athenagwis

After all the fun we had with the Funky Chicken swap, we wanted to keep things funkified (ya know in a good way though, not in the smelly-shoes-you-wore-to-the-gym way) so we came up with the idea of a “Funky Neighborhood.” Pat was not able to host another swap right now, so I have offered to run this one! I have hosted many (many) scrapbooking swaps in the past, so I am very familiar with the process! For this swap we will piece houses that seem to be a little off kilter. Here is a tutorial for the type of house we are looking for:

http://www.quiltville.com/tonya/houses.shtml/

Your houses should be pieced, but make them your own!! Put a chimney, don’t put a chimney, put 3 chimneys!! Fussy cut a fun fabric for the doors and windows, don’t even add doors or windows, put 3 houses in one block, add a yard, a garage, maybe a quilt hanging out front. You can have tall and skinny houses or short and fat houses. Our funky neighborhood is only limited by your imagination. The tutorial above is just a stepping stone to give you an idea of how to build the houses, but have fun making it your own!

Here are a few inspirational pictures for you as well:

[img] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/...c1bb96943d.jpg [/img]

[img] http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/...c18ce00d3d.jpg [/img]

[img] http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/...6334a841ae.jpg [/img]

[img] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/...7bacbe20b7.jpg [/img]

Two more great examples I couldn’t insert as pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12699422@N00/2884020786/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krom_mama/3488521519/


Don’t these look like so much fun?!

Please read ALL the instructions below before signing up, hopefully I have made everything very clear for you, but if you have any questions, please send me a PM (click on my name and then click “Send PM.”)

What size are the blocks?
Your blocks should be divisible by 3” when finished, but remember your houses need to be pieced, so smaller may actually be harder. The blocks can be square or rectangle, so long as both finished sides are divisible by three. Be sure to add seam allowances to your unfinished blocks. So a finished block of 6x6, should be sent to me unfinished at 6.5x6.5. A rectangle that will finish at 6x12, should be sent to me at 6.5x12.5 and so on…. If you are unsure what to add for seam allowance, please PM me.

How many blocks do I send?
Please send blocks to me in sets of 6. You may send as many sets as you would like to receive back, so if you send me 2 sets (12 blocks), you will get 12 different blocks back. I will be swapping all 6 of your blocks, so if you want to have one for yourself, be sure to make an extra! (Note: Since we are all sending in different sizes and different amounts, no one will end up with similar sets, so please feel free to make your six blocks in a set the same, similar, or different. It may be easier on you if they are the same, but so long as you mail to me in sets of 6, you can do whatever fits your stash!)

Who can swap?
If you think you can piece the house mentioned in the tutorial above, you are more than welcome to join!! It may look intimidating, but give it a practice on some scraps, and I think you’ll find it’s easier than it looks. The fun part of this is nothing needs to be precise, so this is a great swap for those of us that are not quite proficient at those perfect points yet!

What are the deadlines?
Sign-ups for this swap end on June 15th. You can post your intent to sign-up in this thread or you can PM me. Once you sign-up, I will send you my mailing address.

The mail date for the blocks is July 1st and if I receive all the blocks on time, I will swap in mid-July. If you have your blocks finished sooner, please feel free to mail them sooner!

How do I get my blocks ready to mail?
Please attach a slip of paper to each block that includes at the very least your board name, this will help me know which blocks are yours when I am swapping. It’s also fun to include your real name, email address, and state on the paper so people can see where all the blocks are coming from and possibly send you a thank you!

Before putting your blocks in the envelope (or box) to mail to me, place them in a large Ziploc bag and close tightly, then write your name and address on the outside of the Ziploc bag. If you have ever swapped before, you have probably heard of swap blocks separating from their envelopes occasionally, putting your blocks in the Ziploc bag will help ensure that the blocks make it back to you if this should happen. I would highly suggest mailing in a priority box for this reason, but I will leave that decision up to you.

What about postage?
Please include in your package, a Self Addressed Envelope and the amount of postage it took to mail to you, plus a few extra stamps (or even a dollar or two). If you want to mail priority, I will get the box from the post office myself, just make sure you include enough postage or cash for a priority box (I believe it starts at $4.95 now, but may be more depending on the weight). Remember, since we have all different size blocks it may cost more to send back to you then it cost to send to me. All loose postage and money sent will be pooled and used to mail the boxes and envelopes, if I have extra they will be set aside to use in a future swap!

What is the Activity Page link?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/group_a...jsp?gracnum=42

I think that’s it! If you have questions, please send me a PM. I hope you are all excited to move into our Funky Neighborhood!! I know I can’t wait!

Cheers!
Rachel

Esqmommy

This looks like fun, fun, fun!!! I'm mulling it over...:)

raptureready

This looks like fun but I've never done one before. Just a little leary but thinking about it.

athenagwis

Are you leary about doing the swap in general or making the houses? Either way they are both fun to do!! :) If you have any questions along the way, I am happy to help and hopefully we’ll get a fun group of people that will offer advice and guidance along the way too!

Cheers!
Rachel

wilhelmina

I love houses!!! Geez, I need to think about it, as I have signed up on just about everything!

Will this be for different size blocks?

raptureready

I'm afraid I won't do something right or that no one will like my blocks, or that I'll use the wrong fabric, or colors or style, etc.
It's new to me and I'm always a little queazy about new things. I'm getting better though, I even forced myself to try alligator meat a couple of years ago and it wasn't bad so I may force myself to do this too. :lol: :| :roll:

athenagwis

Well if that’s the case then you should absolutely do this swap!! It was tailor made for you because there are no corners to match up and if things start to look a little helter skelter, well that’s even funkier!! And if you pick the wrong colors, well again, funky!! :) There are no rules to funky, so whatever you make will fit right in!!

And I am right there with you on overcoming my “fears” …. I have been trying all the foods I thought I hated as a kid (some I liked, some I still hate) and trying to push myself to try new things all the time. It can be a little scary, but I promise you this is a great bunch of ladies. Just make a few prototypes and you will get great feedback. I have a great eye for color (for everyone but myself), so I would be more than happy to (kindly) let you know if something’s not working! :) But I bet your blocks will come out way better than you think they will!!

Cheers!
Rachel

athenagwis

Hehe, I had this conversation with hubby and when I did the scrapbooking swaps I used to be in like 15 or so at a time!! And they didn’t have long due dates like some of the ones here do. He made me promise to stick to 3 at a time this time around, but ya know, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him!! :)

Yes the blocks will be all different sizes, but the blocks should be divisible by 3 when finished. So it’ll be like a puzzle to put it together, but that just makes the neighborhood more fun!!

Cheers!
Rachel

raptureready

Okay, I'm in. My sister told me to do it. She said, "You have great ideas, I think you should do it." I told her that sometimes those "great ideas" look far better in my head than out but she and the rest of you have talked me into it. I just hope I don't dissapoint.

athenagwis

You won’t!! I am so happy you decided to give it a try. :) I have added you to the list (first one yay!) and sent you a PM. Welcome!

Rachel