2021/2022, 2.5” Birthday Swap
 

Hello Quilt Board Members,
The 2021/2022, 2.5” Birthday Candy swap is now open for sign ups and will remain open until 35 people join the group or February 20th whichever comes first.

Let me introduce you to the 2.5" Candy Birthday Swap for 2021/2022. Each participant will send fifty, 2.5” squares to the other participant(s) on, or before, their birthday.

This swap has been active since 2014. Join us and then wait for your mailbox will fill with little envelopes and joyful greetings from your Birthday Swap friends on your birthday.

Just a few guidelines:

I will limit our swap to the first 35 people and only addresses in the USA (for postage sake, Sorry).

This is a year-long commitment, March 2021 through February 2022.

Candy squares are 2.5", 100% cotton squares that you would be happy to put in your own quilt. Please do not resend squares from a previous birthday swap. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...s/rolleyes.png

Steps to join in our fun:

1.Private Message (PM) your name, address, Email, phone number and your birthday (month and day) [img]file:///C:/Users/linda/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.gif[/img] The only information I will share is your birthdate and address of course. The other information allows me to contact you should I need to.

2. Newbies (new to this swap) you must get a recommendation from a past hostess or from anyone that was in a previous birthday swap. Absolutely No "Flakers" here!!! You must have swapped with or know the person giving the recommendation. Their recommendation can come to me by PM also.

3. While you are waiting for the swap to start, get your packages of 50 unique (All different) 2.5" candy squares ready to be mailed. I am sure that as we get started previous swappers will show some of the best ways to package the squares, so they are safe in the mail and how to keep the cost of postage down to less than a dollar.

4. On the 20th of the month, I will send a list of who is celebrating a birthday and their address via PM so swappers can send out their "candy present". Have your envelopes ready so you can drop them in the mail quickly!

5. Birthday person, please keep track of who you received your candy from and let me know if you have not received a package from someone. Post the names of those who sent you a package on our thread as they come in. I will keep track when every package is received. Therefore, it is very important for the birthday person to post received packages in a timely manner.

Birthday Recipient, please give feedback to everyone who you receive from..This encouragement has made our swaps fun and affirming in the past.

6. Contests will be part of the swap again this year about every other month. I also will post links to patterns or websites that featuring our dear sweet 2.5” candies on alternating months. Feel free to participate in the contests or not with just one rule: You must be a swapper “in good standing” to win, meaning all your packages have been arriving on time!

8. Please post on the thread when you mailed your birthday package and of course wish them a Happy Birthday on their special day.

9. More than three "Late" packages will disqualify any one from participating in future birthday swaps. This past year, 2020-2021, has been an excellent year for on-time birthday treats. Yeah, for us!!

Please post your questions, large or small, in this thread. Someone else probably has the same question and some one of us can answer.

The general swap rules apply:https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...-a-t20154.html

I'm thinking about rejoining, but I won't have my sewing room set up for at least another couple of months so I might have to pass again this year. I've been in the process of remodeling the house I bought in May that was built in 1952. It has turned into a money pit!

One question on the rules. I thought "Feedback" went away when the Daily Digests did. How is that done?

WMUTeach, I'm still up to my ears in candy squares so I'm going to sit this next year out. I'll be checking in to see if you have any quilt-alongs however. Much luck! You'll be a terrific new leader.

I am in and have sent my info. Looking forward to it.

I'm thinking it's time for me to rejoin this swap. I have plenty of scraps to cut! Looking forward to reconnecting with some old swap friends and meeting some new ones!

WMUT, thanks for taking over this swap. I'll be sending you my info.

You are correct, the feedback process we used before is gone. Just letting folks know they received packages, that they were stunning, on time, beautiful, interesting, just what I needed, and that sort of thing in the thread is want I meant. Us old timers remember the days of posting "feedback" differently.

I would love to have you back with the "Swappers" but you should do what is best for you. Pop back in now and again to take a peek at what is going on. It would be lovely to see some photos of your house redo whether you join in or just lurk. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

Candy Quilts
 

Linda asked me to show some of the quilts I had made with 2.5" candy squares... from previous swaps and also cutting up my scraps. Hope this inspires us to use our candies! There are some wonderful free patterns for these size squares at QuiltedTwins.com. They have a great free patterns page. Several of mine were from their patterns.
The last one, the square triple Irish Chain, is my granddaughter's, so I made it with all juvenille, I-spy type fabrics. Kind of a different way to make an I Spy quilt!

https://www.quiltedtwins.com/free-patterns.htm

Stunning SBG. I plan on using mine when I retire as I am on a paper piecing binge.

Your moose looks awesome!

It was the enjoyable thing I have ever pieced.

SBG, I love your quilts! Do you mind if I pin the pictures to my Pinterest boards for future quilts? Only if you don't mind.

Hello WMUTeach
please sign me up for the Birthday swap! I am really looking forward to this years swap! Thanks for taking over ❤️ You will be a fine leader.

barb

sewbizgirl ...yeah welcome back! Love your quilts I believe a few of those are new to me!

Of course... pin away!

Thank you, Barb. Glad you still will be swapping!

NZQuilter, I know you mostly sew for your kiddos. If you like, I can send 50 juvenille prints for your birthday. These were the kind I used in the Irish Chain for my GD. She loves all the little 'pictures'.

If anyone else wants juvenille prints, I've got 'em! Just speak up in advance of your birthday!

