Yep... just waiting on Theifner's, which seems to be lost in the mail.

:) okay thanks
keep us posted

Hello Everyone

I just want to give everyone a heads up for the Month of May. We have 4 birthdays next month and the first one is on May 1. You should be cutting your squares and have them ready for when I post the addresses in your Personal messages.

Here are a few hints to make next month go smoother.
1) cut NOW get them already to package them. YOU MUST SEND 50 DIFFERENT 2.5" squares.
2) use a large size envelope to mail your squares...I put them in 5 rows of 10 and cover them with saran wrap. This will make your package thin. I put them inside of a birthday card that I bought at the dollar store (2 for $1.00) hey you guys are worth it!. This package will take a 70 cent stamp.
3) I have my stuff all in one place...birthday cards, return address (also put your board name on outside) and 70 cent stamps. I have them sitting in a basket with the birthdate of the person where the stamp goes. Then I know I have the right card and squares for that person.
4) I try and get them mailed at least 10 days BEFORE their birthday.
5) you can subscribe to this thread. Go to the top of this page....you will see "Thread Tools" click not that and it will give you an email letting you know when anyone posts things. You can set at your choice. I would say that everyday would be good. (not every post...) This way you will see when I post a contest.
6) Sit back and relax and enjoy another positive feedback from ME. I love to give positive feedback. Please don't make me ever give negative feedback. As a hostess I would not let anyone join my swaps if I see they have negative feedback. So you don't want that to happen to you.

Anyone else with tips for sending packages????

:)Barb

Well Sewbizgirl - you did say red, red, and more red - ;-) hope your day was just great!

LOL... love the reds you sent! Also all the greens! Thank you.

That was bjsmith who said that, actually... post 168, but I like reds too. Green is my favorite color and you sent me plenty of those!

Ladies, I've been having fun sorting my squares today so that I can make a Scrappy Swoon baby quilt. In going through them I was disheartened to find so many duplicates were sent to me. Most of the sets I got had repeats. Please realize this swap is for 50 UNIQUE (that means 'no two alike') squares. You will find that all of the swaps on the board, for all size squares, want you to send all different squares with no repeats. This is nothing new. Please be sure to have 50 all-different squares going out to all the other birthday ladies in this swap.

I had put all the squares in one big pile, so I have no idea who sent me the repeats. So... if you did it, you got away with it! Please don't do it again...

After being in a number of 2-1/2" candy swaps, I've come up with my own sorting system that should prevent any duplicates, but I always send along 2-4 extra squares just to be sure. :)

I know what you mean, though. In a recent candy swap (not this one), there was one package that was very problematic. It had MANY duplicates, and also quite a few wonky/undersized squares. Luckily I opened each package individually as I was sorting them, and still had the labelled baggie handy, so it was easy to see who sent them. Normally one or two duplicates and/or slight mis-cuts don't bother me, but this package was disappointing. I PMed the swap hostess to let her know. It turns out that I wasn't the only person who received a sub-par package from her. If she wants to join again, the hostess is going to discuss the duplicates and mis-cut squares with her first. From what I've seen, she's a fairly new swapper, so maybe she overlooked the part about "no duplicates", and perhaps she didn't realize that the squares do need to be accurately cut. But anyway, that's a totally different swap and I'm getting off topic. :D

My birthday is one of the ones that's coming up in May. I'm so excited! I wonder if I should mail myself some "birthday candies"? Hee hee! :thumbup:

You are in for so much fun!

What I've done this year: too much fun! I go to the LQS and pick out 3 or 4 bolts of wonderfulness and buy 1/2yd of each. When I bring them home I cut 1 FQ for me and the other FQ goes into my very special tote labeled "Sharing" and that is what I use cause you can cut 40- 2-1/2" squares from 1FQ. I so look forward to LQS shopping day!

There is just no way I would cut 50 squares every month - Mine are all done and just waiting to be sent off to their new home That's why my DH gave me a GoBig cutter - I love it. Too many years of rotary cutting, my wrists were feeling the ware!

I can always tell the people who cut with a GO cutter. Their squares are all perfect and have NO stray fibers or threads. So pretty. Are those cutters expensive?

I have been playing with my new birthday squares today... more sorting... and have started a Scrappy Swoon. The center is green and the background is cream neutrals. I'm not sure what I'll do for the other color... maybe blue. This one is going to be a baby quilt so I am making use of the kids prints y'all sent in your batches of squares.

The swoon quilt is FUN!

Okay, I have made my packs with 55 candies so in case there might me a brain fart when I put them together and got a duplicate. But nothing intentional. Can't wait to see the swoon

I would like more info on the go-cutter who ever has one wants to share....how do you use them. How many squares does it cut at one time. How much does it cost and where do you find one.

Sounds like fun and who doesn't like a new toy ;)

I'm thinking the same exact thing... especially when they cut so accurately!

