/polyester/foam/etc) etc.
All of the items must be theme and seasonally appropriate.

Optional: You may want to include in your package a little blurb about your items and/or yourself.

Additionally, it would be wonderful if you were able to document the process of making and the final product. These images can be posted on the Flickr group Southern Hemisphere Seasonal Exchange http://www.flickr.com/groups/1548872@N21/

HOW DO I SIGN UP
Sign ups are open from now until 18th of November; the first 100 people to sign up are in.

Please email Katie at southernseasonalexchange@gmail.com  

In your email please include:
Real Name, Mailing address (in English), Email address, [Optional: Facebook and/or Blog URL and Blog name.]

**Please make sure you email me this info to be entered into the swap.**

PRIVACY: Your privacy will be respected and your details will not be passed on unless you give permission.

Partners will be allocated after sign-ups have closed.
I will confirm when you have been added to the list. Please be patient, this may take a couple of days.

DISCLAIMER
As I mentioned previously I am a mother of two very young children, new to crafting and have never undertaken co-coordinating something like this before, so your patience and understanding is really appreciated in this first attempt. I am excited to see if anyone else is interested in participating and will give it my best shot to get it up and running.

If it is a success we might try it again when autumn comes around.

Thanks for Seasons Round Exchange http://seasonsround.wordpress.com/  and New Zealand Handmade Christmas Ornament Swap http://www.newzealandhandmade.co.nz/2010/10/new-zealand-handmade-christmas-ornament.html  for inspiring the idea of the craft swap.

Want some ideas? check out some of the swaps on flickr. Here are some to start with

Seasons Round Exchange http://www.flickr.com/groups/seasonsround/

The SavVy { Seasons } - a modern Swap http://www.flickr.com/groups/1437999@N23/pool/

Soft trees swap http://www.flickr.com/groups/15961496@N00/

Rhythm of the Home http://rhythmofthehome.com/

Also another wonderful webpage is Seasons South and North http://www.seasons-south-and-north.co.uk/