Sewbizgirl, I love the looks of this quilt & recognize some of my own fabric! Thanks for posting!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...951-479312.JPG

Sewbizgirl, I LOVE THAT QUILT!!

OMG that's one beautiful quilt!! Great job...I need to start cutting...like now!

Hi ladies

Sounds like we have some excited newbies here. Yeah!

Thanks SheriR, Djmat, and Sewbizgirl for sharing ideas and photo's. I will try and post some photo's myself but for some reason it doesn't seem to work for me. ( I know it is operator error)

Welcome back Karen G! Glad you have decided to join us again!

****Important****

Start in March and every month I will expect everyone to chime in with at least a HI so I know people are around and seeing the messages. Some of you (and me like to chat) others just like to visit. Just need to know you are out there... please check in ON THIS THREAD at least ONCE a month by the 5th of the month. Also remember that I do a contests usually a day or two after a birthday...:)

We are up to 25 swappers. :)

Barb:)

Did you know you can get 56 2.5" squares from a fat quarter! hmmmm

thats a lot of cutting!:shock:

Love the quilt! :)

I've got all of my sets cut and packaged up for the whole year, plus some extras. Between this swap and the March "candy" swap, for the first time ever, I'm officially out of scraps! :shock: :D Can't wait to start mailing. :thumbup:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]508999[/ATTACH]

Hi everyone. I'm excited to be here with all of you again, this is my second year. Welcome all you newcomers, we have fun and September is a great month to bee receiving candies. I have lots of new scraps lately just waiting for the cutter. Did you know that you get 48 squares from 3 strips width of fabric by 2.5 inches. Thats 35 for the swap plus some extras. Ialways stack them 4 high and can quickly lots that way.

One method for this swap cutting:
Cut off selvage of 5 ironed fat quarters of the same color & lay on top of each other (darkest shade on bottom to lightest on top)
Right handed cutters: Match right side edges & bottom edges just a little over the cutting mat measuring lines to rid the charms of any frayed fabric from manufacturer or local quilt shop. Opposite directions for left handed cutters.

Rotary cut 15"x15" square using long ruler; Caution-do not move the stack or you will need to line it up again!
(Discard any thin edge selvage into a bag or box)
Cut 2.5" strips across, then 2.5" strips upward
Set stacks aside so you can use the mat again. Line up the next 5 fat quarters & repeat procedure.
Makes 36 charms stacks (35 to send & one to keep!) 10 stacks cut like this & you're finished cutting.
Stack by color code:
White, Grey, Black
Red, Orange, Pink, Purple
Blue, Aqua, Green
Yellow, Cream, Tan, Brown
NOTES: Cut Browns 1st. Build stacks up to the Whites using 2-3 fabrics of each color to make 50+ for each swapper.
Add in a couple of fussy cuts (I spy prints) to delight the birthday girl!
Use the background color to determine what color stack the fabric belongs in. If it is a busy print, use dominant color. This helps other swappers pull out the colors they need for projects and keeps you on track when you need to be away from the cutting project.
Save leftover fabric for scrappy quilting & other projects!
Save selvages for stuffing a washable dog pillow project, SPCA loves these!
Hope this helps. Sorry, didn't mean to write a book.
hugs,
dj

Thanks for the comments on my quilt, but I'm ashamed to say it's still just a top! I will be learning to use a friend's long arm machine soon and was saving some of my bigger tops for the long arm. I'm so excited about learning! Will show you the quilt again when it really IS a quilt!

One tip about mailing the 'candies'... if you can keep the envelopes to 1/4" thick you will pay less in first class postage. If you take the candies out of their packages and spread them out in the card so it is less thick, you will only pay $.70 to mail them in a birthday card. It's the cheapest way. (See photo below.)

Got my first dozen cards all stuffed with their candy, all ready to go! That should see me through 3-4 months, depending on how the birthdays fall this year. Ready to roll, ladies!