**THIS IS OUR FIRST COMBO SWAP, SO PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE COMMITTING TO THE SWAP(S) OR CUTTING! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK!

YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THE SWAP BY JUNE 30, 2012 IN ORDER TO PLAY. SWAPS ARE DUE TO ME NO LATER THAN AUGUST 8, 2012 TO SWAP OUT. THE NUMBER OF SWAPPERS SIGNED UP WILL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF SETS YOU CAN SEND IN. For example, if we only have eight swappers signed up at the deadline, you can only send in eight sets. Some exceptions may occur and will be determined at the swap deadline.

Please PM me which swap theme(s) you will participate in, your HGTV board name, real name, address, phone and email address. I will forward you the same. All information sent to me is confidential and will not be shared.

IF YOU SIGN UP FOR THE SWAP, PLEASE SWAP! IF YOU CANNOT DO IT AND KNOW WELL IN ADVANCE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

I know life sometimes throws you curve balls, but it has happened that people get excited and want to play, only to wait two months later when the swap is due in a day or so to say they didn't have time. By that time you should have already been ready to mail the package. That leaves me hanging to replace your swap with my stash (or running to buy more fabric to swap!) and totally unfair IF you know you cannot make the deadline to begin with. I give you ample notice so you have plenty of time to make an informed decision. Be honest with me up front, or a repeat offender might not be able to play in the future The success of this swap depends on your ability follow through your commitment to our group of players. Thank you for your understanding!

By all of us being honest and accountable, I'm sure we will have a great 2012 swapping year! I really do enjoy hostessing and want to continue to enjoy it, so by coming up front with any issues is not really a complaint, but a way to correct it so my frustration level (and blood pressure!) stays at an even keel. Probably the MOST important thing I can say about a successful swap is the high level of communication between all parties. Without that, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

Please be sure that the prints you submit are small scale so that when you cut the swaps the patterns are not lost due to size. Also, no children’s or holiday novelty prints, please. *NO solids, homespun, thin fabrics, glitter fabrics or flannels * Wash and iron all 100% cotton good quality fabrics - please send good quality - they do not have to be quilt shop fabrics. Please do not send in any plastic-feeling fabrics or THIN fabrics. They do not meet the guidelines? They will be returned.

NEW NOTE: I’m allergic to dogs and cats, so please do what you can to control the fur. My nose and lungs thank you (not only do I have sinus issues, but my throat closes up—and I like to breathe!

Some packages come in with so much pet hair that they look like they need to be brushed! For health reasons, I cannot handle them and they will be returned untouched at YOUR expense. My health depends on it and I thank you in advance for your understanding.


POSTAGE or POSTAGE money must be included in your package. Be sure to add a stamp or two to your stamped envelopes if not going priority mail flat rate boxes. They also seem to weigh more returning than coming in! If you are a frequent swapper, you can also send in $20 or so and I can keep it on “account” and deduct your postage from it. This was worked nicely with some swappers in the past and that way you don’t have to worry about sending in money each time. Once the swap is complete, I will PM you your postage balance on account for your records.^^

If you wish to include a self-addressed mailer for the return trip back to you, remember NO metered postage or ACP postage on the return mailer. Stamps only. Our post office will not allow more than a 13 oz. pre-stamped mailer in any mailboxes nor can mail carriers accept them (since 9/11 our East coast mail guidelines have been modified). While your local p.o. may say it is okay to use metered or ACP postage, our p.o. will not accept anything that has been pre-dated. I’m just trying to make it as easy as possible for all concerned. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Also, let me know if you want a delivery confirmation.

For Priority mail packages, I have plenty of mailing envelopes and boxes here so there is no need to send a new one in. I do, however, try to recycle the boxes if possible. IF YOU ARE SENDING YOUR SWAP IN A MANILLA ENVELOPE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SEND IN A RETURN ENVELOPE.

By all of us being honest and accountable, I'm sure we will have a great 2012 swapping year! I really do enjoy hostessing and want to continue to enjoy it, so by coming up front with any issues is not really a complaint, but a way to correct it so my frustration level (and blood pressure!) stays at an even keel. Probably the MOST important thing I can say about a successful swap is the high level of communication between all parties. Without that, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

Okay, here are our swaps and the guidelines for cutting!

**THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE IS NO ODDS AND ENDS-IF THE SWAP ASKS FOR A SET OF TEN OF THE SAME FABRIC, THAT IS WHAT YOU SEND IN. NOT EIGHT OF ONE AND TWO OF ANOTHER. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR ME TO LAY OUT THE SUBMISSIONS TO SWAP OUT**

**Just a note**

While you can only use the same fabric ONCE in each set, you can use it again in the other swaps. For instance, you can use the same fabric for the bricks, 2 ½” and 5” squares and ‘diet” noodles! It is my hope that we bust your stash instead of buying more fabric.

**When cutting directional fabrics, such as checks or patterns, PLEASE open the fabric up and cut on the grain. Lining up the fabric when folded might be perfect of the top, but crooked on the bottom section. Mis-cuts will be returned!

^^Please separate your sets by index cards, slips of paper, etc. AND put into a plastic bag. Please do NOT individually package each set to save me time when swapping. Be sure to mark your HGTV board name, real name and address, swap theme on each plastic bag.

^^Please be sure there is no BOWING/ELBOWS in your pieces if cutting from 2 ½” strips. If you are cutting your squares with scissors, please no frayed ends. Any odd angle cuts, selvedges or any other mis-cuts will be returned back to you. I’m trusting that you are inspecting your submits before mailing to me. It saves me so much time and makes the swapping quick work. **This swap is for WASHED fabric, so pre-cut noodles/strips/jelly rolls CANNOT be used as all fabrics must be washed, dried and ironed before cutting. They will shrink and not be the required size and will be returned. Trust me when I say I found out the hard way!

Bricks are 3 ½” x 6 ½” in size. . Each “set” will have 20 bricks in them - PLEASE COUNT CAREFULLY! *YOU CANNOT SEND MORE THAN 20 PIECES OF THE SAME FABRIC! This is important to ensure we have the best variety and no repeats* I will swap out in pairs. You must have pairs to swap and they CANNOT be duplicated in any other sets.


Squares are 2 ½” x 2 ½” in size. Each “set” will have 16 squares in them - PLEASE COUNT CAREFULLY! *YOU CANNOT SEND MORE THAN 16 PIECES OF THE SAME FABRIC! I will swap out in pairs. By laying out your pairs and staggering them by ¼” it will make it easier for me to pick up to swap out. You must have pairs to swap and they CANNOT be duplicated in any other sets.


“Diet” Noodles ^^^UPDATED^^^are 2 ½” x 16” with BOTH selvedges removed. Each “set” will have *7* noodles in them. PLEASE COUNT CAREFULLY! YOU CANNOT SEND MORE THAT 7 PIECES OF THE SAME FABRIC. I will try to swap out one for one for more variety, if possible.

Nickels are 5” squares. Each “set” will have 10 squares in them - PLEASE COUNT CAREFULLY! *YOU CANNOT SEND MORE THAN 10 PIECES OF THE SAME FABRIC! This is important to ensure we have the best variety and no repeats* I will swap out singles, but occasionally might have to send duplicates.

Interested in signing up? Here are our swap themes! Please PM me on what swaps you are interested in join in.

HERE IS A LIST OF PREVIOUS PLAYERS WHO HAVE A POSTAGE CREDIT OR DUE:

ROYALBOOMER-$1.75
DJBROWN-OWES $2.05
NANCYC20-$7.40
WANNAQUILT2-OWES 35 CENTS
CALIFSHRIMP-$11.75
BRENDADAWG-$12.60
ALIQUILTS-90 CENTS

Swappers:

Brick swap (Stashbusters): (YOU CAN SEND IN A MAXIMUM OF 12 SETS)

1. KC1930-12 sets here!
2. Brendadawg-3 sets here!
3. Nancyc20-3 sets here!
4. Terrimae-12 sets here!
5. RN55-12 sets here!
6. Califshrimp-12 sets here!
7. LisaTX-8 sets here!
8. Char77-12 sets here!
9. Aliquilt-3 sets here!
10. Gardenpat-12 sets here!
11. Ears2u-12 sets here!
12. ~Patch--DROPPED OUT


2 ½” squares swap (Stashbusters): (YOU CAN SEND IN A MAXIMUM OF 11 SETS)

1. KC1930-11 sets here!
2. Nancyc20-11 sets here!
3. Califshrimp-11 sets here!
4. RN55-11 sets here!
5. LisaTX-11 sets here!
6. Char77-11 sets here!
7. Aliquilt-5 sets here!
8. DJBrown-11 sets here!
9. Joyus-11 sets here!
10. Gardenpat-11 sets here!
11. Ears2u11 sets here!


