That's what the PO told me. She said with the hour cuts and less employees or new employees that have never done the job are pretty much lost. They hired some new she said because of the employees who needed to stay home or are sick, etc. She said it was probably sitting because they don't have enough time to get all the mail sorted and sent out in the bigger post offices. Could take at least 2 weeks if not 3 was her best guess. Still makes me nervous but not anything to do except wait or replace.
Made 3 different borders yesterday and don't like any of them once they were next to the center. Will look at it some more today, any suggestions out there????

TG, I would wait longer. Everything is slowed because of the virus. The PO is operating with less staff, I've heard. Don't panic. With your tracking number, your postal worker can trace exactly where it is. Maybe do that and see if it's moving. I'm sure it will arrive... it's just the times we are in!

Hello Granky,
Givio is keeping an album of our progress. The latest additions are at the top, and the earlier ones towards the bottom. Look here:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...bums20339.html

Definitely give the PO more time. I ordered something online and priority mail took 3 weeks to get to me when it used to be 2 or 3 days. With the political fight going on about funding for the PO there might be PO workers 'showing an example of what you'll get' if the stimulus bill doesn't include the billions of dollars they want. I'm sure there are plenty PO workers that do the best they can. So many people use UPS, FedEx, Amazon, etc now. The PO lost a lot of business since the internet took over postal letters and greeting cards. Most people send an email over snail mail now.

Thank you! I will definitely watch the album, although it's nice to see what is being discussed at the time of discussion. (Beggars can't be choosers, so I'll watch the album....!)

You can subscribe to this thread in 'thread tools'. Then you won't have to miss anything posted in real time.

Mary, I asked my 6-year-old granddaughter what she thought I should add to your top. She exclaimed, "Pink!" So she influenced me to change up the colors on my round. I hope you like it.
SBG I've sent you the tracking number.

Wow, what a lot of precise work, Givio! You have given me a tough act to follow. Can’t wait to see it in person. Have no idea of what new direction to take it in... https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...s/confused.png

Givio, that really looks neat! I love how the dark makes it look like it's in shadow, and the pink triangles cause my brain to stop and think - wait, this isn't what I thought . . .

Mona's quilt arrived yesterday and I've got it hanging on the design board.

I was trying to figure out our schedule - I think some of us have gotten quite ahead. Let me know if this is correct

Center to be mailed 7/1
round one to be mailed 8/1
round two to be mailed 9/1
round three to be mailed 10/1
round four to be mailed 11/1
round five (last round) to be mailed 12/1

I sent off my center, then did round one on Bug's quilt, then round two on Carrie's, and now I've got round three for Mona, so that one has to be completed and mailed by 10/1. I got worried that I needed to get it done and mailed by 9/1 !

Thanks! did that........

Givio!!! I love it!! Please tell your granddaughter the pink is perfect!!! Thanks so much!

Woohoo! My package from Rebecca came yesterday afternoon.

Despite my desire to rip it open and start playing with it, today I'm going to clean up after my Frolic work and get that ready to go back into the box for a bit. I got the extra pieces made and am finishing up putting each set of pieces/sub-units for each block into a baggie,

So Round Robin starts for me again on Monday.

Yes, Macybaby, this is the correct timetable for group 2. Group 1's deadlines are all 15 days earlier than these. Like so:

Center to be mailed 6/16
round one to be mailed 7/15
round two to be mailed 8/15
round three to be mailed 9/15
round four to be mailed 10/15
round five (last round) to be mailed 11/15

What gets confusing is when people decide to send early, and then the recipient has two sitting at her house. Please try to hold off and mail just before the deadline. I've been guilty of this myself... but will try to work closer to the deadlines from now on, so everyone in each group can stay on the same page.

Making progress this week...next to sew all 48 little blocks together...

Carrie, that looks great, so far. Love those little 4Ps.

Carrie - wow - such little squares and you brought in all those wonderful colors! thank you
how are you feeling? you still have the rest of the month so be good to yourself.

Wow, there are some wonderful additions in the last couple of days. I pulled some fabric for center( I can't remember who's I have right now, Ill have to go to the album) I have but haven't decided on anything yet.
I'm thinking of doing some sort of flying geese variation but that might change once I decide on the colors.

Jaba, I suggest you only mail to the same person each month. You've finished your round so early! Your mailing date is Oct 1 for this round 3 you just finished with carriem's top.

The top for travelinggramma doesn't need to be sent from travelinggramma until October 1, so she has a lot of time left for getting it and sending it on. We might want to be patient with the PO at this difficult time with the problems they have been having financially/covid19.

Yes, if you finish so early, please just sit on it a while, until closer to the proper mail date. That way we won't get so out of order with certain quilts done before others. I know it's hard to wait when something is finished and ready to go, but please do.

Wow! I miss one day checking in and so much has happened!

