Here are the rules for our second nickel swap for 2012
Please note that I also have a brick swap due in May. You can play both and save $!
^Please read carefully as the swap guidelines have changed since last year^
Themes are Lt. Neutrals, Children/Baby Novelties, Reds and True Black & White prints
*Lt. Neutrals-WOW, COC, beige, tan or ecru-it must read light background! Not suitable are solids or busy prints!
*TRUE Black & White-Yes that means NO ecru, cream, grey—just black and white prints. No solids!
*Reds-any shade of red (not pink or purple) prints-No solids!
*Children/Baby Novelties-Whether it’s pastels or bright prints, if it’s for kids, send them in. Again, no glitter prints or solids! When cutting, try your best to preserve the print.
YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THE SWAP BY MARCH 17, 2012 IN ORDER TO PLAY. NICKELS ARE DUE TO ME NO LATER THAN MAY 20, 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 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.
Nickels are 5” squares. This swap will be packaged differently than in the past. 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). So, please separate your sets by index cards, slips of paper, etc. Please do NOT individually package each set to save me time when swapping. HOWEVER, PLEASE PACKAGE EACH SWAP IN AN INDIVIDUAL BAG AS I SWAP OUT EACH THEME SEPERATELY! Be sure to mark your HGTV board name, real name, swap theme and number of sets on each theme package. Please do not send in odds and ends! It makes it much harder for me to set out to swap. Thank you!
GUIDELINES FOR FABRICS:
Please be sure that the prints you submit are small scale so that when you cut the nickels the pattern is not lost due to size. No children's/baby novelity prints except for that particular theme.[COLOR:PURPLE]NO SOLIDS, HOMESPUN, GLITTER FABRICS, FLANNELS OR THIN FABRICS!ls * 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. Be sure to cut with the grain, not against it.
If you are cutting your nickels 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.
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 plan on also entering the BRICK SWAP, you can mail in your swaps together to save money. ^^To make it easier for frequent swappers, 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 SEND ME A PLAIN ENVELOPE, YOU MUST SUPPLY ME WITH ONE FOR THE RETURN SHIPPING.
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.
Here are a few links for nickels you might enjoy!
Nickel books:
Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth & Charlene Thode
More Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth
Adventures with Leaders & Enders by Bonnie K. Hunter
Scraps & Shirttails by Bonnie K. Hunter
Scraps & Shirttails II by Bonnie K. Hunter (coming soon!)
I have found on Missouri Star Quilt Co. site Jenny does several tutorials on charm packs(5"sqs.) So there are so many uses out there for using nickels. MSQC also has several little rulers/templates that fit nickels and make some of the cutest quilts. Just some more ideas for everyone.
I want to be the kind of woman that when my feet hit the floor each morning the devil says: "Oh NO! She's UP!"
Glad to have you back, Sheila! Where are the rest of my swappers? Newbies, don't let all the guidelines scare you away--we just want a consistant swap. You can PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Nickels are great to have in your stash as they can be used so many ways!
Count me in for reds, blk/wh, and lt neutrals. Will try very hard to follow all the rules,(that means to send postage payment with). please PM me as my PM does not always work for me. Thanks you KC ! joyus
Posts: 2419 | Location: USA | Registered: Dec 17, 2002
OH I must be tired. I know I signed up but didn't see my name. Then I saw it CBQ OK I know it's a long name I'm really thinking about shorting it. LOL!!!!
A question. If only four people sign up, do you cxl that category, or do we send in a maximum of four sets of ten, or a maximum of ten sets of four? Thanks!
No, I won't cancel a theme/color, but we will have to cap the number of sets sent to the amount of people who sign up. We always have a flood at the last minute! (I hope!)
Your maximum cutting quanities are listed by each theme. Please be sure to double-check the fabric guidelines BEFORE cutting so that we are all on the same page!
KC I mailed my nickels today and if I wasn't so tired I would get up and get the confirmation # out of my purse, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks,
One thing I found out is that I cannot start in the middle and work my way out. I found I work best if I find the middle of the quilt and then start and the right end and work towards the left and do the quilting in rows. When I try to go the opposite way, my quilting suffers and looks very distorted. I tried out three different pairs of FM quilting gloves and ended up without any on. My main issue is that I need to PRACTICE!
Raising hand to sign up for children's novelties and lt neutrals. Have lots of those.
with). please PM me as my PM does not always work for me. Thanks you KC ! joyus