“Diet Noodles” (Stashbusters): (YOU CAN SEND IN A MAXIMUM OF 15 SETS)

1. KC1930-15 sets here!
2. Brendadawg-4 sets here!
3. Nancyc20-6 sets here!
4. Royalboomer-15 sets here!
5. Owie-7 sets here!
6. Wannaquilt2-15 sets here!
7. Califshrimp-15 sets here!
8. RN55-14 sets here!
9. LisaTX-10 sets here!
10. cksvett-15 sets here!
11. Aliquilt-3 sets here!
12. DJBrown-11 sets here!
13. Joyus-15 sets here!
14. Gardenpat-15 sets here!
15. Ears2u-15 sets here!
16. Terrimae-15 sets here!



5” nickel swaps:

*Chr*istmas: (YOU CAN SEND IN A MAXIMUM OF 9 SETS)

1. KC1930-9 sets here!
2. Brendadawg-7 sets here!
3. Nancyc20-5 sets here!
4. RN55-9 sets here!
5. Califshrimp-9 sets here!
6. Aliquilt-3 sets here!
7. LisaTX-9 sets here!
8. cksvett-9 sets here!
9. Ears2u-9 sets here!



*Stashbusters (YOU CAN SEND IN A MAXIMUM OF 14 SETS)

1. KC1930-14 sets here!
2. Brendadawg-5 sets here!
3. Nancyc20-7 sets here!
4. Owie-11 sets here!
5. Califshrimp-14 sets here!
6. RN55-14 sets here!
7. Char77-11 sets here!
8. Aliquilt-11 sets here!
9 Joyus-14 sets here!
10. LisaTX-9 sets here!
11. cksvett-14 sets here!
12. Gardenpat-14 sets here!
13. Ears2u-14 sets here!
14. ~Patch-DROPPED OUT!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KC1930,

Please welcome our old swapping friend, Brendadawg, back to the swaps!

I'm in with all.

You got it, Nancy!

I made a change to the "diet noodle" set size. Let's change it to 10 pieces of the same fabric per set so that you can use your fat quarters.

Anything less than that will be returned!

I am in for the diet noodles and the 5 inch charms.

Both themes on the nickels, Owie?

KC, I must have morning brain fog. Can't figure how to get more than 8 cuts (either direction) on a fq (?)

Well ladies, I dug into my FQ pile and cut a bunch of "diet" noodles. Depending on the original size of your FQ, you might not meet the 18" size. I got ten pieces cut out of the FQ's I have, but perhaps they were just very generous when my local quilt shop were cutting them.

So, ladies, if you use yardage, cutting these isn't a problem. Depending on your FQ's size, it is. We can change the size and length if you all agree. What do you want to do?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KC1930,

Would a slimmer 16" work?

I'll do whatever you decide on the diet noodles. How about just reverting back to 8 of them in a set?

Just stashbuster charms. That's all I use. Sending you a p.m.

Ah, and I just sent you a PM about lurking around for the Chr*istmas nickels!

KC - I don't think the 18" part is the problem - it is the 20 - 21" - you need at least 25" to get 10 strips out of it - assuming you really do have the 18" side ok.

The maximum you will get out of a normal FQ will be 8.

Well, 8 works for me. Is that okay with everyone?

fine with me!

I would like to join if I may this is my first time, does it make me a virgin stashbuster? Just wondering. If I have questions as we go along I will ask.
I would like to join as a couple of other folks have, I would join them all. Is it a matter of cutting and then sending them out?
I am looking forward to this just waiting to get into it. thanks so much be kind! Annette

KC - Pls sign me up for the diet noodles. I may add others before the deadline. Thx!

KC, I sent you a PM.

As I warned you..here's my first dumb question. For the bricks, do we send all 20 bricks of the same fabric, or 10 assorted pairs? I do want to do this right.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: terrimae,

Hi KC.
Sent you a PM.
I'm in for everything.
Can really use some new Christmas squares.
I just LOVE your swaps!!
I want my little waveing smiley back!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: califshrimp,

Hi RN55! Welcome to the swaps! I'm going to send you a PM (private message) which you can reply to. If you have ANY questions and I'm not around, the ladies will be more than happy to help you out!