I am ok with waiting for the PO. Surely with the tracking #, they can tell where it has stalled at.

Givo, again I would never have thought of the addition you made. It looks great and continues the pattern so well.

Carriem, I really like the small blocks you added. The colors blend well and I really like the addition of some negative space with small patterns as the center looks large.... great balance!

Jaba, love the a striped addition. The quilt is looking a cool and complicated.

About mailing, I am one of those who mailed early but it was requested that I do so. I agree we should not rush others in line but some times if that person is ready, it helps to have it a couple of weeks to mull over the patterns, design and colors. Communication on both ends needed though. Thanks for posting the mailing dates because it does get a bit confusing.

Oh my, it's been so hot this year. The thermostat was reading 85 degrees in the hallway last night, hubby's bedroom in the front of the house was at least 5-10 degrees warmer, mine in the back maybe closer to 80 -- still too hot especially with 3 small panting dogs packed around me...

Went out and watered the front lawn this morning, got the back done yesterday evening. Speaking of backs, before I open up my Round Robin box today, going to my Tuesday group hostess to offer a couple more pieces for the comfort quilt back consideration, but most everything I had that was large enough has already been vetoed.

I'm glad to be a bit ahead, because I know as we get to the outer rounds, they are going to take longer to complete. I was very glad Bugaroo was ready to ship early so I can have extra time since what I've planned is going to take some doing. And when I'm done I'll contact the next person in line and find out if they are ready for me to mail or want me to hold off.

I picked out embroidery thread yesterday, and had 13 of the 15 colors I needed on hand. So I only need (have an excuse to buy) two more. Interestingly, the two I need are both in the same color family. I have a lot of reds, but it turns out I have very few that are on the rust/orange side. And I need fall colors!

jaba--I do like the border you added!! Keeping with the light/dark altering rounds. :) Thank you!

I had an appt get canceled today so I will work a little bit on sewing small squares together...I am still trying to be nice to my wrist, however I will admit the closer I get to being finished, the more I want to sew!! lol Tomorrow is my 3 wk check up with the doctor...she will get some x-rays and I wouldn't be surprised if an MRI is needed to actually see something, but not sure if that will be done tomorrow too or not.

The post office is in a slowdown. The Postmaster General is being hauled up before Congress to answer for it, was the latest I heard. Don't dismay that your package is lost if you don't get it in time. Just be patient and it will eventually come. A week seems like a month when you are anxiously waiting for something. I'm waiting on 4 deliveries right now....

Let me say 1st, I always mail to travelinggramma and would not think of mailing to her before asking if she wanted it or for me to hold it. She doesn't have a quilt right now to work on because of the delay of Bugaroo's, it's been 2 full weeks, so with me being done I thought she might like to have it in person to ponder the next round, pick colors, etc....at least Janet would have something to work on if she chooses to. We have discussed it and yes she would like to have it, hopefully it will mail in a shorter amount of time.
I talked with the main outgoing postal office in Wyoming this morning. It has left this state and currently they are trying to find out where it is sitting. I was told that the mail service is at a crawl and she said "and I mean a crawl", they have employees out with the Covid and with any temp they try to hire they have to be tested first so that takes 2 weeks. In other words wherever it is that facility has not posted that they have received it so it could be sitting in a pile just waiting. These are different times we are trying to work around and we have to adjust. Right now the post office has no idea where it is.
Our group of ladies have always asked each other if they want it mailed or not, so I actually see no problem with that. Maybe we just have ladies that are retired and have more time to spend on the centers, I don't know but what is the difference if we finish early or not?? Would that be a catastrophy? For me, I have good days and bad ones that can last 2 weeks at a time, cancer will do that to you, so I am just fine with Macy mailing to me when she is done with a round and ready to send it on. I don't expect her to hurry, there is no reason to, but if she's done, she's done.
I've had my say so I will shut up. I'll be sure and let everyone know when I hear back from the postal service.

Ouch, didn't mean to step on any toes... If I was out of line suggesting we all be working on the same round at the same time, I surely didn't mean to offend. Go ahead and do whatever you want, and the rest of us will try to catch up.

With the mail slowdown, this is a difficult time to be doing a RR swap... but who knew?

The post office is slow but in my area, it can be blamed on the derecho and the continued power outage. The mail will come sooner or later. It seems longer when you are waiting for something.

I think it's normal for everyone to work on the same round at the same time in a group. That's the way I've always done a RR.

I agree with Macybaby-- as the rounds get bigger they take more time. With the PO being slower than usual, we might want to re-think the deadline for mailing for round 4 and 5. After we finish round 3 and mail and receive it, we will have better experience for how long the PO is taking and how much time that leaves us to work before the next mail date. At that time we could discuss if we want to make a change to the mail deadline?