I'm going to sit on the fence a bit - if there is enough interest that it fills up then I'm Ok with that, but if not then I'll join in again. I do enjoy it, but want to give others a chance if they are hoping to join. However I think the last two years have not been full so we'll see.

Even if I don't join, I'll hang around as I plan on trying to do the quilt of the month using the candies I've already got. I'll share that progress.

Hi! I'd like to join in. Do I need to get a recommendation? I've been in this swap before.

Just sent my personal info to you WMU! Looking forward to doing this again!

Sign me up again! My squares are cut and ready to go! Thank you for hosting WMUTeach.

I remember Kele from an earlier swap. I was in the 2nd thru 4th swaps and kele was in the swap then. Hi kele!

Joining next year is better for my renovation schedule & half acre garden plan with adult kids here to help!
I had a lot of fun doing this swap for years! Thank You to Barb for her years of dedication to this swap!!!
Hope a lot of quilters sign up & hope y'all have fun with it!!!
hugs & best wishes,
dj

I just up sign for this swap. I was in the first two swaps and took some time off from quilting and the board when I had my baby girl. I made a few baby quilts for friends and knitted a few scarfs since then. I have missed quilting and catching up with quilting friends. I look forward to this swap and getting back to quilting.

I'm going to check if I have enough different fabrics than last year before I sign up for this year. I didn't buy much new fabric last year. I loved the comradery of the group for a whole year!

Hi ahwu! Welcome back!

NZQuilter, it does take quite a bit of fabrics to make 50 new each year. Hope you find them! I had tons of scraps and 2.5" strips that I am cutting up. Don't know if I could do this every year, tho.

Joining this year's swap
 

Since you have been in previous swaps, PM your info to me.

WMUTeach, I sent a PM.

Hi sewbizgirl! I remember your Arkansas Crossroads quilt from a few swaps back. Such a beautiful example of what can be made with these little squares!

I haven't swapped, sewed, quilted, anything for about a year. Trying to get back to it all and very happy to be in this swap. I'll start cutting squares later today.

Thank you! My husband's uncle has that quilt now. He wanted one of my quilts, and I let him choose from what I had. Isn't it funny that a man would choose such a bright quilt? https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/tongue.png

As of this afternoon we have ten members in the new swap that starts in March 2021. Plenty of room for more and plenty of time to make a decision. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

AHWU - April
Sewbizgirl - April
Irish Mom - May
Gaijin - May
Kele - June
Patrick's Mom - June
Hav4boys - July
WMUTeach - September
BarbaraKibler23 - October
aborning - January

I have been so crazy I didn't even see this get posted! I am signing up again. Not sure where I will be this year for my birthday, but I always bring my prepared cards so can send wherever I am.
Thanks for keeping this going - the work you do is appreciated.

Oh, I hope you can dig out enough for our swap!. It is a nice group of folks to swap birthday wishes, quilting ideas and of course those precious little 2.5's. This is my 8th year and I am looking forward to "old friends" and hopefully some "new old friends" too. We would miss you. I haven't bought much either but I had plenty to start with. I can see the stash diminishing but still more than one closet full. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/eek.png

Hope more people will be joining! I plan on joining unless it fills up before the deadline.

I just bumped into this Birthday Swappers. Simple and likely quick with just a little twist. https://blog.patsloan.com/2013/10/pa...cider-row.html

Pass the word among your friends about our swap both on and off the QB. Our numbers are low but we still have plenty of time to add more, February 20. I would like to see us get to at least 20 and 30 would be grand. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

January 24 Sign-up Update
AHWU - April
Sewbizgirl - April
Irish Mom - May
Gaijin - May
Kele - June
Patrick's Mom - June
Crispy Frog - June
Hav4boys - July
travelinggranma - August
WMUTeach - September
BarbaraKibler23 - October
aborning - January

I'm back for the fun! Hi gang! I am ready for some socially distanced action here!

I just sent WMUTeach my sign-up PM! I'm in for another year as I think I have enough fabrics. Really digging into my scrap bins for squares, so it's been fun! I don't know how much sewing I'll contribute to the group this year, with Baby #4 due in three weeks. I'm hoping my energy returns after birth, but we will see.

I apologize to you all. I did sign up for this swap--- but..... my life has gotten so busy at work and a lot busier with traveling for family, because of all my children living out of state. I have decided it will be best for me to sit out this year and rejoin next year when--hopefully I will have more time to dedicate to it. I have enjoyed this swap the past few years but feel it will best on my sanity if I take a break this year since my life is so crazy busy. I hope you all enjoy the swap this year.

Yay... glad you are 'in', NZQuilter! Better get some envelopes stuffed before that baby comes....

We will miss aborning!

Sorry you will not be with us, but you know your life commitments and just how much extra you can take on. Lurk the thread all you like and watch for the new swap sign up next January.

Hey Kiddies, I'm signed up again. Had a bad end to 2020 and a terrible start to 2021, hopefully everything has settled down now. Almost died twice, first time in the ER with severe covid pneumonia. Great hallucinations without any drugs. Doc said I'm a long hauler, I don't wanna be as this stinks. I have to stay in bed almost 24/7 on oxygen. Went home for a week with loads of drugs. After one week I was back inside with a severe GI bleed. They couldn't stop it and wouldn't listen to me that I needed the antidote for Pradaxa, came home and did the research, no one listened cause no one told them that there was a serious problem with it and people are dying. Can't eat much, don't wanna, lost 15 pounds, don't recommend my method.

BUT against all odds I'm hear. Hopefully every month when I post it will be to say I'm getting stronger and am able to sew again.