My goodness! Who would have thought that these "diet" noodles would cause just a issue? I've gotten PM's and emails about the different in sizes (all the way from 17" x 20" to my apparently "generous cut" fat quarters, which I got 10 strips from). Others have told me that by removing both top and bottom selvedges (some of the fabrics, such as Moda, have wider selvedges than others), which means they lose some of their strip.

It seems that most of you can get SEVEN strips out of your smallest FQ's (with both selvedges removed), so in order to be fair to all and allow you to truly "stashbust", let's change the set size to seven pieces per set. Yikes--I hope this is the last time we have to change this. Yes, this is my FINAL answer, lol!

SO, each set is seven strips-2 1/2" x 16"-all of the same fabric. Thank you all for your flexibility!

quote:

Originally posted by terrimae:
KC, I sent you a PM.

As I warned you..here's my first dumb question. For the bricks, do we send all 20 bricks of the same fabric, or 10 assorted pairs? I do want to do this right.

No problem! Set set is 20 bricks of the same fabric. You cannot use that same fabric in another other sets you send in, unless it is for another swap, such as the 5" nickels, bricks, etc.

Bricks are 3 ½” x 6 ½” in size. . Each “set” will have 20 bricks in them - PLEASE COUNT CAREFULLY! *YOU CANNOT SEND MORE THAN 20 PIECES OF THE SAME FABRIC! This is important to ensure we have the best variety and no repeats* I will swap out in pairs. You must have pairs to swap and they CANNOT be duplicated in any other sets.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KC1930,

cashrimp: waving smiley is = : wave : minus the spaces.

Where are my lurkers????

Just got home yesterday and am catching up on the board. Will definitely jump in on the swap, but need to read through everything later and decide which ones.

Welcome back....bring me any mouse droppings???

Eew! We did bring back some Mickey shaped rice treats to enjoy once we got home .

I'll go thru my stash this week and see what I can do. LOVE these swaps!

Would love to see you join us, Char! Anyone else want to play???

Come on. You know you want to do it. Sign up, please.

We have a few slots left before the sign up deadline of June 30th, so jump off that fence and join us~!

I'm in for bricks, 2 1/2" squares and diet noodles. Have been pulling out fabrics for the stashbusters while organizing some of my supplies.

If there is still a spot open, I would like to sign up for Diet Noodles. Thank you.

Lisa and KQ, you are officially signed up! Glad you could join us!

Sent you a PM KC!

Got it, Char, your officially signed up!

wohoo!!

Yes, I realize the time to ask questions is before I sign up, not after... But I want to make sure before I start to WIC... Are tonals/marbles, thirties, and small scale Civil War ok?
Also, if I have fewer than ten sets, is that ok? Thanks!

KQ, if you are asking if TOT, marbles, 30's and CW repros are okay for the stashbusters, sure are!

We do not have a firm amount of sets per swap set until our deadline, but you can certainly only swap a few sets if you wish.

After checking stash today for Christmas, I have several I can swap. And I found a couple bricks sets I had started for the last swap and couldn't find when it came to mailing! So, please sign me up for each category please

You got it, A!

KC I want to play along too. Sign me up for stashbuster 2 1/2 squares and diet noodles (stash buster)

I will be home this weekend and will get them cut and sent next week.

Hello all you swappers,I think I am hooked....KC count me in too. I will do 5" sqs, diet noodles and 2 1/2" sqs, all stashbusters. Will send you PM KC, Joyce

After looking at my stash, and through a Bonnie Hunter book, please just add me to the rest of the swaps to. I know I have enough for at least a couple sets of each. Thanks!

Ali, you are added to all the swaps--DJBrown and Joyus, welcome back!

I am getting excited here. I see we are filling up. Come on, there is still room for more.

I'd better get the laundry started - I pulled out the fabrics and then got sidetracked Love that the noodles have grown...lots more variety.

Tater just PM'd me that she will also be joining in the nickel swaps! Yippee!

How does everyone feel about color themed diet noodles in the future? Good or bad idea?

Only EIGHT more days to sign up for this swap! Don't miss the deadline and PM me now.