Normally - in normal times - I would agree with working on the rounds together. These are not normal times.
postal service aside - Many of us are dealing with physical and mental set backs. I know my 93yo mother will arrive in a few weeks. She has a tendency of interrupting me and I have a difficult time getting back on task. I will gladly work out of line on row 4 while awaiting row 3. I can hold onto it or pass it along (if the next person is ready) depending on when row 3 shows up.
I ask everyone to take the time you need. Some of us procrastinate longer than others! There is no rush. Group 2 is fine. I am so very happy and amazed with all the work everyone has done.
Carrie - so sorry your appointment was canceled. You are doing what you need to do - resting it. If you push now, you will not recover properly.

Communication and shared knowledge are key in these things. I apologize again for disappearing a bit early on, I was in really bad shape back in June. I'm doing much better now and this group/project is helping me. My Tuesday group as well is enjoying seeing all the wonderful workmanship that has gone on before me and then what I add to it.

I'm going to keep with my original goals which is to be done by the end of each month, that gives me some flexibility. I let Mary know when I think I'll be done and try to stick to that, and she let's me know when she's ready for me to mail. I'm thinking this month though, I might need to be a lot closer to the official mail out date. It was with the first mail out that I became aware of the some of the postal issues. I got there right at the last minute and found the lobby was now closed an hour earlier and I didn't even have access to leave the package for the morning outgoing mail -- and then I found that we now only had one outgoing trip a day instead of the two we've always had.

Just like this month when I was mid-project and hadn't cleaned up yet, if I get something early/I'm not ready for -- I just leave it ready to unpack when I am -- but I can see how that could really stress someone else out. I don't usually have stress reactions but I noticed it this time, first two rounds classified as panic attack and this time is eager anticipation :)

Sure we have deadlines and decisions and work to do, but let me know what I can do to make it as happy and as stress-free as possible and I'll do that too. Whether it is changing the schedule or working around something or whatever.

Mail outs and musings
 

I think it is best to communicate with the person who will be receiving, for example, I have been posting progress pics for IceB so that she can have her ideas percolating while I am working, I think it helps. That way, if the next person might need some of your fabric to coordinate, there is no hard feelings or stepped toes, so to speak and having a jump start on the center as progress is being made, is so helpful. I've always mailed a few days early with priority, because the post office is running behind. This last border was a mad dash to the finish--I ran out of background fabric and had a heck of a time finding something that would coordinate, my center fan was a tad big, the appliqued leaves didn't flip perfectly, etc. etc. etc. I think as we go along, the borders get bigger and if there is applique, it just takes a bit longer. I worked on my current round right away (stayed up until midnight finishing blocks), but the second half will be tricky. I'll be working on it tonight again, and I'm excited for the progress. THANKS everyone for sending yellows, oranges and reds. I actually used some yellow in my last round from the donations and it was the perfect hue. I really appreciate all of you, your inspiration, posting your progress, and I'm amazed at the huge variety of the quilts so far in this group. Hugs!!!!

LeeAnn, I got IceBlossom's center today. I'll post a picture of it in a day or two. This top seems to me remarkably different in person than what I saw in the posted pictures. The prints are very small, and I didn't get an accurate idea of how they looked on my small lap top screen-- just darling type prints. I pulled it out of the package, and I was so pleasantly surprised.

I'm following tracking on the center you sent me, Giv... Mary's I believe. It's moving, thank Goodness. Maybe a day or two out? I can't wait to see it!

I got my embroidery thread yesterday so I plan on working on my row this weekend. I have the quilt hanging on my design wall. I was really surprised when I pulled it out - I thought Bugaroo's background fabric was a light grey, which I thought I might have trouble matching, but it's a beige and that makes it much easier.

Givio, I'm surprised you got it so soon. I think it will be a remarkable quilt. I decided to give it some movement on my round. It is really an unusual center, little pieces with great use of color. I would have never imagined such a piece, Iceblossom you have a great eye for color. I love your center.

Thank you so much for the complements. I'm looking forward to seeing your addition. I'm glad to know that maybe it is better in person than in picture and maybe not so hard to work with as I had feared.

Now that I've seen my current round in person, the (secret) ideas I had to set it on point have all gone out the window. I didn't realize that the tiny center square is an arc, and if I tilt the quilt it will forever sail troubled waters -- and that troubles me.

Now I'm thinking about leaves and grass and things like that... happy thoughts :)

Hah! Inspiration has struck... I spent some time last night doodling on graph paper and it happens I still have that box of green fabrics that I got out to cut pieces for Mona.

Now, to find the background fabric or at least determine how many fabrics it will have (alternating between 1, 2 and "many"). Pretty sure I sent out the perfect piece a month or two ago, but that doesn't mean that something good isn't hiding in the stash somewhere, I do have one in mind.

Even though I have a path to follow, the corners are still blank in my head but I have time for that.

Don't you love those "Aaa Haaa!!!" moments!

Travelinggramma's center has a new border...