Just checking in for the week, sorry I missed the contest! Sure glad taxes are over!
hugs,
dj

I have the Big Go by Accuquilt. It is electric. Go to their website and check it out. Also youtube video just google youtube accuquilt. The Go and dies usually do not go on sale I found it best just to subscribe to their website and once in a while they will have sales. Joanns etc will not give any discounts coupons will not work at retailers, that's why I just deal with Accuquilt. I bought the 2-1/2" strip cutter, I cut the strips then I lay the strips crosswise to get the 2-1/2" squares! I bought the smaller die that just cuts 2-1/2" squares but I don't like it as well as the strip cutter. You can cut so many in such a short period of time. You can cut up to 6 layers of fabric! I usually just cut 4. But I really recommend you check out all the youtube videos. If any of you have Netflex you can scroll down and there is a youtube it's really nice to watch on the big screen! Hope this give a little help in your search. Oh they advertise that the cutters never dull that was a biggie for me those rotary cutter blades get expensive and I swear they don't make them like they use to I just don't think they stay sharp all that long. Happy piecing!

My prize arrived yesterday! How fun! :thumbup: Thanks! :)

:wave: you are welcome Moonrise

Thanks for the info Daisy Dew. I will go to the website and check it out. I am a scrapbooker as well as quilter so I am not sure if I can justify a big expense like an Accuquilt cutter. Just dreaming! :)

May addresses have been mailed out and in your PM box. Please get them ready...We have a May 1st birthday!


:) Barb

Thanks for sending out the address, Barb. I put Jaba's candy in the mail this morning. I am going swing by the post office next week and buy 70 cent stamps for the rest of the May crew.

Here is my swoon so far... don't look too closely. I haven't been checking the squares for size and some have come out wonky and corners don't meet. I still have a few sew-overs and adjustments to make. Here is what the finished quilt will look like:
http://hopefulhomemaker.com/2013/03/...veaway-winner/

My secondary color will be pink.

sewbizgirl - Love your swoon! I have been on the fence about trying it myself, but seeing yours has inspired me. I think the smaller size of squares is perfect. Off to choose colors!

Thanks... I think mine is going to come out about 50" square. That's a nice big baby blanket size, or big wall hanging. It's fun to work on, especially if you like to sew! I'm finding my accuracy improves if I measure and trim every sub-unit once I get them together.

Loving the Swoon. Guess I best start putting aside some 4" squares to make the hst.

sewbizgirl....your swoon looks lovely! I think I even recognize some of those greens! It is so much fun when people post what they are making!

Just checking in and want to let Barb know I received the May birthday list. I will be mailing out the candies to Jaba on Monday. Should be there in plenty of time for her birthday.

I have to stop missing the contests. I saw the last one, just didn't go back and do it. :( What one of those great Barb prizes she keeps teasing us with.

Sewbizgirl, what a great start to your swoon. I recognize a couple of those green squares :thumbup:

Me too, see some green that I sent or maybe someone else did too! Can hardly wait for my B-day...actually very nice to look forward to instead of dreading that " 70" mark. Can't believe I'm going to be 70 gees....

It's only a number, Jaba! You are as young as you think and act!

Glad you are liking how the swoon is coming along. I thought it would be fun for y'all to spy out your squares! So far I'm using all squares from the birthday swap and SheriR's latest candy swap. I'm rolling in candy! This swoon won't even make a dent!

I did a bunch of work on the swoon today. Will show pics soon. I'm loving it, tho I think I'm using too many different shades of green. We'll see....

Tomorrow I'm going to a Quilt-A-Thon work day of my local charity group. We are all cutting a stack-and-whack quilt (4 Patch Posey) and starting to put them together. I get to take my sweet little Featherweight for an outing!

Sewbizgirl - love the swoon - fun to recognize a few squares!
Jaba - sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder just when did this happen! LOL

Barb - thanks for the May B-day addys I was getting nervous! DH & I are off to Mich - SIL funeral is Tues in Lansing then off to Saginaw and then off to Houghton Lake to visit DH step Mom 95 yrs young and sharp as a tack! Don't know if we'll be able to swing down to Holland MI for the spring bulbs - a sight to behold! Or we may head to U.P. and head for home that way. Way better than tackling Chicago traffic- once will be enough for me! I'll catch up with you all next week.

You might like to know that the GO will also cut paper with no worry about going dull!

I want one!

Attention May Birthday girls: your candies are on their way. I was at the post office today and decided to send all four packages at once. Have a great Saturday everyone!

Received from Theifner today...thank you.

She mailed in plenty of time, but the postal service took 17 days to deliver her letter from TN to MS... the state right next door! Beware the USPS and mail EARLY.

Due to this shocker I am mailing all of the May birthdays early. Sorry birthday girls, just set them aside for your big days!

glad you finally received them

I mailed all (4) four May birthday candies today, Sat. April 18th. Will be very busy next month traveling with work; so I will probably not be on much.

Happy Birthday Ladies.
bjsmith57

ah that sounds like fun. Here in Michigan the weather is starting to get nice~75. so I spend lots of time (winter=quilting time) outside.

What is the weather where you live? (EVERYONE)

BArb

Daisy Dew....you are coming to my state!


I live near Ann Arbor..........letting me know if you are ever in my city in the mitten. :)
But you would be closer to WMUTeach and Karen G!!!

sorry to hear about your SIL .

It's pouring RAIN here in Mississippi. We've had so much this year. Mississippi Mud Pie, minus the pie!